Psa 59:9 | KingComments | STEP | After David brought his complaint to God, his mind is at rest (cf. ). He now turns in confidence to the LORD, the God with Whom he has a personal relationship ( ). While the arrogant opponents may think there is no one to hear them ( ), David knows better. He knows that God laughs at them ( ). God does not take them seriously in their attempts to bring down His anointed king. Who can oppose Him without being himself exterminated by Him? God mocks all the nations. Here by nations is meant God’s people because they act like the nations (cf. ). The strength David experiences from the enemy does not lead him to think of a counter-offensive or to consider human means he might employ to fight the enemy. No, he will watch for God, for He is his “stronghold” ( ). With Him he is invulnerable to the strength of the enemy. That he watches for God, means that he focuses on God, puts his eyes on and trust in Him. With Him he knows himself to be safe. He trusts in God as his “God” Who “in His lovingkindness will meet” him to come to his aid ( ). As soon as he has turned his eye to God, he sees not only God’s lovingkindness, but especially God Himself, the God Who is faithful to His covenant. He counts on the gracious God because he has done nothing that would cause God to deliver him into the hand of his foes. Therefore he knows that God will let him look triumphantly upon his foes. God will deal with them so that he will have nothing more to fear from them (cf. ). God must not slay His attackers, for then his people, the people over whom he is anointed king, will soon forget again how God deals with His enemies ( ; cf. ). No, God must scatter them by His power. Thus the wandering Cain is a warning example of God’s judgment on him because of the murder of his brother Abel ( ). Similarly, the scattered earthly people of God are a testimony of God’s judgment upon them because of their murder of their Messiah. These warning examples should keep people from committing sins against God and the neighbor. If they do not listen, they will suffer the same judgment. What is an encouraging testimony to God’s people is retribution from God to their enemies that they deserve righteously for their crimes ( ). After all, they have sinned terribly with their mouths. The word that has come over their lips testifies to great pride. They have uttered curses and told lies, saying that no one hears anyway ( ). They must be made aware of the fact that there is Someone Who has heard their words and Who will judge them for that ( ). David asks God to destroy them in His wrath ( ). Earlier he asked not to slay them, but to scatter them ( ). This is to make them a testimony of God’s power to his followers. Now he asks for the final, ultimate judgment. This is after they have served as a testimony to God’s power. When their time is up, they are to be destroyed, so “that they may be no more”. That judgment is for a testimony against them. It does not mean that they cease to exist, but that they no longer live on earth and they can no longer do their evil work. As a result, they will know “that God rules in Jacob”. It is not them with their big mouth full of presumptuous words who are rulers, but God is Ruler in Jacob. Here “Jacob” is mentioned, emphasizing the weakness of the people. That weak people have in God a Ruler unlimited in power. And God is not only Ruler in Jacob, but He rules “to the ends of the earth”. There is no territory on earth, no matter how far it is from the center of the earth, Israel, where He does not reign. And He reigns everywhere in the same way as in Israel. Realizing God’s omnipresent dominion, David can now boldly say that by evening the enemies may return as howling dogs ( ). To howl means, as in , to rant, to whine. The context in which it appears makes it clear that it is not here the ranting of a dangerous dog as in , but the howling of a beaten dog that disappears with its tail between its legs, which is evident from . David has heard God’s laughter over the enemies ( ). That encourages him and gives him peace. Let them come back and roam the city, he knows that God is laughing at them. Because he knows that God rules, he is also confident that their attempts to seize him will be in vain. “They will wander about for food”, that is, they are looking for him ( ), like dogs that are “about for food”. They will spend the night, but “will not be satisfied”, for they will not be able to get hold of him. They will spend the night, but be disappointed in the expectation that they will be satiated by the capture of their prey.

