1 <To the chief music-maker; on Neginoth. Maschil. Of David. When the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Is not David keeping himself secret among us?> Let your name be my salvation, O God; let my cause be judged by your strength.
<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> May the Lord give ear to you in the day of trouble; may you be placed on high by the name of the God of Jacob;
And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, and said, Is not David waiting secretly near us in the hill of Hachilah, before the waste land?
And in no other is there salvation: for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, through which we may have salvation.
And brother will give up brother to death, and the father his child: and children will go against their fathers and mothers, and put them to death.
And she will give birth to a son; and you will give him the name Jesus; for he will give his people salvation from their sins.
Put no faith in a friend, do not let your hope be placed in a relation: keep watch on the doors of your mouth against her who is resting on your breast. For the son puts shame on his father, the daughter goes against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's haters are those of his family.
See, the name of the Lord is coming from far, burning with his wrath, with thick smoke going up: his lips are full of passion, and his tongue is like a burning fire:
For their saviour is strong, and he will take up their cause against you.
And God said to him, I AM WHAT I AM: and he said, Say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. And God went on to say to Moses, Say to the children of Israel, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name for ever, and this is my sign to all generations.
The king's power is used for righteousness; you give true decisions, judging rightly in the land of Jacob.
Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name.
Be my judge, O God, supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man. You are the God of my strength; why have you put me from you? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters?
<Of David.> O Lord, be my judge, for my behaviour has been upright: I have put my faith in the Lord, I am not in danger of slipping.
Then the Ziphites came up to Gibeah to see Saul, and said, Is not David living secretly among us in the strong places in Horesh, in the hill of Hachilah to the south of the waste land? So now, O king, have your soul's desire and come down, and we, for our part, will give him up into the king's hands.
And the Lord came down in the cloud and took his place by the side of Moses, and Moses gave worship to the name of the Lord. And the Lord went past before his eyes, saying, The Lord, the Lord, a God full of pity and grace, slow to wrath and great in mercy and faith;
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 54
Commentary on Psalms 54 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 54
Ps 54:1-7. See on Ps 4:1, title; Ps 32:1, title; for the history, see 1Sa 23:19, 29; 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing.
1. by thy name—(Ps 5:11), specially, power.
judge me—as in Ps 7:8; 26:1.
2. (Compare Ps 4:1; 5:1).
3. strangers—perhaps Ziphites.
oppressors—literally, "terrible ones" (Isa 13:11; 25:3). Such were Saul and his army.
not set … them—acted as atheists, without God's fear (compare Ps 16:8).
4. (Compare Ps 30:10).
with them—on their side, and for me (compare Ps 46:11).
5. He shall … evil—or, "Evil shall return on" (Ps 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Ps 6:7).
in thy truth—Thy verified promise.
6. I will freely, &c.—or, present a freewill offering (Le 7:16; Nu 15:3).
7. mine eye … desire—(compare Ps 59:10; 112:8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (compare Ps 52:6, 7).