Doeg — Treacherous Deeds Rewarded [21:1—22:23]

The charts of coastal waters are marked with sword and some bread that was consecrated. the location of treacherous reefs which lie be- After spotting Doeg he hurriedly left Nob. neath the waters. These reefs present a picture of Upon the completion of his religious ritual innocence though they are a grave threat. Many Doeg went straight to Saul and reported the bulletins go out alerting unsuspecting sailors entire incident. Some suggest that Doeg’s news about their danger. These reefs are like the dan- was first told in private and then in the public ger of a “treacherous person” who presents a assembly of 22:6ff. Doeg fashioned his words so picture of innocence, but in reality is filled with that the truth was spoken but was distorted to poison and death. present another image (22:9, 10). His words In 1 Samuel Doeg the Edomite epitomizes caused Saul’s anger to condemn innocent priests such treachery and stands as a warning to all and ruthlessly kill the entire priesthood. When who live as he did. the king’s servants refused to carry out this ter- Doeg is described as an Edomite. He was not rible and ruthless act, Saul told Doeg, “You turn an Israeli but an alien, a descendent of Esau. An around and attack the priests.” He carried it out. enmity existed between Doeg’s race and Israel. Doeg planned it, manipulated Saul to achieve it, By education and habit he could not share the slaughtered innocent people because of hatred, lofty sympathies for the coming Messiah. Ap- and then dared to brag about his “heroic” deed! parently Doeg became a proselyte to Israel’s Could we find a more dastardly felon in the faith because he was at Nob observing a reli- entire Bible? When news reached David by way gious ritual (21:7). He was a prominent person in of the sole survivor, Psalm 52 was written. Saul’s court bearing the title of chief herdsman. HIS TREACHEROUS CHARACTER TRAITS HIS TREACHEROUS DEEDS Treacherous traits were imbedded in the char- Doeg’s treacherous nature becomes clear to acter of Doeg. Let us look carefully because we the reader of 1 Samuel. David was running for may nurture these just as Doeg did! his life, and he went to the tabernacle at Nob. He used his tongue irresponsibly (22:9, 10; Psalm After the destruction of Shiloh, Saul evidently 52:2, 4). Doeg failed to say that the high priest moved the tabernacle and its services to Nob. had tried to question David. Doeg fashioned his David’s life was at a low ebb. His faith in God words to suit his goal, and his goal was to put the was weak, and he leaned upon his own strength. high priest in the worst possible light! Psalm 52:2 He lied to the high priest and secured Goliath’s literally reads that he was “working treachery.” 1 He carefully planned every word and maneuver. upon infants, no respect for the aged, and no He used his tongue to destroy the priests (22:4). reverence for life. He was so filled with hate that Words that devour are words that destroy and he deliberately misled Saul regarding the inno- ruin the lives of others. cence of the priests. How the careless tongue marks the treacher- Treachery does not respect the innocent, but ous person! James 3:6 says, “And the tongue is a only self. The number one goal of the treacher- fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set ous person is self-gain. If that is interrupted, hate among our members as that which defiles the will find a way to destroy! entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, He did not trust God. His lack of trust is evident and is set on fire by hell.” How easy it is to follow in his worship attitude. Though present in the sin’s temptation and say things that ruin others. tabernacle, he was far from God (Psalm 52:7a). He Doeg gossiped and destroyed God’s people. Such went through the forms but missed the spirit. This is the result when we fail to control our tongues. happens even today (1 Timothy 2:8b). During a desperate situation in the Civil War, The treacherous person does not depend Lincoln called a meeting of his generals. One was upon God. The man who harbors hate and exceedingly talkative and would not be quiet. insensitivity imagines that God depends upon This talkative general had coal black hair and a him. The treacherous man makes his own stan- gray beard. One of the generals sitting beside dards and honors them as law. The treacherous Lincoln asked why the general had a gray beard man deafly receives God’s commands to love. and black hair. Lincoln said, “Because he works The treacherous man is pictured in Psalm his jaw more than his head!” Such is a fitting truth 52:3 as rejoicing in two areas: (1) The moral order about all who participate in irresponsible speech! is spurned as God’s goodness is rejected, and He was controlled by self. Doeg asked, “What’s (2) the covenant order is broken as God’s right- in it for me?” He made himself the center of the eousness is forsaken. universe. Saul was insane and questioned all around him (22:8). Doeg was taking advantage HIS TREACHERY’S SOBER REWARD of the situation. The narrative of Doeg’s life reveals that all Here is the foundation for all treachery. While treachery will be answered (Hosea 10:13a). Doeg’s feeding selfishness, we lose sight of God. Self- treachery brought tragic consequences in the end. ishness led Doeg to greed. To receive the favor of It was rewarded with a further decline into sin Saul, he was willing to do anything! Psalm 52:7a (Psalm 52:3). An “addiction” to sin develops that reveals that selfishness led him to worldliness the treacherous man cannot avoid. Second Peter (Romans 1:28). 