British Weekly Psalm 52:1-9 Why boast you yourself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endures continually.… This psalm is a bold and outspoken challenge to a big sinner — a proud personage who "trusted in the abundance of his riches"; and, as often happens to men — and to women, too — luxury had made him slanderous and foul-mouthed, and brutal and monstrous: "he strengthened himself in his wickedness." The psalm challenges the "big man": "Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?" but it tries also to convert him: "The goodness of God is from day to day." What is the connection between these two clauses of verse 17 The big sinner, wicked and proud, is shut up, as it were, in a close and ill-smelling room — shut up with his ugly thoughts, shut up with his own evil, selfish self. Let him come out, says the psalmist, out into the sunshine of God's mercies, out into the open where the winds blow fresh o'er the world; let him think of God's goodness, and may it lead him to repentance. Old Testament piety haunts the open air for its images (ver. 8). We of to-day may not be big men, and have psalms written about us, but we need the same teaching. Let a man be ever-reached in business, let him come home and brood over it, and how soon will arise the thought and plan of revenge! Let another come to him with her prattling lips, and how easily does she convince him that he is a hero and a martyr I Why not the rather, reaching a hand for God's Book, remember His goodness, which is from day to day? Young men may not know amassed wealth, but they know how, in act or in fancy, they pass into the house of passion, where the blinds are drawn and the windows dimmed by heat, and the sounds are pleasing, and sweet desire arises. Young men, come forth — into the open, out from your narrow selves to God, out into His love's free atmosphere. You are not alone (ver. 9). Here are the saints, the heroes, the men of faith; and above the helmets of salvation which they wear, see the Captain, Christ Himself, beckoning you onwards to glory and to God. (British Weekly.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.} Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.WEB: Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually. |
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