Psalms 54

Psalms 54:1-7

God realized as manifesting Himself according to His Name. To the chief musician, on stringed instruments; Maskil of David: when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? The third psalm of this Maskil series seems to turn aside from the direct subject of them, to show the encouragement given to faith under the trial, in the anticipation of the intervention of God in behalf of His people, suffering under the cruel hands of their persecutors. It is a psalm of the simplest character; for God does not hide His consolation deep in dark speeches from those who have need of it. The Name of God, that is, His revelation of Himself, is that which secures salvation for them. God acts so as to glorify Himself, by the display of His character; and in His salvation all His nature is declared: only the salvation here is an external one, from enemies; though it be true that for Him thus to come in for them their sins must be put away. But this is not before us here. The occasion of the psalm is difficult in application to the last day trials; which only means that we have little skill in such applications. We know just enough to make us realize our shame that we know no more.

1. Short as it is, the psalm is divided into two parts; the first of which gives us the cry to God, the invocation of His power in behalf of the sufferer. Deliverance for him will be according to righteousness, that is, in consistency with God Himself; which implies no legal righteousness on the psalmist’s part. God’s righteousness we have learned to recognize in a gospel to sinners: and this is what the work of Christ has accomplished for us. The Name of God has only been revealed in Him: and when we know it, we have fuller ground of confidence than any righteousness possible to man could give. Here also, as regards the enemy, there is right that can be pleaded against him; and so the psalmist can say, “Right me with Thy might.” His enemies are also God’s enemies, -“strangers” in heart, though (as in David’s case) they may be Israelites in the flesh; and violent men, who have not set God before them.
2. The second part anticipates in faith the help that has been sought. God Himself is the Helper: the Lord it is who upholds his soul. The result is then foreseen; simple enough from such premises: “He shall requite evil to them that watch me” with malignant eyes; “in Thy faithfulness,” he can ask, “destroy Thou them.” The time prophesied of for the earth’s judgment is at hand, and God’s faithfulness is pledged to fulfill His word. Then indeed will delivered Israel with a full heart bring her sacrifices to God, and praise Jehovah’s Name, once more and now fully made known in their redemption (see Exodus 3:13-17, notes). The last verse gives the experience of this: “He hath delivered me out of all strait; and mine eye hath seen its fill upon mine enemies.”