In what do you trust? Do you trust your tongue to get you out of trouble, through falsehoods and flattery (Psalm 52:2-4)? Do you trust your riches to establish you, through what you buy and whom you bribe (v. 7)? Only those who trust in the Lord will be secure. They will be like an olive tree planted in the courtyard of the temple (v. 8), secure, looked after, and nurtured. Those who trust in themselves, in their speech or riches or looks or any other thing, will be like a weed that is uprooted (v. 5).
O Lord, far too often we hope in ourselves. We hope in our tongues and in our ability to manipulate our circumstances by telling lies. Perhaps we'll avoid punishment if we lie? Perhaps people will like us more if we lie? Father, let us give up trying to save ourselves with lies, that ultimately will only burden us further and drive others further away. Instead, let us speak the truth, even when it is a confession of our sin, or an admission of our need for help. You promise to forgive every one of our sins. So why do we try to hide? You never look down on us. So why do we hesitate to ask for your help? Lord, open us to the truth. And grant that we might always be confident of your amazing love for us.
We hope also in our riches. Perhaps having nice things will fill the emptiness of my heart? Perhaps having nice things will get people to like me? Trying to fulfill the desires of our hearts with riches will leave us only emptier than before, as we see our hope did not pan out. We need you, Lord. Only you can fill us. Only you can ease the ache in our heart for something more. Only you can satisfy our desire to belong and our longing to be loved.
Lord, let our hearts let go of the vain hopes of lies and riches and anything else we might be tempted to trust in other than you. Grant us to be planted firmly and forever like a tree in the courtyards of your house. In Jesus' name, amen.
