A MAN IN DANGER

The psalmist’s life is in danger. He is the victim of an ungrateful hatred, and accused of crimes of which he knew nothing. There is, therefore, a sob and an agony in the song, and what makes his misery more acute is that he is shown cruelty and oppression by those whom he has befriended in the past. His enemies are relentless. Their hostility is groundless, and its maliciousness is aggravated by their ingratitude. Their methods are those used by many cruel interrogators who persecute the innocent: “They ask me of things that I know not”, v. 11 R.V. The idea is that of enemies trying to elicit by questions some ground for accusation, Mark 14. 55; Luke 11. 53, 54; John 18. 19.

The psalm dates from the period when David was being hunted by Saul. Each of the divisions of the psalm (vv. 1-10, 11-18, 19-28) raises a cry for deliverance, and closes in the assurance that it will be granted. Each of the divisions ends with praise, vv. 9, 18, 28.

There are verses in the psalm which call for vengeance upon David’s enemies. How do we account for these imprecations from the mouth of the psalmist? That David was capable of such passion is seen from his treatment of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25, but his conscience could also be gently stirred to turn from it, 1 Sam. 25. 32ff.

The psalms truly reflect O.T. piety, and it does not seem possible that the unholy fires of personal passion should mar the holy flame of love to God. Rather, the imprecations flow from the pure spring of unselfish jealousy for God’s honour. Here, where it appears as David’s jealousy for his own person, it is because he stands over against Saul, the king who had alienated himself from God. David was the divinely appointed king, in whom the cause of God and the future of Israel coincide. His prayer for judgment on his foes was no expression of secret malice against Saul, for had he not spared his life? It is a plea for the visible demonstration of essential righteousness.

Compare this with the teaching of the N.T. and this age of grace, Luke 9. 51-56. For the Christian it is a comfort to be able to appeal to the bar of God from the judgments of men, 2 Cor. 5. 11.