Psalms 59:1

The Bible says in Psalms 59:1-4, “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.[2] Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.[3] For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.[4] They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.” Often we see David in the Psalms coming to God for help. David needed help from God because of David’s many enemies: and so do we. David was smart because he did not try to fight his battles alone. A good way to get into trouble is to try and fight your battles with the arm of the flesh. Notice the words that David uses when he talks to God: “Deliver me,” “defend me,” “save me.” The people of the world have more power than we do in this life. That is one reason to be humble and respectful to them, and of course it is a big reason to trust in Jesus and not in your own actions.

In verse three David said, “they lie in wait for my soul.” David knew that it was a spiritual battle. If you want spiritual victory in a spiritual battle, then go to the greatest spiritual power: the Lord Jesus Christ. It says in Ephesians 6:12-13, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

David knew that he was innocent and did not deserve the treatment he was receiving from his persecutors. David said in verse three, “not for my transgression, nor for my sin.” In verse four he said, “without my fault.” You want the power of good to be on your side, so make sure that you do what is good. Love your enemies. Pray for them who persecute you. Put it in God’s hands what happens to them. Trust in the Lord. Also, do good so that your enemies do not have a justifiable reason to attack you. That is important because if you give them reason, they will use it; but if that happens humble yourself, take your medicine, and do better next time.

The Bible says in Psalms 59:5, “Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.” There is a time when it is the good thing for judgment to fall. But it is God who must bring the judgment, not people. Right now we live in the age when God’s mercy is offered to the world through faith in Jesus Christ. But this age will not last forever. The age of grace in which we live will be followed by the Great Tribulation, and then the Second Coming of Christ. At the Second Coming is when the judgment of Christ will fall. By the way, we do not deserve mercy. Mercy is when we do not get the punishments that we deserve. It is not wrong to hope for the punishments that are deserved. That is what our criminal justice system is supposed to be all about. When God’s judgment does finally fall, every believer will say, “Thank you Lord: finally.”

The Bible says in Psalms 59:6-8, “They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.[7] Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?[8] But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.” David is saying in verses six and seven that the wicked are trouble-makers. They make a lot of “noise” like a dog that is always barking. Because of their noise, they make life unpleasant. They “belch out with their mouth.” And then even worse, they promote violence: “swords are in their lips.” And they are entirely secular and humanistic. They live and speak as if there is no God listening to them: “for who, say they, doth hear?”

But David takes his eyes off of the wicked people of the earth, and he puts his eyes on the Lord. That is what we must do also. When you think about the Almighty God, you realize that mere man has no power whatsoever compared to God. And so David says in verse eight, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.” David said the same thing in Psalms 2:4-5, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.[5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.”

The Bible says in Psalms 59:9, “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.” Why should we trust in God? Here is one good reason: “Because of his strength.” Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Since God can do anything, a person is very wise who puts all of his hope in God. God can fix every problem, win every battle, and supply every need. The person who does not trust in such a God is foolish. Notice also the word “wait.” As we trust in God, it is important to wait and see what He decides to do. The temptation sometimes will be to take things into our own hands and to rush out and do something before God does something. A wise person knows when to wait and when to move. Some people have rushed into marriage and caused themselves many difficulties. Some people have rushed to leave a situation without waiting to find out if that was really what God wanted. Some people have taken revenge with deed or word when they should have kept quiet and waited to see what God would do. David said, “God is my defence.” Is God your defense? The way that you react to your enemies will give the answer.

The Bible says in Psalms 59:10-15, “The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.[11] Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.[12] For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.[13] Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.[14] And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.[15] Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.” The first phrase in verse ten that is translated, “The God of my mercy shall prevent me.” It can be translated as “The God of my mercy shall be in front of me.” It is good to emphasize the mercy of God when you think of your enemies and your need of help from God. Once we believe in Jesus, we can always count on the mercy of God to be with us and all around us, as well as in front of us. Since Jesus died for our sins God will never take His mercy from us. Thus, no matter what happens in the short-term, eventually “God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.” Even if we must wait until the final judgment to see it, it will happen. If you believe in Jesus, you are on the winning side. The final outcome has been decided. The believers will be glorified with Christ, but the unbelievers will be on their knees with weeping and gnashing of teeth just before they are cast into hell.

Verse eleven is interesting in that at first David asks that God not “slay” the enemies, but simply “scatter” them so that others can see what has happened to them and learn to fear God. There certainly are plenty of examples of those who have not served God and their lives have been devastated because of their sins. It would have gone much better for them if they had turned to Jesus early and followed Him. Just open your eyes and learn what alcohol, drugs, excess, lust, crime, violence, and hatred have done to vast numbers of people to diminish themselves, their lives, and their potential. If you follow Jesus, there are a lot of practical benefits that will come with it.

In verse twelve David mentions some of the verbal evil that his enemies had committed: “the sin of their mouth,” “pride,” “cursing,” and “lying.” Some of the worse sins are the words that we say. Christians are told in James 3:2-8, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.[3] Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.[4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth![6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.[7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Christians are also told in James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Moving through the verses of Psalms fifty-nine, when we come to verse thirteen the Holy Spirit has put on David’s heart the ultimate end for the wicked: to die and leave this earth. If someone has decided to continue on in their sins, and is only causing trouble for those around them, and has totally rejected the Lord Jesus, then it would be best that they come to their last day on this earth and go to their judgment and their eternal destiny. Of course, God must decide when this will be, and we will agree with God when He chooses to do it. We also will say to God, “Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be…”

Sometimes dogs in the Bible are not looked on very favorably probably because dogs were often dirty scavengers that made a lot of noise and wandered from town to town. They were undesirable, and so they were used as examples of the worst of people. May the truth about these “dogs” be manifest. “And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog.” It will happen: the truth about the wicked will be displayed for all to see. It is just a matter of time. God will do it.

The Bible says in Psalms 59:16-17, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.[17] Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.” David sang about the “power” of God and the “mercy” of God. It is wonderful to believe. We have all that power at our disposal because we are God’s children through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…” We have access to that power through faith and through prayer. Jesus said, “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed…” And Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given you…” The almighty power of God is at our disposal. Hopefully, you use it by believing and by praying. We can sing about the power of God and we can sing about the mercy of God. If you understand that you are a sinner, and if you understand how much God hates sin, then you can appreciate that God is merciful to you through Jesus. Throughout eternity we will sing about the mercy of God through Christ, and so it is good to start now. “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.”

In verses sixteen and seventeen above, David says that God is his “defense,” God is his “refuge,” and God is his “strength.” God will defend him against any enemy. God will help him in any trouble that comes his way. God will strengthen him to face whatever he must face. The Apostle Paul knew the same thing that David knew: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If you have any trouble, run to Jesus, and He will be your refuge in any trouble. There certainly are many benefits to knowing Jesus as your personal Savior. Hopefully, you are taking advantage of them.

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