Psalm 54:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 54:1-3

We may observe here, 1. The great distress that David was now in, which the title gives an account of. The Ziphim came of their own accord, and informed Saul where David was, with a promise to deliver him into his hand. One would have thought that when David had retired into the country he would not be pursued, into a desert country he would not be discovered, and into his own country he would not be betrayed; and yet it seems he was. Never let a good man expect to be safe an easy till he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 54:3

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 54:3

Strangers are risen up against me - The Ziphites. And oppressors - Saul, his courtiers, and his army. They have not set God before them - It is on no religious account, nor is it to accomplish any end, on which they can ask the blessing of God. Selah - This is true. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 54:1-7

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 54:1-7

Peril and prayer. Here we have— I. PERIL MOVING TO PRAYER . ( Psalms 54:1-3 .) Danger may arise from various causes. Soul-danger is the worst. Then when sore pressed and in trouble, the instinct of the heart is to cry to God, "Save me!" Prayer is "the mighty utterance of a mighty need" (Trench). II. PRAYER INSPIRING CONFIDENCE . ( Psalms 54:4 .) Prayer brings the soul into the very presence of God. The thought of what he is (" thy Name") and of what he has done ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 54:1-7

Prayer for deliverance. I. A PRAYER TO BE DELIVERED FROM IMPENDING DANGER . ( Psalms 54:1-3 .) The prayer is grounded: 1 . Upon the Divine nature. "By thy Name, by thy strength." It is God's nature to save; he uses his omnipotence on behalf of those who call upon him. 2 . Upon the righteousness of his cause. "Judge my cause [or, 'avenge me'] by thy strength." We can pray when we are pleading for a good cause. 3 . Upon the character of those who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 54:3

For strangers are risen up against me . David's designation of his foes as "strangers" has been made an argument against the trustworthiness of the "title," since the Ziphites were Israelites of the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 15:55 ). But he might well call those "strangers" who were treating him as an alien. Comp. Psalms 120:5 , where "the psalmist, heavily oppressed by his countrymen, complains that he dwelt in Mesheeh and Kedar" (Hengstenberg). And oppressors seek after my soul ; or, ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 54:3

For strangers are risen up against me - That is, foreigners; those of another nation or land. Saul and his friends who sought the life of David were his own countrymen; these persons who sought go betray him were another people. They attempted to gain the favor of Saul, or to secure a reward from him, by betraying to him an innocent man whom he was persecuting.And oppressors seek after my soul - Seek after my life. The word here rendered “oppressors” means people of violence; the proud; the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 54:1-3

Psalms 54:1-3. Save me by thy name That is, by thy own strength, as the next words explain it, because I have no other refuge. Or, for thy name, for thy own glory, which is concerned in my deliverance. And judge me Give sentence for me, or plead my cause. For strangers are risen up against me The Ziphites, whom, though Israelites, he calls strangers in regard of their barbarous and perfidious conduct toward him, by which they showed themselves to be estranged from God, as the wicked... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 54:1-7

Psalms 52-54 Those who act treacherouslyWhen David fled from Saul he obtained urgently needed provisions from the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 21:1-9). He was seen by Doeg, an Edomite and a servant of Saul, who reported the matter to Saul. In a typical fit of mad vengeance, Saul ordered Doeg to kill all the priests at Nob, something that Doeg was very willing to do (1 Samuel 22:6-23). On hearing of Doeg’s butchery, David wrote a poem against him, which has been preserved in the Bible as Psalms 52:0... read more

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