Psalm 59:1-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 59:1-7

The title of this psalm acquaints us particularly with the occasion on which it was penned; it was when Saul sent a party of his guards to beset David's house in the night, that they might seize him and kill him; we have the story 1 Sam. 19:11. It was when his hostilities against David were newly begun, and he had but just before narrowly escaped Saul's javelin. These first eruptions of Saul's malice could not but put David into disorder and be both grievous and terrifying, and yet he kept up... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 59:8-17

David here encourages himself, in reference to the threatening power of his enemies, with a pious resolution to wait upon God and a believing expectation that he should yet praise him. I. He resolves to wait upon God (Ps. 59:9): ?Because of his strength? (either the strength of his enemies, the fear of which drove him to God, or because of God's strength, the hope of which drew him to God) ?Will I wait upon thee, with a believing dependence upon thee and confidence in thee.? It is our wisdom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:1

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God ,.... David had his enemies in his youth, notwithstanding the amiableness of his person, the endowments of his mind, his martial achievements, his wise behaviour and conduct, and the presence of God with him; yea, it were some of these things that made Saul his enemy, who, by his power and authority, made others; see 1 Samuel 18:5 . Christ had his enemies, though he went about doing good, both to the bodies and souls of men, continually; the chief... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:2

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity ,.... See Gill on Psalm 6:8 ; and save me from bloody men ; such as Saul sent to kill David, as appears from the title of the psalm; and such as were concerned in the death of Christ; and such, are the enemies of God's people, the followers of the man of sin. The heap of words, the various expressions used in a way of petition, in this verse and Psalm 59:1 , show the distress the psalmist was in, and whom he represents; his importunity,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:3

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul ,.... As the men did that watched his house, when Saul sent to kill him; so the Jews sought and lay in wait to take away the life of Christ; and very often was it the case of the Apostle Paul, that he was in danger of his life, through the lying in wait of the Jews; so Satan makes use of cunning devices, stratagems, and wiles, to ruin the souls of God's people, if possible; and false teachers lie in wait to deceive them. The emphasis lies upon the word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:4

They run and prepare themselves without my fault ,.... Or, "without sin in me "; or "without punishment in them "; so the same word is rendered, 1 Samuel 28:10 . "They run", in an hostile manner, "against me", as the Syriac version adds; or like dogs up and down, about the city, to find him and kill him; see Psalm 59:7 . Or this may denote their readiness and swiftness to shed blood, Proverbs 1:16 ; "and prepare themselves" with weapon, with instruments of death, as the men did... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:5

Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts ,.... Of the armies in heaven, the angels, and of all the inhabitants of the earth; who are all under him, and at his dispose, and can do among them and with them whatsoever he pleases; the God of Israel ; of the people of Israel, literally understood; and mystically of all the elect of God, Jews and Gentiles. The former epithet is expressive of his power, this of his grace and goodness in a covenant way; and both encouraged the psalmist to address him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:6

They return at evening ,.... It was at evening Saul sent messengers to watch David's house, that they might take him in the morning; but missing him, perhaps after a fruitless search for him all the day, returned at evening to watch his house again; or they might come, and go and return the first evening. So it was night when Judas set out from Bethany, to go to the chief priests at Jerusalem, to covenant with them, and betray his master; and it was in the night he did betray him, after he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:7

Behold, they belch out with their mouth ,.... Bark like dogs, so Aben Ezra; or "bubble out" F21 יביעון "scaturient", Montanus; "copiose eructant", Gejerus. , as a fountain bubbles out with water; so they cast out their wickedness in great abundance; see Jeremiah 6:7 ; the phrase denotes the abundance of evil things and wicked speeches that came out of their mouths, which showed the naughtiness of their hearts; so David's enemies blustered and threatened what they would do to him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:8

But thou, O Lord, shall laugh at them ,.... Disappoint their counsels, hinder them from performing their enterprise; send them back with shame and confusion, and expose them to the laughter and derision of others; as Saul's messengers were, when instead of David they found an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for its bolster, 1 Samuel 19:16 ; the same is said as here with respect to the enemies of Christ, Psalm 2:4 ; thou shall have all the Heathen in derision : either... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 59:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 59:8-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 59:8

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