A Green Olive Tree – Psalm 52

How do you feel about being an olive tree in the temple?  It is an odd concept, in one sense, since an olive tree could not grow in the temple.  But the psalmist is using his imagination.  If an olive tree could thrive in the temple that would be an awesome place of privilege and usefulness.  Are you being cultivated by God and bearing fruit for the kingdom?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?  The steadfast love of God endures all the day.  Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.  You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah   You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

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   The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,  “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!”

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.  I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.  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.  (Psalm 52 ESV)

Doeg saw David seek help from the priests at Nob as he was fleeing Saul.  The priests thought David was doing Saul’s bidding and supplied him with food and Goliath’s sword.  But Doeg reported them as if they knew David was fleeing Saul and as if disloyal to Saul.  And when Saul commanded they be slain and none of the soldiers would do it, Doeg grabbed a sword and killed them, hoping, no doubt, to endear himself to Saul.  We can imagine him boasting to his family or friends how he took matters into his own hands and took advantage of the opportunity to enrich himself.

We may all know of such evil people who deserve God’s judgment.  We anticipate it for them even as we anticipate the steadfast love of God on our behalf.  The evil person will be snatched from life but we will be like green olive trees in God’s house, cared for and bearing fruit.