Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 59:9

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 59:9

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 59:9

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"[Because of] his strength I will give heed unto thee; For God is my high tower." — Psalms 59:9 (ASV)

Because of his strength will I wait upon thee – literally, “His strength – I will wait upon thee.” The reference here is not to the strength or power of God, as if the fact that He was powerful was a reason why the psalmist should look to Him – but it is to the strength or power of the enemy – of Saul and his followers.

There is much abruptness in the expression. The psalmist looks at the power of his enemy. “‘His strength,’ he cries. It is great. It is beyond my power to resist it. It is so great that I have no other refuge but God; and because it is so great, I will fix my eyes on Him alone.”

The word rendered “wait upon” means rather to look to, to observe, or to fix the eyes upon.

For God is my defense – Margin, “My high place.” That is, God was to him “as” a high place, or a place of refuge, a place where he would be safe. See the notes at Psalms 18:2.