lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Proper 11 · Year C

Psalm 52

The Fate of the Boastful Evildoer

July 23, 2028

The Olive Trees, Vincent van Gogh
The Olive Trees, Vincent van Gogh, 1889Museum of Modern Art, New York
Painted at Saint-Rémy in the same months as The Starry Night. The ground heaves as much as the sky and the trees are twisted into the same rhythm.Hebrews describes a high priest who was heard because of his reverent submission, and he was in an olive grove when that was decided.Vincent van GoghVan Gogh (1853-1890) trained first for the ministry and preached in a Belgian mining district before taking up painting, which he did seriously for only the last decade of his life.Museum of Modern Art, New YorkFounded in 1929, ten days after the Wall Street crash, to collect the art the established museums would not.Museum of Modern Art, New York
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 10:38-42Lk 10:38-42
EpistleCol. 1:15-28Col 1:15-28
Old TestamentAmos 8:1-12Am 8:1-12Alt. OTGen. 18:1-10aGn 18:1-10a
PsalterPs. 52Ps 52Alt. PsalmPs. 15Ps 15

Overview & Insights

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." (Psalm 52:8)

The psalmist confronts a powerful figure who boasts in evil and deceit, and contrasts that person's coming ruin with the psalmist's own quiet trust, rooted in God's house like a flourishing tree. It ends with a vow to give thanks and wait on God's name.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Psalm 52

Commentary

Psalm 52 Commentary: Praying About the Man Who Loved EvilPs 52 Commentary: Praying About the Man Who Loved Evil Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse evangelical treatment of the psalm's contrast between the boastful and the trusting.

Psalm 52:1 CommentariesPs 52:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries verse by verse on the psalm.

Psalm 52 (Gill's Exposition)Ps 52 (Gill's Exposition) StudyLight

John Gill's full exposition of the psalm, useful for close textual detail.

Background & Word Study

Psalm 52 (Hebrew text)Ps 52 (Hebrew text) Sefaria

The Masoretic Hebrew text with facing translation for direct word study.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Psalm 52Catena on Ps 52 Catena

Patristic comments on the psalm's warning against trusting in wealth and deceit.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 10:38-42
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.