Context: The title of this Psalm links it to an episode in the life of David in 1 Samuel 21–22. King Saul had become mad with jealousy at David, because he knew that God had chosen David as the future king. Saul was bent on killing David, and David had to run for his life, alone and afraid. He stopped for food and supplies from a priest called Ahimelek, but he didn’t realise that he was putting Ahimelek’s life in danger, because one of Saul’s servants was there – a man from Edom called Doeg. When Doeg informed Saul that Ahimelek had helped David, Saul sent for Ahimelek’s entire family, and ordered Doeg to murder them all. Only one of Ahimelek’s sons, called Ahitub, escaped. He joined David, who promised him, “You will be safe with me” (1 Sam. 22:23).

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As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
2 Your tongue devises destruction
like a sharpened razor,
O worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good,
falsehood more than speaking truth.

Selah

4 You love every word that devours,
O deceitful tongue.
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin;
He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah

6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will mock the evildoer, saying,
7 “Look at the man
who did not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his wealth
and strengthened himself by destruction.”

8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in the loving devotion of God
forever and ever.
9 I will praise You forever,
because You have done it.
I will wait on Your name—
for it is good—
in the presence of Your saints.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.