Psalms 54:2

_HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD; GIVE EAR TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

2._Hear my prayer, O God! _The language is expressive of his earnestness. He was led to this fervor of supplication by the extremity of his present circumstances, which is alluded to in the following verse, where he complains of being surrounded by men fierce, barbarous, and unrestrained by a sense of religion. There was no necessity for his informing God of a fact which was already known to him; but he disburdens his own heart by venting the cause of his fear and disquietude. By calling his enemies _strangers, _(288) he seems to refer to their barbarity, whether he applied the name to the Ziphites only, or, in general, to the whole army of Saul. Others consider him, in this term, to advert to their degeneracy as children of Abraham; and it is true that the Jews are repeatedly stigmatised by the prophets under this form of expression, when they had cast themselves out of the Church of Go...

1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair....

Verse Psalms 54:2. _HEAR MY PRAYER_] In his straits he had recourse to God; for from him alone, for the reasons alleged above, his deliverance must proceed....

HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD - My earnest cry for deliverance from the designs of those who would betray me. GIVE EAR TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH - Incline thine ear to me, as one does who wishes to hear. See the notes at Psalms 17:6....

EXPOSITION THIS is a short psalm, written in a time of great trouble, and containing, first, an earnest prayer for deliverance (Psalms 54:1); and then an expression of confidence in God's aid, and of thankfulness for the deliverance, which is counted as absolutely certain (Psalms 54:4). The "title," which assigns the psalm to David, and makes the occasion his betrayal to Saul by the Ziphites, appears to be trustworthy. PSALMS 54:1 SAVE ME, O GOD, BY THY NAME; _i.e. _by the qualities of which thy "Name" is significant—power, goodness, and truth. AND JUDGE ME; _i.e. _"vindicate me," or "judge my cause." By thy strength;

HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD,.... The psalmist first puts up his petitions, and then desires to be heard; his distress, and the fervency of his spirit, not suffering him to observe order; GIVE EAR TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH; for the prayer which was conceived in his mind, and inwrought there by the Spirit of God, was expressed vocally....

Psalms 54 The Prayer of the Godly _ 1. The prayer for salvation (Psalms 54:1)_ 2. The assurance of faith (Psalms 54:4) During that final apostasy when the man of sin is revealed, the saints among the Jews will suffer persecution as the prophetic Word elsewhere reveals. Here is another prophetic record of their prayers, with a believing anticipation of deliverance....

LIV. THE PSALMIST PRAYS FOR DELIVERANCE FROM POWERFUL AND BITTER FOES. He trusts in God who will destroy his enemies. When that is done, he will offer sacrifice in thanksgiving. His enemies are Jews for who would expect heathen to set God before their eyes (Psalms 54:3)? True, we are told expressly in Psalms 54:3 that the adversaries are strangers, _i.e._ foreigners, but we should read insolent men. _Cf._ also Psalms 86:14. PSALMS 54:1. The name sums up all the attributes of God, but especially His power. See on Psalms 5 and _cf._ Psalms

PSALMS 54 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Prayer Prompted by the Hostile Action of the Zephites. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 54:1-2, Prayer for Salvation and Vindication; supported by a _Refrain, vet._ 3, describing the psalmist's Enemies. Stanza II., Psalms 54:4-5, Coming Help Welcomed and its Effects Anticipated. Stanza III., Psalms 54:6-7, Willing Sacrifice Promised and Thanks Formulated. (Lm.) An Instructive PsalmBy DavidWhen the Ziphites entered and said to Saul, Is not David hiding himself with us? 1 O God by thy name save me, yea by thy heroic strength shalt thou vindicate me. 1