Psalms 54

1 in finem in carminibus intellectus David

2 exaudi Deus orationem meam et ne despexeris deprecationem meam

3 intende mihi et exaudi me contristatus sum in exercitatione mea et conturbatus sum

4 a voce inimici et a tribulatione peccatoris quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitatem et in ira molesti erant mihi

5 cor meum conturbatum est in me et formido mortis cecidit super me

6 timor et tremor venit super me et contexit me tenebra

7 et dixi quis dabit mihi pinnas sicut columbae et volabo et requiescam

8 ecce elongavi fugiens et mansi in solitudine diapsalma

9 expectabam eum qui salvum me fecit a pusillanimitate spiritus et a tempestate

10 praecipita Domine divide linguas eorum quoniam vidi iniquitatem et contradictionem in civitate

11 die et nocte circumdabit eam super muros eius et iniquitas et labor in medio eius

12 et iniustitia et non defecit de plateis eius usura et dolus

13 quoniam si inimicus maledixisset mihi sustinuissem utique et si is qui oderat me super me magna locutus fuisset abscondissem me forsitan ab eo

14 tu vero homo unianimis dux meus et notus meus

15 qui simul mecum dulces capiebas cibos in domo Dei ambulavimus cum consensu

16 veniat mors super illos et descendant in infernum viventes quoniam nequitiae in habitaculis eorum in medio eorum

17 ego %autem; ad Deum clamavi et Dominus salvabit me

18 vespere et mane et meridie narrabo et adnuntiabo et exaudiet vocem meam

19 redimet in pace animam meam ab his qui adpropinquant mihi quoniam inter multos erant mecum

20 exaudiet Deus et humiliabit illos qui est ante saecula diapsalma non enim est illis commutatio et non timuerunt Deum

21 extendit manum suam in retribuendo contaminaverunt testamentum eius

22 divisi sunt ab ira vultus eius et adpropinquavit cor illius molliti sunt sermones eius super oleum et ipsi sunt iacula

23 iacta super Dominum curam tuam et ipse te enutriet non dabit in aeternum fluctuationem iusto

24 tu vero Deus deduces eos in puteum interitus viri sanguinum et doli non dimidiabunt dies suos ego autem sperabo in te Domine

Psalms 54 Commentary

Chapter 54

David complains of the malice of his enemies. (1-3) Assurance of the Divine favour and protection. (4-7)

Verses 1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.

Verses 4-7 Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it so to their cost. David's present deliverance was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completion of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him; because, having God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it was done already. The Lord would deliver him out of all his troubles. May he help us to bear our cross without repining, and at length bring us to share his victories and glory. Christians never should suffer the voice of praise and thanksgiving to cease in the church of the redeemed.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Of the word "neginoth," See Gill on "Ps 4:1," title; and of "maschil," See Gill on "Ps 32:1," title. The occasion of writing this psalm were the discoveries the Ziphims or Ziphites made to Saul of David being in their neighbourhood; which they did twice, as appears from 1 Samuel 23:14. Which of these gave occasion to the psalm is not certain; it is very likely that it was composed after both had been made. These Ziphims were the inhabitants of a city called Ziph, which was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:55, near to which was a wilderness, which had its name from the city in which David was when they came to Saul with this news of him.