The Destiny of The Man of Faith

Psalms 52:8–9
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In this passage the Psalmist contrasts those who live righteously with those who live in wickedness like Doeg. It seems that David’s thoughts go back to the Mount of Olives where he had met with Ahimelech. He could still see the long rows of olive trees, green and bowed down with fruit. This contrasts with the wicked who will be rooted up (v. 5). This brought memories of the house of God to him. He might be a fugitive, but his heart was still there and his affections were there even though circumstances forced him to wander far from its courts.

David said “I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever” (v. 8). We might ask, where was that mercy when Doeg told his lying tales? Where was that mercy when Doeg caused the blood of the priests to be shed? David knew that even though God permitted terrible things to be done there was an eternity to come where all accounts would be settled. David’s flourishing was because of God’s unfailing love, in which he said he trusted forever (v. 9). Because of this he vowed to go on praising  God for what He had done and then he would praise Him among the saints.

Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or compassion. In a legal sense, a defendant having been found guilty of a capital crime may ask for mercy from being executed.

Application

I wonder what my reaction would be if I was put in prison and tortured for my faith like many Christians have had to do in China and Russia? Would I make the same statements that David made in this Psalm? Especially if I knew that people were chasing me and would kill me if they caught me. I really don’t know what I would do!! If it should happen I will just have to rely on God’s grace and strength for that moment.