When believers enter “the dark night of the soul,” those times when God’s mysterious will, worked out through difficult providence, makes the Lord appear veiled and unapproachable, what should they do? As we look at Scripture, one conclusion is apparent. They should sing. For the biblical testimony is that God provides “songs in the night”—lyrics to bring to Him in times of great heart distress. We would not, at first thought, naturally reason that a time of struggle, suffering, or pain is also a time for singing, especially when God seems absent and hidden. It can almost seem cruel to suggest that a hurting, disillusioned soul should sing. Crying, wondering, and groaning seem more fitting. But singing? Is not lifting our voice in song for happy times? Certainly, but singing is also for trying times. Indeed, perhaps especially. --Barry York
And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."
We know that Michal was Saul's daughter. Saul had promised her hand in marriage to any man that could defeat Goliath. Now, we see that David had again fought against the Philistines, and was victorious. When David came back to report to the king the good news from the battlefield, he perceived that Saul was troubled. For whatever reason, God sent a spirit of jealousy and rage to torment Saul, such that as David played soothing music for him, Saul tried to pin him against the wall with a spear.
David escaped the king's house, and went to his own home. Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep an eye on him, because Saul wanted him dead. Apparently the messengers were not very stealthy, because they could be heard inside the house. Psalm 59 says they sounded like rabid dogs, fighting over a piece of meat. But I am getting ahead of myself. David's wife Michal, the king's daughter, warns David to flee. She lowers David down through a window (see 1 Samuel 19:12 and following). When her husband was safely away, Michal put a statue, a graven image, in David's bed and covered it with a pillow of goat's hair. This man-sized lump she covered with the bedclothes.
When Saul's men got word to move in and to capture David, they asked her where he was. She lied, saying that David was sick in bed. The men sent word back to Saul, who told them he didn't care. "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." When Michal's deception was uncovered (and O what a scene that must have been!), Saul asked his daughter why she let David go, as he was an enemy of the state. Michal made up a story about David threatening her, so that she feared for her life, and that's why she let him escape.
This, then, is the backstory to Psalm 59. You will see references made to the danger, and David's response.
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil.
I. Describing the Danger (verses 1-2)
Three times David asks God to intervene. "Deliver me," he says. Then again, "defend me." And finally, "save me." These men were camped outside his home, and it was no secret what their mission was. King Saul had sent them on a mission, and they spoke of it loud enough that they could be heard inside the house.
Michal feared for her husband's life. She devised the plan to let David escape.
II. Describing the Desired Deliverance (verses 3-5)
David saw them lying in wait for him. He knew he was innocent of any charge that Saul could bring against him, and he included a statement of his innocence in his song. Given that he was being unjustly pursued, he again asks for God's deliverance.
He uses three different titles of The Almighty in his plea for deliverance. One is Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The second is Elohim Sabaoth, the Commander of Heaven's Armies. The third is Elohi Israel, the God of His Chosen People. These three names were invoked to remind God (or rather David, as God is all-knowing, and needs no reminder) that He had promised to deliver His people, and that as the Supreme Commander of the Armies of Angels, He should give the command to rescue him from these messengers, just as He had rendered punishment to the nations.
Let's read on:
Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips--for "Who," they think, "will hear us?" But you, O Lord, laugh at them; You hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my fortress. My God in His steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by Your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, consume them in wrath; consume them until they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.
III. Describing David's Enemies (verses 6-7)
David describes the messengers as one would describe a dog, circling in a pack, howling or whining outside the door, and prowling all over the city. The ESV translates the word "bellowing" where other translations might say "belching." Have you ever heard a dog panting so excitedly it sounds like a burping noise? These men were champing at the bit to take his life. Their words cut like swords, and they didn't care who heard.
IV. Describing David's Deliverer (verses 8-10)
God doesn't see danger at all. He laughs at them, those who think they can touch God's anointed. Again, David lists the attributes of God: He is omnipotent, that is He is all powerful. David had just defeated the Philistine army, but he knew it was not in his own strength that he had done it. David knew that God was his defense, his fortress.
David also knew that God is merciful, loving with a chesed or a steadfast love. Because these men were fellow Israelites, David did not necessarily want them killed. He only asked that they be dispatched, maybe taught a lesson.
V. Describing a Defeat of the Enemy for God's Glory (verses 11-13)
"Do not slay them," he said. But later David did encourage God to consume them with His wrath. Any way that God wanted to get rid of them, David wanted God to do it. If that meant letting them live, David was good with that--he could make an example of them while they were still living. But if God required their blood, well, that was His decision to make.
They were boastful men, full of pride. David prayed that God would show them who's Boss. We should remember that "vengeance is Mine, says the Lord."
Let's finish the Psalm:
Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. 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.
VI. Describing the Danger, Reprise (verses 14-15)
Again he describes them as dogs, prowling, growling and howling. Either he did not hold these men in very high regard, or they were disgusting. I couldn't imagine a smelly squad of squatters outside my home, eating with their bare hands and belching, wiping their mouths on their sleeves and then throwing their garbage on my lawn.
VII. Describing a Song Despite the Danger (verses 16-17)
David's refrain is of the power, strength and steadfast love of God. These are His glorious attributes, and they cannot be forgotten, even in the life threatening situation. This is why he could have a song in his heart despite the circumstances.
Do you find yourself among unsavory people? Remember God's unfailing love. Are you in a situation where evil men are accusing you? Remember God is your defender. Are you in a dire situation, where there seems to be no way out? Remember God is our strength, and sing.
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