Click here to read PSALM 52 in poetic form.
Background
The Psalm’s title reads: “A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.” This record shows another of David’s big mistakes when he failed to warn Ahimelech and his family of an upcoming attack by Saul (I Samuel 21:1-9; 22:6-23). Even though David was not perfect, he was still said to be a man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
The Psalm is separated into three sections, each separated with the Hebrew term “Selah,” which means to pause. Some Bible teachers say this connected the truths that come before and after the term.
Structure
(Verses 1-3) The evil man’s mischievous tongue, despite God’s goodness
Pause
(Verses 4,5) The evil man’s devouring words, and God’s justice
Pause
(Verses 6,7) The righteous laughs at those who trust in men
(Verses 8,9) God’s mercy and goodness to His beloved
Key Scriptures
Verses 1-7—“mighty man” “tongue deviseth mischiefs…working deceitfully” “devouring words” “deceitful tongue” “trusted in the abundance of his riches” “strengthened himself in his wickedness.” All these phrases could be applied to Doeg the Edomite who deceitfully spoke to Saul against Ahimelech and then murdered Ahimelech and his family.
Verses 4,5—“Thou lovest…land of the living.” This section is “bookcased” by “Selah” at its beginning and end. This section describes God’s justice despite the proud and violent deeds of evil men in this world.
Verse 8—“ But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.” The olive was one of the most useful of plants in Biblical times—for its wood, shade, fruit and oil, and beauty. It is used to describe God’s prosperity and a long life. It was used in sacred priestly oils, and some of its fruit was to be left for the poor and indigent when reaping. The mount filled with olive trees alongside Jerusalem was important in the life of David and his “son,” the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 
In the book of Romans, it is associated with Israel as a “natural” tree and the Gentiles as being a wild branch grafted in (see Genesis 8:11; Exodus 23:11; 27:20; 30:24; Leviticus 24:2; Deuteronomy 6:11; 8:8; 24:20; 28:40; Joshua 24:13; Judges 9:8,9; 15:5; 1 Samuel 8:14; 2 Samuel 15:30; 2 Kings 5:26; 18:32; 1 Chronicles 27:28; Nehemiah 5:11; 8:15; 9:25; Job 15:33; Psalms 52:8; 128:3; Isaiah 17:6; 24:13; Jeremiah 11:16; Hosea 14:6; Amos 4:9; Micah 6:15; Habakkuk 3:17; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 4:3,11,12; 14:4; Matthew 21:1; 24:3; 26:30; Mark 11:1; 13:3; 14:26; Luke 19:29,37; 21:37; 22:39; John 8:1; Acts 1:12; Romans 11:17,24; James 3:12; Revelation 11:4). Here the Psalmist rejoices in God’s goodness and prosperity in his life.
Verse 9—“I will wait on thy name.” Biblically, a name stands for all the authority and majesty of the one who is named. Here the Psalmist trusted in God. We have the authority and power of Jesus Christ when we claim God’s promises in the name of His Son.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
