Psalms 54:4

_BEHOLD, GOD IS MINE HELPER: THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL._ Behold. He already, with the eye of faith, sees God advancing as his "helper," though to the eye of sense nothing presented itself but destruction on every side. THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL in opposition to the "oppressors," who "seek after my soul" (Psalms 54:4). Compare the phrase with Psalms 118:7. David supposes two parties his opponents and his helpers: the Lord constituted the latter party (Psalms 55:18, "there were many with me"). He does not mean that he had other helpers besides the Lord (cf. the phrase, Judges 11:35

4._Behold! God is my helper _Such language as this may show us that David did not direct his prayers at random into the air, but offered them in the exercise of a lively faith. There is much force in the demonstrative adverb. He points, as it were, with the finger, to that God who stood at his side to defend him; and was not this an amazing illustration of the power with which faith can surmount all obstacles, and glance, in a moment, from the depths of despair to the very throne of God? He was a fugitive amongst the dens of the earth, and even there in hazard of his life — how, then, could he speak of God as being near to him? He was pressed down to the very mouth of the grave; and how could he recognize the gracious presence of God? He was trembling in the momentary expectation of being destroyed; and how is it possible that he can triumph in the certain hope that Divine help will pres...

4-7 Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it so to their cost. David's present deliverance was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completion of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him; because, having God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it was done already. The Lord would deliver him out of all his troubles. May he help us to bear our cross without repining, and at length bring us to share his victories and glory. Christians never should suffer th...

Verse Psalms 54:4. _BEHOLD, GOD_ IS _MINE HELPER_] This would naturally occur to him when he saw that Saul was obliged to leave the pursuit, and go to defend his territories, when he was on the very point of seizing him. God, whose providence is ever watchful, had foreseen this danger, and stirred up the Philistines to make this inroad just at the time in which Saul and his army were about to lay hands on David. Well might he then say, "Behold, God is mine helper." Is _WITH THEM, THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL._] נפשי _naphshi_, my _life_. This may even refer to the _Philistines_, who had at this time made an inroad on Israel. God was even with his own enemies, by making them instruments to save the life of his servant....

BEHOLD, GOD IS MINE HELPER - That is, God alone can aid me in these circumstances, and to him I confidently look. THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL - My friends; those who have rallied around me to defend me; those who comfort me by their presence; those who sustain me in my cause, and who keep me from sinking under the burden of my accumulated troubles....

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;

BEHOLD, GOD [IS] MINE HELPER,.... This being a matter of wonder to be helped in so extraordinary a manner, and a sure and certain case, and what was deserving the attention of others; for the encouragement of their faith and hope in like cases, a "behold" is prefixed unto it: and what is here said is true of David's son, the Messiah, and is expressed by him in much the same language, Isaiah 50:9; and of all the saints whom the Lord helps, as at first conversion, out of the pit wherein is no water, out of the horrible pit, the mire and clay of nature's darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; so out of all their afflictions and temptations, and out of the hands of all their enemies; he helps in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty; and he helps to all mercies, temporal and spiritual, needful for them; which help is quick and present, seasonable and suitable, always sufficient; an...

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

LORD *. One of the 134 alterations of Jehovah to Adonai by the _Sopherim._ App-32....