Bible Commentaries
Psalms 59

Verses 1-17

Psalms 59

A Save Me Psalm

Tho David was not sinless, he was innocent of the charges and attacks made on his life unjustly, when Saul sent enemies to watch his house to kill him, 1 Samuel 19:11.

Scripture v. 1-17:

Verses 1, 2 appeal to the Lord for deliverance from and defense against David’s enemies, as they arose up in anarchy against him, Psalms 17:7; Psalms 20:1. He added "Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men," those who sought his life-blood.

Verse 3 continues "They lie in wait for my soul; The mighty are gathered (in collusion) against me," the strong ones, v. 9, 17; 1 Samuel 19:11. He adds, "not for my transgression, not for my sin, O Lord," 1 Samuel 24:11; Psalms 56:6. He did not claim to be sinless, but he did dis­claim any guilt filed toward him, regarding any effort to overthrow Saul, Psalms 7:3-5.

Verses 4, 5 call on the Lord to awake (rise up) and behold, and help him against his enemies who run like warriors to assault him, as an army assaults a city, Psalms 18:29; Psalms 44:23. David appealed to the Lord God, as Jehovah of unexcelled power, as Elohim of creating and sus­taining life giver, as "of hosts," implies angelic resources are at His com­mand, and "of Israel," indicates His covenant relation with David and Israel. He asks that God rise up to visit all heathen and transgressors, without showing them any further mercy, so that they might know that he ruled the universe, Jeremiah 35:17; Jeremiah 38:17;2 Samuel 7:27. See also Psalms 25:3.

Verses 6, 7 relate that these enemies repeatedly came to him in the evening, like howling junkyard dogs that live on putrefied flesh, gar­bage, and human offing. Such was their sinful, vile characters that re­peatedly attacked David, Psalms 22:16-20. He added they "belch out," with their mouth, "swords, instruments of death," in their lips, for they defiantly said, "who hears?" as they laid out false charges of calumny against David, Psalms 94:4; Psalms 10:11-14; Psalms 73:11; Job 22:12-13; Jeremiah 33:24.

Verses 8, 9 declare, "O Lord, thou shaft laugh at them, having or holding all the heathen in derision," v. 5, as also declared Psalms 2:4.

Verse 9 adds that "because of his strength," (that of Saul), David asserted that he would wait upon Elohim God, the sustaining God, for his defense, a noble resolve, Ecclesiastes 3:6. See also Psalms 18:1-2; Psalms 27:14; Psalms 46:1; Psalms 62:5-6; Psalms 62:11; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:3-4; Isaiah 40:31; Matthew 6:13.

Verse 10 expresses David’s faith "the God of my mercy shall go before me," anticipating and providing my protection, Psalms 21:3. He added that God would reward him to see his desire of judgment to fall upon his enemies, Psalms 54:7.

Verse 11 asks "slay them not, lest my people forget," slay not the race, those of Israel hostile to David, God’s anointed, v. 13. He desires that the race survive as a monument to God’s judgment against transgressors, 1 Samuel 2:36; 2 Samuel 3:29; Romans 11:20-21. He asks the Lord simply to "scatter them," by His power, and "bring them down," from their pride, arising out .of prosperity ," O Lord our shield" means our protecting God in all battles, Psalms 34:7; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 13:5.

Verse 12 adds "For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips set them even to be taken (snatched) in their pride; And for cursing and lying which they (continually) speak," Psalms 64:7-8; Psalms 79:12.

Verse 13 continues to plea, that God may "consume them," bring his enemies to great loss and defeat in His wrath; That they might know or comprehend that God continually ruled Jacob, "even to the ends of the earth."

Verses 14, 15 exhort God to let his enemies go around about the city howling and snarling like starving scavenger dogs, grudgingly, never satisfied, all night, v. 6; Revelation 14:4.

Verses 16, 17 conclude that David will sing aloud of God’s power, mercy, and defense, all day long, through all his troubles, to victory, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.