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Interpretation of Psalm 58

David prays for protection from his bloodthirsty enemies (verse 3). As in many other psalms, here sounds - against the backdrop of formidable, bleak circumstances - the motive of unshakable faith in God. May He deliver David from "those who rise up against him", may He deprive them of their strength and cast them into nothingness, so that they may know His omnipotence.

Historically, the circumstance that led to the writing of Ps. 58, there was an attempt by King Saul to "besiege" and kill David in his house (1 Sam. 19:8-11a). It is known, however, that Michal, David's wife, helped him escape by secretly descending from a window (1 Sam. 19:11b-14).

The first verse corresponds to the inscription preceding the psalm.

A. Conspiracy against the innocent (58:2-6)

Ps. 58:2-6. David prays to God to protect him from those who do iniquity, i.e. from Saul and his entourage, who set up a real hunt for him, although there is no fault on him (verses 2-5). By "nations" in verse 6 they are meant, and not the pagan tribes that constituted Israel's hostile environment. To these pagans who hated Israel, David, as it were, likens his bloodthirsty persecutors.

B. Treachery will not remain unavenged (58:7-11)

Ps. 58:7-8. Many homeless semi-wild dogs roamed singly and in packs around the ancient eastern cities and along their streets. For people, they represented a known danger. In stray dogs, or dogs, the ancient Jews saw a symbol of malice, greed, impurity. And with these despicable animals David compares his enemies (verse 7, 15). The tongues with which they spit blasphemy cut like swords; in their impudence they suppose, however, that no one who can ask them for this will know that they are slandering David ("for," they think, "who hears?" verse 8). In other words, they believe that God "does not hear" them either.

Ps. 58:9-11. David, however, is confident that God will put them to shame (the nations in verse 9 are used in the same sense as in verse 6). For, although, humanly speaking, power is on their side, David's intercessor is God Himself (v. 9). He will anticipate David, i.e., prevent a disastrous attack on him (perhaps this was realized in the cunning plan of Michal, who saved her husband).

God will let me look at my enemies (verse 11). There are two possible meanings here. Either David will "look" at his enemies without fear, realizing himself under the protection of the Almighty, or God will let him see their defeat and humiliation.

C. Justice will prevail (58:12-14)

Ps. 58:12. David does not want the immediate death of his enemies, but - in order that the people might learn a lesson from the unenviable fate of those who do not obey God - he asks Him to subject those punishments to lasting, obvious, memorable (so that my people do not forget); verse 12.

Ps. 58:13-14. The "oath" in verse 13 is in the sense of "cursing." Obviously, squander ... that they were not, in verse 14 does not mean a request for a quick and complete destruction of enemies (compare with verse 12); this phrase rather implies the complete neutralization of them and the deprivation of all power. May they themselves and the witnesses of their fate know that there is no other Lord over Israel besides God (verse 14).

D. A vow of praise (58:15-18)

Ps. 58:15-18. In verse 15 (compare with verse 7) and in verse 16 - the image of "disarmed" and "howling in powerlessness" of their enemies, deprived of shelter and food (we are talking about noble and rich people), perhaps here "deciphers" verse 12.

In verses 17-18 - a vow of praise and glorification to God, who was and will be, David is sure, his protection and refuge in the day of distress.

58:1-3 Choir leader. Don't lose. The writing of David, when Saul sent to guard his house, to put him to death.
2 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God! protect me from those who rise up against me;
3 Deliver me from those who do iniquity; save from the bloodthirsty,
And again - on the run from Saul's traps, there is nowhere to live, for the house is lined with hunters. And again it is clear what David's song will be about: “Do not destroy!” - he asks God.
What is left to do in such a situation? Only ask God to deliver from the hunters for life. David himself is powerless to help himself in any way: the preponderance of forces is on the side of the enemy and it is pointless to resist his onslaught, relying on his own strength. Just hide in a secluded place and wait for help from the Lord.
It is not worth tempting the Lord - to climb on the rampage with an open visor on a strong and heavily armed enemy in the hope that God should hurry up and certainly take the enemy’s hands away - in this case. We do what we can for our personal safety, and the rest that we cannot, we commit into the hands of the Lord.

