Heading (Psalms 59:1 a).
‘For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.'
Like the last two Psalms this is another Psalm which is dedicated to the Choirmaster or Chief Musician, and set to the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy'. It is a Psalm of David, a Michtam (plea for ‘cover' or protection).
The provenance of the Psalm is said to be when Saul sent some of his men to watch David's house in order to kill him (1 Samuel 19:1; 1 Samuel 19:8 ff.). Compare our interpretation of Psalms 55. And there can be do doubt that in spite of its reference to the nations, the Psalm is of a very personal kind. Note the contrast between ‘me' (regularly) and ‘my people' (Psalms 59:11). Indeed, the references to the nations could arise from the fact that those who came to kill David were mainly mercenaries recruited by Saul for his standing army. Israel's farmers would not want to be part of a standing army for they had wok to do in the fields. Such mercenaries may well be in mind in 1 Samuel 14:21, for ‘Hebrews' (compare Habiru) is an unusual term for Israelites except as used by foreigners, (it is rarely if ever used by Israelites of themselves), and they are described in that verse as contrasted with Israelites. Furthermore we know that in those days foreign mercenaries were sometimes known as Habiru (stateless persons). Compare how many of David's men also appear to have been foreigners.
David Prays For Deliverance From Armed Men, Including Foreign Mercenaries, Sent By Saul, Who Seek His Life As They Watch His House With A View To Killing Him When He Emerges (Psalms 59:1-5).
As a prominent commander David's house would be well guarded. He was also married to Saul's daughter Michal, who was, of course, in the house with him. And he was popular with the people. Thus Saul had three good reasons for not simply openly sending in his soldiers to kill David. He therefore sent them to watch David's house with a view to killing him surreptitiously when he emerged (1 Samuel 19:11). In view of David's own possible escort, this would require a good number of men.
Michal, who would know her father well, appears to have been suspicious of the men who had gathered outside the house, which as befitted David's position would have been a large one, and warned David of what was afoot (1 Samuel 19:11). Indeed, her father may have sent her a warning to make sure that she kept out of the way. Thus she had good grounds for being suspicious.
So, aware of what was happening, David calls on God to deliver him, declaring his innocence, and describing the unscrupulous and bloodthirsty men who are out to assassinate him.
‘Deliver me from my enemies, O my God,
Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from the bloodthirsty men.'
He calls on God to deliver him from ‘his enemies', ‘the workers of iniquity', ‘bloodthirsty men'. With that in view he asks to be ‘set on high' by God, out of danger's reach, so that they will not be able to touch him. The thought is of his being secure, as though in a fortified tower (see Psalms 59:9; Psalms 59:16).
He knew that that his adversaries were not just soldiers sent to perform their duty of arresting him so that he could have a fair trial, but men who hated him, selected because of their willingness to be part of a plot against him, and not averse to shedding innocent blood. At this stage Saul dared not attack him openly, for there were too many who might have come to David's support, including his own son Jonathan. But in his jealousy, and because he suspected David of having an eye on the throne, he was determined to kill him, even though he had promised Jonathan that he would not (1 Samuel 19:6). Thus Saul had had to find men willing to be a part of his plot, some of whom would no doubt be mercenaries who only therefore owed loyalty to him.
Having been made a public Psalm, the Psalm was a reminder to all that when trouble beset them, in whatever form, they could look to God for help. We all find ourselves at times beset by troubles, and even possibly the target of influential people. At such times we can call on this and similar Psalms for comfort, as they lift us up to God for protection under His wings.
‘For, lo, they lie in wait for my life,
The mighty gather themselves together against me,
Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O YHWH.
They run and prepare themselves without my fault,
Awake yourself to help me, and behold.'
David points out to God that these mean are lying in wait for his life (an indication of the personal nature of the Psalm), although not for anything that he has done because he is innocent. It is not because of any particular sin or rebellion of which he is guilty, for in this regard he is without fault. He is totally loyal to Saul.
And he stresses the strength of the force that has come against him. ‘The mighty' suggests that he recognised, as he surveyed them through a window, that they included some of Saul's best warriors, powerful men who had come together for the sole purpose of assassinating him. He was not a fearful man, and he knew how to look after himself, something which Saul would have taken into account when determining the size of the force that he chose to send. But he knew that this assassination squad was too strong for him and the men who were with him to be able to cope with.
He points out their zeal to take him. They have ‘hastened and prepared themselves' (it bears all the signs of a rushed operation hatched by Saul in one of his periods of severe depression), and he has done nothing to deserve it (see 1 Samuel 20:1). So he calls on YHWH to ‘awake Himself' on his behalf, and take note of what is happening. Saul has aroused these men on his side, let YHWH now arouse Himself on David's side.
All of us may feel at some time or other that the whole world is against us, even though it is not our fault. At such times we too can pray this prayer. And no one experienced this kind of situation more than our, Lord Jesus Christ, Who was constantly beset by men who were trying to get Him.
‘Even you, O YHWH, God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Arise to visit all the nations,
Do not show favour to any wicked transgressors. [Selah'
David has recognised the diversity of Saul's assassination squad, mercenaries from a number of nations, and he may well have felt that the whole world was against him. So he calls on God to deal with them all, and not to spare any of them, because they are showing themselves to be evil men. It would not even have crossed his mind to take part in an operation like this himself. It was totally abhorrent to him.
Alternately it may be that the sight of all these foreign soldiers out to get him has awoken his mind to the perils that Israel is facing from nations round about (see 1 Samuel 14:47-48), and thus causes him, in the nobility of his heart, to pray for Israel's deliverance as well as his own, and not spare any wicked transgressors. He would not be unaware of the threats facing Israel. It might thus indicate his breadth of mind in that, in spite of his own troubles, he is still concerned for Israel's fate.
Note his description of God as, ‘YHWH, God of Hosts, God of Israel'. In his extremity he recognises that he needs a powerful God to save him, not only YHWH his covenant God, but YHWH Who is the God of Hosts, sovereign over all hosts of heaven and earth, and with a special concern for Israel. This title would be especially apposite if his thought had turned for a moment to Israel's wider problems.
Some see this verse as added to the Psalm later (or altered to suit) when it became a public Psalm and a prayer for the deliverance of Israel. Many hymns today are later altered for some purpose, whilst still being attributed to the original author. This cannot be discounted, but it is not really necessary. The nation's fate was always on Daid's heart.
‘Selah.' This musical note might be seen as indicating a break in his words, giving time for thought and worship when it became a public Psalm.