Conscientious Objectors
When you have to be a saint instead of a patriot
For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.”
Psalm 52
1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man?
God’s loving kindness endures continually.
2 Your tongue plots destruction,
like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 You love evil more than good,
lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
4 You love all devouring words,
you deceitful tongue.
5 God will likewise destroy you forever.
He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent,
and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
6 The righteous also will see it, and fear,
and laugh at him, saying,
7 “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house.
I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
9 I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it.
I will hope in your name, for it is good,
in the presence of your saints.
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It is no wonder that David wrote this Psalm about Doeg the Edomite. He saw David go to see Ahimelech the priest, and carry the tale back to King Saul that David had gone to get a weapon and get Ahimelech to inquire of the Lord for him. All that Ahimelech knew was what David told him, that he was on a mission for King Saul. He did not conspire with David to do anything, but Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and made it sound like Ahimelech was conspiring with David. You can find the whole story in 1st Samuel, chapters 21 and 22.
Saul was enraged at Ahimelech and summoned the priest in his entire family, and the other priests who were with him. Ahimelech denied doing anything wrong, and defended David as one who is faithful to the King. And this was true. It was only Saul’s jealousy that compelled him to try to kill David. Saul declared Ahimelech guilty, without a trial, and ordered him and his entire family to be executed. The King’s guard would not raise a sword against the priests of God. But Saul was able to get Dowg the Edomite to do it. And he killed the priests and his entire family, even the little children.
So, this Psalm was written as a curse against Doeg the Edomite. Doeg was a foreigner that the king got to do his dirty work. The patriotic Israelites who made up his guard would not raise up a sword against the priests. Doeg had no problem with this. He had lied about David, and then ran back to Saul to tell this tale to show that he was loyal to the King. He was a murderer.
It is not hard to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys in the story. But I think we learned something from the guards who were stuck in the middle. They respected the authority of the king, but they also feared God. They knew the King was giving them an unlawful order. But they did not overthrow the King and turn on him. We do not hear of any consequences for these guards who did not obey the King’s command.
The Bible teaches us to respect those who are in authority. We do so even when they are not good men. But we are not expected to violate our conscience, or the commands God has given us. We are expected to uphold a righteous standard.
