Psalm 59:1–2: “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; / Defend me from those who rise up against me. / Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, / And save me from bloodthirsty men.”

March 5th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

David gave us two great titles to remember about our God in this psalm. First, David asked to be delivered: God is a Delivering Savior. Second, David asked to be defended: God is a Defending Savior. David’s human enemies were both murderers (bloodthirsty) and rank, unrepentant sinners, and our adversary is the same. Satan is evil through and through, and has absolutely no regard for human life. But our Defending and Delivering Savior will save us.

There is an American saying from the Wild West that claims, “a man is known by the character of his enemies.” This suggests that if your enemies are wicked and murderous toward you because you are serving God, then you are in great shape. But if your enemies are just, righteous, upstanding citizens, then you should examine your own character and life. My Irish grandfather used to love to recite the so-called Irish prayer:

May those who love us, love us.
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.

But life is not that simple for the child of God. My grandfather always said this prayer in jest because he understood that Jesus has commanded us to “Love [our] enemies” (Matt. 5:44).

“LORD, may You turn the hearts of our enemies to You and save them as You have saved us, ‘by faith through grace.'”

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Psalms 59 KJV

¹ Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.   

² Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

³ For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

⁴ They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. 

⁵ Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

⁶ They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

⁷ Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they , doth hear?

⁸ But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

⁹ Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. 

¹⁰ The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desireupon mine enemies. 

¹¹ Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

¹² For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

¹³ Consume them in wrath, consume them , that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

¹⁴ And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

¹⁵ Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.  

¹⁶ But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

¹⁷ Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.