Psa 54:2 | KingComments | STEP | For “for the choir director; on stringed instruments” ( ) see at Psalm 4:1. For “a Maskil” see at Psalm 32:1. This psalm is “a Maskil of David”. It is an instruction, a maskil , for the wise, the maskilim . When the remnant has fled abroad, the strangers ( ), represented in the Ziphites, who are a picture of the surrounding nations, will betray them to the violent men ( ), represented in Saul, who is a picture of the antichrist, and his followers. Psalm 54 instructs the remnant to pray to God and put their trust in Him Who will deliver them. We read here the occasion for the writing of this psalm. This is one of fourteen psalms that mention in the heading the occasion of their writing ( ). During the time that David was fleeing from Saul, the Ziphites twice reported to Saul where David was hiding ( ). This betrayal is the occasion for this psalm. Much of this psalm is applicable to us, who also suffer from what people do to us because we belong to Christ. We can think especially of all believers who are persecuted because of their faith, such as in North Korea, China, and islamic countries. David asks God to save him from his enemies by His Name ( ).The “Name” stands for all that God is, for His Being and all His attributes. One of those attributes is His power to exercise justice. David asks if God will vindicate him by His power. Prophetically, it is the language of the believing remnant in the end time when they are oppressed by the self-willed, false king, the antichrist. David addresses God , not the LORD . He does not do so until the end of the psalm, when the covenant faithfulness of the LORD has been demonstrated ( ). Now the point is that God demonstrates His power toward hostile people. His enemies do not seek direct confrontation with David, but act with cunning treachery. When David hears about it ( ), he does not confront the enemies in his own strength, but appeals to the power of God. His enemies don’t notice this, but David does all the more. He knows he is in his right and he asks God to demonstrate that to his enemies by means of His power. After David has come directly to God with his need in , he then asks God to hear his prayer ( ). His prayer consists of “the words of my mouth”. He makes known to God in clear words what his need is and what he would like God to do. Likewise, we too may make our need known to God by means of our words (cf. ). Then David describes what troubles him, what his need is ( ). There are “strangers” who have risen against him and want to kill him. “Strangers” means those who do not belong to Israel, the nations. The Ziphites are a type, an example. They are inhabitants of the wilderness Ziph, possibly Israelites, possibly also Canaanites, who are unknown to David (strangers). In any case they prophetically represent the nations. These strangers want to kill David. They are focused on him as on a criminal and not on God, they do not keep God in mind and do not consider His authority at all. If they did, they would see David the way God sees him. But He is not before their eyes, they don’t have Him in mind, nor His power and His righteousness. The believer, David, the remnant, does ( ).

‏ Psalms 54:2

Salvation by God’s Name

For “for the choir director; on stringed instruments” (Psa 54:1a) see at Psalm 4:1.

For “a Maskil” see at Psalm 32:1.

This psalm is “a Maskil of David”. It is an instruction, a maskil, for the wise, the maskilim. When the remnant has fled abroad, the strangers (Psa 54:3a), represented in the Ziphites, who are a picture of the surrounding nations, will betray them to the violent men (Psa 54:3b), represented in Saul, who is a picture of the antichrist, and his followers. Psalm 54 instructs the remnant to pray to God and put their trust in Him Who will deliver them.

We read here the occasion for the writing of this psalm. This is one of fourteen psalms that mention in the heading the occasion of their writing (Psa 3:1 ; Psa 7:1 ; Psa 18:1 ; Psa 30:1 ; Psa 34:1 ; Psa 51:1 ; Psa 52:1 ; Psa 54:1 ; Psa 56:1 ; Psa 57:1 ; Psa 59:1 ; Psa 60:1 ; Psa 63:1 ; Psa 142:1). During the time that David was fleeing from Saul, the Ziphites twice reported to Saul where David was hiding (1Sam 23:19 ; 1Sam 26:1). This betrayal is the occasion for this psalm.

Much of this psalm is applicable to us, who also suffer from what people do to us because we belong to Christ. We can think especially of all believers who are persecuted because of their faith, such as in North Korea, China, and islamic countries.

David asks God to save him from his enemies by His Name (Psa 54:1b).The “Name” stands for all that God is, for His Being and all His attributes. One of those attributes is His power to exercise justice. David asks if God will vindicate him by His power. Prophetically, it is the language of the believing remnant in the end time when they are oppressed by the self-willed, false king, the antichrist.

David addresses God, not the LORD. He does not do so until the end of the psalm, when the covenant faithfulness of the LORD has been demonstrated (Psa 54:6). Now the point is that God demonstrates His power toward hostile people. His enemies do not seek direct confrontation with David, but act with cunning treachery.

When David hears about it (1Sam 23:25 ; 1Sam 26:3-4), he does not confront the enemies in his own strength, but appeals to the power of God. His enemies don’t notice this, but David does all the more. He knows he is in his right and he asks God to demonstrate that to his enemies by means of His power.

After David has come directly to God with his need in Psa 54:1b, he then asks God to hear his prayer (Psa 54:2). His prayer consists of “the words of my mouth”. He makes known to God in clear words what his need is and what he would like God to do. Likewise, we too may make our need known to God by means of our words (cf. Phil 4:6).

Then David describes what troubles him, what his need is (Psa 54:3). There are “strangers” who have risen against him and want to kill him. “Strangers” means those who do not belong to Israel, the nations. The Ziphites are a type, an example. They are inhabitants of the wilderness Ziph, possibly Israelites, possibly also Canaanites, who are unknown to David (strangers). In any case they prophetically represent the nations.

These strangers want to kill David. They are focused on him as on a criminal and not on God, they do not keep God in mind and do not consider His authority at all. If they did, they would see David the way God sees him. But He is not before their eyes, they don’t have Him in mind, nor His power and His righteousness. The believer, David, the remnant, does (Psa 16:8).