58:4-6 for behold, they lie in wait for my soul; mighty ones gather against me, not for my transgression and not for my sin, O Lord; 5 without [my] fault they flee and arm themselves; move to help me and look.
6 You, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, rise up to visit all the nations, do not spare one of the ungodly transgressors:
David is offended by the fact that they are persecuting David for no reason, for he did no harm to any of his opponents, but out of his own malice and bloodthirstiness they persecute him. Knowing from his own experience how terrible it is to feel, David asks God to protect all the innocent: may God fish out all the wicked all over the earth so that they can no longer mock the innocent like that.

58:7 in the evening they return, howl like dogs, and walk around the city;
David compares their hunting - with the hunting of a flock of dogs walking in anticipation of their "victim": only in a flock do dogs feel strong, and scatter them one by one - they will tighten their tails from cowardice.

58:8,9 behold, they spew blasphemy with their tongue; swords in their mouths: "for," [they think], "who hears?"
9 But You, Lord, will laugh at them; You will shame all nations.
David's opponents mainly use the instrument of an evil and deceitful tongue against him, for there is nothing more to find fault with David. They slander David and make a monster out of him, thus gathering accomplices for themselves: who will like monsters?
And they do not think at the same time that God knows all their stirrings of thoughts and the lethal force of their language. However, as soon as their hour X comes, God will laugh at them. Not in the sense that he mocks them to his heart's content, but in the sense that it will not be difficult for Him to destroy all the plans of the wicked and restore order in His possessions.

58:10,11 They have strength, but I resort to You, for God is my intercessor.
11 My God, who has mercy on me, will go before me; God will let me look at my enemies.
David recognizes their superiority in strength, it would be foolish not to recognize the obvious. That is why he hopes for the help of God, that he understands that he cannot cope on his own.

58:12 Do not put them to death, lest my people forget; scatter them by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our defender.
But David does not want them all to simply die, perishing at the hand of God, David would like all the right hearted to see their defeat and humility. Yes, and for the enemy there is no greater shame than to be defeated, defeated - in front of their enemies. Being alive, but neutralized, they would remind themselves that the righteous have a protector.

58:13,14 The word of their tongue is the sin of their mouth, let them be caught in their pride for the oath and the lie that they utter.
14 Squander them in anger, squander them so they don't exist; and let them know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.
Here again about deceitful lips mired in sin and about David's desire that God depose and frustrate all their insidious plans and that they finally understand that their strength is nothing that Israel has a protector

58:15,16 Let them return in the evening, howl like dogs, and walk around the city;
16 let them roam to find food, and the unsatiated spend the night.
Having calmed himself by talking with God, David came to the conclusion that he almost didn’t care anymore: let this flock of bloodthirsty dogs prowling in search of prey - he still won’t suffer from their bloodthirstiness, since God will not allow this.

58:17,18 And I will sing of Your power and proclaim Your mercy from early morning, for You were my protection and refuge in the day of my distress.
18 My strength! I will sing to you, for God is my intercessor, my God, who has mercy on me.
David has better things to do than just live in fear of expecting disasters from these dogs: David will better pull himself together and begin to sing about the power and mercy of God, saving him from all disasters - wherever possible and from early morning until late at night. This is the way it is.

The content of the psalm does not contradict the aforementioned inscription, and Ps.57_4-5, where David speaks of his innocence and undeserved persecution, directly confirm the correspondence of the inscription to the circumstances of the origin of the psalm.

Protect me, O Lord, from those who undeservedly attack me and lie in wait to kill me (2-5). Punish the wrongdoers who, like dogs, walk around the city in search of me; who utter blasphemy and are not afraid of being answered for the latter (6-8). You, Lord, my hope, scatter them, but do not kill them immediately, but weaken them, so that at their sight the Jews learn to remember You (9-14). Let them walk exhausted, and I will sing to You, my protector (15-18).

. deliver me from those who do iniquity; save from the bloodthirsty,

By "those who do iniquity" are meant the enemies of David - the supporters of Saul who persecuted him when they themselves recognized the innocence and undeservedness of these persecutions: they deliberately committed iniquity. These enemies were "bloodthirsty", sought to kill David, forcibly take his life.

