In 1 Samuel 19:10 Scripture tells us that King Saul had “sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning.” King Saul was very much threatened by David, whom God had foretold through the prophet Samuel that David would be the next King of Israel. The reason this was a threat for Saul is because that meant God was removing the kingdom of Israel from Saul’s family and giving it to David. That also meant Saul’s son, Jonathon, would never take the throne of Jerusalem. And Saul was doing what he could to ensure that God’s word through the prophet Samuel would not take place.
In response to that moment, David wrote Psalm 59. It begins with David asking God to deliver him and protect him and save him from the hand of those who wish to bring him harm (59:1-2). It continues with David explaining why he is seeking God’s protection and deliverance (59:3-8). Then, David asks for God to defend him (59:9-15). And lastly, David ends the Psalm with praise (59:16-17).There are a few lessons we can draw from this Psalm.
First, God hears and sees all that we do. David writes in verse 7, “There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips – for ‘who’, they think, ‘will hear us’?” The wicked people outside David’s home were saying things and plotting to kill David while hiding. While others did not see them, God did. As one commentator put it: “Evil people live as if God cannot see and will not punish.” The truth is God sees all and He knows all. And as believers we have to be careful that we don’t make the same foolish mistakes the wicked do; we must not forget God sees and He hears all we do and all we say.
Secondly, God is merciful to those who put their trust in Him. David wrote in verse 10, “My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.” I love how the NIV Life Application Bible commentary expounds on this: “David was hunted by those whose love had turned to jealousy, and this was driving them to try to murder him. Trusted friends, and even his mentor, the king, had turned against him. What changeable love! But David knew that God’s love for him was changeless. God’s mercy to all who trust him is just as permanent as his mercy to David. When the love of others fails or disappoints us, we can rest in God’s enduring love.” Amen!
Thirdly, David did not take this situation into his own hands. In verse 13 David wrote, “Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.” He was writing this God. Oftentimes we want to take vengeance and justice into our own hands but David cried out to God so that God could handle the situation. Remember Paul said in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” My friends, if people come against you instead of raising a hand to them, pray. Seek God. Let God handle your situation.
Lastly, by the end of this Psalm David was praising God, saying, “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” His request turned into praise. The lesson here, I think, is that we should always strive to take bad situations and turn them into moments of worship. God is faithful and He is worthy of our praise, even in the bad times.