Psalm 59 – A Detailed Explanation

Introduction

Psalm 59 is one of the imprecatory psalms attributed to David, and it’s found within the first of the five books of the Psalter. The psalm is a heartfelt plea for deliverance from enemies, particularly written in the context of a specific moment in David’s life—when Saul sent men to watch his house to kill him (1 Samuel 19:11). This psalm captures both David’s anguish and unwavering trust in God.

This explanation will examine Psalm 59 under the following headings:

Historical Context
Literary Structure
Themes and Theology
Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Application for Today
Conclusion

1. Historical Context

Psalm 59 is tied to a real-life event in David’s early life. King Saul, increasingly jealous and paranoid about David’s rising popularity and God’s anointing upon him, plotted to kill him. Saul sent guards to David’s house to seize and kill him in the morning. David’s wife, Michal, warned him and helped him escape through a window. This context is crucial to understanding the intensity and emotional depth of the psalm.

David, though in danger, responds not with retaliation but with prayer. He cries to God for deliverance from his enemies, identifying them as bloodthirsty men and evildoers. His reaction models dependence on divine justice rather than personal vengeance.

2. Literary Structure

Psalm 59 contains a chiastic structure and oscillates between prayer, complaint, confidence, and praise. It can be broken down as follows:

Verses 1–2: Opening plea for deliverance
Verses 3–5: Description of the threat and appeal for divine intervention
Verses 6–7: Description of the enemies (dog imagery introduced)
Verse 8: Contrast – God’s laugh at the wicked
Verses 9–10: Declaration of trust in God's strength
Verses 11–13: Imprecation – Prayer for God to bring down enemies
Verses 14–15: Return to the dog imagery – repeated refrain
Verse 16–17: Concluding praise and trust in God

The psalm follows a lament structure, but unlike some laments that end in uncertainty, Psalm 59 ends with confident praise.

3. Themes and Theology

A. God as Deliverer and Fortress

The idea of God as a "fortress" (Hebrew: misgav) is repeated (vv. 9, 16, 17), emphasizing safety, strength, and protection. David does not seek refuge in walls or weapons, but in God.

B. The Reality of Evil

David does not downplay the real threat. He describes his enemies as growling dogs, bloodthirsty, wicked, and deceitful. The language is vivid, portraying evil as both aggressive and relentless.

C. Trust in Divine Justice

David doesn’t take revenge into his own hands. Instead, he leaves the judgment to God, who he trusts will repay the wicked appropriately.

D. Worship in the Midst of Trouble

Though surrounded by enemies, David chooses to sing of God's strength and steadfast love (v. 16). Worship is an act of defiance against fear and discouragement.

4. Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Verses 1–2: A Cry for Rescue

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.”

David begins with a strong cry to God. The language is urgent—he asks for deliverance, protection, and rescue. These verbs are not casual requests but cries from a man in imminent danger.

“Deliver me from those who work evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men.”

David identifies the nature of his enemies: they are evil-doers, not mere political opponents. They are morally corrupt and bloodthirsty.

Verses 3–5: Description of the Enemy and Appeal to God’s Justice

“For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
fierce men stir up strife against me.”

This is a reference to Saul’s men waiting outside his house (1 Sam. 19:11). David is not being hunted for wrongdoing but because of jealousy and hatred.

“For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.”

David pleads innocence. He is not perfect, but in this situation, he has committed no crime.

“Awake, come to meet me, and see!
You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil.”

David appeals to God’s role not just as his personal deliverer, but as the God of Israel and the Judge of nations. The plea is not only personal but national and cosmic.

Verses 6–7: Enemy Imagery – Snarling Dogs

“Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs and prowling about the city.”

This metaphor paints the enemies as wild, unclean, and threatening. Dogs in the ancient Near East were scavengers, not pets. David uses the imagery to highlight their aggression and persistence.

“There they are, bellowing with their mouths
with swords in their lips—
for ‘Who,’ they think, ‘will hear us?’”

Their speech is violent. Their mouths are like weapons. They are arrogant and presume no one sees their evil.

Verse 8: The Divine Response – God Laughs

“But you, O Lord, laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.”

This is a powerful moment of contrast. While the enemies plot and prowl, God is not worried—He laughs. This is not mockery for entertainment but divine scorn against human arrogance. This verse mirrors Psalm 2:4, where God laughs at rebellious kings.

Verses 9–10: Personal Trust in God

“O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.”

David calls God “my Strength” and “my fortress.” He is no longer fixated on the enemies but refocuses his gaze on God.

“My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.”

This is faith speaking before the deliverance has occurred. David is confident not just in God’s power but in God’s hesed—His steadfast covenant love.

Verses 11–13: Imprecatory Prayer – Justice, Not Vengeance

“Kill them not, lest my people forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield!”

David doesn’t ask for instant destruction but for a humbling that would be instructive and memorable. He is concerned with God’s glory and the moral impact on Israel.

“For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more.”

He prays that they would fall into their own traps—that their lies and arrogance would be their undoing. It’s a call for justice, not personal revenge.

“That they may know that God rules over Jacob
to the ends of the earth.”

This final line clarifies the purpose of the judgment—that God’s sovereignty may be recognized universally.

Verses 14–15: Repeated Refrain of the Dogs

“Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
They wander about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.”

The dog imagery returns—this time with a greater sense of futility. The enemies keep prowling, but they are hungry and unsatisfied. There is poetic irony: these threatening figures are reduced to aimless scavengers.

Verses 16–17: Final Word – Praise and Trust

“But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.”

While enemies lurk in the evening, David chooses to look forward to the morning—a metaphor for deliverance. He resolves to worship despite the threat.

“For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

David testifies from experience. God has been his protection before and will be again.

“O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.”

The psalm closes on a personal note, reiterating God’s power (Strength), safety (fortress), and covenant loyalty (steadfast love).

5. Application for Today

A. Prayer in Persecution

This psalm is a model for believers facing unjust treatment. Rather than taking revenge, David turns to God in prayer. His example encourages Christians to bring their pain and enemies to God.

B. Confidence in God’s Sovereignty

Despite his peril, David never doubts God’s control. His trust in God’s justice and love is a model of faith that sees beyond present suffering.

C. Honest Lament and Worship

David doesn’t suppress his feelings—he names his enemies and expresses his fears. Yet he also chooses to worship. Worship and lament can coexist in the life of faith.

D. Christological Perspective

Many scholars see shadows of Christ in David’s experience—surrounded by enemies, betrayed, and innocent. Like David, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father rather than retaliating (1 Peter 2:23). The psalm thus finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who overcomes evil not with violence but through the cross and resurrection.

6. Conclusion

Psalm 59 is a vivid cry from the heart of a man pursued unjustly, yet resolute in his trust in God. It reflects the full range of human emotion—fear, anger, frustration, hope, and joy—and places it all before God. David’s response is not passive but active faith, choosing to trust in God's justice, strength, and love even in the darkest hours.

For modern readers, Psalm 59 offers reassurance: God hears, God sees, and God acts. In times of danger or injustice, we can, like David, look to God as our fortress, trust His timing, and still sing in the night—confident that the morning of deliverance will come.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2025