. for behold, they lie in wait for my soul; mighty ones gather against me, not for my transgression and not for my sin, O Lord;

David confesses his complete innocence before God, and hence the undeservedness of persecution. Such an indication is usually made by David in the psalms from the era of persecution from Saul, when neither David himself nor any of his enemies could indicate any guilt behind him, either before God or before people.

. You, Lord, God of hosts, God of Israel, arise to visit all nations, do not spare any of the wicked lawless:

The “people of the people,” whom David prays to God to punish, are further called “the wicked and the lawless.” These are not pagan tribes, but the same slanderers of Saul and enemies of David, who, for their hostility towards him, are compared with the enemies of the Jewish people - the pagans. The latter had the most hostile feelings towards the Jews, based not only on the struggle for political predominance, but also on the religious and everyday features of the way of life of both, which is why this enmity was deep and almost spontaneous. Such was the intensity and depth of the hatred of David's enemies.

. in the evening they return, howl like dogs, and walk around the city;

Eastern cities still amaze travelers with an abundance of stray dogs, which usually lie on the streets during the day, and in the evening gather in packs, squabble over prey and are dangerous to humans. Dogs ("dogs") were despised animals among the Jews. Comparison with them of their enemies indicates both the predatory, full of malicious intent nature of their tracking down David, and the moral insignificance of the enemies themselves.

. behold, they spew blasphemy with their tongue; swords in their mouths: "for," they think"who hears?"

David's enemies "spewed blasphemy" at him, i.e., reviled him with bad words and insults, and they believed in their complete impunity ("who hears?"), but did not even think about responsibility before God. There was blasphemy and unbelief in their blasphemy.

. My God, who has mercy on me, will precede me; God will let me look at my enemies.

"My God... will precede me"- protect from enemies, warn their intentions and upset. It may be that David here understood the cunning of Michal, who, in order to give David time to be saved, placed a mannequin on his bed and closed it, declaring to the messengers of Saul that David was lying sick. David took advantage of this time to escape for his salvation. - "Watch Your Enemies"- do not run away from them, but boldly stand before them in the consciousness of your strength and invincibility.

. Do not put them to death, lest my people forget; scatter them by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our defender.

"Don't Kill Them", i.e., do not expose them to immediate and complete death, but weaken their strength (see 14), make them harmless to David, but not unpunished: impose punishment on them, in the form of prolonged disaster, poverty, illness, etc., which would be visible to all people. This is necessary in order to "lest my people forget" so that by their appearance they constantly remind the Jews of the need to obey God and the punishment that threatens the villains from Him: the immediate and complete death of the enemies, although it makes a sharp and strong impression, is not long. The people will soon forget what happened, and at the same time there will be no long-term reminder “for remembrance of God” that they need.

. Squander them in anger, squander them to be gone; and let them know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.

"Squander them so they don't exist"- not in the sense of their complete and immediate destruction (see 12), but in the sense of weakening their dominance over David and the people, about disorganizing them and neutralizing their actions so that they do not have that preponderance of power that they have now.

. let them roam to find food, and the unsatiated spend their nights.

Deprive them of their material wealth and external fortress, on which their influence rested. This verse clarifies and completes verse 12. The outward humiliation and plight of David's enemies, formerly rich and honored, will serve as a living reminder to the Jews of what evil deeds and disobedience to God lead to.

