To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” (Psalm 52)
Let’s explore one last thought about Doeg and David before actually getting into the substance of the psalm. As we have already acknowledged, Doeg seized an opportunity to slander innocent people and indict David before Saul. He used knowledge of a situation, not to mention a skilled tongue, to incite others to do evil. It also bears mentioning again that Doeg was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, another person the Bible describes as having a skilled tongue often used against his enemies — namely Jacob. When the Bible says that Esau was a skillful hunter, it literally means that trapping was in his mouth — a euphemism for ensnaring others with deceptive words.
Solomon advised, “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin” (Ecclesiastes 3:6). Messiah said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). So then, what goes on in a man’s heart that he would allow his flesh to sin in such a manner as Doeg? Perhaps, being a descendant of Esau, he felt slighted by the sons of Jacob, particularly by David, who was obviously favored by the Lord. Underscoring this is the fact that David’s name means “beloved,” inferring he was beloved by God. In sharp contrast, Doeg means “worry,” stemming from a root that means “to be anxious.” Anxiety and worry can lead to an unprofitable and potentially disastrous outcome.
In this case, it provoked Doeg to speak ill of God’s priests and then, upon Saul’s order, to cut them down. Furthermore, it provoked him to strike an indirect blow against God’s anointed who may have been the impetus for his anxiety and the reason his mouth caused his flesh to sin. In other words, his anxiety about David’s favored status inspired him to remove the specific reason for his concern.
Taking this all into consideration, we can conclude that anxiety and worry has the potential to open the door to unhealthy thoughts and attitudes. It can cause us to think someone else is the reason for our problems, and if they were not in the way, our life would be so much better. In certain situations, anxiety can be the catalyst for evil thoughts that, if allowed to grow unchecked, could morph into evil deeds. And so, we must avoid living in a state of worry, anxiety and fear lest it should pull us away from pure and righteous thoughts. Living that way is no way to live. Instead, let us heed Paul’s advice: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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