2:14 says, “Having eyes full of adultery and that How sad it is to see those today who are just as never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, controlled by self as Doeg was. These are blinded having a heart trained in greed, accursed chil- to the fact that they are being led to treachery dren.” Soon one finds himself participating in (1 John 2:15; Philippians 2:4; Psalm 52:7b). more gossip, bitterness, hate, etc. Having re- He was a coward. The name “Doeg” literally jected God (Psalm 52:3), the treacherous man is means timid or fearful. Apparently Doeg brag- left with only error (Romans 1:21-24). How sad a ged about his evil work once the deed had been reward! committed: Psalm 52:1 says, “Why do you boast It is rewarded with destruction (Psalm 52:5). in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God’s judgment is described in progressive God endures all day long.” How repulsive! He terms. First, there is “defeat,” then “expulsion,” took credit and put himself on a platform for all and finally “extinction.” God thus warns us that to see. This is a clear portrait of the treacherous if there is not a violent, quick, and decisive person—proud and profane. “Self” loves to brag change, a tragic end will come (Luke 13:3). on self, and Doeg illustrates this so well (Romans It is rewarded with isolation (22:22). One’s 11:25; 12:16). character will be exposed, and the fame once He was filled with hate. He did not have sym- thought so vital will fade away. David knew pathy or kindness. Doeg’s cruelty was astonish- what Doeg was like, and he wanted to have no ing when it is understood that he had no pity part of him. Today the treacherous man finds a 2 similar response—no one wants to be around “The Land of Look-Behind” him. His selfish ambition, razor-edged tongue, and intense hatred are repulsive. Some years ago, Norman Vincent Peale visited the home of friends in Jamaica and noticed an old CONCLUSION map of that Caribbean island hanging on the wall. From Doeg we need to learn one lesson: the Across one barren and deserted area in the moun- disastrous course which selfishness brings into tains ran a faint line of very small script. Looking our lives! In Doeg we discover the horror of closer, he could read: “The Land of Look-Behind.” “blind ambition.” There is untold doom await- Intrigued, he asked his host what it meant. ing all who will do anything just to get-ahead in “Oh,” he said, “that map goes back to the this world. “Blind ambition” is only pure selfish- days when there was still slavery here in Ja- ness masked when it is used as Doeg did. It maica. When slaves escaped, as they sometimes appeared that Doeg succeeded—he received the did, they’d head for those mountains. Now and king’s approval, advancements, etc., but only for then the government would send troops in an a brief time. Then he found a harvest of unbeliev- effort to capture these poor runaways. So they able pain, evil, and deeper sin (Psalm 52:5). must have spent a lot of time looking fearfully Life holds two options for all who live. We over their shoulders. And that’s where the name may live with God and obey His Word in all came from. Rather romantic, isn’t it? The Land of areas. We may not get rich and famous, but we Look-Behind.” will be satisfied. Psalm 52 concludes with: “To us, yes,” Mr. Peale said. “To those poor souls, no. They might have escaped from the But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God sugar plantations, but they were still slaves— forever and ever. I will give Thee thanks forever, slaves to fear. They had no real freedom. They because Thou hast done it, and I will wait on Thy were still wearing invisible chains.” Even when name, for it is good, in the presence of Thy godly ones (Psalm 52:8, 9). they stifled their consciences with rationaliza- tions and excuses, something in them was al- Or, we may live without God, trusting in self and ways looking back fearfully, wondering if their living to reap the fruits of our treachery. Count- wrongdoing was going to catch up with them. less men have shuttled across the world’s globe They could not live abundantly in the present or with their armies erecting statues, forming na- look forward hopefully to the future. They were tions, and conquering enemies. These are not the trapped in the Land of Look-Behind. truly “strong” men. Their defeat will always come, and their history will fade into oblivion. A Universal Craving But the righteous man will live forever. One author has remarked, “Of all the vices A basic need in marriage stems from one of which humans are subject to, treachery is the most the deepest of all human cravings—the desire to detestable, being a compound of fraud, cowardice, be appreciated. The great psychologist William and revenge.” The greatest wrongs can never jus- James once remarked ruefully that in his classic tify treachery because it destroys the principles of works on human personality he had failed to confidence and security upon which our society mention this yearning, and that it was perhaps rests. Christianity teaches us to forgive injuries, the most universal craving of all. but to resent them under the disguise of friendship and benevolence argues a degeneracy at which Too Much Too Soon common humanity and justice must blush! In our “dog-eat-dog” society and in our “cut- A college girl was quoted as saying, “We throat” business philosophies, may all Chris- mature at the age of twelve. We become world- tians remember Doeg the Edomite and resolve weary with the boredom of the prostitute who never to use treachery as a means of getting has seen too much of life at the age of sixteen. At ahead in advancements. Treachery is not worth eighteen we are ready to die.” the price one has to pay in the end! This is often a commentary of the life of “the —John Kachelman hurried child” in America.