With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.
Psalm 78:72
Being clever can be a bad thing. The ancient serpent is crafty (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3). Our gospel which defeats him is not “cleverly devised myths” (2 Peter 1:16). But clever can also be a compliment (and I say bring it back). Here Asaph uses it to describe King David, who had the skills to pay the bills.
As we well know, this verse is really about the Son of David who guides his church with purity of holiness and the cleverest of skill. He alone is wiser than serpents and innocenter than doves. Knowing this by faith helps us trust him when it seems like he’s snoozin’ on what’s oozin’.
Geniuses may look like fools to idiots yet the wise have been known to play that part, as our Lord did on the tree—and as, it may be, he often does with us. So when things are woeful or weary or weird, let’s wait for it. His wisdom will always win.