Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 55:16
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
16. the Lord ] Here and in Psa 55:22 the name Jehovah is significant. It is the covenant-God of revelation to Whom he can appeal, and under Whose protection he can rest.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16 18. The Psalmist’s assurance that his prayer will be answered.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16 23. In this division of the Psalm the storm of indignation dies away, and the Psalmist’s trustful confidence revives.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As for me, I will call upon God – That is, I have no other refuge in my troubles, yet I can go to him, and pour out all the desires of my heart before him.
And the Lord shall save me – This expresses strong confidence. On the supposition that the psalm refers to the rebellion of Absalom, David was driven from his home, and his throne, and from the house of God – a poor exile, forsaken by nearly all. But his faith did not fail. He confided in God, and believed that He was able to effect his deliverance, and that He would do it. Rarely can we be placed in circumstances so trying and discouraging as were those of David; never should we, in any circumstances, fall to believe, as he did, that God can deliver us, and that, if we are his friends, we shall be ultimately safe.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. I will call upon God] He foresaw his deliverance, and the defeat of his enemies, and therefore speaks confidently, “The Lord shall save me;” or, as the Targum, “The WORD of the Lord shall redeem me.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whilst he destroys them. As they and I differ in the courses of our lives, so shall we in our ends.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16-18. God answers his constantand repeated prayers.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As for me, I will call upon God,…. Not upon a creature, on idols and images, on angels or saints departed; but upon God, in his time of trouble, for salvation and deliverance from enemies; who is able to save. This is to be understood of calling upon God in prayer; as Ps 55:17 explains it, and the Targum here renders it; though sometimes invocation of the name of God takes in the whole of divine worship;
and the Lord shall save me; which confidence was founded partly upon his promise to deliver such that call upon him in the day of trouble,
Ps 50:15; and partly upon his power, whose hand is not shortened that it cannot save. The Targum is,
“the Word of the Lord shall redeem me.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Confidence in God. | |
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
In these verses,
I. David perseveres in his resolution to call upon God, being well assured that he should not seek him in vain (v. 16): “As for me, let them take what course they please to secure themselves, let violence and strife be their guards, prayer shall be mind; this I have found comfort in, and therefore this will I abide by: I will call upon God, and commit myself to him, and the Lord shall save me;” for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, in a right manner, shall be saved, Rom. x. 13. He resolves to be both fervent and frequent in this duty. 1. He will pray fervently: “I will pray and cry aloud. I will meditate” (so the former word signifies); “I will speak with my own heart, and the prayer shall come thence.” Then we pray aright when we pray with all that is within us, think first and then pray over our thoughts; for the true nature of prayer is lifting up the heart to God. Having meditated, he will cry, he will cry aloud; the fervour of his spirit in prayer shall be expressed and yet more excited by the intenseness and earnestness of his voice. 2. He will pray frequently, every day, and three times a day–evening, and morning, and at noon. It is probable that this had been his constant practice, and he resolves to continue it now that he is in his distress. Then we may come the more boldly to the throne of grace in trouble when we do not then first begin to seek acquaintance with God, but it is what we have constantly practised, and the trouble finds the wheels of prayer going. Those that think three meals a day little enough for the body ought much more to think three solemn prayers a day little enough for the soul, and to count it a pleasure, not a task. As it is fit that in the morning we should begin the day with God, and in the evening close it with him, so it is fit that in the midst of the day we should retire awhile to converse with him. It was Daniel’s practice to pray three times a day (Dan. vi. 10), and noon was one of Peter’s hours of prayer, Acts x. 9. Let not us be weary of praying often, for God is not weary of hearing. “He shall hear my voice, and not blame me for coming too often, but the oftener the better, the more welcome.”
II. He assures himself that God would in due time give an answer of peace to his prayers.
1. That he himself should be delivered and his fears prevented; those fears with which he was much disordered (Psa 55:4; Psa 55:5) by the exercise of faith were now silenced, and he begins to rejoice in hope (v. 18): God has delivered my soul in peace, that is, he will deliver it; David is as sure of the deliverance as if it were already wrought. His enemies were at war with him, and the battle was against him, but God delivered him in peace, that is, brought him off with as much comfort as if he had never been in danger. If he did not deliver him in victory, yet he delivered him in peace, inward peace. He delivered his soul in peace; by patience and holy joy in God he kept possession of that. Those are safe and easy whose hearts and minds are kept by that peace of God which passes all understanding, Phil. iv. 7. David, in his fright, thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he imagined; his interest proved better than he expected, and this he gives to God the glory of: for it is he that raises us up friends when we need them, and makes them faithful to us. There were many with him; for though his subjects deserted him, and went over to Absalom, yet God was with him and the good angels. With an eye of faith he now sees himself surrounded, as Elisha was, with chariots of fire and horses of fire, and therefore triumphs thus, There are many with me, more with me than against me,2Ki 6:16; 2Ki 6:17.
