Why Do You Boast of Evil? (1 Samuel 22:6-23)
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.
“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah
You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying, “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name—for it is good—in the presence of Your saints.”
“For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Who was Doeg the Edomite? For the story behind this psalm, you need to go to 1 Samuel 21-22. David and his men are fleeing from King Saul when they come to Nob, the city of priests. David and his men are hungry and Ahimelech, the priest, innocently gives David and his men the show bread that has already been removed from the tabernacle. Ahimelech also gives David Goliath’s sword, that has been preserved by the priests. Ahimelech is unaware that Saul is attempting to kill David; unfortunately, Doeg, an Edomite and Saul’s chief herdsman, witnesses Ahimelech’s actions and immediately reports to Saul. King Saul swiftly moves to Nob and orders Doeg to massacre the priests, their families, and even their animals. Only Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons, escapes to join David.
“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah” When King Saul began his reign, righteous men flocked to him; however, by this point in his career, Saul is growing increasingly evil by the day while David remains righteous. Evil people attract other evil people, and Saul is depending on evil people to inform on David. It is significant that Saul doesn’t dirty his hands by murdering the priests and their families himself, but instead delegates that horrible task to Doeg, a foreigner who is not even one of his warriors.
“You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah” Here David is prophesying over Doeg, speaking ruin over him for spying, lying, and murder. It is significant that this is the last we hear of Doeg.
“The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying, “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.” Evidently, Saul has paid Doeg for being his hit man; however, Saul’s days are also numbered. Doeg is trusting the wrong person.
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name—for it is good—in the presence of Your saints.” This statement of faith is particularly meaningful when you consider that David and his men are still fleeing from Saul with no refuge. What’s significant about David comparing himself to an olive tree? Olive trees can live and bear fruit for centuries. There are some olive trees in Israel that may have been bearing during the time of Jesus. Olive trees are survivors, and David is proclaiming that he will flourish in the house of God and not merely exist. David will promises to praise God forever, a promise he keeps for the rest of his life.
APPLICATION: Remain in leadership long enough and the nay-sayers, conspirators, and spies will turn up. It is particularly disheartening when people whom you thought you could trust betray you. How can you handle such people? You can copy David and trust God. Generally, you can outlast any lie if you keep breathing oxygen long enough; lies may have long legs, but truth ultimately comes out.
There is nothing wrong with growing older as long as you continue to be a blessing to those around you. Most olive trees live for at least 500 years but many are more than 2,000 years old and still fruitful. Want to continue to be fruitful for your entire life? “Trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever. Praise God forever, because He has done it. Wait on God’s name—for it is good—in the presence of His saints.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those who read these words to realize that You have wonderful plans for them and that Your perfect Will is for them to be fruitful for their entire lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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