54 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil1 of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers2 have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Section Overview
This psalm is an individual lament, asking (as many laments do) for God’s help against those who threaten the lives of the faithful. The title connects the song to the events of 1 Samuel 23:19, in which the Ziphites, among whom David was hiding, informed Saul of David’s location, promising to hand David over if Saul came for him. The psalm directs its singers to God’s protection and is therefore well suited for the pious to use when they are under threat of deadly persecution. For those fortunate enough not to face such persecution, this psalm is appropriate to sing on behalf of their brethren in danger.
Psalm 54 addresses God as “God” (Hb. ʼelohim; vv. 1–4a), “the Lord” (ʼadonay; v. 4b), and “the Lord” (yhwh; v. 6).
The first stanza (vv. 1–3) of the psalm cries to God for help with verbs of request (vv. 1–2) followed by an explanatory “for” (v. 3).455 The second stanza (vv. 4–5) begins with “behold” and describes what God is and will do. The third stanza (vv. 6–7) then looks to what the singer will do (v. 6), with an explanatory “for” (v. 7).
Section Outline
I. O God, Save Me from the Ruthless (54:1–3)
II. God Is My Helper (54:4–5)
III. I Will Bring a Freewill Offering (54:6–7)
Response
Most agree that Psalm 54 is an individual lament; the title allows the faithful to imagine ways in which their own circumstances of desperation are similar. As with most laments, the psalm most directly envisions a situation in which the troubles come from people with evil intentions; the title especially places these people as fellow members of the people of God (though the words themselves allow for a wider range of enemies, such as hostile Gentiles). The proper way to respond to such enemies is through prayer, trusting that God will vindicate his faithful in due time.
Of course, not everyone who claims to suffer in this way is an innocent sufferer, and thus those leading worship must exercise pastoral judgment as to the degree to which this is the right psalm for the occasion, as opposed to another psalm.
This psalm, as is true of so many, aims to provide a fundamentally joyful outlook on life, even in the midst of troubles and threats. Believing singers involve themselves in confidence in God’s ultimate triumph and in reflections on his triumphs in the past. This psalm also has the singers employing the outward means of worship, such as the freewill offering, as a grateful and enjoyable setting—a setting in which the worshiper shares his joy with his family and community (Deut. 12:12; 14:29).
Christians can face similar occasions of desperate need and should be led in prayers such as these. Indeed, the same kinds of pastoral judgments are needed! Proper use of this text will enable faithful Christians to entrust themselves to God in a confidence built on his promises and their experiences and to enjoy celebrating with their fellow worshipers.Psalm 54
Psalm 55