F4 E 1-5. Prayer. Enemies in the land. Selah.
F 6. Comparison to a dog.
G 7. Doggish characteristic. Barking.
H 8,9-. Psalmist's trust in God.
J -9,10. Reason. "God my defense".
E 11-13. Prayer. Enemies with then in the land. Selah.
F 14. Comparison to a dog.
G 15. Doggish characteristic. Greediness.
H 16-. Psalmist's trust in God.
J -16,17. Reason. "God my defense".
(Compare 1 Samuel 19:11.)
970 B.C.
Psalm 59)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God:
Set me on high from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul:
The mighty are gathered against me;
Not for my rebellion, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault:
Awake to help me, and behold.
5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts (Yahaveh Elohim Sabaoth), the God of Israel,
Awake to visit all the nations:
Be not merciful to any wicked hypocrites. Selah. (Connecting the wicked hypocrites with their true character as dogs of the Gentiles; and marking off and connecting the 2 prayers in vv.1-5, and vv.11-13.)
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog,
And go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth:
Swords are in their lips:
For "who", say they, "does hear?"
8 But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; (Cp. Ps. 2:4)
You shall have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon You:
For God is my defense.
10 The God of my (loving-kindness or grace) shall anticipate me:
God shall let me see my desire upon my enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget:
Scatter them by Your power; and bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips
Let them even be taken in their pride:
And for cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be:
And let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah. (See v.5)
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog,
And go round about the city.
15 Let them prowl about up and down for meat,
And grudge (or stay all night) if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of Your strength;
Yea, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning:
For You have proved my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, O my strength, will I sing:
For God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.
(A presenter appointed by David, by name Ethan, afterward called Jeduthun = confession [1 Chron. 15:17-19; 16:41; 25:1-6]. Other Jeduthun Psalms are 38 and 76; in all 3 "vows" find a place.)