Verse 1. “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” Strange that the painful events in David's life should end up enriching the repertoire of the national minstrelsy. Out of a sour, ungenerous soil sprung up the honey-bearing flowers of psalmody. The music of the sanctuary is in no small degree indebted to the trials of the saints. Affliction is the tuner of the harps of sanctified songsters..
C. H. Spurgeon
Verses 3,4. “For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, not for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.” Though our innocency will not secure us from troubles, yet it will greatly support and comfort us under our troubles. The testimony of our conscience, that we have behaved ourselves well towards them that have behaved themselves ill towards us, will be very much our rejoicing in the day of evil. If we are conscious of our innocency, we may with humble confidence appeal to God, and beg Him to plead our injured cause which He will in due time.
Matthew Henry
Verse 4. “… awake to help me, and behold.” Literally, “Awake to meet me …” In time of temptation the Lord seems to be absent from us, and not to observe our distress. To be, as it were, as Jesus was in the midst of the storm, “asleep in the hinder part of the ship.” But it is only an appearance; the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is always ready to come to our help when we call upon Him.
Prescott Hiller
Verse 5. “Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts … awake to visit all the heathen; be not merciful to any wicked transgressors,. Selah.” “Selah” means, “pause” and consider, and with such a subject before us we may well pause. Who would not sit still and consider, when vengeance is being meted out to all the enemies of God? How wrong is that state of mind which hates to hear of the punishment of the wicked! We shall at last say “Amen,” to the condemnation of the wicked, and feel no disposition to question the ways of God with the impenitent. Remember how John, the loving disciple puts it. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; salvation and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God … for he hath judged the great whore…”
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 9. “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee…” Those seem to come nearest the meaning of the psalmist, who construe the words as one continuous sentence – “I will put in trust his strength with thee,” – meaning that however intemperately Saul might boast of his strength, David would rest satisfied in the assurance that there was a secret Divine providence restraining his actions. We must learn to view all men as subordinated in this manner, and to conceive of their strength and their enterprises as depending upon the sovereign will of God. In my opinion, the following version is the best – “His strength is with thee, I will wait.”
John Calvin
Verse 11. “Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power…” David wishes that they should stand as an everlasting memorial to the judgments of God, but most Christian expositors see the fulfilment in the Jews for the church. They have been “scattered” into all lands, and must go and stand before the eyes of all Christians as a living witness that they have crucified the true Messiah and Saviour of the world. So that if you see a Jew, think of this word.
From Hengstenberg
Verse 16. “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou has been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
Sermon title – “The Heavenly Chorister.”
1. His song is sweet in contrast with the revilings of others – “But I will sing…”
2. It deals with subjects which terrify others – “But I will sing of thy power…”
3. It grows louder on tender themes – “But I will sing of thy power, yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy…”
4. It has its choice seasons – “But the morning”
5. It is tuned by experience –“for Thou hast.”
6. It is all to God's glory – “Thy power … thy mercy … thou hast …”
Hints to the Village Preacher
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms (Psalm 59) The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 100 – placed on line January 2013 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |