Psalms 54
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Psalms 54
Save Me, O God, by Thy Name
1Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
PSALM 54
Psa 54:1-7. See on Psa 4:1, title; Psa 32:1, title; for the history, see 1Sa 23:19, 29; 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing.
1. by thy name--(Psa 5:11), specially, power.
judge me--as in Psa 7:8; 26:1.
PSALM 54
Psa 54:1-7. See on Psa 4:1, title; Psa 32:1, title; for the history, see 1Sa 23:19, 29; 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing.
1. by thy name--(Psa 5:11), specially, power.
judge me--as in Psa 7:8; 26:1.
The Pulpit Commentary
Save me, O God, by thy Name; i.e. by the qualities of which thy "Name" is significant—power, goodness, and truth. And judge me; i.e. "vindicate me," or "judge my cause." By thy strength; or, "thy might"—the might which thou possessest as a gibbor, or "hero."
Save me, O God, by thy Name; i.e. by the qualities of which thy "Name" is significant—power, goodness, and truth. And judge me; i.e. "vindicate me," or "judge my cause." By thy strength; or, "thy might"—the might which thou possessest as a gibbor, or "hero."
2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. (Compare Psa 4:1; 5:1).
2. (Compare Psa 4:1; 5:1).
The Pulpit Commentary
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. (comp. Psa_39:12; Psa_55:1).
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. (comp. Psa_39:12; Psa_55:1).
3For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. strangers--perhaps Ziphites.
oppressors--literally, "terrible ones" (Is 13:11; 25:3). Such were Saul and his army.
not set ... them--acted as atheists, without God's fear (compare Psa 16:8).
3. strangers--perhaps Ziphites.
oppressors--literally, "terrible ones" (Is 13:11; 25:3). Such were Saul and his army.
not set ... them--acted as atheists, without God's fear (compare Psa 16:8).
The Pulpit Commentary
For strangers are risen up against me. David's designation of his foes as "strangers" has been made an argument against the trustworthiness of the "title," since the Ziphites were Israelites of the tribe of Judah (Jos_15:55). But he might well call those "strangers" who were treating him as an alien. Comp. Psa_120:5, where "the psalmist, heavily oppressed by his countrymen, complains that he dwelt in Mesheeh and Kedar" (Hengstenberg). And oppressors seek after my soul; or, my life. The phrase is exactly that used in 1Sa_23:15, when David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a wood, and "saw that Saul was come out to seek his life." They have not set God before them (comp. Psa_86:14). David, on the contrary, "set the Lord always before him" (Psa_16:8).
For strangers are risen up against me. David's designation of his foes as "strangers" has been made an argument against the trustworthiness of the "title," since the Ziphites were Israelites of the tribe of Judah (Jos_15:55). But he might well call those "strangers" who were treating him as an alien. Comp. Psa_120:5, where "the psalmist, heavily oppressed by his countrymen, complains that he dwelt in Mesheeh and Kedar" (Hengstenberg). And oppressors seek after my soul; or, my life. The phrase is exactly that used in 1Sa_23:15, when David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a wood, and "saw that Saul was come out to seek his life." They have not set God before them (comp. Psa_86:14). David, on the contrary, "set the Lord always before him" (Psa_16:8).
4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. (Compare Psa 30:10).
with them--on their side, and for me (compare Psa 46:11).
4. (Compare Psa 30:10).
with them--on their side, and for me (compare Psa 46:11).
The Pulpit Commentary
Behold, God is mine Helper. There is a pause between Psa_54:3 and Psa_54:4, indicated by the pause-mark, "Selah." Then, confident of his prayer having been heard, the psalmist breaks out into a joyous burst of thankfulness and self-gratulation (Psa_54:4-7). The Lord is with them that uphold my soul; rather, of them (Revised Version); i.e. "one of them." But the intention is not to place God on a par with other helpers. Rather, as Professor Cheyne remarks, it is to make him the representative of" the class of helpers."
Behold, God is mine Helper. There is a pause between Psa_54:3 and Psa_54:4, indicated by the pause-mark, "Selah." Then, confident of his prayer having been heard, the psalmist breaks out into a joyous burst of thankfulness and self-gratulation (Psa_54:4-7). The Lord is with them that uphold my soul; rather, of them (Revised Version); i.e. "one of them." But the intention is not to place God on a par with other helpers. Rather, as Professor Cheyne remarks, it is to make him the representative of" the class of helpers."
5He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. He shall ... evil--or, "Evil shall return on" (Psa 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Psa 6:7).
in thy truth--Thy verified promise.
5. He shall ... evil--or, "Evil shall return on" (Psa 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Psa 6:7).
in thy truth--Thy verified promise.
The Pulpit Commentary
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies; literally, he shall return the wrong upon my adversaries. "The wrong" is that which his adversaries had wished to inflict upon the psalmist, viz. death (see 1Sa_23:19, 1Sa_23:20). Cut them off in thy truth; or, "in thy truthfulness" (Cheyne). God had given his people—those who were faithful to him—the promise of his protection, and, being true, could not go back from his word.
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies; literally, he shall return the wrong upon my adversaries. "The wrong" is that which his adversaries had wished to inflict upon the psalmist, viz. death (see 1Sa_23:19, 1Sa_23:20). Cut them off in thy truth; or, "in thy truthfulness" (Cheyne). God had given his people—those who were faithful to him—the promise of his protection, and, being true, could not go back from his word.
6I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. I will freely, &c.--or, present a freewill offering (Le 7:16; Nu 15:3).
6. I will freely, &c.--or, present a freewill offering (Le 7:16; Nu 15:3).
The Pulpit Commentary
I will freely sacrifice unto thee. Confidence has now mounted up to certainty. Regarding the deliverance as accomplished, the psalmist promises a freewill offering (Hengstenberg, Kay, Canon Cook) to God, so soon as he can approach the sanctuary. The phrase used is the ordinary one for sacrifices of thanksgiving (Num_15:3). I will praise thy Name, O Lord; for it is good (comp. Psa_52:9).
I will freely sacrifice unto thee. Confidence has now mounted up to certainty. Regarding the deliverance as accomplished, the psalmist promises a freewill offering (Hengstenberg, Kay, Canon Cook) to God, so soon as he can approach the sanctuary. The phrase used is the ordinary one for sacrifices of thanksgiving (Num_15:3). I will praise thy Name, O Lord; for it is good (comp. Psa_52:9).
7For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. mine eye ... desire--(compare Psa 59:10; 112:8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (compare Psa 52:6, 7).
7. mine eye ... desire--(compare Psa 59:10; 112:8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (compare Psa 52:6, 7).
The Pulpit Commentary
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble. "The poet looks forward, and treats the future as past" (Cheyne). He sees the "troubles" over, the Ziphites disappointed and punished, himself not only preserved from the immediate danger, but altogether freed from trouble of every kind, and rejoices in the deliverance which he feels has been accorded him. And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. There is nothing about "desire" in the original, which seems rather to mean, "Mine eye has looked, calmly and leisurely, upon my (defeated) enemies" (so Dr. Kay).
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble. "The poet looks forward, and treats the future as past" (Cheyne). He sees the "troubles" over, the Ziphites disappointed and punished, himself not only preserved from the immediate danger, but altogether freed from trouble of every kind, and rejoices in the deliverance which he feels has been accorded him. And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. There is nothing about "desire" in the original, which seems rather to mean, "Mine eye has looked, calmly and leisurely, upon my (defeated) enemies" (so Dr. Kay).
THE HOLY BIBLE
Psalms
Chapter 54
Translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.
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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — PSALM 119:105