Psalm 59

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 13, 2015

Sing to God (Ps 59:16-59:17)

“But I will sing

Of your might.

I will sing aloud

Of your steadfast love

In the morning.

You have been

A fortress for me.

You have been

A refuge

In the day of my distress.

O my strength!

I will sing praises to you!

O God!

You are my fortress!

You are the God

Who shows me steadfast love!”

This psalm ends on a high note as David will sing to God. He will sing about the strength of God. He will sing aloud in the morning about the great steadfast love of God. God has been his fortress and strength, a refuge for him in the days of his distress. He will sing praises to God because of his love for him.

October 13, 2015

The howling dogs are back (Ps 59:14-59:15)

“Each evening

They come back.

They howl like dogs.

They are prowling about the city.

They roam about for food.

They growl if they do not get their fill.”

Just like verses 6-7 of this psalm, the howling dogs are back prowling the city. This time they are looking for food. They growl until they filled. Thus the common term of enemies is they are like a pack of growling dogs.

October 13, 2015

Torture the wicked (Ps 59:11-59:13)

“Do not kill them!

My people may forget.

Make them totter

By your power!

Bring them down!

Yahweh!

Our shield!

For the sin of their mouths,

For the words of their lips,

Let them be trapped in their pride!

For the cursing that they utter,

For the lies that they utter,

Consume them in wrath!

Consume them

Until they are no more!

Then it will be known

To the ends of the earth

That God rules over Jacob.”

Selah

David did not want his enemies killed, he wanted vengeance. He wanted them to suffer so that his own people would not forget what evil was. The evil ones were to totter and be brought down. Yahweh was the shield and protector of good ones. The evildoers sinned with their words and their lips because they were trapped in pride. Thus they uttered curses and lies. They should be consumed in the wrath of God. In somewhat contradictory terms, David wanted them consumed until they actually died instead of just suffering. At that point, the whole world would know that the God of Jacob ruled the world. At that thought there was the musical interlude meditative pause, Selah.

October 12, 2015

Yahweh is in charge (Ps 59:8-59:10)

“Yahweh!

You laugh at them.

You hold all the nations in derision.

O my strength!

I will watch for you!

O God!

You are my fortress!

My God

In his steadfast love

Will meet me.

My God

Will let me look in triumph

On my enemies.”

Yahweh laughs at the world since he derides all nations. He is David’s strength and fortress. David was watching for him. After all, God loved him with a steadfast love. God was going to meet him so that he could look in triumph over his enemies.

October 12, 2015

The evening howling dogs (Ps 59:6-59:7)

“Each evening

They come back.

They are howling like dogs.

They are prowling about the city.

There they are.

They bellow with their mouths.

They have sharp words on their lips.

They think.

‘Who will hear us?’”

The wicked ones are like howling dogs at night. They prowl around the city bellowing. They have sharp words on their lips. They think that no one can hear them so they growl and shout louder.

October 12, 2015

Request for Yahweh to punish (Ps 59:4-59:5)

“Rouse yourself!

Come to my help!

See!

You!

Yahweh!

God of hosts!

God of Israel!

Awake!

Punish all the nations!

Spare none of those

Who treacherously plot evil!”

Selah

David wanted to wake up Yahweh. This is a direct appeal for help. He wanted the God of hosts, the God of Israel, to see and punish all the other nations. None were to be spared. Anyone who was treacherously plotting evil should be punished without exception. This section ends with a melodic musical interlude meditative pause, Selah.

October 12, 2015

The wicked want to get David (Ps 59:3-59:4)

“Even now

They lie in wait for my life.

The mighty stir up strife against me.

There is no transgression!

There is no sin of mine!

Yahweh!

There is no fault of mine!

Yet they run.

They make ready.”

The evildoers or wicked ones were laying in wait to kill David. They wanted to stir up strife against him. However, David had no transgressions. He had not sinned. There was no fault in him. Nevertheless, they were running and getting ready for him.

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 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.