Those who are for Christ’s sake, harmless and innocent may expect to be hated of wicked men.
It is their wisdom and duty in times of such difficulties, to wait upon God,
for He is their defense, their refuge in whom they shall be safe.
Psalm 1
1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Psalm 1 – J. Vernon McGee
Psalm 59 – “God Is My Defence”
This is the fifth of the Michtams, or “Golden Psalms.” Compare Psalms 16, 56, 57, 58. The contents correspond to the title and to I Samuel 19:11.
The most noticeable feature is the twice-repeated refrain of Psalm 59:9, 17. In each case David appeals to God as my strength, and describes Him as my defence and the God of my mercy. The possessive pronoun my is very remarkable. Each of us needs mercy of a very special sort. My mercy would not help you, nor would yours help me. Note also that God’s mercy prevents (Psalm 59:10). As the mother’s thought prepares beforehand for the child, so God thinks ahead for us, and leads us into the good things which He has prepared for them that love Him, I Corinthians 2:9; Psalm 31:19.
In the first refrain David says, “I will wait upon thee” (Psalm 59:9); in the second, “I will sing aloud” (Psalm 59:16). Waiting on God leads to singing. All night Saul’s emissaries might prowl around David’s home, like the wild dogs of an Eastern city. But within he was singing aloud of God’s mercy, and when the morning broke he was in safety. —Through the Bible Day by Day
Psalm 59:9, 17—Because of his Strength will I wait upon Thee. Unto Thee, O my Strength, will I sing.
First, the soul waits upon God, its strength; and then to Him who had been its strength, it breaks into praise.
Notice the circumstances in which this psalm was composed. Around the house lurk Saul’s emissaries, gathering themselves together against him. At any moment they threaten to break in and murder him upon the psalmist’s bed. Michal and he are reduced to their last straits, yet the hunted man finds opportunity to wait upon God. It is not that he asks for aught as a definite gift; but he waits on God Himself, still expectant, eager. There are times when we cannot tell God what He should do; we can only hush our soul, as a mother her babe, and wait patiently until He tells us what He has prepared.
Meditate on these three attributes. He is the God of your mercy, the Fountain from which pure mercy flows, and nothing but mercy; He is your High Tower, whom you may put between yourself and Saul’s hate; He is your Strength, not that you receive strength from Him, but that you appropriate Him as your strength. Stay thus musing and resting, until in that very house, pent in and besieged, you shall break into song, singing of God’s strength, singing aloud of his mercy in the morning.
There are many beleaguered souls in the world, who have learnt to put God between themselves and their besiegers, and to sing to Him.
“For the glory and the passion of this midnight
I praise Thy Name, I give thee thanks, O Christ!
Thou hast neither failed me nor forsaken
Through these hard hours with victory overpriced;
Now that I too of Thy passion have partaken,
For the world’s sake, called—elected—sacrificed.” —Our Daily Homily