I firmly trusted in the Lord, and He bowed down to me and heard my cry; he drew me out of the terrible ditch, out of the muddy swamp, and set my feet on a stone and established my steps; and put into my mouth a new song - praise to our God. Many will see and fear and trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who puts his hope in the Lord and does not turn to the proud and to those who turn to falsehood. You have done a lot, O Lord, my God: about your miracles and your thoughts about us - who will be like you! - I wish I could preach and speak, but they outnumber them. Sacrifices and offerings You did not desire; You opened my ears; You did not require burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said: here I go; in a book scroll it is written about me: I desire to do Thy will, my God, and Thy law is in my heart. I have proclaimed your righteousness in the great congregation; I did not rebuke my mouth: You, Lord, know. I did not hide Your truth in my heart, I proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation, I did not hide Your mercy and Your truth before the great assembly. Do not withhold, O Lord, Thy bounties from me; Thy mercy and Thy truth guard me unceasingly, for incalculable troubles have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I cannot see: they are more than the hairs on my head; my heart has left me. Delight, Lord, to deliver me; God! hasten to help me. May all who seek the destruction of my soul be ashamed and put to shame! May those who wish me harm be turned back and ridiculed! Let those who say to me, well, be troubled at their shame! Fine! May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You, and let those who love Your salvation say without ceasing: great is the Lord! I am poor and needy, but the Lord cares for me. You are my help and my deliverer, my God! don't slow down.

49 psalm

The God of Gods, the Lord hath spoken and called upon the earth, from the rising of the sun to the west. From Zion, which is the height of beauty, God appears, our God is coming, and not in silence: before Him there is a consuming fire, and around Him there is a violent storm. He calls heaven and earth from above to judge His people: Gather unto Me My saints, who entered into a covenant with Me at the sacrifice. And the heavens shall proclaim his righteousness, for this judge is God. Hear my people, I will speak; Israel! I will testify against you: I am God, your God. It is not for your sacrifices that I will rebuke you; your burnt offerings are always before me; I will not accept a calf from your house, nor goats from your courts, for all the animals in the forest, and the cattle on a thousand mountains, are Mine; I know all the birds on the mountains, and the animals in the fields are before Me. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for My universe and everything that fills it. Do I eat the meat of oxen and drink the blood of goats? Offer praise to God as a sacrifice and pay your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of sorrow; I will deliver you and you will glorify Me. But God says to the sinner: Why do you preach My statutes and take My covenant in your mouth, and you yourself hate My instruction and cast My words away for yourself? when you see a thief, you join with him, and associate with adulterers; you open your mouth to slander, and your tongue weaves deceit; you sit and speak against your brother, you slander the son of your mother; you did it and I was silent; you thought I was the same as you. I will rebuke you and present your sins before your eyes. Understand this, you who forget God, lest I take away, and there will be no redeemer. Whoever sacrifices praise honors Me, and whoever watches his way, to him I will show the salvation of God.

53 psalm

When the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Isn't David hiding with us? God! save me by your name, and judge me by your power. God! hear my prayer, heed the words of my mouth, for strangers have risen up against me, and the strong seek my soul; they do not have God before them. Behold, God is my helper; The Lord strengthens my soul. He will repay the evil of my enemies; destroy them in your truth. I will diligently offer you a sacrifice, I will glorify your name, Lord, for it is good, for you delivered me from all troubles, and my eye looked at my enemies.

58 psalm

Deliver me from my enemies, my God! protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who do iniquity; save from the bloodthirsty, for behold, they lie in wait for my soul; mighty ones gather against me, not for my transgression and not for my sin, O Lord; without my fault they flee and arm themselves; move to help me and look. You, Lord, God of hosts, God of Israel, arise to visit all the nations, do not spare any of the ungodly lawless: in the evening they return, howl like dogs, and walk around the city; behold, they spew blasphemy with their tongue; swords in their mouths: they think, who hears? But You, Lord, will laugh at them; You will shame all nations. They have strength, but I resort to You, for God is my intercessor. My God, who has mercy on me, will precede me; God will let me look at my enemies. Do not put them to death, lest my people forget; scatter them by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our defender. The word of their tongue is the sin of their mouth, let them be caught in their pride for the oath and the lie that they utter. Squander them in anger, squander them to be gone; and let them know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Let them return in the evening, howl like dogs, and walk around the city; let them roam to find food, and the unsatiated spend their nights. And I will sing of Your power and proclaim Your mercy from early morning, for You were my protection and refuge in the day of my distress. My strength! I will sing to you, for God is my intercessor, my God, who has mercy on me.

