Psalms 59 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 59

Deliver Me from My Enemies

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam¹ of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

59:1   Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me;
2   deliver me from those who work evil,
    and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3   For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
    fierce men stir up strife against me.
  For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4     for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
  Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5     You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel.
  Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
    spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6   Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
7   There they are, bellowing with their mouths
    with swords in their lips—
    for “Who,” they think,² “will hear us?”
8   But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
    you hold all the nations in derision.
9   O my Strength, I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress.
10   My God in his steadfast love³ will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11   Kill them not, lest my people forget;
    make them totter⁴ by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield!
12   For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be trapped in their pride.
  For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13     consume them in wrath;
    consume them till they are no more,
  that they may know that God rules over Jacob
    to the ends of the earth. Selah
14   Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
15   They wander about for food
    and growl if they do not get their fill.
16   But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
  For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17   O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.

Footnotes

[1] 59:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 59:7 Hebrew lacks they think
[3] 59:10 Or The God who shows me steadfast love
[4] 59:11 Or wander

Commentary

Prayer in time of affliction, 1 Sam 19.11-17; when David was still young.

v1-2: Prayer for deliverance, repeated; deliver me, protect me, save me; David has no help but God.

v3-4: Persecution is unfair (1 Pet 2.20). The godly should expect persecution. Note that the enemies are mighty, and they gather together; in human terms a significant threat. We must not dismiss persecution as something trivial, although we should see it in its proper perspective. We look to God, for He works on behalf of His people, individually and corporately.

v5: Also v8, 11-13; ungodly nations; Saul was behaving as a Gentile; and he had Gentile generals in his army.

v6-7: The ungodly pursue their victims; and have no concept of personal accountability.

v8-10: David's attitude was like God's. We may struggle with some of his requests, but we must see that God will judge those who reject Him. Those who attack God's people are attacking God, and He will act of their behalf.

v11: Prayer of judgment, as a sign to the people of Israel. As in 2 Kings 2.24; the 42 youths were mauled (scarred) by bears as a testimony to the people. If some remain unrepentant, perhaps others will see, and learn the lesson. The people of God will also see, and appreciate God's work in defending them.

v12-13: There is no shame in them; their words are full of sin, Matt 12.37, and they will be judged by their own words.

v14-15: See v6-7; roaming like dogs, looking for victims.

v16-17: The godly man is able to trust his life to God; he can rejoice in the morning, for God remains faithful; unlike the ungodly who has returned home dissatisfied.