Psalms 54

Psalms 54:1-3

The Ziphiens twice attempted to betray David, 1 Sam. xxiii. 19. xxvi. 1. On which of these occasions this psalm was composed is not certain. Here, 1. He complains to God of the malice of his enemies, and prays for help against them, ver. 1—3. 2. He comforts himself with an assurance of the divine favour and protection, and that in due time his enemies should be confounded, and he delivered, ver. 4—7. What time we are in defreys, we may comfortably sing this psalm.

To the chief musician + on Neginoth, ¹ Mašchil, A psalm of David, ¹ when the Ziphiens came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

1. SAVE me, O God, ¹ by thy name, and judge me, by thy strength. 2. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3. For strangers, ye hear us upon us again, and oppressors seek after my soul; ¹ they have not set God before them. Selah.

It is a comfort to a child of God, that whatever he meets with from man, he hath a friend to fly to, who will never leave nor forsake him. We have here.

1. David’s prayer for help and strength. Save me, O God, by thy name; by thy power and wisdom, which can frustrate the devices of my perfidious foes; or, for thy name’s sake, to manifest thy glory in protecting the poor destitute that flies to thee

¹ PC. 1. 4.

the fupcobut; and judge me by thy strength: strongly interpuh th my bohuf; and, as my caufe is juft, be thou my judge, O Lord, and avenge me of mine enemies. Note, (1.) Prayer is a sovereign medicine for every diftreft. (2.) Salvation cometh from God, and he never faleth thofe who fek him.

2. He complains of his defecentes: Breager are rife up against me: though they were of his own tribe, and professors of the same religion, yet they ailed worfe than Phidithnes; and opprifers, or the maghy men, Saul, Doeg, and the Ziphites, fek after my fud: nothing but his life would gratify their blood-thrifty malice: they have not fit God before them; pay no regard to his appointment, forget his all-fering eye, and after-guid the threatings of his word. Note, (1.) The bitterest enemies of a child of God are often his nearest neighbours and relations. (2.) When men leave God out of their right, there is no wickedneft too great for them. (3.) Though our fpiritual foes fork with more inveterate malice after our fud, than thofe Ziphites after David, God will not leave us in their hands.

3. He said, 2. I did 3. I did that 4. I did to 5. I did to

4. Behold, God is mine helper: the LORD is with them that uphold my fud. 5 He shall reward evil unto y mine enemies; cut them off in thy truth. 6. I will freely facrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, O LORD, for it is good. 7. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath fcen his defire upon mine enemies.

5. 9-7. Having commended his cafe in prayer to God, we have here.

6. The lively profession of his confidence in God. Behold, take notice of it, ye children of God, for your encouragement; be admonished, ye sons of wickedness, before it be too late; God is my helper against every foe, therefore will I not faint or fear: the Lord is with them that uphold my fud; he is my upholder, and the friend of my friends, approving and supporting them in their adherence to me. Note, (1.) They who are faithful to God, shall find he will cafe them up friends in the worst of times. (2.) They who espouse the cause of injured innocence, shall be supported by the God of truth.

7. He expects fairly and shortly the ruin of his oppofers, 9. 5. and, as they struck at God’s glory, as well as his life, he prays, Cut them off in thy truth, according to the threatings denounced against the ungodly. It is not the wish of malice, but the hope of faith.

8. God’s gracious help he promises thankfully to remember. I will freely sacrifice unto thee, not only the free-will offerings of bullocks, but the more pleasing oblation of the calves of the lips. I will praise thy name, for it is good; gracious, and worthy to be praised; and must becoming him would it be, who had experienced God’s goodness, to shew it forth continually.

9. He looks upon his petitions as already accomplished, since faith is in exercise. He hath delivered me out of all my trouble; hath done it in his purpose, and I regard it as fore as it the promise was fulfilled; and must my hath fcen his defire upon mine enemies; humbled, and disabled from hurting him. Note, (1.) The God is safe, that hath the decency of everlasting promises. (2.) Full experience is the earnest of continual support.