This Psalm was written by David during his flight from the jealous anger of Saul. David begins the Psalm questioning his enemy “why do you boast of evil, O mighty man” v. 1. His response to his ruthless enemies who seek to kill him is “the steadfast love of God endures all the day” v. 2. The remainder of the Psalm contrasts this enemy with the righteous.
At first, I don’t really identify with the enemy. I don’t explicitly “love evil more than good” v. 3. But as David unpacks this enemy, I begin to realize that many times I “do not make God my refuge”, that I often trust in my own financial stability, and at times “seek refuge in my own destruction” v. 7. This verse made me think of our battle with sin. “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” Romans 7:15.
I am thankful for truths about God’s character and the believers’ stance in the remainder of the Psalm. “I am like a green olive tree in the house of God” v. 8. Chaz mentioned in one of his previous sermons that this culture used the olive for everything; daily life was dependent on it. The olive tree is used several times in the Bible as an image of vitality and fruitfulness. It is useful, live giving, and sustaining. David follows this with “I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever” v. 8.
So Christ City Church may we make God our refuge and trust in the abundance of his riches. May we be like a green olive tree in the house of God: vital, fruitful, useful, life giving, and sustaining. May we trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
— Maria N.