seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Psalm 59[a]For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.(b) When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
2 Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from those who are after my blood.
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
2 Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from those who are after my blood.
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c]
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c]
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;
you scoff at all those nations.
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;
you scoff at all those nations.
9 You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,
10 my God on whom I can rely.
you, God, are my fortress,
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d]
or my people will forget.
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.
12 For the sins of their mouths,
for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d]
or my people will forget.
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.
12 For the sins of their mouths,
for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.
a. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
b. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
c. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
d. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
The easy English site says that this was written to combine threats.
David was a servant of King Saul. Many people liked David. Saul did not like this so he sent men to kill David. But David’s wife Michal gave him help to get out through a window. David then ran away, and the men did not find him. In the psalm, David says that these men were like dogs looking for food. The story is in 1 Samuel 19:8-18.
Many Bible students think that David wrote this psalm after he became king. That is why he talks about ‘foreign people’. God not only gave David help to beat his enemies at home, but also in foreign countries. David saw that what happened with Saul’s hungry dogs was also what happened with foreign enemies. So, he put both ideas into the one psalm. We must read the psalm carefully, or this will confuse us. We must see that there are two different groups of enemies.
But.... this is what enduringword.com says.
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God: Many were David’s perils, many were his enemies, and many were the psalms that begin with this thought. We think it strange that the man after God’s heart, Israel’s greatest earthly king, had so many enemies. The idea is less strange when we think of how many enemies the Son of David had.
I wonder.... When David is talking... in verses 6 and 7.... could he be talking about ulcers? Could his barking dogs be his belly talking to him???? All that stuff about Uriah, Bathsheba, and the baby..... wouldn't that anxiety bend a good man over in pain? This is from enduringword.com.
They belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips: Perhaps David actually saw and heard such a belch as he watched those who watched him. He heard their sharp words against him, and their disregard for God or David or any authority (Who hears?).
The commentaries can't pin down the time of the poem..... and they can't pin down the identity of the belching dogs.....Anyone who has been up all night with anxiety and pain.... knows how horrific this is.... a belch [while it might stink and burn coming back up]... might be extremely painful.... and loud.... and caused by making a woman drink something she shouldn't have....to cover up a crime.
