Psalms 59

1 Rescue me from my enemies, O my God. Protect me from those who attack me.

2 Rescue me from troublemakers. Save me from bloodthirsty people.

3 They lie in ambush for me right here! Fierce men attack me, O LORD, but not because of any disobedience,

4 or any sin, or any guilt on my part. They hurry to take positions against me. Wake up, and help me; see [for yourself].

5 O LORD God of Armies, God of Israel, arise to punish all the nations. Have no pity on any traitors. Selah

6 They return in the evening. They howl like dogs. They prowl the city.

7 See what pours out of their mouths-- swords from their lips! [They think,] "Who will hear us?"

8 O LORD, you laugh at them. You make fun of all the nations.

9 O my strength, I watch for you! God is my stronghold, my merciful God!

10 God will come to meet me. He will let me gloat over those who spy on me.

11 Do not kill them. Otherwise, my people may forget. Make them wander aimlessly by your power. Bring them down, O Lord, our shield,

12 [because of] the sins from their mouths and the words on their lips. Let them be trapped by their own arrogance because they speak curses and lies.

13 Destroy them in your rage. Destroy them until not one of them is left. Then they will know that God rules Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 They return in the evening. They howl like dogs. They prowl the city.

15 They wander around to find something to eat. If they are not full enough, they will stay all night.

16 But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will joyfully sing about your mercy. You have been my stronghold and a place of safety in times of trouble.

17 O my strength, I will make music to praise you! God is my stronghold, my merciful 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.

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.