Psalms 59

Psalm 59

1

For the music leader. Do not destroy. A miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house in order to kill him.

1 Oh, my God, deliver me from my enemies; put me out of reach from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from evildoers; save me from the bloodthirsty.

3 Look at how they lie in ambush for my life! Powerful people are attacking me, LORD— but not because of any error or sin of mine.

4 They run and take their stand— but not because of any fault of mine. Get up when I cry out to you! Look at what's happening!

5 You are the LORD God of heavenly forces, the God of Israel! Wake up and punish all the nations! Grant no mercy to any wicked traitor! Selah

6 They come back every evening, growling like dogs, prowling around the city.

7 See what they belch out with their mouths: swords are between their lips! Who can listen to them?

8 But you, LORD, laugh at them. You mock all the nations.

9 I keep looking for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold.

10 My loving God will come to meet me. God will allow me to look down on my enemies.

11 Don't kill them, or my people might forget; instead, by your power shake them up and bring them down, you who are our shield and my Lord.

12 For the sin of their mouths, the words that they speak, let them be captured in their pride. For the curses and lies they repeat,

13 finish them off in anger; finish them off until they are gone! Then let it be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah

14 They come back every evening, growling like dogs, prowling around the city.

15 They roam about for food, and if they don't get their fill, they stay all night.

16 But me? I will sing of your strength! In the morning I will shout out loud about your faithful love because you have been my stronghold, my shelter when I was distraught.

17 I will sing praises to you, my strength, because God is my stronghold, my loving God.

Psalms 59 Commentary

Chapter 59

David prays for deliverance from his enemies. (1-7) He foresees their destruction. (8-17)

Verses 1-7 In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man.

Verses 8-17 It is our wisdom and duty, in times of danger and difficulty, to wait upon God; for he is our defence, in whom we shall be safe. It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to look to God as the God of our mercy, the Author of all good in us, and the Giver of all good to us. The wicked can never be satisfied, which is the greatest misery in a poor condition. A contented man, if he has not what he would have, yet he does not quarrel with Providence, nor fret within himself. It is not poverty, but discontent that makes a man unhappy. David would praise God because he had many times, and all along, found Him his refuge in the day of trouble. He that is all this to us, is certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services. The trials of his people will end in joy and praise. When the night of affliction is over, they will sing of the Lord's power and mercy in the morning. Let believers now, in assured faith and hope, praise Him for those mercies, for which they will rejoice and praise him for ever.

Footnotes

• [a]. Perhaps inscription
• [b]. Heb uncertain

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. The history of Saul's sending messengers to watch the house of David, and to kill him when he rose in the morning, is in 1 Samuel 19:11; which was the occasion of his writing this psalm; though the title of the Syriac version of it is, "David said or composed this, when he heard that the priests were slain by Saul:" and in the same is added, "but unto us it declares the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith, and the rejection of the Jews." And which perhaps is designed in Psalm 59:5; and some interpreters are of opinion that the whole psalm is to be understood of Christ, of whom David was a type, especially in his sufferings; and there are some things in it which better agree with him than with David, as particularly his being without sin, Psalm 59:3.