Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? – Psalm 52:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 9, 2019): Psalm 52

American Author Cassandra Clare writes “I'm sorry. I use my rapier wit to hide my inner pain.” The truth is that we all use words to hide our pain. Sometimes we make jokes that just aren’t funny. Sometimes we get sarcastic. Often, I think our words are misunderstood. How can anyone actually understand them since our words, even though they are directed outward, are really all about us? There is no way that you can understand the words that I speak to you unless you are willing to attempt to understand my pain. For most of us, we are too wrapped up in our suffering to bother understanding that the words spoken by the other are not intended to further our pain, but are actually an expression of the pain that they are feeling.

Sixteenth Century Bishop and Bible translator, Myles Coverdale, translates Psalm 52:1 this way: “Why boastest thou thy self (thou Tyraunt) that thou canst do myschefe?” What stands out about Coverdale’s translation is the shift from “mighty hero” to “thou Tyrant.” There is no doubt that Coverdale’s “thou Tyrant” is more accurate to the meaning of David’s words here. But the problem is that Coverdale removes the sarcasm, and maybe some of David’s pain.

Doeg the Edomite had taken the story of David’s meeting with the Priests at Nob and handed that story, in the worst possible light and interpretation, to Saul. It is evident from Saul’s reaction that the story of David’s lies to Ahimelek, and David’s assurance to the priests that he was on a mission from Saul, was not part of the story the Doeg told to Saul. As a result, Doeg got to go back to the priests at Nob and exterminate them. Doeg the Edomite killed eighty-five civilians, most of them priests with absolutely no fight training in their past. I think that seventeenth-century theologian Matthew Poole captures David meaning correctly.

“O mighty man! he speaks ironically. O valiant captain! O glorious action! to kill a few weak and unarmed persons in the king’s presence, and under the protection of his guards! Surely thy name will be famous to all ages for such heroical courage.”

But what Coverdale’s translation misses that Poole’s words capture is that David is revealing his pain. The root of these words about Doeg the Edomite is found in David’s words to Abiathar, the son of the murdered Ahimelek. “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family” (1 Samuel 22:22).

As David experiences his genuine pain, he calls Doeg a “mighty hero.” But the words are an expression of David’s suffering. The reality is that David does not believe that Doeg is a hero or even a tyrant. In the midst of his pain, David looks at Doeg and sees a coward; and nothing more.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 34