Psalms 54

¹To 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.

Psa 54:1-7. See on Psa 4:1, title; Psa 32:1, title; for the history, see 1Sa 23:19, 29; 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing. 1. by thy name--(Psa 5:11), specially, power. judge me--as in Psa 7:8; 26:1.

²Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

2. (Compare Psa 4:1; 5:1).

³For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

3. strangers--perhaps Ziphites. oppressors--literally, “terrible ones” (Is 13:11; 25:3). Such were Saul and his army. not set ... them--acted as atheists, without God’s fear (compare Psa 16:8).

⁴Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

4. (Compare Psa 30:10). with them--on their side, and for me (compare Psa 46:11).

⁵He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

5. He shall ... evil--or, “Evil shall return on” (Psa 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Psa 6:7). in thy truth--Thy verified promise.

⁶I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

6. I will freely, &c.--or, present a freewill offering (Le 7:16; Nu 15:3).

⁷For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

7. mine eye ... desire--(compare Psa 59:10; 112:8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (compare Psa 52:6, 7).