Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Psalm 59:1) (To the chief musician, Altaschith, michtam of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.) Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from them who rise up against me.
In the last post, in 1 Samuel 19, Saul had indeed sent messengers to watch David's house at night and to kill him the next morning (1 Samuel 19:11). Whereas other psalms have been placed within this chronological study before this one, this is actually the earliest of David's psalms. Apparently, as he had all night to contemplate his predicament, he had time to write a psalm even as he was in danger. He wrote it to the chief musician, and it appears he entitled his psalm Altaschith, which Strong's defines as "Thou must not destroy; probably the opening words of a popular song: - Al-taschith." Interestingly, there is no consensus on what the term "michtam" meant. Strong's defines it as from a root meaning "an engraving, that is, (technically) a poem." Only six psalms were called michtams. Perhaps they were meant to be engraved for long-term preservation.
David began his psalm asking the Lord to deliver him from his enemies and defend him from those who rose up against him.
(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 my transgression, nor my sin, O Lord.
He asked the Lord to deliver him from sinful and murderous men. At that time, David knew that such men had gathered around his house and lay in wait to kill him. And this was not because he had sinned against them or the king.
(4) They run and prepare themselves without fault; awake to help me, and behold!
His enemies ran about preparing to come against him without any fault of his being the reason for their actions. It's not as if the Lord had to be awakened to help David. The original word "ur" translated as "awake" also meant "rise up" and that is more appropriate here. Behold! Please see the distress and danger David was in.
(5) You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
David called on the Lord of all heavenly and earthly hosts to rise up and visit all heathen, not just the ones after him at the time. While the Lord visiting someone often meant bringing punishment upon them, it doesn't always mean that. Strong's defines the original word "paqad" as "to visit (with friendly or hostile intent)." The Lord visiting someone should certainly not be always considered a bad thing. When praying for our enemies, the most important thing is to turn them from their wicked plans, let them be drawn to the Lord, and repent. So we should not be praying to punish our enemies, not when Jesus said to turn the other cheek and love your enemies, but we pray for God to turn them from their wicked plans or have their plans fail, so yes, God, please visit them.
"Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors" is a little more difficult to interpret in a Christ-like manner. David had already prayed for all transgressors, as all heathens are, as all of us are, so I believe the point is that if they will not repent and turn away from their wicked schemes but continue as deliberately wicked transgressors, then please do not have mercy on them and let their evil schemes prosper. A holy God would not continue in fellowship and mercy to hearts hardened against Him, and He knows the heart of each man, whether or not he would ever be turned toward God. We can certainly pray that God is not merciful toward such men to allow their evil schemes to proceed. In fact, those who sin willfully and knowingly, after they have received the knowledge of the truth, which would have been the case for all the Israelites at that time, who stubbornly and wickedly persist in their evil, sin against the Holy Spirit of God, whom they have known, and that is the one sin unto death which is not to be prayed for:
Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matthew 12:31)
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16)
It should be added that we all sin, and we will continue to sin after we receive the Holy Spirit, and we may even backslide for a while like the prodigal son, but we will feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit to draw us back. It's when one totally rejects the Holy Spirit, blasphemes the Holy Spirit, and chooses to follow another spirit after having known the truth, that is an unforgiveable sin. And then God turns such a one over to a reprobate mind, and all they can do is sin:
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting. (Romans 1:28)
Back to verse 5 of Psalm 59, above: another definition of the word that was translated as "visit" is "to number." As a matter of fact, the word "paqad" is translated as "numbered" more often in the Bible than "visit." I believe the sense of that in relation to verse 5, would be judging all the heathen hearts as to who is righteous and who is not, and don't be merciful to the ones who are not. And finally, "selah" just meant pause.
(6) They return at evening; they make a noise like a dog and go round about the city.
Those heathen wicked transgressors from verse 5, whom David perceived were his enemies, came to his house in the evening, making much noise, perhaps war whoops, making their presence known as a threat. They had likely looked all over the city for him until they found him at his house.
(7) Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords are in their lips, for "Who," they say, "does hear?"
His enemies gushed out words of abuse; their words were as sharp swords, and they were shameless and unabashed as they feared no one; no one who heard them could stop them.
(8) But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the heathen in derision.
God would have the last laugh, so to speak; He would turn them and their schemes into ridicule and contempt. He had all heathen in derision, objects of ridicule.
(9) My Strength, I will wait on You, for God is my defense. (10) The God of my mercy shall precede me; God shall let me see upon my enemies.
The Lord was David's strength; He would defend him. He would go before him, and David would see what He would do to his enemies.
(11) Do not slay them, lest my people forget; scatter them by Your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
David did not wish for his enemies to be slain, as they were part of his people, and he didn't want them totally forgotten. He prayed the Lord scatter them and humble them, showing them they had no power against God, David's shield.
(12) For the sin of their mouth, the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying they speak.
Those enemies of God sinned with their mouths, spouting words of insolence and atheism, and they sinned against David with their curses and lies, which was a sin against God. David prayed that they be taken down in their pride, entangled in their own nets.
(13) Consume them in wrath, consume, that they not be, and let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.
Had David changed his mind about God slaying them? Or did David mean for God to consume them as they were that they no longer be in honor and dignity that they once were? To let them know that God ruled in Israel (Jacob) would seem they should still be alive but no longer in a position to do the evil they had done. Consume them and make them as if they no longer were, that is, no longer as they once were.
(14) And at evening let them return; 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.
So yes, let them live, but let them return not as they were. Now when they made a noise like a dog and went round about the city, they weren't to be feared, as they wandered about looking for food, dissatisfied, as they prowled around seeking a prey that they would never find.
(16) But I will sing of Your power, yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning, for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
David would sing of God's power, mercy, and protection, as He had always been there to defend him in times of trouble.
(17) To You, O my Strength, I will sing for God my defense, the God of my mercy.
David would sing with full assurance that his merciful and loving God was his strength and defense against his enemies.
This psalm of David demonstrates perfectly how the mind might pass from one thing to another, first uttering fervent prayer, then describing the enemy and his plans, perhaps wishing harm for his enemies, then just wanting God to prevent them from doing harm, finally expressing the confident hope of deliverance, and praising God for that deliverance.
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