Do not Destroy

October 30, 2015

Thanksgiving (Ps 75:1-75:1)

To the choirmaster leader, according to Do Not Destroy, a psalm of Asaph, a song

“We give thanks to you!

O God!

We give thanks!

Your name is near!

People tell of your wondrous deeds.”

Psalm 75 is psalm of thanksgiving set to the tune of “Do Not Destroy,” the same as Psalm 57,58, and 59. Like the preceding and following psalm it is a song of Asaph, the Temple Singer. Here there is also a mention of a choirmaster leader. Clearly this is a thanksgiving to God because his name is near. This could be a reference to the Temple. People spoke about the wonderful things that he has done.

October 12, 2015

Deliver David from his enemies (Ps 59:1-59:2)

To the choirmaster leader, according to Do Not Destroy, a Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him

“Deliver me

From my enemies!

O my God!

Protect me

From those who rise up against me.

Deliver me

From those who work evil.

Save me

From bloodthirsty men.”

Psalm 59 is the 3rd psalm in a row that has the melody “Do Not Destroy.” Once again it is a choral Miktam psalm of David. This time the incident about David can be found in 1 Samuel, chapter 19, when King Saul sent people to his house to kill him. Then Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of David, saved him. David asked to be saved and protected from his enemies. There is never a specific mention of King Saul. Perhaps these psalms may date from the time of the captivity with a projection back to the time of David. David wanted protection from those who were opposing him. His opponents, of course, were the evil bloodthirsty men who were after him.

October 11, 2015

Bad judges (Ps 58:1-58:2)

To the choirmaster leader, according to Do Not Destroy, a Miktam of David

“Do you indeed

Decree what is right?

You gods!

Do you indeed

Judge people fairly?

No!

In your hearts

You devise wrongs.

Your hands

Deal out violence

On earth.”

Like Psalm 57, Psalm 58 has the melody “Do Not Destroy” to this choral song Miktam of David. However, there is no indication of a particular event in the life of David. David seems to be lamenting against the bad judges on earth. Somehow these judges were acting like mini-gods. They were not decreeing what was right. They were not judging people fairly. In their hearts, they knew that they were wrong. Their hands dealt out violence here on earth.

October 10, 2015

David asks for mercy (Ps 57:1-57:3)

To the choirmaster leader, according to Do Not Destroy, a Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave

“Be merciful to me!

O God!

Be merciful to me!

In you

My soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of your wings,

I will take refuge

Until the destroying storms pass by.

I cry to God,

Most High,

To God who fulfils his purpose for me.

He will send from heaven.

He will save me.

He will put to shame

Those who trample on me.”

Selah

Following up the theme from the preceding psalm, this Psalm 57 has David escaping from King Saul in a cave that can be found in 1 Samuel, chapter 24. There was a slight reconciliation between David and King Saul in the cave. This psalm is set to the tune of “Do not Destroy,” whose melody we do not know. There are 3 other psalms with this melody heading, including the next 2, Psalms 58 and 59. It may also be a reference to the idea that David never liked to see his enemies die, especially King Saul and his son Absalom. David wanted God’s mercy. He was taking refuge under the wings of God during terrible storms. He knew that God would save him. God would put to shame those who tried to trample him. This section ends with the musical interlude meditative pause, Selah.