Table of Contents
Historical Background and Context
The title of Psalm 59 places us in a specific, life-threatening moment in David’s early career: “For the director of music. To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A miktam of David. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.” This dramatic event is fully narrated in 1 Samuel 19:11-17.
King Saul’s paranoid jealousy of David had escalated into a murderous obsession. Convinced that David was a threat to his throne, Saul dispatched soldiers to act as assassins. Their orders were to surround David’s house during the night and kill him when he came out in the morning. David was trapped.
However, David’s wife, Michal, who was also Saul’s daughter, overheard the plot. In an act of loyalty to her husband over her father, she helped David escape through a window under the cover of darkness. To buy him time, she staged a deception, placing a household idol or statue in David’s bed, covering it with clothes, and putting a net of goat’s hair at its head. When Saul’s soldiers forced their way in the next morning, they were fooled long enough for David to get away safely.
Psalm 59 is the prayer David prayed from within his besieged house. With assassins prowling outside like a pack of hungry dogs, he turns to God as his only true fortress and high tower of safety.
Theological Themes
This psalm is a powerful meditation on finding security in God when surrounded by danger.
God as a Fortress: The dominant theme is God as David’s refuge and fortress (misgav in Hebrew, meaning a high, inaccessible stronghold). While physically confined to his house, David’s spirit finds safety in God. This metaphor appears repeatedly (verses 9, 16, 17), emphasizing that true security is not found in physical walls but in a relationship with the living God.
The Injustice of Persecution: David is adamant about his own innocence. He repeats that he is being attacked “for no offense or sin of mine” and “for no fault of my own” (verses 3-4). This highlights the senseless and unjust nature of Saul’s hatred. The psalm gives voice to the cry of anyone who has been persecuted without cause.
The Arrogance and Folly of the Wicked: The enemies are depicted as proud, arrogant, and vicious. They “belch out words” and think that no one can hear them (verse 7). David contrasts their foolish confidence with a powerful image of God in heaven, who laughs at their futile plans (verse 8). Their power is an illusion when faced with the sovereign Lord of the universe.
A Prayer for Instructive Judgment: In a fascinating and unusual request, David prays that God would not kill his enemies swiftly. Instead, he asks, “Do not kill them, lest my people forget. Make them wanderers… bring them down” (verse 11). He desires a judgment that serves as a long-lasting, public lesson. He wants their punishment to be a walking sermon that demonstrates the consequences of pride and opposition to God, so that everyone will know that “God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth” (verse 13).
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 59 is an individual lament psalm. Its structure is clear and organized, built around a recurring description of the enemy and a two-part progression from evening fear to morning praise.
The psalm can be seen as two main sections, an evening section and a morning section:
- Part 1: Evening Plea (verses 1-9): This section is dominated by the immediate threat. David cries out for deliverance, describes his enemies as prowling dogs, and concludes by declaring God is his fortress.
- Part 2: Morning Confidence (verses 10-17): The tone shifts to greater confidence. David prays for a specific kind of justice, repeats the image of the prowling dogs, and concludes with a triumphant song of praise for God’s strength and love.
The refrain describing the enemies as dogs appears in verses 6-7 and is repeated in verses 14-15, acting as a structural marker.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 59
Verses 1-9: The Evening Prayer of a Besieged Man
“Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me… See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD… Awake, and come to my help… But you, LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations. You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress.”
The psalm opens with an urgent cry for deliverance. The enemies are fierce, “bloodthirsty” men. David immediately states his innocence (verses 3-4), making it clear that this is an unjust attack. He calls on the “LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel,” to awake and intervene, not just for his sake but to punish all such treacherous nations.
In verses 6-7, he uses a powerful and memorable image to describe his enemies. They are like a pack of stray, feral dogs at evening, prowling the city, growling, and hunting for prey. Their words are as dangerous as their actions; they “belch out” threats and slander from their mouths, thinking no one holds them accountable.
Verse 8 presents a stunning contrast. While the dogs are prowling and growling on earth, God is in heaven, and He laughs. It is the laugh of supreme, sovereign power, scoffing at the pathetic and futile schemes of wicked men. This vision of God’s calm sovereignty is the source of David’s strength. He concludes the first section by turning his gaze to God: “You, God, are my fortress.“
Verses 10-17: The Morning Song of a Delivered Soul
“My God comes to me in his love… But do not kill them, my Lord the Shield, or my people will forget. In your power make them wanderers, and bring them down… For the sin of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride… They return at evening, snarling like dogs… But I will sing of your power, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”
The second half of the psalm begins with a confident statement: God will come to him in His love (hesed) and let him look in triumph on his foes. Then comes the specific prayer for judgment (verses 11-13). He asks God not for a quick, forgotten death sentence, but for a prolonged, instructive punishment. Let them be living examples of the consequences of sin, trapped by their own proud words. The purpose is evangelistic: that all nations will “know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.“
He repeats the refrain of the snarling dogs (verses 14-15), but this time the image has lost its terror. David is secure in his fortress, and the dogs are left to wander, hungry and unsatisfied.
The final two verses are a glorious burst of morning praise. The night of terror is over. “But I will sing!” The contrast is powerful. While the dogs snarl, David will sing. He will sing of God’s power (‘oz) and God’s love (hesed). The psalm ends by repeating its central theme three times for emphasis. God is his fortress, his refuge, and his strength. The one who was trapped in a house is now safely enclosed in the arms of his God.
Practical Lessons for Today
Innocent Suffering is a Reality: David’s experience reminds us that we can face fierce opposition even when we have done nothing wrong. In such moments, we have a biblical model for appealing to God as our righteous vindicator.
God is Our True Security: Our homes, jobs, and relationships can all be threatened. This psalm teaches us that our ultimate security, our true “high tower,” is not in our circumstances but in God Himself. He is the fortress that can never be breached.
Perspective Changes Everything: When David looked at the “dogs” outside his house, he felt fear. When he looked up and saw God laughing from heaven, he found strength. In times of trouble, lifting our spiritual gaze to see God’s sovereignty can radically change our perspective and calm our fears.
God’s Justice Has a Purpose: David’s prayer for a specific kind of judgment shows that God’s justice is not just about punishment; it is also about instruction. God can use the consequences of sin to teach a watching world about His power and righteousness.
After the Night, Morning Comes: The psalm’s movement from evening fear to morning song is a powerful picture of hope. No matter how dark the night of trouble may be, we can trust that God’s love and strength will be there in the morning, giving us a new song to sing.
Cross References
1 Samuel 19:11-12: “Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, ‘If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.’ So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped.” This passage is the specific historical event that gave rise to Psalm 59.
Psalm 2:4: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” This verse expresses the same theological truth found in Psalm 59:8. It reveals God’s supreme and untroubled sovereignty in the face of human rebellion and conspiracy.
Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” This proverb captures the central theme of Psalm 59. God Himself is the ultimate place of refuge and security for His people.
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul provides the New Testament pathway for the experience David had. By bringing our fears to God in prayer, we can experience a divine peace that guards us, much like a fortress.