Psalms 54:2

Or, "for thy name's sake" {h}; for the sake of the glory of his divine perfections; which was displayed in the deliverance of David, and more abundantly in the salvation of lost sinners; such as the wisdom, power, faithfulness, justice, grace and mercy of God. Such a petition shows that man cannot save himself; that no creature, none but God can save him; and that a sensible sinner desires to be saved in such a way that God may be glorified; and judge me by thy strength; David, though innocent, had many charges laid against him; his enemies were lively and strong; he puts his cause into the hands of the Lord, his strong Redeemer, who was able to plead it thoroughly against those that strove with him; so Christ, his antitype, committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Peter 2:23; and so should every believer. {h} Kmvb "propter nomen tuum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Amama, Michaelis. Psalms 54:2 Ver. 2. Hear my prayer, O God,.... The psalmist first puts up his petitions, and then desires to be heard; his distress, and the fervency of his spirit, not suffering him to observe order; give ear to the words of my mouth; for the prayer which was conceived in his mind, and inwrought there by the Spirit of God, was expressed vocally. Psalms 54:3 Ver. 3. For strangers are risen up against me,....

54:1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.

Hear my prayer, O God,.... The psalmist first puts up his petitions, and then desires to be heard; his distress, and the fervency of his spirit, not suffering him to observe order; give ear to the words of my mouth; for the prayer which was conceived in his mind, and inwrought there by the Spirit of God, was expressed vocally.

(Heb.: 54:3-5) This short song is divided into two parts by Sela The first half prays for help and answer. The Name of God is the manifestation of His nature, which has mercy as its central point (for the Name of God is טּוב, v. 8, Psalm 52:11 ), so that בּשׁמך (which is here the parallel word to בּגבוּרתך) is consequently equivalent to בּחסדּך. The obtaining of right for any one (דּין like שׁפט, Psalm 7:9 , and frequently, עשׂה דּין, Psalm 9:5 ) is attributed to the all-conquering might of God, which is only one side of the divine Name, i.e., of the divine nature which manifests itself in the diversity of its attributes. האזין ( Psalm 54:4 ) is construed with ל (cf. אל, Psalm 87:2 ) like הטּה אזן, Psalm 78:1 . The Targum, misled by Psalm 86:14 , reads זרים instead of זרים in Psalm 54:5 . The inscription leads one to think of the Ziphites in particular in connection with "strangers" and "violent men." The two words in most instances denote foreign enemies, Isaiah 25:2 ., Psalm 29:5 ; Ezekiel 31:12 ; but זר is also a stranger in the widest sense, regulated in each instance according to the opposite, e.g., the non-priest, Leviticus 22:10 ; and one's fellow-countrymen can also turn out to be עריצים, Jeremiah 15:21 . The Ziphites, although Judaeans like David, might be called "strangers," because they had taken the side against David; and "violent men," because they pledged themselves to seize and deliver him up.

Under other circumstances this might have been their duty as subjects. In this instance, however, it was godlessness, as Psalm 54:5 (cf. Psalm 86:14 ) says. Any one at that time in Israel who feared God more than man, could not lend himself to be made a tool of Saul's blind fury. God had already manifestly enough acknowledged David.

The following terms describe the most entire ruin. 6. shall … fear —regard with religious awe. laugh at him —for his folly; 7. for trusting in riches and being strong in "wickedness." wickedness —literally, "mischief" (Psalms 52:2), instead of trusting in God. the man —literally, "the mighty man," or "hero" (Psalms 52:1). 8. The figure used is common (Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 11:16). green —fresh. house, &c.—in communion with God (compare Psalms 27:4, 5). for ever and ever —qualifies "mercy." 9. hast done —that is, what the context supplies, "preserved me" (compare Psalms 22:31). wait … name —hope in Thy perfections, manifested for my good (Psalms 5:11; 20:1). ## for it is good —that is, Thy name, and the whole method or result of its manifestation (Psalms 54:6; 69:16). ## PSALM 53 Psalms 53:1-6. Upon Mahalath —(See on Psalms 88:1, title). Why this repetition of the fourteenth Psalm is given we do not know. 1-4. with few verbal changes, correspond with Psalms 14:1-4. 5. Instead of assurances of God's presence with the pious, and a complaint of the wicked, Psalms 14:5, 6 portrays the ruin of the latter, whose "bones" even "are scattered" (compare Psalms 141:7), and who are put to shame as contemptuously rejected of God. ## PSALM 54 Psalms 54:1-7. See on Psalms 4:1, title; Psalms 32:1, title; for the history, see 1 Samuel 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 —(Psalms 5:11), specially, power.

[Hymns] 4 These workers of iniquity, do they not know at all, That they my people eat as bread, and on God do not call? 5 Ev'n there they were afraid, and stood with trembling, all dismay'd, Whereas there was no cause at all why they should be afraid: For God his bones that thee besieg'd hath scatter'd all abroad; Thou hast confounded them, for they despised are of God. 6 Let Isr'el's help from Sion come: when back the Lord shall bring His captives, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall sing. Psalm 54 1 Save me, O God, by thy great name, and judge me by thy strength: 2 My prayer hear, O God; give ear unto my words at length. 3 For they that strangers are to me do up against me rise; Oppressors seek my soul, and God set not before their eyes. 4 The Lord my God my helper is, lo, therefore I am bold: He taketh part with ev'ry one that doth my soul uphold. 5 Unto mine enemies he shall mischief and ill repay: O for thy truth's sake cut them off, and sweep them clean away. 6 I will a sacrifice to thee give with free willingness; Thy name, O Lord, because 'tis good, with praise I will confess. 7 For he hath me delivered from all adversities; And his desire mine eye hath seen upon mine enemies. Psalm 55 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. 1 Lord, hear my pray'r, hide not thyself from my entreating voice: 2 Attend and hear me; in my plaint I mourn and make a noise.