Psalm 54 records David’s plea for deliverance when men of his own tribe give up his position to the enemy. For even though David was their champion against the Philistines, the Ziphites betray him to King Saul: “Is not David hiding among us?” (1 Sam 23:19-29; 26:1-5). Their betrayal puts David’s life in danger, yet God proves to be David’s Helper and the Upholder of his life (Ps 54:4).[1] Thus, David sings his praises to the Lord and exhorts his people to do likewise. “A Maskil” sought to convey wisdom and this psalm or praise was accompanied “with stringed instruments.”
Bring Your Problems to God (vv. 1-3)
David first demonstrates how to bring our problems to God in prayer: “O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth” (vv. 1-2). David has confidence to address his God directly, for he trusts the Lord to save him. God’s “name” depicts who he is and his “might” shows what he does (Exod 4:14-17; 34:6-7). Yet David knows that God must hear his prayer before he answers. He must pay attention before he acts. So, David prays for vindication from his enemies: “For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves” (Ps 54:3; see 86:14). David is pursued by Saul and the armies of Israel, then rejected by his tribesmen. The Ziphites have acted like pagan Gentiles and David’s own king like a foreign tyrant.[2] These ruthless men all want David dead, for they have no regard for God or respect for God’s anointed (2:1-2). So, David concludes this section with Selah as he waits for God to answer.
In like manner, we also bring our problems to the Lord in prayer and confidently wait for God to hear us. In bold humility, we unfold before him our struggles and our sorrows. Then, we trust him to save us by his name and to vindicate us by his might. For he is much greater than our ruthless enemies who have no fear of God (see Ps 53:1-5).
Bring Your God to Mind (vv. 4-7)
As David brings his problems to God, he also brings God to the forefront of his mind. In Old Testament times, a person’s name revealed their character. Thus, David proclaims the God who saves him: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (54:4). In addition to the general title, Elohim, David also addresses Adonai—a term of great respect. As our Helper, God provides everything we lack (Phil 4:19). Surely, we can trust him when we’re at a loss. As Upholder, God sustains the entire universe he has made (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). Surely, he directs our lives and protects us from accusers. As David testifies, “He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them” (Ps 54:5).[3] Our Lord’s adherence to the truth ensures that evil is self-defeating. His holiness requires either genuine repentance or certain judgment, for they will reap whatever they have sown (Gal 6:6-7). Problem people in our lives are only threatening when we make our God too small. Instead, we must bring God to the forefront of our minds as Helper and Upholder, Elohim and Adonai, Savior and Lord, faithful Friend and righteous Judge.
David then continues with thankful praise to God: “With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies” (Ps 54:6-7; see Lev 7:16). David’s freewill offering is an act of gratitude and not a bargaining chip: “If you help me, God, I’ll do this or that.” His sacrifice is a gift and not a bribe, for he trusts God’s promise of future deliverance and triumph over his accusers. Once more, David makes reference to the name of God and declares it to be good. And here, for the first time, he uses God’s covenant name, Yahweh—a unique occurrence in Book 2 of the Psalms. For the personal name, “I AM” speaks to Yahweh’s eternality and self-existence as the God who always was, always is, and always will be. Who else would you want on your side when you need some help?
When we bring the Lord to mind and meditate on his name, it brings us comfort in the midst of trouble and then it leads us into praise. So, with David, we bring our freewill offerings and the living sacrifice of ourselves (Rom 12:1-2). We bring our thanksgiving to the Lord, for he is good and his faithfulness endures forever. As Spurgeon would conclude, “Let us trust that if we are as friendless as this man of God, we may resort to prayer as he did, exercise the like faith, and find ourselves ere long singing the same joyous hymn of praise.”[4]
Counsel Psalm 54
We face many problems in this fallen world: difficult circumstances, threatening people, and personal fears. We must find comfort in the promises of God and the goodness of his name. Our goal as counselors is to help our hurting friends bring their problems to the Lord as they bring our God to the forefront of their minds. Such meditation will not just bring them comfort, but also lead them into thankful praise.
Projects for Growth (Psalm 54)
- Describe the problem people or the troubling circumstances which cause you fear. Bring them before the Lord as you pray to him for help. Personalize David’s prayer if you need words to prompt you (vv. 1-3).
- Consider how the Lord defines his glorious name and powerful might to Moses in Exodus 4:14-17 and 34:6-7. Pause for a moment at each attribute and active work of God as it relates to the problems you face.
- Memorize Psalm 54:4 and detail all the ways God helps you or upholds you throughout your life. Then, thank him for his goodness and gracious mercy (v. 6).
- David accepts God’s promises as already fulfilled, for God’s faithful justice and unfailing love are as good as done (vv. 5, 7). What promises of God can you cling onto by your faith in him?
- Listen to the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, by Joseph Scriven (1855). Reflect on its truths as you meditate on Psalm 54.
Pray Psalm 54
- Lord, save me from my enemies according to your glory and your might (vv. 1, 3).
- Listen to my plea for mercy (v. 2).
- Be my Helper and the Upholder of my life (v. 4).
- I pour out my thankful praise for your deliverance (vv. 5-7).
[1] The chiastic structure shows verse 4 to be the central theme (see Hamilton, Psalms, 1:523).
1-2, Prayer for deliverance
3, Enemies accuse
4, God as David’s Helper
5, Enemies annihilated
6-7, Praise for deliverance
[2] See Isaiah 25:5 and Ezekiel 28:7; 31:12 for other pairings of zarim (“strangers”) and ‘arisim (“ruthless men”).
[3] This word for “enemies” (shorer) implies verbal accusation, slander, or hostile criticism. It reveals why David pleads with God to “vindicate” (lit., “judge”) him and to “hear, give ear” to his testimony.
[4] C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol. 1b, Psalms 27–57 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1968), 442.