139 psalm

Deliver me, Lord, from the evil man; save me from the oppressor: they think evil in their hearts, every day they take up arms in battle, they sharpen their tongue like a snake; the poison of the asp is under their mouths. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, save me from oppressors who plan to shake my steps. The proud have hidden snares and nooses for me; I said to the Lord: You are my God; Hear, O Lord, the voice of my prayers! Lord, Lord, power of my salvation! You covered my head on the day of battle. Do not give, O Lord, what is desired to the wicked; do not let his evil plan succeed: they will become proud. May the evil of their own lips cover the heads of those around me. Let burning coals fall on them; let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, so that they do not get up. An evil-speaking person will not establish himself on earth; evil will drag the oppressor into destruction. I know that the Lord will bring judgment to the oppressed and justice to the poor. So! the righteous will praise your name; the blameless will dwell before your face. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; save me from the oppressor: they think evil in their hearts, every day they take up arms in battle, they sharpen their tongue like a snake; the poison of the asp is under their mouths. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, save me from oppressors who plan to shake my steps. The proud have hidden snares and nooses for me; I said to the Lord: You are my God; Hear, O Lord, the voice of my prayers! Lord, Lord, power of my salvation! You covered my head on the day of battle. Do not give, O Lord, what is desired to the wicked; do not let his evil plan succeed: they will become proud. May the evil of their own lips cover the heads of those around me. Let burning coals fall on them; let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, so that they do not get up. An evil-speaking person will not establish himself on earth; evil will drag the oppressor into destruction. I know that the Lord will bring judgment to the oppressed and justice to the poor. So! the righteous will praise your name; the blameless will dwell before you.

PSALM 58

This psalm has the same nature and purpose as the previous six or seven psalms. All of them are full of David's complaints about the wickedness of the enemies, their cruel and inhuman conspiracies - prayers and prophecies addressed to them, as well as consolations and assurances of trust in God as their Lord. First of all, the language of nature should be noted, then the prophetic spirit, looking forward to Christ and the enemies of his kingdom (in which we should not be involved), and, thirdly, grace and holy faith, which each of us should reproduce. In this psalm

(I) David prays that God will protect and deliver him from his enemies, representing them as very bad people, evil barbarians and atheists (v. 2-8).

(II) He foresees and foretells the death of his enemies, for which he promises to give glory to God (v. 9-18). Since all the enemies of God's people correspond to these characteristics, then, singing this psalm, we can read about their fate and foresee their death.

Choir leader. Don't lose. The writing of David, when Saul sent to guard his house, to put him to death.

Verses 2-8

The introduction to this psalm introduces us to the occasion for which it was written. This was the case when Saul sent a band of soldiers to watch over David's house at night, and afterwards to seize and kill him. You can read about this in 1 Samuel 19:11. It was a time when hostility towards David increased again, and more recently he managed to escape from the spear of Saul. Saul's first outbursts of wickedness upset, grieved, and frightened David, but at the same time he maintained fellowship with God, and the psalmist's mental attitude constantly prompted him to pray and praise God. Happy is the man whose connection with heaven is not interrupted by worries, sorrows, fears, or haste (internal or external) accompanying the suffering state. In these verses:

I. David prays that God will deliver him from the hands of his enemies, and their cruel designs against him be destroyed (v. 2, 3): “Deliver me from my enemies, my God! You are God and You can deliver me, O my God, under whose protection I place myself. You promised to be my all-sufficient God, and therefore, for the sake of honor and fidelity, You will deliver me. Raise me up so that the strength and viciousness of the enemies who rise up against me cannot reach me and I do not fear them. Lift me up so that I can be safe and at peace, so that I can see this and be at peace. Deliver me and save me." He cries out like a dying man who looks only to God, waiting for salvation and deliverance. He prays (v. 5): "Arise to help me, familiarize yourself with my situation, look at me with compassion and show Your power for my deliverance." In the same way, the disciples of Christ woke Him up during a storm with the words: “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” We must also urgently pray every day to have protection and deliverance from spiritual enemies, from the temptations of Satan and the depravity of our own hearts, which rise up against our spiritual life.

II. He begs for deliverance. Our God allows us not only to pray, but also to ask Him, to talk about our troubles, supporting them with arguments in order not only to impress Him, but also to influence ourselves. David does just that here.

