A Road Map for Life | Remembering Our Redeemer Sample

TWO KINDS OF MEN (Psalm 52)

There are two kinds of men in this world — those who think they are strong, and those who realize they are weak but have found their strength in God. Which one of those describes the life you are living today?

We find these two people in Psalm 52. There is an amazing contrast between a man named Doeg, the Edomite, and a man named David.

Does was a man of the flesh who lived by force, by scheming and conniving. He thought he was something, but in the end, the Lord always brings those people down (Proverbs 16:18-20). He has a way of letting the air out of your balloon.

David, the man after God’s own heart, seemed at times like he was very weak and about to be defeated. But he almost always came out in victory, because he had learned that he was nothing and God was everything.

Read the nine verses of Psalm 52.

“Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.”

This was written at a very unique time in David’s life. He was running from King Saul, and Doeg the Edomite found out where he was. He betrayed David as well as many who were kind to David, and as a result, a large number of innocent people were put to death as Saul sought to take David’s life.

It was at this time when David cried out to God, saying, “Lord, this man thinks he is strong. But I know that you are the strong one.”

One of the names of God is El Elyon, which means “the strongest strong one" or "the Most High God."

You might see someone you think is strong physically, financially, politically, or in some other way. But there is always someone else who is stronger than the strongest person you know. That someone is God.

This is why Psalm 52 begins not by contrasting Doeg with David but by contrasting Doeg with God. Read verse 1 again. “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.”

Notice the skeptical, almost sarcastic reference to Doeg’s perceived strength. That is followed immediately by a compliment to God’s goodness.

Doeg was full of himself, which is not strength at all but simply weakness. God alone is good. Doeg’s strength was temporary, but God’s goodness will continue forever.

A life of strength is not about mustering up something inside you. It comes from finding your strength in God alone. The sooner we realize that the better off we will be in every aspect of life.

In verses 2-5, David described this man who thought he was mighty and strong. That passage ends with an account of how God would ultimately root him out. That is a stark contrast with David’s description of himself in verse 8, “like a green olive tree in the house of God.”

It matters what you are rooted in. If you are rooted in your own intelligence or business acumen, your ideas or resources, those roots do not go very deep. The average storm can blow through town and pull up that tree by its roots. But if you are rooted in the presence and resources of God, you have something much stronger than you.

I have marked in my Bible two phrases from this chapter: “O mighty man” in verse 1 and “the man that made not God his strength” in verse 7. His might was in the eyes of men, but from God’s perspective, he was nothing. He strengthened himself in his riches and wickedness, but his true need was the strength that God alone gives.

While this psalm has had a mostly negative context, it leads to a positive application. In verses 8-9, David gave us three things he would do to find his strength in God.

Trust.

If you want to be strong today, the only way to do that is to be strong in faith. I must confess that there are many times when my faith is weak, but I am glad to report to you that the object of my faith is not weak. When your faith is in God, it will never fail.

Praise.

This is something David chose to do. You may not feel like praising God in your circumstances or when you see your Doeg, but choose at that moment to rehearse the goodness of God. Remember His faithfulness, and I promise that it will put strength in you.

Wait.

Why did David say he would wait on God? Verse 9: “I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.”

I love how this psalm begins and ends with the goodness of God. Because His name is so good, David said he would wait on Him.

There was a period between anointings. He had to wait for God to deal with Doeg, to get rid of Saul, and to promote him. But in the waiting, God was always working.

You may feel very weak today, while others around you who are not doing right act like they are strong. But there is only one who is truly strong, and that is our God. If you will trust Him, praise Him, and wait on Him, you will find in Him the strength you need for every day.

I don’t want to be a man like Doeg. I want to be like David, a man who realized his weakness and God’s strength. If you will root yourself in that strength, the Lord will conquer every weakness in your life and overcome every enemy who comes against you.

May the Lord help us all today to live in His strength alone.