Psa 54 | EE | STEP | This is for the music leader. He must use musical instruments. It is a maskil for David. It was when the men that lived in Ziph went to Saul. They told him, ‘David is hiding with us.’ God, give me help because of your name. Use your power to make me safe.

Psalms 54

Snakes in the Grass

This is for the music leader.

He must use musical instruments.

It is a maskil for David.

It was when the men that lived in Ziph went to Saul.

They told him, ‘David is hiding with us.’

1 God, give me help because of your name.

Use your power to make me safe. ^{▼▼54:1 The important word (or key word) in the psalm is ‘name.’ In verse 1 we read ‘because of your name.’ This means ‘because of all that your name means.’ What does God’s name mean? It means many things, but one is that he will give help to his servants. In verses 6 and 7 we find the name again. But now it is different!}

2 God, hear my prayer and listen to what I am saying.

3 Because my enemies are fighting against me

and cruel people are trying to kill me.

They do not think about God.

SELAH ^{▼▼54:3 In verses 1-3 David is asking for help because of God’s name.}

4 But God, listen and give me help!

Lord, it is you that keeps me alive!

5 Send back this evil to my enemies.

Because you love what is true, destroy them.

6 I want to sacrifice to you because I am free to do it.

I want to praise your name, LORD, because it is good.

7 Your name saved me from all my trouble.

When I looked at my enemies I saw that I had won the battle. ^{▼▼54:7 In verses 4-7 David has received God’s help, so he praises God’s name.}