To the chief musician, al-taskith, a miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill him
59:Title See 1 Sam 19:11-18. Al taskith probably indicated the tune to be used in singing this psalm. It means “Do not Destroy”. Miktam was probably a literary or musical term.⚜
59
📚Deliver me from my enemies,O my God.
Defend me from those who rise up
against me.
59:1 See Ps 3:7. In this case the enemies are Saul the king of Israel and those who came at his orders to murder David.⚜
2 📚Deliver me from those
who do evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 📚For, see, they lie in wait
for my life.
The mighty have gathered against me;
not because of transgression
or sin of
mine, O LORD.
4 📚They run and make themselves ready,
without fault of mine.
Awake to help me and see!
59:4 David was entirely innocent of any wrong doing in regard to Saul. He was loyal to him as the king. Unfortunately for him he was more successful, more popular, and more righteous than Saul and so became the object of Saul’s envy and hatred. Envy is murderous (Prov 27:4; Matt 27:18; Acts 7:9; 17:5; Rom 1:29). David could justly and confidently ask God to arise to help him (Ps 7:6; 35:23).⚜
5 📚Therefore, O LORD God of hosts,
the God of Israel,
awake to punish all the nations.
Do not be merciful to any wicked
transgressors. Selah
59:5 Note at 35:8. The behavior of those wicked men in Israel made David think of the wicked nations of the world which did not know God. He calls on the LORD (Jehovah), the self existing One (Ex 3:14), the Lord Who controls all the armies in heaven and earth, the only true God, the God in covenant with His people Israel.⚜
6 📚They return at evening.
They snarl like a dog,
and go around the city.
7 📚See, they spew out
with their mouth.
Swords are in their lips,
for they say, “Who hears?”
59:6-7 Verses 14,15. The wicked are compared to cruel dogs who run in packs seeking something to eat. David does not mean watch dogs or house pets, but the mangy, hungry, noisy dogs that belong to no one and feed on whatever they can find. With their words like swords and their hearts full of contempt for everyone, the wicked are far more dangerous than such dogs. Compare Ps 22:16.⚜
8 📚But you, O LORD, will laugh
at them.
You will scoff at all the nations.
9 📚Because of his strength
I will wait for you;
for God is my defense.
10 📚My merciful God will go
before me.
God will let me see my desire
on my enemies.
59:10 Once more David is sure that God will hear him. Once again faith wins the victory.⚜
11 📚Do not kill them,
so that my people will
not forget.
Scatter them by your power,
and bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 📚For the sin of their mouth
and the words of their lips
let them be taken in their pride,
and for the curses and lies which
they speak.
13 📚Consume them in wrath;
consume them, so that they
may be no more,
and let them know that God rules
in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah
59:11-13 A sudden destruction might be forgotten. He wants God to bring them down by degrees, to make them wandering examples of God’s righteous judgment on evil men, and then to destroy them. His motive for this was God’s glory. See Ps 7:6-9. The knowledge of the true God is the greatest blessing that men can have. David means that anything that brings this knowledge is to be welcomed.⚜
14 📚And at evening they return,
and they snarl like a dog
and go around the city.
15 📚They wander up and down
for food,
and howl if they are not satisfied.
16 📚But I will sing of your power.
Yes, in the morning I will sing aloud
of your mercy,
for you have been my defense
and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 📚To you, O my strength, I will sing;
for God is my defense,
and my merciful God.
59:16-17 Who but believers in the one true God can sing in the midst of peril, and praise surrounded by trouble? Compare Acts 16:22-25. “In the morning” David had already escaped and sung praises to God (1 Sam 19:12). On “refuge” see Ps 7:1-2.⚜