Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The Psalmist is at the throne of grace in this Psalm, in the exercise of prayer and praise. He cries to God for deliverance from his enemies, and concludes with thanksgiving; in the assurance that his prayer is heard and answered.

To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

Psalms 54:1

The title of this Psalm explains the particular trial David was exercised with when he thus had recourse to a mercy-seat. The history of that part of David's life we find 1 Samuel 23:19, and again 1 Samuel 26:1. But while we behold David king of Israel in the historical part connected with this scripture, I would hope that the Reader, by this time, hath seen enough in David's history to consider him as a lively type, in many instances, of David's Lord. Surely the Holy Ghost intended to direct the church, from so much being recorded of this man's history and writings, to look off from him, and to behold a greater than he, as the chief object proposed from these scriptures. And will not the Reader be led therefrom to discover, that in the repeated attempts made on David, by the Ziphims and others, to deliver him into the hands of Saul, there are strong allusions made to the perfidy and baseness of Judas the traitor, and the Scribes and Pharisees, to deliver the Lord Christ into the hands of his enemies? The Ziphims proposed to themselves Saul's favour and a reward: and Judas's language was, what will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? If we compare 1 Samuel 23:19-20, with Matthew 26:14-16, keeping our eye upon Jesus as we read this Psalm, we shall trace several things which will serve to keep him and his unequalled trials in remembrance.

The enemies of Christ were both friends and strangers. When he came to his own, his own received him not: and, as the apostles expressed it, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people, were gathered together against God's holy Child Jesus. John 1:11; Acts 4:27.

Reader, do observe how Christ, in the days of his flesh, found support and confidence in resting himself wholly upon his Father; so have the faithful done, so must the faithful do, in all ages. The close and event of all the exercises of God's people come to the same happy issue; they must and will see their desire upon all their enemies.

REFLECTIONS

READER, let you and I make the same conclusion from the perusal of this Psalm, as is here made, and the confidence in this will bear our souls up during the exercises of the passing hour, be they what they may. We shall feel no shrinkings, we shall make no false conclusions in our progress to the end of our pilgrimage, if our hearts are in the mean time fixed trusting in the Lord. By a steady, fixed, well-grounded faith on God's rich mercy in Christ, holding on our course, and holding out our assurance, whether the providences of our God seem to frown or look cheerful; by keeping fast hold of God the Father's covenant, and Christ's merit, and the everlasting efficacy of his blood and righteousness, we shall find that God is still our helper, and the Lord is with them that uphold our souls.

Blessed Redeemer! give me grace to look to thee, and to call to my recollection thine exercises amidst the false friends and open foes, which in the days of thy flesh surrounded thee. Lord, help me so to consider thee, who didst endure such a contradiction against thyself, that I may not be weary and faint in mind. And while the Ziphims of the present hour harass and distress me, and would deliver my soul into the hand of the enemy; oh! for grace to be looking unto thee, and deriving strength from thee, that I may discover thy gracious hand delivering me out of all may troubles, and making me more than conqueror in thy strength, and in the power of thy might.