Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Psalms 54:1-7.-Prayer for deliverance from godless oppressors (Psalms 54:1-3); confident anticipation of it, and promise of thanksgiving for it (Psalms 54:4-7).
Title. - On Neginoth - (see note on title, Psalms 4:1-8.) The singular, Nªgiynaah (H5058), denotes not a particular stringed instrument, but the music on such instruments; the plural, Nªginowt (H5058), is the music formed by numerous notes running into one another, not various instruments (Delitzsch).
Doth not David hide himself with us? Twice the Ziphites informed Saul of David's hiding in their country, (1 Samuel 23:19, and 1 Samuel 26:1-25.) The former is the occasion referred to here, because the words are the same - "Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?" The Hebrew participle implies a state continuing-Is he not hiding with us? implying Saul's earnest seeking after David, and the Ziphites' surprise that Saul should be still ignorant that David was hiding among them. The Ziphites, by this treachery to their countryman, acted as "strangers," and therefore are so called (Psalms 54:3); this term therefore forms no objection to the title.
Save me, O God, by thy name. From men, who are all against him, David turns to God, his only Saviour. Thus the general name, `'Elohiym (H430),' is appropriate here, as the God of creating and preserving power.
And judge me by thy strength - the cry of one who asks for help as a matter of justice: not merely "save me," but vindicate my right; do me justice (Psalms 7:8; Psalms 26:1). So Christ, the Righteous One, David's Antitype, alone could pray, in the fullest sense (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22-23). So also the Church prays in Luke 18:3 (Greek), 'Do me justice on mine adversary.'