Psalms Chapter 59 — Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
The writer asks God for protection from violent enemies who lie in wait and expresses deep trust in God as a source of strength and mercy.
1Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity.
3For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.
4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
5You, LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel,
6They return at evening, howling like dogs,
7Behold, they spew with their mouth.
8But you, LORD, laugh at them.
9Oh, my Strength, I watch for you,
10My God will go before me with his loving kindness.
11Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.
12For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
13Consume them in wrath.
14At evening let them return.
15They shall wander up and down for food,
16But I will sing of your strength.
17To you, my strength, I will sing praises.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 59:1
“Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.”
This opening verse establishes the primary theme of seeking divine safety from human opposition.
Psalms 59:16
“But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.”
This verse highlights the psalmist's choice to praise God's protection and character despite his difficult circumstances.
Chapter Summary
Psalms 59 is a prayer for deliverance from enemies who are described as bloodthirsty and deceitful. The psalmist asserts his innocence while calling on the LORD God of Armies to intervene. The enemies are likened to howling dogs that roam the city at night, spewing malice with their words. Despite the threat, the writer expresses confidence that God laughs at the schemes of the wicked. He describes God as his strength and high tower, trusting that God's loving kindness will go before him. Instead of asking for their immediate destruction, the psalmist requests that the enemies be scattered as a testimony to God's power. The chapter concludes with a vow to sing of God's strength and mercy, recognizing God as a refuge in times of trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
The enemies are compared to howling dogs that return in the evening and wander the city for food. This imagery suggests their persistent, scavenging nature and the threat they pose to the psalmist's life.
In verse 11, the writer asks God not to kill the enemies so that the people will not forget God's power. He suggests that scattering them and bringing them down serves as a more lasting testimony to God's sovereignty than a quick end.
The text states that God laughs at the wicked and holds them in derision. It emphasizes that while the enemies are boastful and aggressive, God remains completely sovereign and unthreatened by their schemes.
Study Note
The recurring refrain of 'my Strength' and the metaphor of God as a 'high tower' illustrate the defensive and protective nature of the divine often found in Hebrew poetry.
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