#734 Psalm 54 Betraying One's Own Humanity

O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.


3 For strangers have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah


4 Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.


6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. Psalm 54 NIV

A song reflecting on the time that the Ziphites told Saul, "Is not David hiding among us?"

1 Samuel 23 background

Your name and Your strength - What is in a name? David knows this to be not only the Creator, for that he has learned by reading. He is also a deliverer, Who set the captives free, sustained them in the wilderness, protected them from their enemies. He is also known to David as the God Who has anointed him and delivered him, even when the odds were not physically in his favor. I cannot see any other way than by Your direct intervention in my life, if only You will just hear me, then I know You will do what is just. 

11He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.…Acts 4: 11-13

Strangers have risen against me - Not long before this David saved a village from the Philistines, but the oracle told him that these same people he had shown this mercy and favor to would turn him over to Saul. He took his men and left, but now in the land of Ziph the people must see some gain in turning in this vagabond as well. Hunted by the man whom you have served well, an outcast and means to selfish gain. Our Lord had a traitor among his company, men who denied his company, and He rightly said, a prophet is not accepted in his own country. He did marvelous miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead, yet in another land he was asked to leave for casting legion out of a man who had plagued that country side for years. These are strangers to David, who should have no quarrel with him, but how quickly our feet turn to evil, 30 pieces of silver against streets of gold, no one can do the math. Though he calls them strangers, sadly they are from the tribe of Judah, his countrymen. 

Set God before themselves - They walk without direction, their cause is their belly and that which first comes to their head. No one questions motive, no one shows even the hospitality common to that old world. Lay it out before God, this people will not recognize me as Your servant for they do not recognize You. 

18I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.” 19“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.” 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.… John 8: 18-20

Behold, God is my helper - He has petitioned the Lord, and wrestling in prayer, presenting his case, now comes to that blessed hope, God is my helper. God made me and brought me thus far, I will put my trust in Him again.

He will return the evil - An eye for an eye, I shall repay says the Lord. Let our hearts bear no evil, but let us ask God for justice or better still that He change the hearts of those who are now our enemies, so that we may praise Him as friends. We should remember not only the death of our Lord, but a life that put away the self, blameless, yet taking on our blame. I have always been in awe of Christ's death and resurrection, yet what escaped me was a life that He did not have any other reason than love to live. It is a miracle in itself, no one in all the history of man has been able, He did not run from temptation, give in to it, though mocked, beaten, belittled, refused to call down angels against men who did not deserve His company much less His mercy. Let God return justice, for He is worthy.

38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;… Matthew 5: 38-40

19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.…Romans 12: 19-21

A free will offering I will sacrifice - A cheerful heart bears the only gift worth giving. What could I give that God has not given me first.

“Freely sacrifice; not by constraint, as many do, because they are obliged to it, and cannot neglect it without shame and inconvenience to themselves; but with a willing and cheerful mind, which thou lovest in and above all sacrifices.” (Poole)