Imagine this as your history, the narrative of your life.
You are young and inexperienced, the runt of the litter so to speak. When you are the youngest of 8 brothers you either become resilient or a coward. David became resilient. He would need it. His gifts and faith brought him to a place of service, but he had no idea he would soon be running for life. Imagine you are him.
Saul was the King of his nation, but he would in a short time be David’s enemy.
A man you served, who you looked up too, who was your friend, who had a place of authority and power over you, who offered you his daughter in marriage, now hunts you with an army of men set on finding and dispatching your life.
David was a man who lived “in interesting times.”
One night, when there was a brief respite in the attempts of Saul to snuff out his life, David sat down to write out a prayer to God in the typical poetic form of Hebrew poetry. Psalm 59 is the result.
Psalm 59
To the choirmaster: according to “Do Not Destroy.”
A Miktam of David,
when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. (ESV)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 deliver me from those who work evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6 Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths
with swords in their lips—
for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11 Kill them not, lest my people forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield!
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13 consume them in wrath;
consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
to the ends of the earth. Selah
14 Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15 They wander about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
17 Verses
7 Stanzas
Names and terms for God:
- My God (vs. 1, 10)
- LORD (vs. 3, 8)
- Lord God of hosts (vs. 5)
- God of Israel (vs. 5)
- My Strength (vs. 9, 17)
- God (vs. 9, 13 [rules over Jacob], 17 [who shows me steadfast love])
- O Lord, our shield (vs. 11)
- “You have been to me a fortress” (vs. 16)
- “a refuge in the day of my distress” (vs. 16)
- My Fortress (vs. 17)
Thought
Spend some time praying your own prayer for protection from enemies using each of the names, terms, titles or metaphors listed above. Saturate your heart with the confident vision of David’s God. Let God strengthen your heart for any battles you are now or may face in the future.
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