Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 52:8

"But as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever." — Psalms 52:8 (ASV)

But I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God (Psalms 52:8a-b) – I am safe and happy, despite the effort made by my enemy, the informer, to secure my destruction. I have been kept unharmed, like a green and flourishing tree—a tree protected in the very courts of the sanctuary—safe under the care and the eye of God.

A green tree is the emblem of prosperity (Psalms 37:35). The “house of God” here referred to is the tabernacle, considered as the place where God was supposed to reside (Psalms 23:6; Psalms 27:4–5).

The particular allusion here is to the “courts” of the tabernacle. An olive tree would not be cultivated in the tabernacle itself, but it might be in the “courts” or “area” that surrounded it. The name “house of God” would be given to the whole area, just as it was later to the entire area in which the temple was located.

A tree planted in this way in the very courts of the sanctuary would be regarded as sacred and would be safe as long as the tabernacle itself was safe, for it would be, as it were, directly under divine protection. So David had been, despite all the efforts of his enemies to destroy him.

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever (Psalms 52:8c) –

1. I have always done it. It has been my constant practice in trouble or danger.
2. I will always do it.

As the result of all my experience, I will still do it; and thus trusting in God, I will have the consciousness of safety.