February 21

Psalm 52
We all look for opportunities. Not all opportunities are equal. They are the way in which we gain advancement in this life. Doeg, the Edomite, was one of those opportunistic people. Not a natural citizen of Israel he saw the rising nationalism and power of Israel, his neighbor to the north. Moving to Saul’s capital, he sought to hook his wagon to this rising star. We don’t really know why he left his homeland, or how he gained access to Saul, but he did. It was a good opportunity for him. He apparently did something in order to gain high standing in Saul’s court. He served, watched and waited for the next opportunity to advance himself in Saul’s service. Being opportunistic, he did not care whether it advanced the Glory of God or not. His concern was his advancement in the eyes of Saul. The opportunity came when he observed the rift between Saul and David, and he observed the flight of David as he visited Ahimelech the priest in order to gain help from the Lord. He reported David’s activity to Saul. Saul ordered Doeg to kill the priests of Ahimelech. Doeg gladly responded to Saul’s order. In so doing he would ingratiate himself even more before the king. What an opportunity! Doeg destroyed 85 priests before the day was over.
David continued running to the Philistine king Abimelech (Achish). There David had to feign madness in order to escape Achish. Not much opportunity there! Psalm 34 was written shortly after that. Psalm 52 was written after David learned of what Doeg the Edomite had done. David wrote this on the run from Saul. He spent more than a decade running from Saul. Yes, he had up to 600 men who joined him on the run, but it wasn’t exactly a prosperous time. He did not write it from the comfort of a palace. He wrote it from the confines of a tent as he was on the run. Yet in contrast to Doeg, the man who trusted in his riches, David describes himself as “I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.” That is quite the proclamation and commitment coming from a man who is running for his life from the wrath of the king! How can David have such confidence?
David knows the good Name of the Lord. He knows that the Lord laughs at the kings of the earth who oppose Him. David knows that the Lord is! He knows that the Lord hears and comes down to deliver. In short, David knows the glory of the Lord. His situation is temporary! His relationship with the Lord is forever. It is the glory of the Lord that keeps him going. What keeps me going? Is it the promise of an opportunity, or is it the glory of God? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John