God Is Refuge and Judge

59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me! 59:2 Deliver me from evildoers! Rescue me from violent men! 59:3 For look, they wait to ambush me; powerful men stalk me, but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord. 59:4 Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me! 59:5 You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations! Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah) 59:6 They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city. 59:7 Look, they hurl insults at me and openly threaten to kill me, for they say, “Who hears?” 59:8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them; you taunt all the nations. 59:9 You are my source of strength! I will wait for you! For God is my refuge. 59:10 The God who loves me will help me; God will enable me to triumph over my enemies. 59:11 Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us! 59:12 They speak sinful words. So let them be trapped by their own pride and by the curses and lies they speak! 59:13 Angrily wipe them out! Wipe them out so they vanish! Let them know that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth! (Selah) 59:14 They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city. 59:15 They wander around looking for something to eat; they refuse to sleep until they are full. 59:16 As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble. 59:17 You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! For God is my refuge, the God who loves me. Psalm 60 For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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Psalm 59 is a prayer for rescue from violent enemies. The psalmist asks God to protect him, judges the wicked to God, and then ends in trust and praise. The psalm moves from fear to confidence because God is both refuge and ruler.

The psalm opens with urgent cries for deliverance. The writer asks God to rescue him from enemies and violent men. He says they are watching for him and attacking without just cause.

The psalm then turns to the Lord as king and warrior. The enemies act as if no one sees them, but God does see. The psalmist trusts that God will answer and that the wicked will not escape his rule.

In the middle of the psalm, the writer asks for judgment. He does not take revenge himself. He asks God to deal with treacherous people in a way that will warn others and show that God rules over Jacob and over the nations.

The end of the psalm returns to confidence. The enemies are still dangerous, but the psalmist says he will sing in the morning. God is his strength, his refuge, and the God who loves him.

• God hears when his people are under threat.
• The psalmist asks for rescue from real violent enemies.
• The enemies are described as treacherous and shameless.
• God is both refuge and judge.
• Hidden evil is not hidden from God.
• The psalmist does not take personal revenge into his own hands.
• God’s judgment can also serve as a warning to others.
• Trust in God leads to praise, even after a night of fear.

• Deliver me, protect me, and rescue me.
• Do not strike them down too quickly, so the lesson is not forgotten.
• Let their own words and pride trap them.
• God will help me.
• God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.
• I will wait for you.
• I will sing about your strength.
• I will praise your loyal love in the morning.

Psalm 59 fits the Bible’s pattern of the righteous sufferer who is attacked without cause and then entrusts himself to God for vindication. It also points to God’s kingship over Israel and the nations. In the broader canon, this pattern is taken up more fully in the Messiah, who suffers unjustly, does not avenge himself, and is finally vindicated by the Father.

Bring real danger to God in prayer. Do not pretend fear is small. Do not repay evil with evil. Wait for God’s timing and justice. If God rescues you, answer him with praise. Morning worship after a hard night is a good pattern for believers who trust the Lord as their refuge.

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