For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.
David wrote this song for the Levitical musical director. The Levites would sing these songs at the feasts of Israel. David wrote this song as Saul was sending men to murder him. Michal, David’s wife and Saul’s daughter, helped David escape by lowering him down in a basket.
59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me!
David asked God to deliver him from his enemies. His enemies were King Saul’s assassins. They were attempting to capture and execute David.
59:2 Deliver me from evildoers! Rescue me from violent men!
David was chosen by God to become the next anointed king of Israel. Therefore, it was evil to hunt him down and kill him. David was immortal until this prophecy was fulfilled.
59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; powerful men stalk me, but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.
David had done nothing wrong, yet King Saul wanted to kill him.
59:4 Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!
David asked God to spring into action and save his life.
59:5 You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations! Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)
Jehovah is the invincible warrior and the God of Israel. David asked God to rouse himself up and punish the Gentiles. He asked God to show no mercy to these treacherous evil men who were attempting to kill God’s next anointed king. David asked the congregation to meditate and think upon this Biblical concept.
59:6 They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city.
These evil assassins returned at evening to seek and kill David. They growled around in the darkness like a dog. They prowled around outside of the city, attempting to find and slay David.
59:7 Look, they hurl insults at me and openly threaten to kill me, for they say, “Who hears?”
These evil assassins hurled insults at David. They openly threatened to kill David. They asked for others to hear their message and help them find David.
59:8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them; you taunt all the nations.
Jehovah laughs at disgust at these evil assassins. He taunts the Gentiles. They will not be able to kill David, because he was protected by Jehovah. God promised to make him the next king of Israel, so this prophecy would be fulfilled.
59:9 You are my source of strength! I will wait for you! For God is my refuge.
God is the source of David’s strength. David knows that God will answer his prayer, so he will patiently wait for God to act on his behalf. David’s refuge is God, so he is completely protected from human and demonic forces.
59:10 The God who loves me will help me; God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.
God loves David, so God will help him. God will enable David to become victorious over his enemies.
59:11 Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us!
David asked God not to kill these assassins. If God killed them, then people would quickly forget them. David wanted God to teach His people a Biblical doctrine. David asked God to make them homeless vagabonds for a while so that others could learn from their example. After everyone saw how God protected David, then God could bring them down. David praised Jehovah as his shield.
59:12 They speak sinful words. So let them be trapped by their own pride and by the curses and lies they speak!
These assassins spoke sinful words. David asked God to trap them by their own pride. David asked God to repay their curse with a kind-for-kind curse.
59:13 Angrily wipe them out! Wipe them out so they vanish! Let them know that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth! (Selah)
David asked God to exterminate these assassins so that the Gentile would know that God rules in Israel and also over all of the ends of the earth. David asked the congregation to meditate and think about this Biblical doctrine.
59:14 They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city.
These assassins return every night. They growl like a dog. They prowl around outside of the city in the hope of finding and killing David.
59:15 They wander around looking for something to eat; they refuse to sleep until they are full.
These assassins wander around hungry. They refuse to sleep until they are full.
59:16 As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.
David will sing praises to God about His strength. He will praise God for His loyal love. God loves David, even though David is not perfect. God is David’s refuge, so no human or demon can touch David unless God allows it. When David is in trouble, then he knows that God is his shelter.
59:17 You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.
God is the source of David’s strength. David will sing praises to God. God is David’s refuge. God loves David, so David knows that he is immortal until God calls him home.