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Psalms 54

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David's Prayer in Distress 1–3

1
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. ​
2
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
3
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. ​

Assurance of God's Help 4–5

4
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. ​
5
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

Vow of Praise and Thanksgiving 6–7

6
I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. ​
7
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalm 54

Verse 1

Save me, O God, by thy name — The title names the Ziphites, who told Saul, ‘Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood’ (1 Sam 23:19; also 26:1). ‘Save’ is yasha, and ‘judge’ din, to give a verdict. The ‘name’ and the ‘strength’ (gevurah) are what he rests on, as ‘The name of the LORD is a strong tower’ (Prov 18:10).

Verse 3

they have not set God before them — ‘Oppressors’ is aritz, the tyrannical or terrible, who ‘seek after my soul’ (baqash nephesh, seek my life). Ps 86:14 states the same case: the violent ‘have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them’. David’s own practice is the opposite: ‘I have set the LORD always before me’ (Ps 16:8).

Verse 4

God is mine helper — ‘Helper’ is azar, to aid, and ‘uphold’ is samak, to prop up, the verb of Ps 51:12, ‘uphold me with thy free spirit’. Here the Lord (Adonai) is counted among those who hold his soul up. Heb 13:6 voices the same confidence: ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’

Verse 6

I will freely sacrifice unto thee — Nedabah is spontaneity, a freewill offering, brought out of the giver’s own willingness; Ps 119:108 speaks of ‘the freewill offerings of my mouth’. Zabach is the verb of slaughter in sacrifice. He will give thanks (yadah) to the name, ‘for it is good’, as in Ps 52:9.

Verse 7

delivered me out of all trouble — ‘Delivered’ is natsal, to snatch away, and ‘trouble’ is tsarah, a tight place, the word of Ps 46:1. ‘Mine eye hath seen’ echoes the end of other psalms: ‘God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies’ (Ps 59:10) and ‘Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies’ (Ps 92:11).