59:title music director See note on 4:title.

Do Not Destroy See note on 57:title.

Of David See note on 3:title.

A miktam See note on 16:title.

Saul dispatched men and they watched the house See 1 Sam 19:11. Compare Psa 3:title.

David and the Psalm Titles

59:1 Deliver The term natsal means “to remove” or “to save.”

Protect The Hebrew word used here, sagav, means “to make high” (see note on 20:1). Along with the other Hebrew verb used here, natsal (to “deliver”), these terms present an image of God removing the psalmist from a dangerous situation and placing him in a secure location.

59:2 Deliver me from workers of iniquity The psalmist asks God to deliver him from those who would cause him harm. See note on 15:3.

59:3 they lie in wait The enemies eagerly anticipate a chance to ambush him (10:8–9).

59:4 Without guilt The psalmist asserts his innocence (1 Sam 24:11) and appeals to God’s righteousness and justice. Since he doesn’t deserve his affliction, God should protect him and judge his enemies. See note on Ps 7:8.

Awake to meet me The psalmist petitions God for help.

59:5 you, Yahweh, God of hosts The divine title yhwh tseva'oth (“Yahweh of hosts”) has a military connotation. See note on 24:10.

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations Seeming to speak for the whole nation, the psalmist reminds God that He is the God of Israel.

59:6 they howl like dogs Most dogs in the ancient Near East were scavengers (Exod 22:31; 1 Kgs 14:11). They were often despised and considered unclean (1 Sam 17:43; 2 Sam 16:9; Prov 26:17).

59:7 they pour out talk The Hebrew word used here, nava'—which may be literally rendered “to pour out”—is used to describe people who speak with arrogance (Ps 94:4), folly (Prov 15:2), or evil (Prov 15:28). The enemies of the psalmist speak like this, believing that their evil will go unnoticed.

59:8 But you, O Yahweh, will laugh at them Yahweh responds to the arrogance and violence of the enemies of the psalmist with laughter and derision, because their efforts in comparison to God’s will are futile. See Ps 2:4 and note.

59:9 O my strength The word oz emphasizes God’s power to protect and save. Compare Exod 15:2.

are my high stronghold Describing high walls or a rocky fortress, misgav emphasizes God’s stable protection for the needy.

59:11 Do not kill them Though the psalmist wants God to punish his enemies, he doesn’t want Him to kill them. It seems that he wants his enemies to live in a humbled state to remind people of the consequences of opposing God.

59:12 the sin of their mouth The psalmist petitions God to let the wicked be trapped by their own speech (see Prov 12:13 and note).

59:13 Destroy The Hebrew word used here, kalah, means “to bring to an end.” The psalmist asks God to completely destroy his enemies.

in anger God’s anger is usually a response to disobedience; it is closely related to His righteousness. See note on Ps 7:6.

they may know that God is ruling God judges the wicked so that His power and reign will be known throughout the earth (see 1 Sam 17:45–47 and notes).

59:16 I will hail your loyal love The chesed love that the psalmist hoped for is now the object of his praise.

Chesed Word Study

59:17 to you I will give praise Earlier, the psalmist stated his intent to watch for God (Ps 59:9). Now he sings praise to God, confident that He will punish his enemies.