Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 59

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God - See the notes at (Psalms 18:48). This prayer was offered when the spies sent by Saul surrounded the house of David.

They had come to apprehend him, and it is to be presumed that they had come in sufficient numbers and with sufficient power to achieve their object. Their purpose was not to break in on him in the night, but to watch for their opportunity, when he went out in the morning, to slay him (1 Samuel 19:11), and there seemed no way for him to escape.

Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife, seems to have been informed of their coming and their design—perhaps by someone from her father’s family. She informed David of the arrangement and assured him that unless he escaped in the night, he would be put to death in the morning.

She, therefore, let him down through a window, and he escaped (1 Samuel 19:12). It was in this way that he was in fact delivered; in this way that his prayer was answered. A faithful wife saved him.

Defend me from them that rise up against me - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Set me on high.” The idea is that of placing him, as it were, on a tower, or on an eminence which would be inaccessible. These were common places of refuge or defense. See the notes at (Psalms 18:2).

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity - The workers of iniquity here referred to were Saul and those whom he employed to carry out his murderous purpose—the people that had been sent to slay him.

And save me from bloody men - Hebrew, “Men of bloods;” that is, men whose trade is blood; who seek to shed my blood, or who seek my life. See Psalm 5:6, note; Psalms 26:9, note; Psalms 55:23, note.

For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul - They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Judges 9:32; Judges 21:20; Psalms 10:9. The word “soul” here means “life.” They lie in ambush in order to kill me.

The mighty are gathered against me - Strong men; hostile men; cruel men. Saul would employ on this occasion not the weak, the cowardly, the faint-hearted, but men of courage and strength; men who were unscrupulous in their character; men who would not be likely to be moved by entreaty, or turned from their purpose by compassion. It is not mere “strength” that is here referred to, but that kind of strength or courage which can be employed in a desperate enterprise, and which is suited to accomplish any scheme of wickedness, however daring or difficult.

Not for my transgression, nor for my sin - This is done not on account of my violating the laws of the land, nor because it is alleged that I am a sinner against God. David was conscious that he did not deserve this treatment from the hand of man. He had been guilty of no wrong against Saul that exposed him to just punishment. He carried with him the consciousness of innocence regarding any crime that could have made this treatment proper; and he felt that it was all the result of unjust suspicions.

It was not improper for him to refer to this in his prayer; for, however he might feel that he was a sinner in the sight of God, yet he felt that a great and grievous wrong was done to him by man; and he prayed, therefore, that a righteous God would interpose. See Psalm 7:8, note; Psalms 17:2, note; Psalms 35:24, note; Psalms 43:1, note.

They run and prepare themselves - That is, they “hasten” to accomplish this; they are quick to obey the command of Saul requiring them to slay me. The word “prepare” refers to whatever was deemed necessary to enable them to accomplish what they had been commanded to do - arming themselves, making provision for their journey, etc.

Without my fault - That is, without anything on my part to deserve this, or to justify Saul and those employed by him in what they attempt to do. David, in all this, was conscious of innocence. In his own feelings toward Saul, and in all his public acts, he knew that he had sought only the king’s welfare, and that he had been obedient to the laws.

Awake to help me - That is, “arouse,” as one does from sleep. See the notes at Psalm 7:6. Compare Psalm 35:23. The word rendered “to help me,” is rendered in the margin, “to meet me.” This is the meaning of the Hebrew. It is a prayer that God would meet him, or come to him, and aid him.

You therefore, O Lord God of hosts – God of armies: commanding all the armies of heaven – the angels, and the stars and constellations drawn out in the form of armies; you, thus endowed with all power, and able to subdue all people though arrayed and combined for purposes of evil – awake to my help. On the meaning of the phrase “God of hosts,” see the notes at (Isaiah 1:9).

The God of Israel – The God of the Hebrew people – the descendants of Jacob or Israel – the Protector of your people – awake to help me, one of those who, being of that covenant people, come under the promise of protection.

Awake to visit all the heathen – On the word here rendered “heathen” – גוים gôyim – see the notes at (Psalms 2:1). It is from the use of this word in this verse and in (Psalms 59:8), as remarked in the Introduction to the psalm, that DeWette infers that the psalm could not have been composed on the occasion referred to in the title, and argues that this term could not be applied by David to Saul and his followers.

This objection, however, will lose its force if the word is understood as denoting people who had the usual character of pagans, who were fierce, bloody, savage, and cruel. In this sense, the word might be employed with reference to those who were engaged in seeking David’s life. David, using the common word “heathen” or “nations” as denoting those who are wicked, cruel, and harsh, prays that God would awake to visit them; that is, to visit them for purposes of punishment, or to visit them so as to prevent them from carrying out their designs.

Be not merciful to any tricked transgressors – That is, arrest and punish them as transgressors, or being transgressors. This prayer is not inconsistent with a desire that such people might be converted, and thus obtain mercy; but it is a prayer that God would not allow them, being wicked people, to go at large and accomplish the work of wickedness which they designed. See General Introduction Section 6. (5) (e).

Selah – A musical pause. See the notes at (Psalms 3:2).