Psalms 59

1 (58-1) <Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.> (58-2) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.

2 (58-3) Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

3 (58-4) For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:

4 (58-5) Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I been, and directed my steps.

5 (58-6) Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.

6 (58-7) They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

7 (58-8) Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us?

8 (58-9) But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.

9 (58-10) I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector:

10 (58-11) My God, his mercy shall prevent me.

11 (58-12) God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:

12 (58-13) For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of,

13 (58-14) When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.

14 (58-15) They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

15 (58-16) They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.

16 (58-17) But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.

17 (58-18) Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.

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.

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.