‏ Psalms 59:9

Trust

After David brought his complaint to God, his mind is at rest (cf. Phil 4:6-7). He now turns in confidence to the LORD, the God with Whom he has a personal relationship (Psa 59:8). While the arrogant opponents may think there is no one to hear them (Psa 59:7), David knows better. He knows that God laughs at them (Psa 2:4). God does not take them seriously in their attempts to bring down His anointed king. Who can oppose Him without being himself exterminated by Him? God mocks all the nations. Here by nations is meant God’s people because they act like the nations (cf. Psa 59:5).

The strength David experiences from the enemy does not lead him to think of a counter-offensive or to consider human means he might employ to fight the enemy. No, he will watch for God, for He is his “stronghold” (Psa 59:9). With Him he is invulnerable to the strength of the enemy. That he watches for God, means that he focuses on God, puts his eyes on and trust in Him. With Him he knows himself to be safe.

He trusts in God as his “God” Who “in His lovingkindness will meet” him to come to his aid (Psa 59:10). As soon as he has turned his eye to God, he sees not only God’s lovingkindness, but especially God Himself, the God Who is faithful to His covenant. He counts on the gracious God because he has done nothing that would cause God to deliver him into the hand of his foes. Therefore he knows that God will let him look triumphantly upon his foes. God will deal with them so that he will have nothing more to fear from them (cf. Exo 14:30b).

God must not slay His attackers, for then his people, the people over whom he is anointed king, will soon forget again how God deals with His enemies (Psa 59:11; cf. Psa 78:11). No, God must scatter them by His power. Thus the wandering Cain is a warning example of God’s judgment on him because of the murder of his brother Abel (Gen 4:12-14). Similarly, the scattered earthly people of God are a testimony of God’s judgment upon them because of their murder of their Messiah. These warning examples should keep people from committing sins against God and the neighbor. If they do not listen, they will suffer the same judgment.

What is an encouraging testimony to God’s people is retribution from God to their enemies that they deserve righteously for their crimes (Psa 59:12). After all, they have sinned terribly with their mouths. The word that has come over their lips testifies to great pride. They have uttered curses and told lies, saying that no one hears anyway (Psa 59:7). They must be made aware of the fact that there is Someone Who has heard their words and Who will judge them for that (Mt 12:37). David asks God to destroy them in His wrath (Psa 59:13).

Earlier he asked not to slay them, but to scatter them (Psa 59:11). This is to make them a testimony of God’s power to his followers. Now he asks for the final, ultimate judgment. This is after they have served as a testimony to God’s power. When their time is up, they are to be destroyed, so “that they may be no more”. That judgment is for a testimony against them. It does not mean that they cease to exist, but that they no longer live on earth and they can no longer do their evil work.

As a result, they will know “that God rules in Jacob”. It is not them with their big mouth full of presumptuous words who are rulers, but God is Ruler in Jacob. Here “Jacob” is mentioned, emphasizing the weakness of the people. That weak people have in God a Ruler unlimited in power. And God is not only Ruler in Jacob, but He rules “to the ends of the earth”. There is no territory on earth, no matter how far it is from the center of the earth, Israel, where He does not reign. And He reigns everywhere in the same way as in Israel.

Realizing God’s omnipresent dominion, David can now boldly say that by evening the enemies may return as howling dogs (Psa 59:14). To howl means, as in Psa 59:6, to rant, to whine. The context in which it appears makes it clear that it is not here the ranting of a dangerous dog as in Psa 59:6, but the howling of a beaten dog that disappears with its tail between its legs, which is evident from Psa 59:15.

David has heard God’s laughter over the enemies (Psa 59:8). That encourages him and gives him peace. Let them come back and roam the city, he knows that God is laughing at them.

Because he knows that God rules, he is also confident that their attempts to seize him will be in vain. “They will wander about for food”, that is, they are looking for him (Psa 59:15), like dogs that are “about for food”. They will spend the night, but “will not be satisfied”, for they will not be able to get hold of him. They will spend the night, but be disappointed in the expectation that they will be satiated by the capture of their prey.