2. That his enemies should be reckoned with, and brought down. They had frightened him with their menaces (v. 3), but here he says enough to frighten them and make them tremble with more reason, and no remedy; for they could not ease themselves of their fears as David could, by faith in God.
(1.) David here gives their character as the reason why he expected God would bring them down. [1.] They are impious and profane, and stand in no awe of God, of his authority or wrath (v. 19): “Because they have no changes (no afflictions, no interruption to the constant course of their prosperity, no crosses to empty them from vessel to vessel) therefore they fear not God; they live in a constant neglect and contempt of God and religion, which is the cause of all their other wickedness, and by which they are certainly marked for destruction.” [2.] They are treacherous and false, and will not be held by the most sacred and solemn engagements (v. 20): “He has put forth his hand against such as are at peace with him, that never provoked him, nor gave him any cause to quarrel with them; nay, to whom he had given all possible encouragement to expect kindness from him. He has put forth his hand against those whom he had given his hand to, and has broken his covenant both with God and man, has perfidiously violated his engagement to both,” than which nothing makes men riper for ruin. [3.] They are base and hypocritical, pretending friendship while they design mischief (v. 21): “The words of his mouth” (probably, he means Ahithophel particularly) “were smoother than butter and softer than oil, so courteous was he and obliging, so free in his professions of respect and kindness and the proffers of his service; yet, at the same time, war was in his heart, and all this courtesy was but a stratagem of war, and those very words had such a mischievous design in them that they were as drawn swords designed to stab.” They smile in a man’s face, and cut his throat at the same time, as Joab, that kissed and killed. Satan is such an enemy; he flatters men into their ruin. When he speaks fair, believe him not.
(2.) David here foretels their ruin. [1.] God shall afflict them, and bring them into straits and frights, and recompense tribulation to those that have troubled his people, and this in answer to the prayers of his people: God shall hear and afflict them, hear the cries of the oppressed and speak terror to their oppressors, even he that abides of old, who is God from everlasting, and world without end, and who sits Judge from the beginning of time, and has always presided in the affairs of the children of men. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God and are a very unequal match for him. This the saints have comforted themselves with in reference to the threatening power of the church’s enemies (Hab. i. 12): Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord? [2.] God shall bring them down, not only to the dust, but to the pit of destruction (v. 23), to the bottomless pit, which is called destruction, Job xxvi. 6. He afflicted them (v. 19) to see if that would humble and reform them; but, they not being wrought upon by that, he shall at last bring them to ruin. Those that are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction will certainly be brought down into the pit of destruction. They are bloody and deceitful men (that is, the worst of men) and therefore shall not live out half their days, not half so long as men ordinarily live, and as they might have lived in a course of nature, and as they themselves expected to live. They shall live as long as the Lord of life, the righteous Judge, has appointed, with whom the number of our months is; but he has determined to cut them off by an untimely death in the midst of their days. They were bloody men, and cut others off, and therefore God will justly cut them off: they were deceitful men, and defrauded others of the one-half perhaps of what was their due, and now God will cut them short, though not of that which was their due, yet of that which they counted upon.
