Psalms 59:4

_THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES WITHOUT MY FAULT: AWAKE TO HELP ME, AND BEHOLD._ THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES WITHOUT MY FAULT - "They run" as armed warriors rushing to the assault (Psalms 18:29). The Hebrew for "prepare themselves" х_ KUWN_ (H3559)] means also 'they establish themselves;' they make firm their footing, like forces assailing a city (Job 30:14). AWAKE TO HELP ME - literally, 'to meet me' with help "Awake," as though God had been asleep in regard to the Psalmist's safety (Psalms 44:23). AND BEHOLD - their wicked violence and my great danger....

4._Awake to hasten for my help, and behold. _In using this language, he glances at the eagerness with which his enemies, as he had already said, were pressing upon him, and states his desire that God would show the same haste in extending help as they did in seeking his destruction. With the view of conciliating the divine favor, he once more calls upon God to be the witness and judge of his cause, adding,_and behold _The expression is one which savours at once of faith and of the infirmity of the flesh. In speaking of God, as if his eyes had been hitherto shut to the wrongs which he had suffered, and needed now for the first time to be opened for the discovery of them, he expresses himself according to the weakness of our human apprehension. On the other hand, in calling upon God _to behold _his cause, he shows his faith by virtually acknowledging that nothing was hid from his provident...

1-7 In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man....

Verse Psalms 59:4. _THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES_] They leave no stone unturned that they may effect my destruction and prevent the building....

THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES - That is, they “hasten” to accomplish this; they are quick to obey the command of Saul requiring them to slay me. The word “prepare” refers to whatever was deemed necessary to enable them to accomplish what they had been commanded to do - arming themselves, making provision for their journey, etc. WITHOUT MY FAULT - That is, without anything on my part to deserve this, or to justify Saul and those employed by him in what they attempt to do. David, in all this, was conscious of innocence. In his own feelings toward Saul, and in all his public acts, he knew that he had sought only the king’s welfare, and that he had been obedient to the laws. AWAKE TO HELP ME - That is, “arouse,” as one does from sleep. See the notes at Psalms 7:6. Compare...

EXPOSITION LIKE Psalms 56:1 and Psalms 57:1, this is a cry for deliverance out of great peril, with a final expression of confidence (verses 16, 17) that the deliverance will be granted. From the psalm itself there is some difficulty in determining who are the enemies against whom aid is sought, since, while the bulk of the allusions suggest domestic enemies, there is distinct mention of the "heathen" in two places (Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:8). Hence it has been argued by critics of note that the entire complaint is against foreign foes, and the complainant either the nation (De Wette), or a late king of Judah (Ew

THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES WITHOUT [MY] FAULT,.... Or, "without sin [in me]"; or "without punishment [in them]"; so the same word is rendered, 1 Samuel 28:10. "They run", in an hostile manner, "against me", as the Syriac version adds; or like dogs up and down, about the city, to find him and kill him; see Psalms 59:7. Or this may denote their readiness and swiftness to shed blood, Proverbs 1:16; "and prepare themselves" with weapon, with instruments of death, as the men did that were sent to kill him; and as the band of men that came with Judas to take Christ prepared themselves with swords and staves. The Targum is, "they order or ordain war;'' which they prosecuted without any occasion of

Psalms 59 Gentile Enmity Against Israel _ 1. Surrounded by nations (Psalms 59:1)_ 2. Their judgment anticipated (Psalms 59:9) Another Michtam of David when he was persecuted by Saul. While in previous Psalms we saw prophetically the remnant of the last suffering from their own ungodly brethren and the Antichrist, here the nations are their enemies. The word “heathen” should always be translated “nations.” They will surround Jerusalem. This is mentioned in Psalms 59:6. They are like the dogs, the term used for Gentiles in the Word. The godly pray for deliverance and in faith sing of His power--” I will sing aloud of Thy m

LIX. The Ps. seems to be directed against Jewish and not foreign enemies. It might well be a prayer for the downfall of the aristocratic Sadducees. On the other hand in Psalms 59:5 and Psalms 59:8 the Psalmist prays against heathen. But a slight change gives the word we need, viz. proud (_cf._ Psalms 9:17). PSALMS 59:6 is a variant of Psalms 59:14; it is in its right place after Psalms 59:13....

The Psalmist prays for deliverance from the enemies who are bent on taking his life, pleading his innocence, and appealing to God to punish all injustice....