Psa 54:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | The psalmist complains that strangers were risen up against him to take away his life, ; expresses his confidence in God that he will uphold him, and punish his enemies, , ; on which he promises to sacrifice to God, ; he speaks of his deliverance, . The title is, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, an instructive Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came to Saul, and said, Doth not David conceal himself among us?" Ziph was a village in the southern part of Palestine. David having taken refuge in the mountains of that country, the Ziphites went to Saul, and informed him of the fact. Saul, with his army, immediately went thither, and was on one side of a mountain while David was on the other. Just when he was about to fall into the hands of his merciless pursuer, an express came to Saul that the Philistines had invaded Israel, on which he gave up the pursuit, and returned to save his country, and David escaped to En-gedi. See the account in . It is supposed to have been after this deliverance that he composed this Psalm. Neginoth, from נגן nagan to strike or play on some kind of instrument, probably signifies stringed instruments, such as were played on with a plectrum. Verse 1 Save me, O God, by thy name - Save me by thyself alone; so name here may be understood. The name of God is often God himself. David was now in such imminent danger of being taken and destroyed, that no human means were left for his escape; if God therefore had not Interfered, he must have been destroyed. See the introduction, (note).

Psalms 54:1-3

Introduction

The psalmist complains that strangers were risen up against him to take away his life, Psa 54:1-3; expresses his confidence in God that he will uphold him, and punish his enemies, Psa 54:4, Psa 54:5; on which he promises to sacrifice to God, Psa 54:6; he speaks of his deliverance, Psa 54:7.

The title is, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, an instructive Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came to Saul, and said, Doth not David conceal himself among us?"

Ziph was a village in the southern part of Palestine. David having taken refuge in the mountains of that country, the Ziphites went to Saul, and informed him of the fact. Saul, with his army, immediately went thither, and was on one side of a mountain while David was on the other. Just when he was about to fall into the hands of his merciless pursuer, an express came to Saul that the Philistines had invaded Israel, on which he gave up the pursuit, and returned to save his country, and David escaped to En-gedi. See the account in 1Sam 23:19-29. It is supposed to have been after this deliverance that he composed this Psalm. Neginoth, from נגן nagan to strike or play on some kind of instrument, probably signifies stringed instruments, such as were played on with a plectrum.

Verse 1

Save me, O God, by thy name - Save me by thyself alone; so name here may be understood. The name of God is often God himself. David was now in such imminent danger of being taken and destroyed, that no human means were left for his escape; if God therefore had not Interfered, he must have been destroyed. See the introduction, Psa 54:1-7 (note). Verse 2

Hear my prayer - In his straits he had recourse to God; for from him alone, for the reasons alleged above, his deliverance must proceed. Verse 3

Strangers are risen up against me - The Ziphites.

And oppressors - Saul, his courtiers, and his army.

They have not set God before them - It is on no religious account, nor is it to accomplish any end, on which they can ask the blessing of God.

Selah - This is true.