Psalm 59, Nighttime Scavengers

For the director of music. [To the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him.

The account of Saul sending men to David's house is reported in I Samuel 19: 11-17.

Psalm 59: 1-4, Deliver me!

 Deliver me from my enemies, O God; 

protect me from those who rise up against me.

 Deliver me from evildoers 

and save me from bloodthirsty men.

 See how they lie in wait for me! 

Fierce men conspire against me 

for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD.

 I have done no wrong, 

yet they are ready to attack me. 

Arise to help me; look on my plight!

David is blameless, yet under attack. He insists that he is innocent yet angry men are waiting to kill him.

The Hebrew has short chiasmus in verses 1 and 2. The Hebrew there is essentially:

• from those who rise up against me
• defend me;
• deliver me
• from workers of inquity.

Psalm 59: 5-7, Rouse!

 O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, 

rouse yourself to punish all the nations; 

show no mercy to wicked traitors.

Selah.

 They return at evening, 

snarling like dogs, 

and prowl about the city.

 See what they spew from their mouths--

they spew out swords from their lips, 

and they say, "Who can hear us?"

David calls, by name, for YHWH Almighty, God of Israel. He wants help and wants the enemy destroyed. The enemies, originally men lying in wait for David, grows to a global perspective and now includes the nations. The psalm alternates between a local and global viewpoint. 

Psalm 59: 8-10, Scoff

 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; 

you scoff at all those nations.

 O my Strength, I watch for you; 

you, O God, are my fortress,

 my loving God. God will go before me 

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

 

God is not threatened by the nations. David knows that and leans on God's eternal love. (The phrase, in verse 10, translated here "my loving God", describes God with hesed, representing an everlasting covenantal love.)

The Hebrew word translated "watch" in verse 9 is a variant on shamar,  the same word as that occurs in the heading -- just as enemies watch David's house, David watches for God. 

Psalm 59: 11-15, Make them wander 

But do not kill them, O Lord our shield,

or my people will forget. 

In your might make them wander about, 

and bring them down.

 For the sins of their mouths,

 for the words of their lips, 

let them be caught in their pride. 

For the curses and lies they utter,

 consume them in wrath, 

consume them till they are no more.

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

Selah.

David does not just want his enemy destroyed. He wants the enemies caught, their corruption displayed for the public, before they are consumed, so that all know that God protects Israel (and David.)

Psalm 59: 14-15, Snarling dogs

 They return at evening, 

snarling like dogs, 

and prowl about the city.

 They wander about for food 

and howl if not satisfied.

Verse six is repeated. The enemy are nighttime scavengers, searching for prey.

In the ancient Near East culture, dogs are not pets but are annoying scavengers, running in packs. (If you want a pet, it probably would be a lamb; see Nathan's story in 2 Samuel 12: 3.) David's enemies are like dogs, like coyotes; they are cowards, slipping in behind to grab a bite of meat, attacking only when they are confident of success.

Psalm 59: 16-17, My fortress 

 But I will sing of your strength, 

in the morning I will sing of your love;

 for you are my fortress, 

my refuge in times of trouble.

O my Strength, I sing praise to you; 

you, O God, are my fortress, 

my loving God.

David, as usual, ends his song with praise and worship, with statements of dependance on God, claiming God as his fortress.