READ: Ps. 59:1-17: … Deliver me from the men of bloodshed …
Again David composes a Psalm as a prayer for help in mortal danger during persecution from the side of Saul. He calls upon the LORD God as his “safe stronghold.”
On the one hand his plea is that he may hide with the LORD in order to find rest. On the other hand David speaks extensively about the behavior of his enemies and the necessary judgment of God upon them.
The latter can only be judged rightly when we proceed from the anointing of David as theocratic king of God’s people. All hostile attacks and threats have as their purpose to sabotage God’s work in David and His people.
David’s prayers in distress are in fact connected to the petition in the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come.” Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 48 explains this as follows: “… preserve and increase Your church; destroy the works of the devil and every power that exalts itself against You; frustrate also all evil counsels devised against Your holy Word …”
There is also connection with the petition: “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” HC Lord’s Day 52: “… be pleased to preserve and strengthen us by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that in this spiritual warfare we may not be defeated …”
In verses 2 and 3 David first brings his distress before the LORD: men of bloodshed commit injustice and seek the life of him who is innocent. He makes clear that from his side there is absolutely no reason to be treated this way.
He seeks support from the LORD and calls Him to action. LORD, awake, You surely cannot permit this injustice and leave it unpunished? The evildoers think that no one shall punish them. They take no account of You, just like the heathen nations (vs.8). But God laughs in His exalted dwelling at these foolish people (vs.9). Even nations are for Him no more than a drop in a bucket, dust on the scales; they are as less than nothing (Isa. 40:15-17).
Against the violence of these foolish people David knows himself completely safe: He is his strength, his safe stronghold, his merciful God. To Him he sings.
May we sing about the downfall of antichristian powers?
Singing: Ps. 59:1,4,7