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Psalm Fifty-four
New King James Version (NKJV)
YLT
To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by
David, in the coming in of the Ziphim, and they say to Saul, `Is not David
hiding himself with us?'
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 54
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, cf15I A Psalm of David, when
the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Of the
word "neginoth", See Gill on Psalm 4:1, title;
and of "maschil", See Gill on Psalm 32:1, title.
The occasion of writing this psalm were the discoveries the Ziphims or Ziphites
made to Saul of David being in their neighbourhood; which they did twice, as
appears from 1 Samuel 23:14.
Which of these gave occasion to the psalm is not certain; it is very likely
that it was composed after both had been made. These Ziphims were the
inhabitants of a city called Ziph, which was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:55, near
to which was a wilderness, which had its name from the city in which David was
when they came to Saul with this news of him.
Psalm 54:1 Save
me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength.
YLT
1O God, by Thy name save me,
and by Thy might judge me.
Save me, O God, by thy name,.... That is, by himself,
by his power, and of his grace and goodness; the Lord's name is often used for
himself. David in his distress applies to his God for salvation and
deliverance, who only could give it; which was right; and his prayer was
remarkably heard and answered: for when Saul came down upon the first
discovery, and beset David and his men all around, just as he was about to
seize the prey, tidings came to him of the invasion of the Philistines; which
obliged him directly to quit his pursuit of David, and return in haste for the
defence of his country, 1 Samuel 23:26; and
upon the second discovery, when Saul came again to take him, Saul was delivered
into the hands of David, who could have took away his life if he would; but he
only took his spear and cruse of water by his bolster, as a proof of his being
in his power, 1 Samuel 26:12. Of
such avail is the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man. This prayer is
suitable enough to David's antitype and son, the Messiah; see Psalm 69:1; and
especially to sensible sinners; who, being made acquainted with, their lost and
perishing condition, inquire the way of salvation; and finding it is not by
works, but by Christ alone, apply in that way for it, and desire that God would
save them by his Son; who is his name, in whom his name is, and whose name
Jesus, a Saviour, is of God's giving; and this name is a strong tower, whither
such souls, sensible of danger, flee and are safe; nor is there any other name
in which salvation is, and which is therefore exceeding precious, and like
ointment poured forth; see Exodus 23:21. Or,
"for thy name's sake"F8בשמך
"propter nomen tuum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus,
Amama, Michaelis. ; for the sake of the glory of his divine perfections; which
was displayed in the deliverance of David, and more abundantly in the salvation
of lost sinners; such as the wisdom, power, faithfulness, justice, grace and
mercy of God. Such a petition shows that man cannot save himself; that no
creature, none but God can save him; and that a sensible sinner desires to be
saved in such a way that God may be glorified;
and judge me by thy strength; David, though innocent,
had many charges laid against him; his enemies were lively and strong; he puts
his cause into the hands of the Lord, his strong Redeemer, who was able to
plead it thoroughly against those that strove with him; so Christ, his
antitype, committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Peter 2:23; and
so should every believer.
Psalm 54:2 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give
ear to the words of my mouth.
YLT
2O God, hear my prayer, Give
ear to the sayings of my mouth,
Hear my prayer, O God,.... The psalmist first
puts up his petitions, and then desires to be heard; his distress, and the
fervency of his spirit, not suffering him to observe order;
give ear to the words of my mouth; for the prayer which was
conceived in his mind, and inwrought there by the Spirit of God, was expressed
vocally.
Psalm 54:3 3 For strangers have risen
up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God
before them. Selah
YLT
3For strangers have risen up
against me And terrible ones have sought my soul, They have not set God before
them. Selah.
For strangers are risen up against me,.... Meaning
such as Doeg the Edomite, or Heathen soldiers, that Saul had hired and took
into his army, who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; and such as
these rose up against David's antitype, the Messiah, Psalm 2:1, Acts 4:27. Or
rather the Ziphims, who were of his own nation, yea, of his own tribe, yet used
him as barbarously as the very Heathens would have done, or worse; and who,
though notwithstanding they were of Israel, might not be Israelites indeed, but
strangers to an inward experience of divine and spiritual things: for men may
be professors of religion, and yet be strangers to God in Christ, to Christ
himself, and the way of salvation by him, and communion with him; to the Spirit
of God, and the operations of his grace on the heart; to themselves, their own
hearts, and their state and condition by nature; to the Gospel of Christ, and
to the people of God; and these are sometimes the most violent persecutors of
good and spiritual men;
and oppressors seek after my soul; or "life"F9נפשי "vitam meam", Junius & Tremellius,
Michaelis. , to take it away; as did Saul and his army; who are "the
mighty" or "strong ones"F11עריצים
"fortes", V. L. Pagninus, Musculus, Gejerus;
"praepotentes", Vatablus. , as the word here used signifies; see 1 Samuel 24:11; and
as the Jewish sanhedrim, Scribes and Pharisees, sought after the soul or life
of Christ, to take that away, as they did;
they have not set God before them. They did not consider
themselves as under the omniscient eye of God; they did not set his word before
them, as the rule of their conduct, but cast it behind their backs; nor did
they regard his providential mercies and layouts as a motive to engage them to
obedience to him, but despised them; they had not the fear of God before their
eyes, nor in their hearts, nor any concern for his glory; and therefore did the
wicked things they did against his servant.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 54:4 4 Behold, God is my
helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
YLT
4Lo, God [is] a helper to
me, The Lord [is] with those supporting my soul,
5Turn back doth the evil thing to mine enemies, In Thy truth
cut them off.
