Psalm 59 - Hunted, but on Way to Victory

Sometimes we read or hear about a person who is being hunted by the authorities because of an action that has been committed. David at this time was being searched for by the agents of King Saul. An obvious place for them to watch was his home. David knew that they were determined to get rid of him because he was a threat to their regime (vv. 1-3).

What did David do? He took his case to God, but he also wrote it down in the form of a psalm. To begin with, he recognised the motives of his opponents. They were not looking for him because he had done a wrong action. Yet God did not seem to be doing anything about it (vv. 3-4), that he needed to be roused.

 

David also saw his own case as part of a global phenomenon in which nations are rising against God’s people, Israel. The same divine action was required for the nation’s deliverance as for his own deliverance (v. 5). David knew that the powerful God who had made a covenant with Israel would help them, including himself. 

 

In verses 6 and 7, David details the constant methods of his opponents. They made a lot of noise, although the important response would be God’s reaction. Since the Lord laughs at the antics of nations, what effect would David’s opponents have on hindering the divine plans? David realised that the Lord was his personal refuge, the One who would give him strength until he obtained complete victory over his enemies (vv. 8-10).

 

It would have been easy for God to remove those opponents in a quiet manner. Yet David argues in his prayer that such a method would not help his cause. It would be better if the Lord dealt with them in a very public way. Their verbal sins were such that only clear demonstration of divine wrath would be adequate, especially since such a public action would reveal that the only One who is fully enthroned is the Lord. Moreover, such an expression of divine judgement would reveal the focus that God has for the progress of his kingdom (vv. 11-13).

 

David closes his prayer by contrasting his enemies’ behaviour with his own experience. Since they cannot find him despite their searching, they growl and moan like hungry dogs. In contrast, David can sing about the Lord’s deliverances, of the displays of his power and protection. Such a faithful God deserves the praises of his people (vv. 14-17).

 

The psalm reminds us that individual believers are involved in a much bigger battle than their own circumstances. Life is an expression of a war between two kingdoms. Christians have God on their side and sometimes they sense that only a dramatic divine answer will deal with the situations facing them. Such occasions require prayer in which suitable arguments are made for God to act in a way that continues the growth of his kingdom. Thinking of God’s commitment to his kingdom enables them to realise afresh his commitment to them as individuals.