Psalms 54:1

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

1 ^[a]^[b]Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.

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Psalms 54:1 in Other Translations

KJV

1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

ESV

1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

NLT

1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might.

MSG

1 God, for your sake, help me! Use your influence to clear me.

CSB

1 God, save me by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!

Psalms 54:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 54:1

Save me, O God, by thy name
That is, by himself, by his power, and of his grace and goodness; the Lord's name is often used for himself. David in his distress applies to his God for salvation and deliverance, who only could give it; which was right; and his prayer was remarkably heard and answered: for when Saul came down upon the first discovery, and beset David and his men all around, just as he was about to seize the prey, tidings came to him of the invasion of the Philistines; which obliged him directly to quit his pursuit of David, and return in haste for the defence of his country, ( 1 Samuel 23:26-28 ) ; and upon the second discovery, when Saul came again to take him, Saul was delivered into the hands of David, who could have took away his life if he would; but he only took his spear and cruse of water by his bolster, as a proof of his being in his power, ( 1 Samuel 26:12 ) . Of such avail is the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man. This prayer is suitable enough to David's antitype and son, the Messiah; see ( Psalms 69:1 ) ( Hebrews 5:7 ) ; and especially to sensible sinners; who, being made acquainted with, their lost and perishing condition, inquire the way of salvation; and finding it is not by works, but by Christ alone, apply in that way for it, and desire that God would save them by his Son; who is his name, in whom his name is, and whose name Jesus, a Saviour, is of God's giving; and this name is a strong tower, whither such souls, sensible of danger, flee and are safe; nor is there any other name in which salvation is, and which is therefore exceeding precious, and like ointment poured forth; see ( Exodus 23:21 ) ( Matthew 1:21 ) ( Proverbs 18:10 ) ( Acts 4:12 ) ( Song of Solomon 1:3 ) . Or, "for thy name's sake" ^F8; for the sake of the glory of his divine perfections; which was displayed in the deliverance of David, and more abundantly in the salvation of lost sinners; such as the wisdom, power, faithfulness, justice, grace and mercy of God. Such a petition shows that man cannot save himself; that no creature, none but God can save him; and that a sensible sinner desires to be saved in such a way that God may be glorified;

and judge me by thy strength;
David, though innocent, had many charges laid against him; his enemies were lively and strong; he puts his cause into the hands of the Lord, his strong Redeemer, who was able to plead it thoroughly against those that strove with him; so Christ, his antitype, committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously, ( 1 Peter 2:23 ) ; and so should every believer.

FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Kmvb) "propter nomen tuum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Amama, Michaelis.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible