The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 10

PSALM LIX. house where David was, with the intent to kill him. Tho reference iJ! clearly to the Lurn Pss. lvi. and Ivii., this is a cry for narrative in 1 So.m. xix. 11-18. And the deliverance out of great peril, wilh o. final psalm itself, when carefully cousidered, will expression of confidence (vers. 16, 17) tho.t be found to agree well with this time and the deliverance will be granted. From the occasion. psalm itself there is some difficulty in de- termining who are the enemies against It is generally agreed that the composition whon1 aid ia sought, since, while th~ bulk divides into four portions, two of them closed of the all us ions suggest domestic enemies, by the pause-mo.rk, "Sela.h," and the other there is distinct mention of the " heathen" two by a refrain. It thus consists_ of foaz in two plaocs (vers. 5, 8). Hence it has strophes, the first of five verses (vere. 1-5), been argued by critics of note that the entire and the other three of four verses each complaint is against foreign foes, and the (vers. 6-9, 10-13, and U-17). oomplo.inant either the nation (De Wette), Vor. !.-Deliver I!l3 from mina enemies, or a late king of Judah (Ewnlu), or 11 Mac- 0 my God.. This is David's ulmcst const:J.nt cabean leaucr (Hitzig), or u poet of the time cry (see Pss. vii. I; xvii. 13; xxii. 20; xxv. of Nehemfah (Koster). Dut the whole cha- 20; xxxi. I, 2, 15; xxxv. 17; xl. 13; xliiL 1; lxix. 18; Ju. 1, 4; cix. 21, etc.). He racter of the psalm is D,wiuic, and the bus enemies, both domestic and foreign. "title" must be rego.rdcd ns having more iu- In his early youth Saul becomes his enemy trinsic weight thnn the conjectures of critics, out of jealousy; then most of Saul's cour- especio.lly of eritios who are so wholly o.t tiers espouse their 1naster's quarrel. He vo.rio.nce one with another as these. The ho.s enemies at tile court of Achish; enemies in his family, even among his sons, us Absa- title lo.ye it down that tho psalm is David's, lom: enemies among his counsellors, as and assigns, as the occusion of its composi- Ahithophel ; foreign enemi( s on nil sides tion, Saul's sending emissaries to watch tho of him-Pliilistines, Edomitee, llloabitee, 12 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. LJX. 1-17,