The title of the fifty-second Psalm tells us that it was written by David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’ This is a reference to the actions in 1 Samuel 22:6-23, where Saul slaughtered the Israelite priests at Nob by the prompting and hand of Doeg the Edomite. This is the only time Doeg is mentioned in Scripture other than in the title of Psalm 52. This ugly and catastrophic event prompted two recorded outcries from David. First, a confession of his own responsibility for the massacre in 1 Samuel 22:22-23, where David promised safety to Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech the priest and sole survivor of the massacre. He said, “I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.” David’s second recorded utterance in the wake of this tragedy is Psalm 52.
In Psalm 52 David indicates the kind of man Doeg is. In a word, he is bad. Doeg’s most destructive weapon was his deceitful tongue which “plots destruction like a sharp razor” (v. 2). He loves evil more than good, lying and all words that devour (v. 3-4). Doeg’s bitter words resulted in his gaining a short-lived opportunity in the eyes of king Saul. But God will have the final word on bad men like Doeg who seek refuge in their own destruction. David declares, 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 (v. 5-7). Such is the end of Doeg and all who follow in his evil footsteps.
In contrast to Doeg (the bad) who is uprooted from the land of the living (v. 5) is David (the good) is like a green olive tree in the house of God (v. 8). While Doeg would not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his riches (v. 7), David trusted in the steadfast love of God (v. 8). Doeg’s brief rise to fame followed by sudden destruction is contrasted to David’s perseverance and preservation, just like the olive tree, among longest living of the trees in Israel.
As a song that would be sung corporately upon entering the tabernacle, Psalm 52 moves the worshipper from the ugly actions of bad men and God’s judgment upon them, to the celebration of the steadfast love of God and protection of His presence among His good people. God will destroy every evil deed and those who perform them, while protecting His own who wait for Him.