It is very interesting to have the exact situation of the writing of this psalm, The 2 verses which directly refer to Doeg’s betrayal are – 1 Sam22: 9-10 – Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” Biblical introduction to this Psalm! -“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A MASKIL OF DAVID, WHEN DOEG, THE EDOMITE, CAME AND TOLD SAUL, “DAVID HAS COME TO THE HOUSE OF AHIMELECH.” – this event is recorded in 1 Samuel 22 6-23
1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah – Comment: Doeg did speak the truth because that was what happened. but David is correct in his prior statement that the truth was spoken by Doeg to be malicious towards David. The bald statement of facts by no means always tell the whole truth!
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah Comment: Doeg’s statement caused Saul to instigate the murder of a number of priests. The Bible does not say how Doeg died but Jewish thought is that he died a leper and in tormented mental derangement!
6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Comment: It does both the individual and the society ‘good’ when, and if, people proclaim for their friends and those within hearing to hear how God has blessed the speaker and to proclaim their professed aim to be true to God who has been true to them! This is the essence of David’s ending to the Psalm.
Proverbs 16: 6b-8 – By the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. – is this a generalization or an absolute truth? Remember that a bald truth is not the whole truth! Christians are not promised a trouble free life!
Prayer: Help me, like Daniel’s friends be prepared to answer my tormenters like his friends did, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Help me to realize that Your way is best, O Father. (This statement of the friends occurs in Daniel ch 3.)
As I read it! 