III. He encourages himself and all good people to commit themselves to God, with confidence in him. He himself resolves to do so (v. 23): “I will trust in thee, in thy providence, and power, and mercy, and not in my own prudence, strength, or merit; when bloody and deceitful men are cut off in the midst of their days I shall still live by faith in thee.” And this he will have others to do (v. 22): “Cast thy burden upon the Lord,” whoever thou art that art burdened, and whatever the burden is. “Cast thy gift upon the Lord” (so some read it); “whatever blessings God has bestowed upon thee to enjoy commit them all to his custody, and particularly commit the keeping of thy soul to him.” Or, “Whatever it is that thou desirest God should give thee, leave it to him to give it to thee in his own way and time. Cast thy care upon the Lord,” so the LXX., to which the apostle refers, 1 Pet. v. 7. Care is a burden; it makes the heart stoop (Prov. xii. 25); we must cast it upon God by faith and prayer, commit our way and works to him; let him do as seemeth him good, and we will be satisfied. To cast our burden upon God is to stay ourselves on his providence and promise, and to be very easy in the assurance that all shall work for good. If we do so, it is promised, 1. That he will sustain us, both support and supply us, will himself carry us in the arms of his power, as the nurse carries the sucking-child, will strengthen our spirits so by his Spirit as that they shall sustain the infirmity. He has not promised to free us immediately from that trouble which gives rise to our cares and fears; but he will provide that we be not tempted above what we are able, and that we shall be able according as we are tempted. 2. That he will never suffer the righteous to be moved, to be so shaken by any troubles as to quit either their duty to God or their comfort in him. However, he will not suffer them to be moved for ever (as some read it); though they fall, they shall not be utterly cast down.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
16 I will call upon God. In translating this verse I have retained the future tense of the verb, as the Psalmist does not refer to something already done, but rather excites himself to the duty of prayer, and to the exercise of hope and confidence. Though there was no apparent method of escape, and he stood on the brink of immediate destruction, he declares his resolution to continue in prayer, and expresses his assurance that it would be successful. In the verse which follows he engages more particularly to show perseverance in prayer. He does not content himself with saying that he will pray, for many do this in a perfunctory manner, and soon become wearied with the exercise; but he resolves to display both assiduity and vehemency. From the particular mention he makes of evening, morning, and noon, we are left to infer that these must have been the stated hours of prayer amongst the godly at that period. Sacrifices were offered daily in the temple morning and evening, and by this they were taught to engage privately in prayer within their own houses. At noon also it was the practice to offer additional sacrifices. As we are naturally indisposed for the duty of prayer, there is a danger that we may become remiss, and gradually omit it altogether, unless we restrict ourselves to a certain rule. In appointing particular fixed hours to be observed for his worship, there can be no doubt that God had respect to the infirmity of our nature, and the same principle should be applied to the secret as to the public services of devotion, as appears from the passage now before us, and from the example of Daniel, (Dan 9:3.) Sacrifices are no longer to be observed in the Church, but as there remains the same indisposition on our part to the duty, and an equal need of incitements to overcome it, we should still prescribe certain hours to ourselves to be observed in prayer. He adds, that he would cry aloud, to denote vehemency of supplication, under the grief and anxiety of mind to which he was subjected. He intimates, that no extremity of present trouble would prevent him from directing his complaint to God, and cherishing a confident hope of deliverance.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
16. As for me The pronoun is emphatic, and indicates the contrast between himself and his enemies. “I [or, as for me, I ] will call upon God, and Jehovah will save me.” From this point the psalm rises into the serene atmosphere of faith and hope.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
But He Is Not Afraid For He Expresses His Confidence That YHWH Will Save Him And Will Hear His Voice When He Calls On Him ( Psa 55:16-17 ).
But David knew where to turn in such situations. He knew that he was blameless of what was being suggested against him (as Jonathan, the king’s son, had also recognised). Thus in the face of his continuing problems, which would never cease until Saul died, he continually called on God to preserve him. As the record of his life at this time shows, he was constantly in need of that protection.
Psa 55:16-17
‘As for me, I will call on God,
And YHWH will save me.’
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan,
And he will hear my voice.’
David stresses that he will not himself directly reciprocate evil for evil. He will rather call continually on God morning noon and night for His deliverance. He was confident that YHWH would hear his voice (the change in name indicates his confidence in YHWH as the God of the covenant). It is significant that David never faced up to Saul in battle even when he grew much stronger. He was able to defeat a Philistine expedition against Keilah, but he clearly felt that it would not be right to fight against ‘YHWH’s anointed’, nor would he want to set the people against him. Thus he always avoided conflict. It is an interesting question whether, if he had been backed into a corner, his 6 units of men (600), with which he later captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites, would have been able to defeat Saul’s 3 larger units (3000). They would certainly enable him to defeat the Philistines once and for all later. But it would not have been good for Israel if David had seriously damaged Israel’s fighting potential
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
How precious are these words, whether considered as the language of our Lord in the days of his flesh, or of any of his believing people. They suit all. The evening, the morning, the noon; all seasons, all hours are free for a soul to have access to the mercy-seat of God in Christ. Daniel is eminently spoken of by the Holy Ghost on this account, Dan 6:10 ; Peter’s house-top was his proseuche, his prayer-house, Act 10:9 . Reader, what a sweet thought it is for you, and for me, to keep alive in the soul, that the Lamb is in the midst of the throne? Rev 7:17 . No doubt teaching believers, that all around, in every direction, and by every way, there is an avenue open for them. And oh! that our hearts were more alive to go. Lord! quicken us to this service, which is perfect freedom, that, like him of old, we may say, seven times a day will I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments. Psa 119:164 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Ver. 16. As for me, I will call upon God ] Or, I have called upon God, sc. for good to be done to myself, Psa 55:1 , &c., and for evil to mine enemies, Psa 55:9 , &c. (of which sort of imprecations. See Trapp on “ Psa 35:4 “
And he hath heard me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 55:16-21
16As for me, I shall call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur,
And He will hear my voice.
