VIP Ministry Network

Psalm 59

Do you have anybody who follows you to kill you?

Probably not! However, it was reality for David. King Saul tried to kill David all his life. Saul had this paranoia that David would kill him to be the King of Israel. People praised David for his great victory over Goliath. For David, it was just an expression of his faith. To Saul, however, it was a threat to his throne. Saul had this strange idea that David would snatch his kingship from him.

What would you do if you are falsely accused and persecuted?

David decided to pray to God. He poured out his anger, frustration, depression, and desire for revenge onto God in prayer. That is the reason why this psalm has a long subtitle: Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies. To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.

In this way he was able to avoid two things: Insanity and physical violence. If he kept his anger in his mind, he would become crazy. If he acted out his desire for revenge, he would become a murderer. However, by writing a psalm and prayer, he was able to stay as a sane person and become a king without vengeance.

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who work evil; from the bloodthirsty save me. Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!  You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah”

Evil ones do evil because they believe that there is no God.

“Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with sharp words[a] on their lips—for ‘Who,’ they think, ‘will hear us?’ But you laugh at them, O Lord; you hold all the nations in derision.

We do not take action with violence because we believe there is just God.

“O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Do not kill them, or my people may forget;    make them totter by your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield. For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,     consume them in wrath; consume them until they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah”

Evil ones are persistent; so are our prayers.

“Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. They roam about for food,    and growl if they do not get their fill. But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

With confidence, we will praise God!

“O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”