1. He talks about the bad character of his enemies. They are the workers of iniquity, and therefore not only his enemies, but also the enemies of God. They are bloodthirsty, and therefore not only his enemies, but also the enemies of all mankind. “Lord, do not allow those who do iniquity to overcome the righteous, the bloodthirsty to prevail over the merciful.”

2. He speaks of their wickedness and their danger (v. 4). “Their wickedness is great, their goal is my soul, my life, my best part. They are cunning and prudent; they lie in wait for my soul, using every opportunity to harm me. They are powerful, respected and rich, occupying an important position in court and at court. They are all in a conspiracy, united in a community and are going to me to unite their plans and actions. They are very ingenious in their plots and diligent in their execution (v. 5): "They run and arm themselves with the utmost speed and fury to do me harm." He pays particular attention to the cruel behavior of Saul's messengers (v. 7): "In the evening they return from their day's work to do works of darkness (which by day would be their shame), and howl like dogs chasing a hare." So the enemies of David, coming to seize him, raised a cry against him, as against a rebel, a traitor and a man not worthy of life. With these cries they went around the city to ruin the reputation of David and, if possible, raise a crowd against him, or at least prevent the wrath, which was justifiably feared, since the people loved David very much. So did the persecutors of the Lord Jesus, who were compared to dogs (Ps. 21:17). They approached Him with cries, otherwise they would not have been able to seize Him, at least not on a holiday, so that there would not be indignation among the people. They belch blasphemy with their tongues (v. 8), malice boils in their hearts. “They have swords in their mouths, that is, reproaches that fill my heart with sorrow, and slander that strikes and wounds my reputation.” They constantly threw in offers that urged Saul to draw and sharpen the sword against him, and as we know, all the blame is placed on false witnesses. Perhaps the sword would not have appeared in the hands of Saul if it had not first appeared in their mouths.

3. He speaks of his innocence, not before God (he never claimed his innocence before Him), but before his persecutors. Everything they accused him of was an absolute lie; he never did or said anything that would merit such treatment from them (v. 4): “Not for my transgression, and not for my sin, Lord! You know, for You know everything." And again (v. 5) - "without my fault." Note:

(1.) The innocence of the godly will not keep them from the wickedness of the wicked. Harmless people are like doves, yet because of Christ people hate them, as if they were poisonous as snakes, and just as disgusting.

(2.) Although innocence will not keep us out of trouble, it can at the same time be a great support and comfort in trouble. The evidence of our conscience that we have behaved well towards our ill-wishers will give reason to rejoice in the day of trouble.

(3) If we feel our own innocence, we can call upon God with humble confidence and ask Him to intercede for us, which He will do at the right time.

4. The psalmist tells that his enemies are worldly and unbelieving people, that they kindle enmity against him, neglecting God (v. 8) and thinking: “Who will hear?” Not God (Ps. 9:32; 93:7). Note, It is no wonder that those who give no importance to their own words think that God does not give any importance to their words.

III. David places himself and his situation in the hands of God and asks to judge him (v. 6): "Lord, You are the Judge, judge between me and my persecutors." In this appeal to the Lord, he looks at Him as the God of forces, who has the power to judge and has all creatures and angels in His submission. He also looks to Him as the God of Israel, for whom He was King and Judge, without doubting that He will intercede at the request of the right-hearted Israelites. When Saul's soldiers pursued him, he turned to the Lord as the God of all might, and when faced with the wickedness of those who were alien in spirit to Israel, he turned to God as the God of Israel. He desires (that is, he is sure) that the Almighty will rise to visit all nations, He unmistakably examines the contradictions and quarrels that have arisen between the sons of men. This will be the day of visitation (Is. 10:3), and David refers to this day with his solemn request: "... do not spare one of the ungodly lawless." Selah - check it out.

(1.) Had David considered himself a wicked transgressor, he would not have hoped to find mercy, but he was not a criminal in dealing with his enemies (v. 4, 5): me". In his relationship with God, David was also not a wicked lawless person, because although he sinned, he was a repentant sinner and did not persist in his mistakes.

