For a period of time when David was a young man he was employed by aides to King Saul to play his harp and sing for him. In his favored position he was privy to the inner workings of the monarch’s court. He saw unscrupulous men like Doeg the Edomite continually vying for the king’s favor. They were ruthless and would stop at nothing to satisfy their ambitions. Indeed, it was corrupt men like these who poisoned Saul’s mind with slanderous thoughts toward David. Yet, while it lasted, David’s time in the king’s court served as valuable training for when he himself would sit on the king’s throne.
Eventually, in God’s timing, David was installed as the monarch of Israel. After forty years of languishing under the tyrannical reign of Saul, the Jewish people were ready for a fresh start.
Excitement filled the air when the new “administration” was established. David had a God-given vision for how to set up this theocratic government. He created a “presidential cabinet” with entire divisions under their care. New positions were now open in the areas of military, administration, domestic service and even as religious workers. Opportunities ranged from top and mid-level management all the way down to simple workers.
The words quoted above that David penned may have even been his way to serve notice across the land as to the type of people he wanted in his employ. He wanted to fill his government with sincere people who truly loved the Lord.
Nevertheless, David knew from experience that ambitious men would clamor for his favor. “I do not have fellowship with tricky, two-faced men; they are false and hypocritical,” he wrote at another time. “I hate the sinners’ hangouts and refuse to enter them.” (Psalm 26:5-6 LB)
These were the two groups of people he wanted to avoid at all cost: religious pretenders and flagrant sinners.
Undoubtedly, shameless sinners would know better than to attempt to win his favor. Even if a brazen reprobate were to attempt to gain access to the king, his sharp eye would instantly spot him.
No, the ones David feared were those who were adept at hiding their true intentions behind a warm smile and flattering lips. Some hypocrites are so skilled in their ways that even the most discerning eye cannot easily detect them. Such people have a strong instinct as to what others want to hear from them. They are spiritual chameleons who instinctively know how to color their appearance to fit into any group. These charlatans are the ones with which David had the most concern. Everything a hypocrite says is carefully weighed to reinforce the image he wishes to convey to those around him.
You and I are not being swamped with people who want to ingratiate themselves with us, but, nevertheless, we should share David’s heart when he wrote, “I want the company of the godly men and women in the land; they are the true nobility.” (Psalm 16:3 LB)