This is an instructional psalm reminiscent of Psalm 1:1–6 which talks about the ways of the righteous and the wicked. This type of psalm is called a maskil, and it was written by David.

The history of Psalm 52 can be read in 1 Samuel 22:6–23. Doeg, who was the chief of Saul’s herdsmen (1 Samuel 21:7), told the king that he had seen David in Nob, in the house of Ahimelech. With this speech, he successfully channelled all of Saul’s anger and suspicions toward David and the priests and ingratiated himself with Saul. On Saul’s orders, Doeg the Edomite killed eighty-five priests and all the inhabitants of Nob. Only one person escaped—Abiathar. He fled and reported the news of the heinous deeds to David.