(2.) He knew that his enemies were wicked transgressors—conscious, malicious, and bitter in their crimes against God and man. Therefore, the psalmist asks that they be justly punished and judged without mercy. Let him not hope to find mercy who has never been merciful to others, for he is a wicked transgressor.

Verses 9-18

In these verses, David, referring to the menacing power of his enemies, encourages himself and decides to humbly trust in God and glorify Him.

I. He resolves to trust in God (v. 10): "They have strength, and fear of the strength of their enemies draws him to God." Or, as it is written in other translations, the power is with God, and the hope of this power draws him to Him. “Therefore I resort to You, believing and trusting in You,” says David. We act wisely and do our duty, if in times of danger and distress we trust in God, for He is our Advocate, our high ground, on which we will be safe. He hopes

(1.) That God would be merciful to him (v. 11): “My God, who has mercy on me, will precede me with the blessings of his goodness; He bestows His mercy on me, guards me from fear, keeps my prayers, and treats me better than I expected.” It is very good if in prayer we look to God not only as the God of mercy, but also as the God of mercy shown to us, as the Creator of all the good that is produced in us, and the Giver of all our blessings. All the mercy that is present in God is reserved for us, and at any moment is ready to be transferred to us. The psalmist rightly calls the mercy of God his mercy, since all the blessings of the New Testament are called unchanging mercies promised to David (Isaiah 55:3), and they are unchanged for all his descendants.

(2.) That to his persecutors he would be a God of vengeance. He sets out his expectations partly in the form of a prophecy, and partly in the form of a petition, which are combined, for his prayer that everything will end in this way is equated with a prophecy that it will be so. In these verses, David foretells the future of his enemies or bystanders who are looking for an opportunity to harm him. In his words, we see his desire, and not the passion for revenge (v. 11). He foresees

That God will put them to contempt, the more they have made themselves a laughing stock (v. 9): “They think that God does not hear them and does not pay attention, but You, Lord, will laugh at them, at their that the one who planted the ear does not hear. You will shame not only them, but all the heathen nations living without God in this world.” Note that atheists and persecutors deserve ridicule (see Ps. 2:4; Prov. 1:26; Isa. 37:22).

That God would make them monuments of his justice (v. 12): "Slay them not, let them not be killed immediately, lest my people forget." If the punishment is immediately reproduced, then the impression from it will not linger, but will be fleeting and will soon dry up. Rapid destruction strikes people at the first moment, but is soon forgotten, so the psalmist prays that this punishment will be long-lasting: earth." Therefore, so that vengeance would not be forgotten, the murderer Cain was not put to death, but sentenced to become an exile and a wanderer on earth. Note, When we think that the judgments of God upon sinners are slow, we must realize that in pouring out his wrath gradually, God has wise and holy purposes. “Therefore, scatter them, so that they can never again unite and do evil, bring them down, Lord, our protector!” If God chooses to protect His people as a shield, He will surely humble and humiliate all who fight against them.

That they would be treated as they deserved (v. 13): The word of their tongue is the sin of their mouth (for every word they utter contains sin); let them be caught for this in their pride - for swearing and cursing others and themselves (the sin of which Saul was guilty, 1 Sam. 14:28,44) and lying. Note, There is a great deal of ill will in the sins of the tongue, more than we think. Cursing, lying, proud speech are among the worst sins of the tongue, and truly unfortunate is the man whom God treats as he deserves, for with their tongue they will amaze themselves.

That in their destruction God will be glorified as the God and King of Israel (v. 14): “Waste them in anger, squander, that is, let judgments fall on them one by one, until they are utterly destroyed. Let them be conscious, but their strength is gradually exhausted, so that they, undergoing suffering, and their accomplices, know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth, and draw a conclusion from this. Saul and his followers believed that all power belonged to them, but were forced to admit that there is a Person above them - God, who rules over them. The main purpose of the judgments of God is to convince people that the Lord reigns, that He does His will, gives the law to all creatures and disposes everything to His glory. Therefore, the greatest men are under His control, and God uses them as He pleases. God has dominion over Jacob, for there is His judgment seat, there He is known, and there His name is exalted. But He also reigns to the ends of the earth, since all peoples live in the territory of His Kingdom. He rules to the ends of the earth even among those who do not know Him, but rules for Jacob (as some may read). In governing the world, He first of all sees that everything should work together for the good of His Church, so that this government to the ends of the earth is carried out for the sake of Jacob, My servant, and Israel, My chosen one (Is. 45:4).

