Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 59:1 and following. Indeed, parmi the psalms that relate to the circumstances of David’s life, this one is the oldest (1 Sam 19:11-18). It was composed during that dramatic night when, three times, Saul had sent his criminal agents to monitor (verse 11), take (verse 14), and put to death the one he hated (verse 15; see in our psalm their obstinacy in doing wrong, verses 7 and 15). During this night of anguish, the afflicted turned to his God: “Wake up to come and meet me… God of Israel, wake up… (verses 5, 6; Ps 44:21-27 and Mark 4:35-41). He knows him in His power; he knows that God can deliver him if he wishes, but he knows little about His faithfulness, vigilance, and tenderness toward His own (Mt 8:1-4). Psalm 121 verses 3 to 8 responds to the believer’s concern: “He who guards you will not sleep… ». For in verse 18 we find that David experienced not only the strength but the goodness of his God; He celebrates it under these two characters. Saul’s plan was to kill his enemy in the morning (1 Sam 19:8-17). But for David, as for us, this morning becomes one of deliverance, joy, and praise (verse 17; 2 Sam 23:1-4).
This psalm is again the complaint of the same pious afflicted, aware of his innocence, facing the coalition of strong and wicked men who, in their incredulous pride, despise god’s judgments. They are called “the nations,” considered unbelievers, while God is the only hope of the afflicted poor. These phrases remind us of Ps. 2:1 and Joel 3:12. They must be read as the cry of the residue suffering in the last days in front of the coalition of their enemies. He calls upon them an exemplary judgment (v. 12); as Jesus does in spirit in Ps. 69, on the Jews, his persecutors. And just as the Jewish nation is for the present time under exemplary punishment, so this coalition of nations will be in the coming day of vengeance (Isaiah 66:24). The spite of the enemies is vividly expressed in verses 15 and 16, in contrast to their ephemeral success in v. 7. In their prosperity, like full dogs, they vomited the insult (v. 7), now they howl like hungry beasts. Morning comes for the joy of the residue, after the destruction of these impure creatures, at the end of their rapine of the previous day (v. 17). The Messiah, to whom “the people” belong (v. 12), seems to raise this cry in favor of his residue in the face of “all nations.” And his trust in God is forcefully expressed in the cry he utters, despite the strength and wickedness of the enemy.
Thus Ps. 59 rather considers external enemies. The same wickedness is found in them, but the strength of human power is with it; they too will have to pass under judgment, so that wickedness may be removed. It was not Israel’s sin against the Gentiles that had drawn oppression on their part to the people (although God could chastise the people because he sinned against Him, so that God would be justified); that is why the faithful residue awaits the intervention of Jehovah to judge these enemies, and will judge all nations to Him. They are not destroyed, but scattered; however, practically, as a power, they are consumed, and many of them are put to death. This Psalm makes no mention of a restoration of blessing; this is judgment, and a judgment that continues and is not finished.
For all the nations will pass under this judgment, but especially, the apostate power pushed by Satan, perhaps partially the king of chapter 8 of Daniel. It will be noted that as soon as the position of the people is considered in contrast to the nations, the name of the Lord is introduced. Personal invocation is still made in the name of God, for the people are still far from Jerusalem (verses 3, 5, 8 for the name of Jehovah; and verses 1, 9, 10, 17 for personal invocation). The result of God’s intervention is that God dominates in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Verses 14 and 15 are a kind of challenge: that the nations surround the city like hungry dogs, the believer will sing jehovah’s power! The scene takes place at the end of the tribulation.
Finally, this Psalm introduces us to another phase of Israel’s relationship with the Messiah, and shows us how David became in God’s hands an instrument proper to say the sufferings of the Messiah and the residue. “Do not kill them, lest my people forget it” (v. 11): this is not the language of the king, as such, but that of the Lord. For when David, by the Spirit, used this expression he was not yet king, in fact. But the spirit of Christ in him spoke in anticipation, and obviously in view of another era. Notice also that here the desires of faith embrace all of Israel, although no deliverance, even that of the Jews, was yet fulfilled.
And the only case where this expression, “my people,” is used, is found in 2 Sam 22:44 and Ps 18:43, where it is Christ who speaks. But when Christ is born, he is called Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Jesus was the personal manifestation of what was said of Jehovah: in all their afflictions, he was afflicted, as Isaiah shows us in chapter 63:9. It is the Lord who “learns the language of the learned,” according to Isa 50. 4; so that where the words” “my people” do not come directly out of the mouth of Jehovah, which frequently happens, they are the expression of Christ’s feelings associating himself in sympathy with the sufferings of Israel, but according to Jehovah’s love for his people.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your best edification.
Deliver me from my enemies:
- Deliverance sought by the psalmist
Ps 25:20 Keep my soul and save me! Let me not be confused, When I seek my refuge with you! Ps 59:3 Deliver me from evildoers, and save me from men of blood! Ps 71:4 My God, deliver me from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the iniquitous and violent man! Ps 119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of men, that I may keep your ordinances!
- Spiritual enemies
Ps 71:10 For my enemies speak of me, And those who watch my life consult each other, Ps 86:14 O God! proud people have risen up against me, A troop of violent men resent my life; They don’t carry their thoughts on you. Luke 22:31 The Lord said, Simon, Simon, Satan has claimed you, to sift you like wheat. 1 Pet 5.8 Be sober, watch. Your adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, looking for who he will devour.
- Lowering, references to the lowering of the proud
Ps 18:28 You save the people who humble themselves, and you lower the haughty looks. Ps 106:43 Several times he delivered them; But they were rebellious in their designs, and they became unhappy by their iniquity. Isaiah 10:12 But when the Lord has done all His work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his proud heart, and for the arrogance of his haughty looks. Mt 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No. Thou shalt be lowered until the sojourn of the dead; for if the miracles that were done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would still exist today.
- Power of God, general references
Jb 26:12 By his strength he lifts up the sea, by his intelligence he breaks its pride. Ps 62:12 God spoke once; Twice I heard this: It is that the strength is God’s. Ps 65:7 He strengthens the mountains by His strength, He is surrounded by power; Rom 16:25 To him who can strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of the mystery hidden for centuries,
From all the above, we note that theseare thesympathies of David as a man, for how could he have suffered otherwise; but nevertheless those of Jehovah allow him to sympathize perfectly with the sufferings of Israel. So he weeps over Jerusalem, saying, “How many times have I wanted to gather your children!” (Luke 13:34). But it was the Lord. That is why, although he can say “our shield” because in grace he takes place in the midst of the children, however, by saying: “our”, he gives to the request all the value and excellence of his own person. The “I” and the “me” can often be the expression of the feelings of someone of the faithful of the residue, but when we encounter expressions like this “my people”, we find ourselves, it is quite clear, in the presence of a character who is in another position. It is not only David, who always says, like Moses, to Jehovah: “your people”, which is perfectly in their place, but it is a question of someone who, in whatever affliction it was, could say like the Lord, – prophetically: – “my people”, enter into all their afflictions, and rightly ask that God intervene in judgment. – Quoique the enemies here are the nations, the intimacy of these nations with the wicked among the Jews and their alliance with them are clear from this passage, as in Isa 66: they are melted together into a single system and in the same condition of wickedness. This judgment of the proud and wicked enemies will be continued: although in their rage they rise to the height of wickedness, they will be entrenched and consumed. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” He who is overwhelmed awaits deliverance from God (Ps 61).”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.