Psalms 54:1

Save me, O God, by thy name,.... That is, by himself, by his power, and of his grace and goodness; the Lord's name is often used for himself.

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.

Psalms 54 Of which he speaks 1Sa 23, when they did seek to betray him a second time. The psalmist, complaining of his oppressors, prayeth forGod’ s protection; and for the righteous punishment of his enemies, . Placing his hope in God’ s help, ,5, he promiseth a free sacrifice of thanksgiving to him, ,7. By thy name, i. e. by thy own strength, as the next words explain it, because I have no other refuge. Or, for thy name, i.e. for thy own glory, which is concerned in my deliverance. Judge me, i.e. judge or give sentence for me, or plead my cause, as this phrase is oft taken, as we have seen.

Psalms 54:1 « To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? » Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.Maschil] Instructing us, saith one, to draw near to God, as dangers draw nearer to us. When the Ziphims] Which signifieth flourishing, Erant autem Ziphaei ex stirpe Caleb 1 Chronicles 2:42. ut et Nabal, sed degeneres; they might have flourishing estates, but they had withered souls; else they would never have sought twice ever to have betrayed good David into the hand of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:19; 1 Samuel 26:1. Came and said to Saul] If a ruler hearken to lies all his servants are wicked, Proverbs 29:12; Doth not David hide himself with us?] viz. In the wood and wilderness near unto our city? But what if he did, should they therefore discover him, and so pull the vengeance of God upon themselves and their city? George Eagles (alias Trudgeover the world) hid himself in a grain field, was exposed by Ralph Lurdain for money, and burnt at Chelmsford; where afterwards the same Lurdain was hanged for stealing a horse; and confessed it was just in God upon him, for betraying that innocent man. (Acts & Mon.) Ver. 1. Save me, O God, by thy name] i.e. By thyself, and especially by thy goodness, whereby thou art nominatissimus in ecclesia, well known in thy Church, as a main piece of thy name, Exodus 34:6-7.

(1) By thy name.—See Note, Psalms 20:1. (Comp. Isaiah 30:27.) Judge me by thy strength—i.e., in Thy power see that justice is done me.

PSALM LIV The psalmist complains that strangers were risen up against him to take away his life, 1-3; expresses his confidence in God that he will uphold him, and punish his enemies, 4, 5; on which he promises to sacrifice to God, 6; he speaks of his deliverance, 7. NOTES ON PSALM LIV The title is, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, an instructive Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came to Saul, and said, Doth not David conceal himself among us?" Ziph was a village in the southern part of Palestine. David having taken refuge in the mountains of that country, the Ziphites went to Saul, and informed him of the fact. Saul, with his army, immediately went thither, and was on one side of a mountain while David was on the other. Just when he was about to fall into the hands of his merciless pursuer, an express came to Saul that the Philistines had invaded Israel, on which he gave up the pursuit, and returned to save his country, and David escaped to En-gedi. See the account in 1 Samuel 23:19-29. It is supposed to have been after this deliverance that he composed this Psalm. Neginoth, from נגן nagan, to strike or play on some kind of instrument, probably signifies stringed instruments, such as were played on with a plectrum. Verse 1. Save me, O God, by thy name] Save me by thyself alone; so name here may be understood. The name of God is often God himself. David was now in such imminent danger of being taken and destroyed, that no human means were left for his escape; if God therefore had not interfered, he must have been destroyed. See the introduction above.

1. by thy name] God’s name is the manifestation of His character, the sum of His revealed attributes. The Psalmist can appeal to it, for He has declared that it is His will to save those who put their trust in Him. Cp. Psalms 5:11. judge me] Do me justice. Confident in the goodness of his cause, he is sure that if right is done him, he will be delivered. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:15; Psalms 7:8; Psalms 9:4; Psalms 26:1; Psalms 35:24; Psalms 43:1. by thy strength] R.V., in thy might. God has not only the will, but the power to deliver His servant. He is “a mighty one who will save” (Zephaniah 3:17).

Save me, O God, by thy name - The word “name” here may include the perfections or attributes properly implied in the name.

1. By thy name—For, or on account of, thy name. The name of God is that by which he is known: the manifestation of his nature and attributes, whether by titles or acts.