Psalms 59:1

¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, Altaschith {H516}{H8686)}, Michtam {H4387} of David {H1732}; when Saul {H7586} sent {H7971}{H8800)}, and they watched {H8104}{H8799)} the house {H1004} to kill him {H4191}{H8687)}. Deliver {H5337}{H8685)} me from mine enemies {H341}{H8802)}, O my God {H430}: defend {H7682}{H8762)} me from them that rise up {H6965}{H8693)} against me.

For the leader. Set to "Do Not Destroy." By David; a mikhtam, when Sha'ul sent men to keep watch on David's house in order to kill him: My God, rescue me from my enemies! Lift me up, out of reach of my foes!

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.

Commentary

Psalm 59:1 opens a prayer of urgent plea from King David, a cry for divine intervention in a moment of intense peril. The superscription provides crucial context, revealing the specific life-threatening situation David faced.

Historical and Cultural Context

The heading, "To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him," is invaluable for understanding this psalm. It places the prayer squarely in a period of intense persecution David endured at the hands of King Saul. This specific event is detailed in 1 Samuel 19:11-17, where Saul, consumed by jealousy, sent messengers to David's house to seize and kill him. David's wife, Michal, helped him escape through a window, demonstrating the immediate and grave danger David was in. This psalm is therefore a raw, immediate response to a real-life assassination attempt, echoing David's frequent experience of being hunted like a common criminal despite his anointing as Israel's future king.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Urgent Plea for Deliverance: David's opening words, "Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me," are a desperate cry for immediate rescue. He acknowledges God as his only true source of salvation.
  • Divine Protection: The psalm emphasizes God's role as a shield and defender against overwhelming odds. David implicitly trusts in God's power to protect him from those who unjustly seek his life, a theme often found in David's psalms, such as when he declares the Lord is his rock and fortress.
  • Confronting Unjust Aggression: The enemies are described as those who "rise up against me," implying an unprovoked and malicious assault. David appeals to God's justice to intervene on his behalf.

Linguistic Insights

  • Altaschith: This Hebrew phrase literally means "Do not destroy" or "Destroy not." It appears in the superscriptions of Psalms 57, 58, 59, and 75, likely indicating a specific tune or a general instruction to the choirmaster, perhaps reflecting the psalm's theme of preservation amidst destruction.
  • Michtam: Translates to "golden psalm" or "a psalm of inscription." It suggests a psalm of lasting significance, perhaps one to be treasured or remembered, or one that offers deep spiritual insight and instruction.

Practical Application

Psalm 59:1 serves as a powerful reminder that prayer is our first and most vital response in times of danger, opposition, or injustice. Like David, we can bring our fears and the threats we face directly to God, trusting in His ability to deliver and defend us. This verse encourages believers to:

  • Pray Immediately: When confronted with overwhelming challenges or "enemies" (whether literal people, circumstances, or spiritual forces), our immediate instinct should be to cry out to God.
  • Trust in God's Defense: Even when circumstances seem hopeless, we can rest in the assurance that God is our ultimate protector and defender, just as He was for David. This echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 46:1, that God is our refuge and strength.
  • Acknowledge God's Sovereignty: David's appeal to "O my God" highlights a personal relationship and reliance on God's sovereign power to intervene in human affairs.

This psalm provides a timeless template for seeking divine help when facing unjust aggression or any force that rises up against us.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 19:11

    ¶ Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

  • 1 Samuel 19:24

    And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among the prophets?

  • Psalms 18:48

    He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

  • Psalms 57:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast.

  • Isaiah 33:16

    He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.

  • Luke 1:74

    That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

  • Luke 1:75

    In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
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