A Psalm of God as a Defence (Psalm #59)

Text: Psalm 59

The context of this psalm is 1 Samuel 23:1-13 where David is trapped in Keilah. Notice the Lord as a defence in verses 1, 9, 11, 16 and 17.

David is innocent and still in trouble. Not only that, David has just come from fighting off the Philistines and defending the city he is trapped in.
In verse 3 David tells the truth that he is not guilty of sinning against Saul. David is not guilty of bringing this upon himself.
Jesus Christ was not guilty of sin.
The Lord tries over and over and over again in His words to get you and I to understand that trouble is not an indication of God’s hatred. Moreover, removing that trouble is not an indication of God’s love.
- If you come from that teaching that says: God’s will is to heal your current body and if He doesn’t, He hasn’t shown you favor, you’ll end up in constant disappointment and disillusioned by a god that allows painful things to continue.
A couple of prophetic references in this Psalm are:
- The opposition to David are called workers of iniquity just like Jesus Christ calls them workers of iniquity at judgment in Luke 13:27, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.
- David’s request that God would Awake (vss 4-5) follows the cry in Isaiah 51:9-11 referring to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There in Isaiah a song follows God’s awakening in Isaiah 51:11 just like in this psalm (vs 16).

The great truth in this psalm is how God’s people find peace in the Lord in the midst of trouble.
Evil is persistent – They return at evening
Without are dogs – they make a noise like a dog
Like they just got through eating – they belch out with their mouth
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Notice the trouble didn’t go away, but David has a different perspective. And at even let them return…But I will sing…
What started as desperation ends in singing.
Romans 5:1-5