Psalm , Sarah Barry
A SONG ABOUT GOD'S STRENGTH
Passage: Psalm 59:1~17  
Key verse: 16
Psalm 59[a]For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(A) in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(F) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(N)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(O)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
you scoff at all those nations.(S)
9 You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(U)
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d](V)
or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
for the words of their lips,(Z)
let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(AC)
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(AK)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(F) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(N)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(O)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
you scoff at all those nations.(S)
9 You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(U)
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d](V)
or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
for the words of their lips,(Z)
let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(AC)
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(AK)
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
- Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
- Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
Cross references
- Psalm 59:1 : 1Sa 19:11
- Psalm 59:1 : Ps 143:9
- Psalm 59:1 : S Ps 20:1
- Psalm 59:2 : Ps 14:4; 36:12; 53:4; 92:7; 94:16
- Psalm 59:2 : S Ps 26:9; 139:19; Pr 29:10
- Psalm 59:3 : S Ps 56:6
- Psalm 59:4 : Ps 119:3
- Psalm 59:4 : Mt 5:11
- Psalm 59:4 : S Ps 13:3
- Psalm 59:5 : Ps 69:6; 80:4; 84:8
- Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 44:23
- Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 9:5; S Isa 10:3
- Psalm 59:5 : Jer 18:23
- Psalm 59:6 : ver 14; Ps 22:16
- Psalm 59:7 : Ps 94:4; Pr 10:32; 12:23; 15:2, 28
- Psalm 59:7 : S Ps 55:21
- Psalm 59:7 : S Job 22:13
- Psalm 59:8 : Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26
- Psalm 59:8 : Ps 2:4
- Psalm 59:9 : S Ps 18:1
- Psalm 59:9 : Ps 9:9; 18:2; 62:2; 71:3
- Psalm 59:11 : Ps 3:3; 84:9
- Psalm 59:11 : Dt 4:9; 6:12
- Psalm 59:11 : Ps 89:10; 106:27; 144:6; Isa 33:3
- Psalm 59:12 : Ps 10:7
- Psalm 59:12 : Ps 64:8; Pr 10:14; 12:13
- Psalm 59:12 : Isa 2:12; 5:15; Zep 3:11
- Psalm 59:13 : Ps 104:35
- Psalm 59:13 : Ps 83:18
- Psalm 59:15 : Job 15:23
- Psalm 59:16 : Ps 108:1
- Psalm 59:16 : S 1Sa 2:10
- Psalm 59:16 : Ps 5:3; 88:13
- Psalm 59:16 : Ps 101:1
- Psalm 59:16 : S 2Sa 22:3
- Psalm 59:16 : S Dt 4:30
- Psalm 59:17 : ver 10
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. Like snarling dogs (1-8)
David was a national hero. He loved Israel and defended her when powerful enemy nations attacked. But he had a personal enemy. King Saul, in his jealousy, sought David's life. He sent fierce and bloodthirsty men to lie in wait to kill him. They were like snarling dogs who return at evening to prowl around the city (6,14). They also spread vicious lies and slander about him. He could not fight back because he could not fight the king.
2. O my Strength, my loving God (9-17)
David asks God's help, for he himself is helpless. He can't fight his enemy, but he prays that the strong hand of God who loves him might be his shield (11). He asks God not to kill his enemy, nor the enemy's agents, but to expose them for what they are (12), and make them wander about helplessly (11). Then all the world would know the power of Almighty God. God is a strong God. He loves his servant, and his servant's desire is to honor and glorify God.
Prayer: Lord, you are my refuge and my Strength; help me to glorify your name in any situation.
One Word: Praise God, my Strength