That their sins will be punished (v. 15, cf. v. 7). Their sin was that they hunted David, making him their prey; and their punishment will be that they will be limited to such poverty that they will have to hunt to get food and satisfy hunger, but they will miss the prey, as they missed David. Thus, they will not be destroyed at once, but will be scattered (v. 12) and gradually their strength will be exhausted (v. 14). He who dies of hunger dies slowly, feeling that life is leaving him (Lamentations 4:9). David predicts that they will be forced to go from door to door asking for bread,

(a) that they will do so with great regret and extreme reluctance. They will be ashamed to ask (which makes the punishment more painful), and therefore they will beg in the evening, when it is dark, so that they will not be recognized - at a time when other predators go out for prey (Ps. 104:20).

(b) That, being in such a situation, out of indignation, they will be very insistent and exacting in their complaints and will not even be able to pacify themselves a little: "... they howl like dogs." When they were looking for David, the sounds they made were like the barking and growling of angry dogs. Now, in search of food, they make sounds reminiscent of a hungry howling dog. He who repents of his sins, being in trouble, mourns like a dove, and he who has a hardened heart, being in trouble, makes sounds like a dog, like a roe in the nets full of the wrath of the Lord (see Hos.7: 14): “They did not cry out to Me with their hearts when they cried out on their beds; gather for bread and wine.”

(c.) That they would seek sympathy, but the hearts of the people would be so hardened towards them that they would go about the city to find food (v. 16). As a result of their importunity, they will not receive anything (as it is written in the margins, “if they are not satisfied, they will wait all night”), and what people still give them will not be done out of goodwill, but in order to get rid of them so that they do not tire with their constant arrivals.

(d) That they will be unsatisfied, and this will be the most terrible disaster of their position. These are dogs, greedy in soul, not knowing satiety (Is. 56:11), which spend the night unsatisfied. A contented person, even if he does not have what he wants, does not express dissatisfaction, does not grumble at Providence and is not irritated. And the one whose god is the womb, not being able to fill it and satisfy his appetite, quarrels with God and himself. This is not poverty, but discontent that makes a person unhappy.

II. He is going to praise God for the fact that His providence has given him a subject for praise, and His grace has created in him a heart for praise (v. 17, 18). Note:

1. He desires to praise God (1) for his power and mercy, both of which should be the essence of his song. Strength without mercy is frightening, and grace without strength cannot give what a person expects from it. But God's power, by which He can help us, and His mercy, by which He is inclined to help us, will be a constant theme of praise among all the saints.

(2) Because many times he was his protector and refuge in the day of distress. The Lord allows adversity in the lives of His people so that they may know His power and mercy in their protection, and to give them cause to glorify Him.

(3) Because he continues to trust in Him and relies on the Lord as his strength, which will support him and help him fulfill his duty, as his protection, which will not allow evil to approach him. The God of mercy will make him happy and at peace. The Lord, who is everything to us, is certainly worthy of our best feelings, praises and ministries.

2. How he will glorify God.

(1) He will sing. Since singing is a natural expression of joy, a similar decree is approved for the manifestation of holy joy and gratitude.

(2.) He will sing aloud, like a man greatly impressed by the glory of God, who is not ashamed of it, and desires others to admire it in the same way. He will sing of the power of God and of His mercy, for the contemplation of them, more than anything else, exalts his feelings.

(3) He will sing in the morning when his spirit is cheerful and vigorous. The compassions of the Lord are renewed every morning, and therefore it is very wise to start the day with praise to Him. (4) He will sing to God (v. 18), will praise his honor and glory, looking only to him. Since we must direct our prayers to God, then when we sing to the Lord, we must look to heaven.