THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

LIX: God's Solution To Evil Intrigue By One's Foes

(Psalm 59:1-17)

I. Introduction

A. Not all opposition by one's foes is readily discernible so that one can quickly identify it so as to handle it, but sometimes it is covert, hidden and thereby far more difficult to discern and to handle.

B. Psalm 59:1-17 addresses this problem, telling of God's solution to it, with insight and application for us:

II. God's Solution To Evil Intrigue By One's Foes, Psalm 59:1-17.

A. The introductory remarks in the English Bible comprise the first verse in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1025), so we stay with the verse numbering system of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We thus translate Psalm 59:1-17 as follows:

1. "Deliver me from my enemies, O Elohim; protect me from those who rise up against me," Psalm 59:1.

2. "Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men," Psalm 59:2.

3. "For behold how they lie in wait for my life principle! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, O Jahweh," Psalm 59:3.

4. "I have done no iniquity, yet they are ready to attack me; arise to help me; look on my plight," Psalm 59:4.

5. "Now You, O Jahweh Elohim Almighty, Elohim of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. Selah," Psalm 59:5.

6. "They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city," Psalm 59:6.

7. "Behold! They spew from their mouths, they spew out swords from their lips and they say, 'Who can hear us?'" (Psalm 59:7)

8. "But You, O Jahweh, laugh at them; You scoff at all those nations," Psalm 59:8.

9. "(O my) Strength, I will wait upon You, for Elohim is my Fortress," Psalm 59:9. (cf. NIV, ESV)

10. "Elohim will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me," Psalm 59:10.

11. "Do not kill them, O Adonai, our personal hand-held Shield, lest my people forget; in Your might make them wander about and bring them down," Psalm 59:11.

12. "(For) the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. (For) the curses and lie they utter," Psalm 59:12.

13. "Consume them in wrath; consume them until they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that Elohim rules Jacob. Selah," Psalm 59:13.

14. "They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city," Psalm 59:14.

15. "They wander about for food; if they are not satisfied, then they howl," Psalm 59:15.

16. "But I will sing of Your strength, and in the morning I will sing of Your loyal love, for You exist as a Fortress to me, and my Refuge in the day of trouble," Psalm 59:16.

17. "O my Strength, will I sing praise to You, for Elohim is my Fortress, an Elohim of loyal love to me," v. 17.

C. We note significant observations and applications of this psalm (as follows):

1. As in David's other psalms of petition for handling his enemies, he relies in this psalm on God and His faithfulness to His promises to David of enthroning him one day for hope of God's deliverance, v. 17.

2. Thus, God was David's Fortress even from unseen intrigue by murderous foes who lay in wait to kill him while he slept. (Introductory notes and 1 Samuel 19:8-11a, 11b-14; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 837) This is a big lesson on handling the evil intrigue -- rely on God as one's Fortress and Personal hand-held Shield!

3. Verses 11-13 offer insight: God may not immediately punish the upright man's foes who practice intrigue in order to expose their hidden evil to others, a truth mirrored in 1 Corinthians 11:19 and in 2 Timothy 3:8-9. Thus, the upright must be patient for God to act in such cases.

Lesson: When faced with harmful foes who practiced intrigue, David relied on God as His Fortress and personal hand-held Shield (v. 9, 11) for protection, realizing that God could let the wicked continue to perform their deeds to expose their evil in time to all the people for the discernment and eventual protection of all of the people, v. 11.

Application: (1) If we face foes who practice harmful intrigue, may we rely on God to protect us while He gives our foes time to perform the works necessary to expose their evil before others for their protection. [(2) 1 Samuel 19:11-12 shows David fled from dangerous intrigue he knew, so we should also avoid exposure to known intrigue.]