Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The loving-kindness of God endures all day long.
2 Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good, Falsehood more than speaking what is right.
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever;
He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living.
6 The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying,
7 “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire.”
8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the loving kindness of God forever and ever.
9 I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
New English Bible
1-2 Why make your wickedness your boast, you man of might, forging wild lies all day against God’s loyal servant? Your slanderous tongue is sharp as a razor.
3-4 You love evil and not good, falsehood, not speaking the truth; cruel gossip you love and slanderous talk.
5 So may God [Or So God will] pull you down to the ground, sweep you away, leave you ruined and homeless, uprooted from the land of the living.
6 The righteous will look on, awestruck, and laugh at his plight:
7 ‘This is the man’, they say, ‘who does not make God his refuge, but trusts in his great wealth
and takes refuge in wild lies.’
8 But I am like a spreading olive-tree in God’s house; for I trust in God’s’ true love for ever and ever.
9 I will praise thee for ever for what thou hast done, and glorify thy name among thy loyal servants; for that is good.
NLT
1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.
3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. Interlude
4 You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
5 But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living. Interlude
6 The righteous will see it and be amazed.
They will laugh and say,
7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
9 I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.
Introduction
David wrote this Psalm and he has a particular person in mind, Doeg the Edomite. The back ground is found in 1 Samuel 22. David had fled Saul with Jonathan’s help but David left so quickly that he had no weapon or food. He stopped at the Tabernacle at Nob where there was a village of priest. He asked for help and Ahimelech gave David bread and Goliath’s sword. Then David disappeared. He had told Ahimelech that he was on a secret mission for Saul: he did not tell him the truth, probably out of fear that the priest would not help him. Doeg, the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd was standing there and saw David and overheard the conversation between he and the priest. Saul became increasing paranoid and believed that David was leading a conspiracy against him. He was scolding his men for not telling him about Jonathan helping David when Doeg stepped up and offered information. He lead Saul to believe that Ahimelech was conspiring with David. Saul summons the priest who denied the charge and pleaded his innocence. Saul would not listen and had the entire village murdered, the priest [85], their wives, children, babies and live stock. Pure insanity. One priest escapes, Ahitub and he fleas to David.
David was dishonest and he realizes that this massacre is his fault. But Doeg the Edomite was an opportunist and he saw a way to advance himself in Saul’s eyes. What Doeg said was not a lie: Ahimelech did give David bread, bless him and give him a weapon but he never conspired with David against Saul. So Doeg told enough truth to get Saul stirred up but he did not tell him all the truth. Doeg was a cunning man who turned the truth into a lie, one that would advance him up the ladder of success. In other words, he was not a man of principle. He is one of the most reprehensible men in all the bible.
I. THE CONCEIT OF THE WICKED
Most translations agree with the NASB and translate the Hebrew word gibbôr as MIGHTY MAN but the word can be translated powerful, warrior, tyrant, champion, chief, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man. When a man who is actually not mighty, not powerful but thinks in his own mind that he is mighty, powerful and strong–we call these people “Big Shots.” They are not big in character but they have big mouth, they are blow hards and they usually try to intimidate people with their wealth or position.
Doeg was not a man of faith, he was an opportunist. His chief concern was to advance himself and he did it at the expense of others. It amazes me what some are willing to do to climb the corporate ladder.
My mentor in the ministry was Calvin C. Inman. One of the things he drilled in my head and heart was to be very cautious about any move or advancement. He did not believe in promoting one’s self. He said, “Jack, you let God move you and then when things get rough, you know you are where He put you.” I have never had a resume. I have never dropped my name to anyone. I have never made the slightest effort to climb the ecclesiastical ladder. I’ve never even served as a moderator in an association. I have never served on any board or agency. In that regard, I have no regrets. I am not a big shot: heck, I may not even be a buck shot but I am having the time of my life.
Doeg wanted to be a big shot and he was more than willing to embrace evil to accomplish his goal. His treachery caused and entire village to die; all for the sake of getting brownie points from an insane tyrant.
II. THE CONFIDENCE OF THE SAINTS
David knows that what Doeg did was reprehensible and vain. David said, “God will snatch you right out of your tent and take you out of the land of the living.” In other words, David is saying, “Your days are numbered. You better enjoy what time you have because when God gets a hold of you, you will be a laughing stock.” People will watch you suffer. They will watch and worship–stand in awe of what God is going to do to you. {God had not done it yet–this is future}.
In other words, David said “I am not worrying with you. I have turned you over to God and He will take care of you.” Unfortunately, we don’t have the record of Doeg’s demise but I promise you it happened.
III. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO
The righteous are like an olive tree planted near the sanctuary. Dr. Wiersbe believes that the Tabernacle of Nob was right beside an Olive orchard. It makes perfect sense. The tabernacle need the oil from the olives to trim their lamps, baking the bread and anointing oil. The OLIVE branch has been a symbol of peace since the flood but the oil from the olives as been a symbol of the SPIRIT. According to the Apocalpyse of Moses, an apocryphal Hebrew book, when Adam fell ill Seth went to request the “oil of mercy” to anoint Adam and restore his health. His entreaty was refused, as it was destined for Adam to die, but the angel Michael told Seth that the oil would be granted to the righteous at the end of days. So the Hebrews believed that the TREE OF LIFE was an olive tree.
There are things we definitely know: [1] The Olive Tree was productive and vital to the economy of Israel. [2] The Olive Tree was useful [3] It was also enduring. An olive tree can live for a 1,000 years.
Those who make CHRIST THEIR REFUGE are like Olive Trees: [1] Planted {deeply rooted} [2] Faithful {enduring} [3] Productive and [4] Useful.
In Contrast, those like Doeg, who put their confidence in wealth, riches, etc. will enjoy temporary success. They will be uprooted and cast out. They will suffer God’s judgment and become a laughing stock for their folly.
O the folly of trusting in riches. The worldly man knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. If you can put a price tag on it, it has no true value.
I was in a revival in Lawrence County and running late. June had a ford explorer that would fly, I drove an old GMC pickup so I swapped so I could drive faster. I made it in time to preach and on the way home, June called. She said, “I have some bad news, I had a little fender bender and now your truck has a dent.” I said, “Don’t worry about it honey, it is a piece of metal sitting on four rubber tires. It can be replaced. As long as you weren’t hurt that is all that matters.” I was so proud of myself for responding so nobly, then when I got home and seen the dent, I got sick at my stomach. It was not a little dent.
It is souls {people] that are valuable and we can take them to heaven with us. It is folly to trust in riches because you can’t take them. When you come to your final breath and departure, your money is worthless. Value people, not money. Love people and use money. Don’t get it backwards like the world: they love money and use people.
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