To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.
Much like Psalm 59 the meaning of the title is somewhat obscure. "Do Not Destroy" is the word Al-tashheth and may be a Psalm everyone knew at the time, thus indicating this Psalm would be sung to this song. The meaning of a Michtam is also mostly speculation. The word means to engrave or an engraving on a sculpture. One interesting speculation is these Psalm were engraved in the caves where David was hiding while fleeing from Saul.
The story behind this Psalm comes from 1 Samuel 19:11. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear after David defeated the Philistines. Saul then sent messengers to David's house. It was a stakeout, and when they caught him coming out of his house in the morning, they would kill him. Somehow, Michal, David's wife, knew about the plot. She warned David that if he didn't leave that night he would be put to death in the morning. She then put the household idol in David's bed and put a quilt over it so it looked like David was in bed. Saul's men were deceived and David escaped.
We should remember that Michal is Saul's daughter. That may be the only reason she got away with the deception. It is also noteworthy that Michal used the household idol to deceive her father while siding with her husband. There is a very real parallel to Jacob, Rachel and Laban (Gen 31:30). It is somewhat ironic that a false god would be used to create a deception.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.
Once again we see the common theme of David crying out to God to be delivered from his enemies. There are times of confidence when we ask that God deliver our enemies into our hands. In this case, David was in the hands of his enemies and looking to be delivered out of them.
There was an uprising that made no sense to him. The only defense is the one God offers because the battle is spiritual, not physical as it appears. The bloodthirsty men are the workers of iniquity who plot to take David's life.
3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;
The mighty gather against me,
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.
David was saying that these guys were rising up against him for no particular reason. It wasn't as payback for something that he had done. They were setting traps and organizing against him and he didn't know why.
Awake to help me, and behold!
5 You 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
The 'God of hosts' speaks of God having an army of angels. David is asking God to call His army to battle on his behalf. "All the nations" is a reference to the gentiles. Some commentators feel this reveals that David wrote the Psalm several years after the events of 1 Samuel 19 because he was then a man of international affairs, dealing with all the nations. David didn't want God to be merciful to the gentile nations.
Would David be shocked and amazed at the work God is doing in the gentile nations today?
6 At evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips;
For they say, "Who hears?"
Saul's men are depicted like animals. They are without manners and don't care that they don't fit into a polite society. Their words cut and damage with their accusations and the lies and deceit they spread. When these men say, "Who hears?" they are implying that there is no God to hear them or that, if there is, he is powerless to do anything to them.
8 But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them;
You shall have all the nations in derision.
9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;
For God is my defense.
10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me;
God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.
God is entertained by their haughtiness. They think they are strong and powerful and able to work their will. David said that he will wait on the Lord because his defense is based solely in Him. David is confident and God is personal to him when he says "My God." God would meet him and God would allow David to see his desire.
11 Do not slay them, lest my people 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 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 rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah
David wants God to wipe them out but not too quickly. He wants it done over time so his people come to a full realization that God hates sin. This sin involved cursing and lying and pride. It was the sin of their mouth and of their lips. David wanted God to show them that he ruled in
14 And at evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
15 They wander up and down for food,
And howl if they are not satisfied.
Once again we see David likens these men to animals acting strictly on instinct. They return like a dog wandering all day. They growl and wander the city looking for food. And if they don't get enough they howl in response.
16 But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.
While these men act like animals who have no God, indulging in their lying and cursing, David seeks after God. He maintains His relationship with the Lord by bringing this situation before the throne. David sings of God's power and mercy. God has been his defense and refuge. God was David's source of strength.
Facebook