Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Psalms 52

David, no doubt, was in very great grief when he said to Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:22), “I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house,” who were put to death upon Doeg’s malicious information; to give some vent to that grief, and to gain some relief to his mind under it, he penned this psalm, wherein, as a prophet, and therefore with as good an authority as if he had been now a prince upon the throne, I. He arraigns Doeg for what he had done, Psalms 52:1. II. He accuses him, convicts him, and aggravates his crimes, Psalms 52:2-52:4. III. He passes sentence upon him, Psalms 52:5. IV. He foretels the triumphs of the righteous in the execution of the sentence, Psalms 52:6, 52:7. V. He comforts himself in the mercy of God and the assurance he had that he should yet praise him, Psalms 52:8, 52:9. In singing this psalm we should conceive a detestation of the sin of lying, foresee the ruin of those that persist in it, and please ourselves with the assurance of the preservation of God’s church and people, in spite of all the malicious designs of the children of Satan, that father of lies. MHBCC 531.1