Psalms 52 - Introduction

LII.

In this psalm the voice of the community of pious Israel plainly speaks. (See Note, Psalms 52:8.) The traditional title has not the slightest support in the contents or tone of the poem. (See Note, title.) The tyrant, or mighty man, who is addressed, is most probably one of those base time-servers who, against the national party, and against the religious sentiment, sold themselves to the foreign power that happened to be in the ascendant; and who, by lending themselves as the instruments of tyranny, became the means of rousing the patriotic spirit which at length, under the hand of Maccabæus, succeeded in shaking off the foreign yoke. The rhythm is varied and well sustained.

Title. — See title Psalms 4, 32. This is one of a series of three Elohistic psalms.

The historical reference in this inscription serves to cast discredit on the inscriptions generally, as showing on what insufficient grounds they could be received. There is not a syllable in the poem which conveniently applies to Doeg, or to the occurrence narrated in 1 Samuel 22:17; on the contrary, the accusation of lying (Psalms 52:1), the imputation of trust in riches (Psalms 52:7), as well as the general tone in which the psalm is couched, are quite against such an application.