Heading ‘A psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.' The headings of the Psalms were clearly very ancient and this may well therefore be a reliable tradition. The context in which this psalm was written by David is thus stated to be the civil war in Israel caused by the rebellion of Absal... [ Continue Reading ]
SECTION 1. THE DISTRESS IN WHICH HE FOUND HIMSELF. ‘YHWH, how are my adversaries multiplied, Many are those who rise up against me, Many are those who say of my life (nephesh), “There is no help (‘deliverance') for him in God”. Selah (possibly a musical pause, a pregnant silence, meaning ‘think... [ Continue Reading ]
SECTION 2. HIS RECOGNITION OF GOD'S HELP AND PROTECTION. ‘But you, O YHWH, are a shield about me, My glory and the lifter up of my head. I was crying to YHWH with my voice, And he was answering me out of his holy hill.' Selah (think of that!) However, in the moment of his extremity David did th... [ Continue Reading ]
SECTION 3. HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE MIDST OF DANGER. ‘I laid myself down and slept, I awoke, for YHWH sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, Who have set themselves against me round about.' So satisfied that YHWH had heard him he could now settle down to sleep. And in the mo... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE, AND CRY FOR BLESSING ON HIS PEOPLE. ‘Arise, O YHWH, save me, O my God, For you have smitten all my enemies on the cheekbone You have broken the teeth of the wicked.' David's cry here parallels the marching song of the hosts of Israel (Numbers 10:35; compare Psalms 68:... [ Continue Reading ]