King James Version
Psalms 54
7 verses with commentary
God Is My Helper
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.</strong> This opening petition requests divine deliverance and vindication, grounding the appeal in God's revealed character (name) and mighty power (strength). The psalm's superscription provides context: when the Ziphites betrayed David's location to Saul (1 Samuel 23:19-20, 26:1-2).<br><br>"Save me" (<em>hoshi'eni</em>, הוֹשִׁיע...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **By thy name.**—See Note, Psalm 20:1. (Comp. Isaiah 30:27.)
**Judge me by thy strength**—*i.e.*, in Thy power see that justice is done me.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 22 Psa 22:1-31. The obscure words Aijeleth Shahar in this title have various explanations. Most interpreters agree in translating them by "hind of the morning." But great difference exists as to the meaning of these words. By some they are supposed (compare Psa 9:1) to be the name of the tune to which the words of the Psalm were set; by others, the name of a musical instrument. Perhaps the b...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 54
Chapter Outline
David complains of the malice of his enemies.(1-3)
Assurance of the Divine favour and protection.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. T...
Read full commentary →Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
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KJV Study Commentary
The plea: 'Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.' The parallelism emphasizes urgency: 'hear,' 'give ear.' David asks God to attend carefully to his words. In crisis, we need assurance that God is listening, not distant or disinterested.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. The long distress is evinced by--**
**am not silent--**literally, "not silence to me," either meaning, I continually cry; or, corresponding with "thou hearest not," or answerest not, it may mean, there is no rest or quiet to me.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 54
Chapter Outline
David complains of the malice of his enemies.(1-3)
Assurance of the Divine favour and protection.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. T...
Read full commentary →For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
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KJV Study Commentary
The accusation: 'For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them.' The Ziphites, David's own countrymen, act like 'strangers'--alien enemies. 'Seeking his soul' means seeking his life. The root problem: 'they have not set God before them'--ignoring divine oversight.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **For strangers.**—This verse, with some variations, occurs again (Psalm 86:14); some MSS. even reading here “proud,” instead of “strangers.” With the received reading we must understand by the word “foreign oppressors”—though, doubtless, the inscription of the Psalm may be defended by taking the word in a derived sense of those Israelites who have degenerated, and so deserve the name “aliens....
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
3. Still he not only refrains from charging God foolishly, but evinces his confidence in God by appealing to Him.
**thou art holy--**or possessed of all the attributes which encourage trust, and the right object of the praises of the Church: hence the sufferer need not despair.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 54
Chapter Outline
David complains of the malice of his enemies.(1-3)
Assurance of the Divine favour and protection.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. T...
Read full commentary →Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.</strong> This verse shifts from petition to confession of faith, declaring God's active assistance and providential support. The contrast between human betrayal (Ziphites) and divine help provides foundation for confidence despite circumstances.<br><br>"Behold" (<em>hinneh</em>, הִנֵּה) is an attention-getting particle:...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **With them . . .**—Better, *is a supporter of my life. *So LXX. and Vulgate.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-5. Past experience of God's people is a ground of trust. The mention of "our fathers" does not destroy the applicability of the words as the language of our Saviour's human nature.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises...
Read full commentary →He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. mine: Heb. those that observe me
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KJV Study Commentary
The confidence: 'He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.' David leaves judgment to God rather than taking revenge himself. 'In thy truth' grounds the request in God's character--His faithfulness to His word about protecting the righteous and judging the wicked.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Cut them off.**—Or, *put them to silence.*
**In thy truth.**—Or, *according to thy faithfulness.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-5. Past experience of God's people is a ground of trust. The mention of "our fathers" does not destroy the applicability of the words as the language of our Saviour's human nature.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises...
Read full commentary →I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.</strong> This verse expresses David's commitment to worship God with voluntary offerings and grateful praise once deliverance comes. The structure moves from sacrifice (ritual worship) to praise (verbal worship) to theological foundation (God's name is good).<br><br>"I will freely sacrifice unto thee" (<em>b...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **I will freely sacrifice.**—Better, *I will offer a willing *(or *freewill*)* sacrifice.*
**For it is good.**—Comp. Psalm 52:9.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
6. He who was despised and rejected of His own people, as a disgrace to the nation, might well use these words of deep abasement, which express not His real, but esteemed, value.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises...
Read full commentary →For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.</strong> This concluding verse shifts from future promise to past reality—David speaks as if deliverance already accomplished, expressing confident faith that God will act. The verse contains two parts: comprehensive deliverance and vindication over enemies.<br><br>"For he hath delivered me ou...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) This verse does not actually state what has happened, but, according to a well-known Hebrew idiom should be rendered, *When he shall have delivered, *&c
**Hath seen his desire.**—Or, *hath gloated on *The Hebrews use the words *seeing *and *looking *very expressively, making the simple verb do almost what the *eye *itself can do: show *hatred, love, triumph, defeat, wistfulness, disgust, *&C (...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7-8. For the Jews used one of the gestures (Mt 27:39) here mentioned, when taunting Him on the cross, and (Mt 27:43) reproached Him almost in the very, language of this passage.
**shoot out--**or, "open."
**the lip--**(Compare Psa 35:21).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises...
Read full commentary →