18He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me,
For they are many who strive with me.
19God will hear and answer them
Even the one who sits enthroned from of old Selah.
With whom there is no change,
And who do not fear God.
20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has violated his covenant.
21His speech was smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
Psa 55:16-21 This strophe describes what God will do for/against
1. the psalmist
2. his betrayers
Psa 55:19 is both a description of God (i.e., line 2, who sits enthroned from of old, cf. Psa 45:6; Psa 93:2; Lam 5:19) and the adversaries (i.e., line 3, who do not change). The confusion arises because line 3 could apply to God (cf. Mat 3:6, i.e., Mal 3:6), but here it refers to the unchanging evil hearts of the psalmist’s enemies.
Psa 55:16-19 a gives the psalmist’s prayers and God’s response.
1. I shall call upon God BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense
2. YHWH will save me BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil imperfect
3. I will complain BDB 967, KB 1319, Qal cohortative, cf. Psa 64:1; Psa 142:2; this root can mean meditate, cf. Psa 119:15; Psa 119:23; Psa 119:27; Psa 119:148
4. I will murmur BDB 242, KB 250, Qal imperfect used in a cohortative sense
5. He will hear my voice BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperfect with waw
6. He will redeem my soul from the battle BDB 804, KB 911, Qal perfect, see SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM
7. God will hear, Psa 55:19 a BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal imperfect
In Psa 55:19 a God will answer the adversaries (in the sense of, give them what they deserve BDB 772, KB 851, Qal imperfect; this root can mean answer or afflict. We reap what we sow! Psa 55:19-21 describes their hearts and actions (collective he, cf. Psa 55:18 c).
1. there is no change (no verb)
2. they do not fear God
3. they put forth their hands against those who were at peace
4. they violated the covenant
5. they have smooth speech but have war in their hearts
6. their soft words are like drawn swords
All the verbs in #2-6 are perfects, denoting a settled attitude of hate and rebellion.
Psa 55:17 evening and morning and at noon The day begins at evening for ancient Israelites because of Gen 1:5; Gen 1:8; Gen 1:13; Gen 1:19; Gen 1:23; Gen 1:31. The at noon implies a later time when Judaism had three prayer times (cf. Dan 6:10):
1. at the time of the morning sacrifice (about 9 a.m.)
2. noon
3. at the time of the evening sacrifice (about 3 p.m.)
It is surely possible that the phrase is an idiom for continually.
Psa 55:19 Selah See note at Psa 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 55:16-19
Psa 55:16-19
THE PRAYER CONTINUES
“As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.
Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain and moan;
And he will hear my voice.
He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me;
For they were many that strove with me.
God will hear and answer them, even he that abideth of old. (Selah)
The men who have no changes,
And who fear not God.”
The outstanding thing here is the confidence that David had of God’s deliverance from the awful circumstances of the rampant rebellion.
“Jehovah will save me” (Psa 55:16). Why was David so confident? The answer is simple enough: God specifically said to David, “Thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever” (2Sa 7:16). These words of God to David through the prophet Nathan were known throughout Israel, to Ahithophel and to Absalom particularly; and their conspiracy to dethrone David was an action directed squarely against the will of God. No wonder David expressed confidence of victory. As The Jewish Targum translated this place, “The word of the Lord shall redeem me.”
“Evening, and at morning, and at noonday” (Psa 55:17). Every human being is obligated to honor God with his prayers at least three times a day, a custom which was scrupulously followed by Daniel (Dan 6:10; Dan 6:13). Here is evidence that David also observed the same obligation. Christians also by offering prayers and thanksgiving at mealtimes three times a day have perpetuated the custom.
“They were many that strove with me” (Psa 55:18). The rebellion was no small affair, as indicated in 2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 17:11; 2Sa 18:7. “The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.” Hushai even spoke of arousing the whole nation “From Dan to Beersheba” to fight against David; and in the final battle between David’s army and that of Absalom, “The people of Israel were smitten before the servants of David; and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men … and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured” (2Sa 18:6-8). Thus there were over forty thousand casualties, indicating that those enemies of David were indeed very numerous.
