THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURES CONTINUALLY
"WHY DO YOU BOAST IN EVIL, O mighty man? THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURES CONTINUALLY."
Psalms 52:1 (NKJV)
READ: Psalm 52:1-9; 1 Samuel 21:1-9; 22:9-19; Acts 13:6-12
This Psalm 52:1-4 which we are considering in this piece, is about what happened when David went to Ahimelech the priest and was given showbread, hallowed bread meant for the priests, and the sword of Goliath that was kept there (1 Samuel 21:6,8,9).
Doeg who was the head of Saul's servants—the chief of the herdsmen of king Saul—was there (1 Samuel 21:7).
It was this Doeg who gave a wrong narrative of the incident to Saul and led to the killing of Ahimelech the priest and his father's house and Nob, the city of the priests, was struck with sword—men, women and children were killed with the sword (1 Samuel 22:9-19).
This Psalm was penned as a contemplation of David when he was told about the incident (1 Samuel 22:20-23).
David started the Psalm by asking the wicked man why was he boasting in evil (Psalm 52:1).
Though the person is addressed as a mighty man, but he should know that the goodness of God endures continually—God is not wicked (Psalm 52:1).
David said in the Psalm that the tongue of the person he called the mighty man, Doeg the chief herdsmen of king Saul, devises destruction. The tongue was like a sharp razor, working deceitfully (Psalm 52:2).
In continuation, David said in verse 3 that the man loves evil more than good, and lying rather than speaking righteousness (Psalm 52:3).
David said further that the man loves all devouring words. He is a deceitful tongue (Psalm 52:4).
Of course, the passage was not referring alone to Doeg, Saul's servant who perpetrated the evil, but to whoever is deceitful and love to slander—someone who's utterance of false charges or misrepresentations defame and damage another's reputation (Ezekiel 22:9).
• Those with sharp tongues.
• Those who telltale.
• Those who love to rat on others.
Now, If the passage describes your person, you should think and amend your ways.
There are some people who work with those who are highly placed, those in authority or position of power, or those who are in money, or the affluent people in the society.
If you are working with someone who falls in the categories of people mentioned above and you are into sycophancy—trying to impress your boss or the person you are serving that you might gain favour in their sight—you may be treading the path of destruction.
What Doeg said about Ahimelech the priest was not true, but he did that to receive favour from his master, king Saul. However, that warranted the killing of Ahimelech the priest and his father's house and the whole city of priests, Nob (1 Samuel 22:9-19).
After you might have received the favour of your boss and destroyed the lives and careers of other people; you should remember that God is still on the throne.
Whatever you do today is a seed that will germinate and bear fruit which you will reap tomorrow—whatever a man sows he shall reap—and the harvest is always more than the seed sown (Galatians 6:7).
READ: Romans 2:6
Working with someone who is highly placed should not be abused, you should not use the influence you have through your association with the person to destroy other people's lives.
A curse was placed on the person who does such a thing in that same Psalm 52, verse 5: "GOD SHALL LIKEWISE DESTROY YOU FOREVER; HE SHALL TAKE YOU AWAY, AND PLUCK YOU OUT OF YOUR DWELLING PLACE, AND UPROOT YOU FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING."
We could see how the lot or portion of a sycophant would be. The Psalmist further says that the righteous shall see it and fear and will laugh at such a wicked person (Psalm 52:6). It would be said of the sycophant: "HERE IS THE MAN WHO DID NOT MAKE GOD HIS STRENGTH, BUT TRUSTED IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS RICHES, AND STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN HIS WICKEDNESS [evil desire]" (Psalm 52:7).
The passage of Psalm calls for a sober thought. If you are given the opportunity to be around a dignitary, how do you handle the people who have come to see the person?
A similar thing happened in the Book of Acts 13:6-12 in the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas.
They met a man called Bar-Jesus, who was a sorcerer, a false prophet. He had attached himself to the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, that could be considered the governor of that region.
The proconsul wanted to hear the gospel and decide for Christ Jesus, but the sorcerer who is also called Elymas, was trying to dissuade him from doing so (Acts 13:7,8).
Howbeit, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, reproved the man and pronounced blindness on him, and instantly the sorcerer became blind (Acts 13:9-11).
The sorcerer was trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith, he would not want him to be saved or converted (Acts 13:8-11). But when the sorcerer became blind, the proconsul eventually gave his life to Christ Jesus, became born-again—when he saw the move of God's power (Acts 13:12).
If you have the privilege of serving a dignitary, an highly placed person; use the opportunity to bless and help others, and not be hostile to those who may come to seek the help of the person you are serving—your boss (1 Timothy 6:17-29).
This also is applicable to those who serve as PAs [personal assistants] to highly placed ministers of God.
In some places, the people around the minister have turned the minister to another God that they make it difficult for people to see the minister for prayer or counseling or whatever. Some of such PAs would only allow the people who give them money or gifts to see the minister.
Tread it softly, that you may not regret later.
Peace.