Psalm 52:8 (NKJV)
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
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Bible Commentary
Psalm 52:8 is a Bible Verse where King David plants his feet and chooses to trust in the mercy of God forever.
Grace is a very difficult thing to completely wrap our minds around. It is so vast, so huge, that it can be difficult to receive.
John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, our sins are wiped away. That means all of them—from our past, present and future. When King David said, “I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever” in Psalm 52:8, it was because His mercy is forever available.
Grace is that big.
We usually don’t recognize the effects of living under the weight of guilt until we experience the sweet relief of God’s mercy. We might not think we’re living in guilt, but the voices of accusation and condemnation can play quietly in the background of our consciousness.
Get Out of the Fog
We don’t even know why we’re not happy or why we’re in such a sour mood. Guilt and condemnation can be like a fog surrounding us. We can still move and function, but it saps the brightness and happiness right out of us.
We don’t know what’s wrong until we personally experience what’s right–the mercy and grace of God our Father. We can be a born-again Christian and still walk around under the effects of guilt.
It’s hard to go to work or school with a good attitude when we’re stuck in that fog. Notice what David said about himself in Psalm 52:8.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
An olive tree in those days was a prominent plant in great demand. The olive yielded oil, which they used for many purposes—medicinal and cosmetic. In Hebrew, “olive tree” means: an olive (as yielding illuminating oil).
If David said he was like a green olive tree in the house of God, it meant he was alive, well and flourishing brightly in the Presence of God.
The reason he was flourishing like an olive tree is because he trusted in the mercy of God forever and ever. In other words, he lived and operated in the protection and illumination of God’s grace and not in the gray fog of guilt and condemnation.
Sounds of Grace
Grace is an ongoing gift of salvation. It’s not a one-and-done thing. We can be walking in the full understanding of God’s mercy one day, happy and content, and the next day the fog slowly creeps back in unaware.
We need the grace of God to continually pour over us, and it does when fear and guilt aren’t blocking the way.
You see, we choose to either:
1) Trust in the mercy of God and walk in His ongoing forgiveness or
2) Listen to the voices of the past which point to our sin.
#1 brings the brightness, peace and joy of Jesus Christ—a thankful attitude and spirit of praise. This is from Jesus Christ, the Truth.
#2 creates a sour and negative tone and attitude, which points the finger of blame on God and others. This is from the devil, the father of lies.
In God’s House
It’s important to note that David said he was like a green olive tree in the house of God. When we try to live by someone else’s philosophy or house rules, it is much harder to hear the sounds of grace. We are safely surrounded by the beautiful sounds of God’s mercy in His house.
David also penned these words from the last lines of the famous 23rd Psalm.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
If we dwell in the house of the Lord, that means we’re in close proximity to Him. We talk to Him and He talks to us. We hear the sounds of grace much clearer when we stay close to Him.
Study the Bible verse of Psalm 52:8, be like a green olive tree in the house of God, and trust in His mercy forever and ever.
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