Psalm 54
Our Helper and Sustainer
Seeing injustice in the world is disheartening. Being at the blunt end of injustice is dismaying. But when it is at the hand of one who is meant to be one your own, that is crushing.
Ever since Cain and Abel, betrayal has been a constant dark thread between family and friends. Life east of Eden is no stranger to treachery.
And neither was David, God’s anointed one. This is where we encounter the King in this Psalm, as he pours out his heart to God, when those who were meant to be with him, instead sold him out.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, ‘Is not David hiding among us?’
1 Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;
ruthless people are trying to kill me –
people without regard for God.4 Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.5 Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good.
7 You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
At either end of this Psalm (1&6) is a reference to the name of God. His name is a precious balm to David and fount of deep comfort to his soul. Just as when we sing “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear”, that is the same for King David.
The name of God, YHWH, is a reminder of the character and nature of the One he rests his hopes upon (see Exodus 3.14). He is the one who is from everlasting to everlasting. He is immutable and immovable in all his ways. He is One who is most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious.
And so in this time of distress, it is to this God he calls upon. It is a cry of desperation to be defended and delivered.
Seeking to curry the favour of Saul, the Ziphites, instead of harbouring and serving God’s anointed King, grassed on David. And this happened twice (see 1 Samuel 23.19 & 1 Samuel 26.1). Each time, this set envious Saul on a murderous escapade. He was fearful of David for he knew the younger man was destined to take his throne. Saul and his men are described as arrogant and ruthless. But most damning is the verdict that they had no regard for God. Or more literally, they “did not set God before themselves.” They refused God’s purposes and God’s future King.
And so we come to v4, which is the heart of our hope as Christians and the heart of this Psalm:
1-2 (prayer)
3 (enemies)
4 (Declaration of confidence)
5 (enemies)
6-7 (praise)
The shape of this Psalm puts v4 right at the centre of this sandwich, for it is the King’s announcement of assurance. God is the helper of his people. He comes by our side, protecting and guarding us. He is our shield and stronghold, sustaining us in times of strife. He upholds us when our knees give way, our strength collapses and we see no way out.
When Saul first pursued David, it ended when Saul had to return in haste, for the Philistines had attacked his land. God can even use his enemies to carry out his purposes.
And this golden core of the Psalm leads to our confidence for the future.
The prayer of the King is that the evil of his enemies would rebound back on them. Their plans would not just be foiled but would actually be their own downfall. This is one of God’s chief ways of working, reversing the evil of the world for his good. Ultimately we see this on the cross, when what was meant to humiliate the King became his triumph over the Devil.
And so knowing God’s goodness and faithfulness, we praise him. We celebrate not just the victory he achieved for us. We worship him in the splendour of his holiness.
Glory be to God the Father, the one who turns all things ultimately to my good.
Glory be to God the Son, the one in whom I have been delivered from death forever.
Glory be to God the Spirit, the one who sustains and upholds me.
Ever three and ever One.