Behold, God is mine helper,.... This being a matter
of wonder to be helped in so extraordinary a manner, and a sure and certain
case, and what was deserving the attention of others; for the encouragement of
their faith and hope in like cases, a "behold" is prefixed unto it:
and what is here said is true of David's son, the Messiah, and is expressed by
him in much the same language, Isaiah 50:9; and of
all the saints whom the Lord helps, as at first conversion, out of the pit
wherein is no water, out of the horrible pit, the mire and clay of nature's
darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; so out of all their afflictions and
temptations, and out of the hands of all their enemies; he helps in the
exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty; and he helps to all mercies,
temporal and spiritual, needful for them; which help is quick and present, seasonable
and suitable, always sufficient; and is what they have reason to expect both
from what he has said to them in promise, and from what he has done for them;
the Lord is with them that uphold my soul; that
ministered to his sustenance, as Abigail did, and that gathered to him and
joined him, and exposed their lives in the defence of him; these the Lord was
with, blessed, protected, and afforded them his gracious presence. Such there
were with Christ; who followed him in the regeneration; who ministered to him
of their substance, whom God rewarded in a way of grace; and he blesses them
that bless his, and do good to them; they being the excellent in the earth, in
whom is his delight, the apple of his eye, and his jewels. Or the sense is,
that the Lord is he that upheld his soul; not only the chief of his upholders,
but the only one: so R. MosesF12Apud Aben Ezram in loc. interprets
it, that he is the alone upholder, and is instead of all upholders, and answers
to them all; who upheld his soul in life, and followed him with his goodness:
as when God is said to be the first, and "with the last", the meaning
is, that he is the first and the last, Isaiah 41:4; see Psalm 118:7; so he
upheld the soul of Christ in the wilderness, and in the garden, and on the
cross; see Isaiah 42:1. And he
upholds all his people in a providential way in their beings, and supplies them
with all the necessaries of life; and, in a spiritual way, maintaining their
spiritual life, supplying them with all grace, bearing them up under all
trials, holding up their goings in his ways, and preserving them to the end.
Psalm 54:5 5 He will repay my enemies
for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.
YLT
6With a free will-offering I
sacrifice to Thee, I thank Thy name, O Jehovah, for [it is] good,
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies,.... That eyed
him as Saul did; that observed his haunts, where he resorted, and who were with
him, as the Ziphites did under Saul's direction; as the WordF13לשררי "observatoribus meis", Junius &
Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis. here used for "enemies" signifies:
the mischief they had devised for him, he believed, would be returned upon
their own heads; the pit they digged they would fall into themselves; and the
net they had spread for others their own feet would be taken in. This was true
as of David's enemies, so of Christ's, the wicked Jews, who narrowly watched
him to take every advantage against him;
cut them off in thy truth; root and branch, as
Saul, and his family, and his courtiers, quickly were, according to the truth
of promises made to David, and of threatenings unto them.
Psalm 54:6 6 I
will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is
good.
I will freely sacrifice unto thee,.... Not legal sacrifices;
no, nor freewill offerings the law gives directions about, though the allusion
is to them; but the freewill offerings of his mouth, Psalm 119:108; the
sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, on account of help, salvation, and
deliverance, as appears from the following clause; which he determines to
offer, not by constraint, but willingly; not by force, but of a ready mind;
freely, and with all his heart. The sacrifice of his antitype is himself, his
soul and body, as in union with his divine Person; and this was offered up to
God, against whom man has sinned, and whose justice must be satisfied; and this
was done freely and voluntarily; he gave himself an offering; he laid down his
life of himself, and that for sinners. The sacrifices of his people are their
prayers and praises, their acts of beneficence, and the presentation of their
souls and bodies in divine service; all which they do freely, under the influence
of divine grace;
I will praise thy name, O Lord; which explains what is
meant by sacrificing: this is what is due to the Lord, and comely in his
people;
for it is good; either the name of God;
and therefore to be praised. He himself is good, as, he is, both in a way of
providence and of grace; and it is good, both pleasantly and profitably good,
to sing praises to him, Psalm 147:1.
Psalm 54:7 7 For He has delivered me
out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.
YLT
7For, from all adversity He
delivered me, And on mine enemies hath mine eye looked!
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble,.... As he
desired, 1 Samuel 26:24;
that is, out of all his present trouble; not that he had no more afterwards;
for as soon as one trouble is gone, generally speaking, another comes; but as God
delivered him out of his present distress, so he believed he would deliver him
out of all his afflictions in future times;
and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies: or revenge,
as the Targum supplies it; not that he delighted in the destruction of his
enemies, but in the justice of God glorified thereby, and in the goodness of
God to him, in delivering him from them; see Revelation 18:20.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)