Psalms 59:1

A Prayer for Protection

1

For the [music] director, [according to] Do Not Destroy. Of David. A miktam. When Saul dispatched [men] and they watched the house to kill him.

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who rise up against me.

Psalms 59:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 59:1

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God
David had his enemies in his youth, notwithstanding the amiableness of his person, the endowments of his mind, his martial achievements, his wise behaviour and conduct, and the presence of God with him; yea, it were some of these things that made Saul his enemy, who, by his power and authority, made others; see ( 1 Samuel 18:5-16 ) . Christ had his enemies, though he went about doing good, both to the bodies and souls of men, continually; the chief priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, were his implacable enemies, and even the people of the Jews in general: and the church of God, and members of it, whom David may represent, have their enemies, sin, Satan, and the world; and as David and Christ, so the church has a covenant God to go unto, from whom deliverance from enemies may be desired and expected;

defend me from them that rise up against me;
or, "set me on high above them" F12; out of their reach, as David was protected from Saul and his men, who rose up in an hostile manner against him; and as Christ was, when raised from the dead, and exalted at his Father's right hand; and as the saints are in great safety, dwelling on high, where their place of defence is the munition of rocks; and therefore it matters not who rise up against them.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (ynbgvt) "statue me in loco alto, i.e. tuto", Vatablus; and to the same sense Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis, Gejerus.

Psalms 59:1 In-Context

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and from men of bloodshed save me.
3 For look, they lie in wait for my life. The mighty attack against me, not [because of] my transgression or my sin, O Yahweh.
4 Without guilt on my part they run and ready themselves. Awake to meet me and see.
5 And you, Yahweh, God [of] hosts, [are] the God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations. Do not be gracious to any [who] treacherously plot evil. Selah

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  • [b]. The sense is that of making something inaccessibly high, like a fortress
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.