Psalms 59

1 <> Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; defend me from them that rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

3 For lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the mighty are gathered against me, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

4 They run and prepare themselves though I am not at fault. Awake to help me, and behold!

5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen; be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6 They return at evening; they make a noise like a dog and go round about the city.

7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips; "For who," say they, "doth hear?"

8 But Thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt hold all the heathen in derision.

9 Because of his strength, I will wait upon Thee; for God is my defense.

10 The God of my mercy shall go before me; God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11 Slay them not, lest my people forget; scatter them by Thy power and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah

14 And at evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the city.

15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grumble if they be not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of Thy power, yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning; for Thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 Unto Thee, O my Strength, will I sing; for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

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.