The Destruction of a Man of Treachery

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Responsibility

This passage was written by David as he described Doeg an Edomite who was a dangerous and ungodly man. Doeg is called a “mighty man” (v. 1) because he was the chiefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul (I Samuel 2:7). Any hatred King Saul had toward David was magnified and intensified in the heart of Doeg.

In those days David was a fugitive most of the time. King Saul had already made 16 attempts to murder David. Because of this David decided to flee the country and find refuge with the Philistines. In the process David visited Ahimelech the priest (I Samuel 21:1-9). When Ahimelech saw David coming he was not eager to meet him because he had a fear of King Saul. In order to get rid of him quickly he gave David the consecrated loaves from the table of shewbread in the holy place in the Tabernacle. These loaves had been set aside by divine decree for use by the priests only.

Doeg had a deceitful tongue as sharp as a razor (vv. 2-4). He told the king that David had visited the priest, Ahimelech, but he did not tell Saul the circumstances and this gave the impression that Ahimelech was being disloyal to the king. When a person tells a half truth simply for the sake of doing evil and bringing ruin to others it is the worst sort of things you can do. Doeg was responsible for making things look bad for Ahimelech.

Application

There are times when wickedness seems to triumph and it may appear that God is blind and deaf to the evil deeds of men. However, God had his own reasons for prolonging judgment. I need to remember that God holds me responsible for my words and actions every day regardless of how soon He brings it to my attention.

Psalms 52:1-4 (English Standard Version)


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