“Men who have no changes … and who fear not God” (Psa 55:19). Some have been critical of David for not praying for the conversion of his enemies instead of for their death (as in Psa 55:15); and the answer is right here. There was no use to pray for their conversion. They were men who would not change (or repent); they were men who had no fear whatever of God, and who were willing to oppose themselves violently against God’s will regarding the Davidic kingdom.
We find little sympathy for the `holier than thou’ attitude of certain commentators who prattle endlessly about “forgiving ones enemies and praying for them”; but who seem not to be outraged at all by the violent behavior of wicked men. We should say this on behalf of David’s prayer in Psa 55:6, where he prayed, “Oh that I had the wings of a dove.” He did not pray for the wings of an eagle so that he could fall upon his enemies from above, but for the wings of a dove that he might get away from it all.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 55:16. No earthly help would be effective against the workers of iniquity. David therefore put his trust in God and called upon him for security.
Psa 55:17. The frequency of David’s prayers makes up the subject of this verse. A familiar church hymn is based on this thought, and it was also the practice of Daniel, both before and after the wicked edict signed by the king. (Dan 6:10.)
Psa 55:18. A man might overcome his antagonist in battle and yet be in a terrible condition afterward. But David had been given victory with peace. Many with me means that many foes had contended with David.
Psa 55:19. The sense of this verse is as if it stated the reason why the wicked men did not change their ways; it was because they did not fear God.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Psa 50:15, Psa 73:28, Psa 91:15, Psa 109:4, Luk 6:11, Luk 6:12
Reciprocal: Exo 29:39 – in the morning 2Sa 22:4 – so 1Ch 4:10 – called Neh 4:9 – Nevertheless Psa 4:3 – the Lord Psa 5:7 – But Psa 17:6 – I have Psa 18:3 – I will Psa 22:2 – I cry Psa 69:13 – my prayer Psa 77:1 – I cried Psa 86:7 – General Psa 116:2 – therefore Jer 18:19 – Give Mic 7:7 – I will look Luk 18:1 – that Act 4:24 – they Rom 12:12 – continuing Col 4:2 – Continue
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 55:16-17. As for me, I will call upon God Let them take what course they please to secure themselves; let violence and strife be their guards, prayer shall be mine. By this I have found deliverance, support, and comfort, and therefore this I will abide by. And the Lord shall save me While he destroys them. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, in a right manner, shall be saved, Rom 10:13. As they and I differ in the course of our lives, so shall we in our end. Evening and morning, &c., at noon, &c. The three stated times of prayer among the Jews; will I pray It is probable this had been his constant practice, and he resolves to continue it, now he is in his distress. And he could come more boldly, and with greater confidence, to God in his trouble, inasmuch as he did not then first begin to call upon him, but it was what he had long constantly, practised and especially in all his difficulties, dangers, and distresses he had been accustomed to have recourse to him his strong helper, and that not in vain. They, says Henry, that think three meals a day little enough for the body, ought much more to think three solemn prayers a day little enough for the soul, and to count it a pleasure, not a task. As it is fit in the morning we should begin the day with God, and in the evening close it with God; so it is fit that, in the midst of the day, we should retire a while to converse with him. It was Daniels practice to pray three times a day, Dan 6:10. And noon was one of Peters hours of prayer, Act 10:9. Let us not be weary of praying often, for God is not weary of hearing. And cry aloud Pray fervently. The former word, , asicha, rendered, I will pray, means also, I will meditate, speak with my heart, or converse. Then we pray aright when we pray with all that is within us; when we think first, and then pray; for the true nature of prayer is lifting up our hearts to God. David, having meditated, will cry, yea, will cry aloud: the fervour of his spirit in prayer shall be expressed, and yet more excited by the intenseness and earnestness of his voice. And he shall hear my voice The Lord shall hear and answer my prayer, by granting my petitions, and will not blame me, either for coming too often, or being too earnest and importunate.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3. A call out of confidence 55:16-23
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Rather than practicing evil, as his enemies did, David said he would pray to God for deliverance (cf. Dan 6:10). Rather than creating havoc in the city, he would petition the courts of heaven for justice. In place of a violent death, David anticipated a peaceful salvation. God, the eternal sovereign, will give to each person what he or she deserves. He will give peace to the guiltless and punishment to the guilty, eventually.