59:7,8Vile men curse God as if he cannot hear or will not respond. But God scoffs at them. Evil people live as if God cannot see them or will not punish them. But God watches patiently until that day when their deeds will rise up to accuse them. As believers we must be careful not to follow the same foolish practices as evil people. We must remember that God hears and sees all we do.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 59
Psalm 59
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 904, 905, 906
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
59Psalm 59
Author: David
15 For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watchDavid's house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”Rescue me from my enemies, O God.Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.
2Rescue me from these criminals;save me from these murderers.
3They have set an ambush for me.Fierce enemies are out there waiting, LORD,though I have not sinned or offended them.58:1 Or you gods. 58:7 Or Let them be trodden down and wither like grass. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4Thave done nothing wrong,yet they prepare to attack me.Wake up! See what is happening and help me!
5O LORD God of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel,wake up and punish those hostile nations.Show no mercy to wicked traitors.
6They come out at night,snarling like vicious dogsas they prowl the streets.
7Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths;their words cut like swords.“After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.
8But LORD, you laugh at them.You scoff at all the hostile nations.
9You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,for you, O God, are my fortress.
10In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.
11Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;stagger therm with your power, and bring them to their knees,OLord our shield.
12Because of the sinful things they say,because of the evil that is on their lips,let them be captured by their pride,their curses, and their lies.
13Destroy them in your anger!Wipe them out completely!Then the whole world will knowthat God reigns in Israel.*
14My enemies come out at night,snarling like vicious dogsas they prowl the streets.1S They scavenge for foodbut go to sleep unsatisfied.*
16But as for me, I will sing about your power.Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.For you have been my refuge,a place of safety when I am in distress.
17QO myStrength, to you I sing praises,for you, O God, are my refuge,the God who shows me unfailing love.
Theme: Real help comes from God alone. When a situation seems out of control, we can trust God to do mighty things. Author: David, when Israel was away at war with Aram in the north, and Edom invaded Judah from the south (2 Samuel 8) For the choir director: A psalm of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought
Textual footnotes
- 59:13 Hebrew in Jacob. See note on 44:4.
- 59:15 Or and grow! if they don’t get enough.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
59:10David was hunted by those whose love had turned to jealousy, and this was driving them to try to murder him. Trusted friends and even his mentor, the king, had turned against him. What changeable love! But David knew that God’s love for him was changeless. “His unfailing love continues forever” (100:5). God’s mercy to all who trust himis just as permanent as his mercy to David. When the love of others fails or disappoints us, we can rest in God’s unfailing love.
59:16Throughout this psalm, David describes in grim detail the behavior of his enemies. He conveys his own feelings of dread with the desperation and despair that he sees in the lives of those who want to harm him. What a delight, then, in these final verses to read about God’s role in David's life as refuge, a place of safety, and a source of unfailing love. David had learned to turn negative circumstances into reminders of God’s faithful presence. What stresses in your life might be transformed today if you made them a starting point for praising God?
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