Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 54:7
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.
7. For he hath delivered me ] Such a transition from the second person of Psa 54:6 to the third person is quite possible: cp. the converse transition in Psa 54:5: but the subject of the verb maybe ‘the Name of Jehovah.’ Cp. Lev 24:11; Isa 30:27.
The perfect tense (‘hath delivered’ ‘hath seen’) looks back from the hour of thanksgiving upon an answered prayer. Cp. Psa 52:9, “because thou hast done it.”
hath seen his desire] Cp. Psa 37:34; Psa 52:6; Psa 59:10; Psa 92:11; Psa 112:8; Psa 118:7. Such rejoicing over the fall of enemies is not of the spirit of the Gospel. But the ‘salvation’ for which the Psalmist prays is a temporal deliverance, which can only be effected at the expense of the implacable enemies who are seeking his life; and it will be a vindication of God’s faithfulness and a proof of His righteous government at which he cannot but rejoice. The defeat of evil and the triumph of good presented themselves to the saints of the O.T. in this concrete form, which sometimes has a ring of personal vindictiveness about it, yet, fairly considered, is in its real motive and character elevated far above a mere thirst for revenge. See Introd. pp. lxxxviii ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble – This is spoken either in confident expectation of what would be, or as the statement of a general truth that God did deliver him from all trouble. It was what he had experienced in his past life; it was what he confidently expected in all time to come.
And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies – The words his desire are not in the original. A literal translation would be, And on my enemies hath my eye looked. The meaning is, that they had been overthrown; they had been unsuccessful in their malignant attempts against him; and he had had the satisfaction of seeing them thus discomfited. Their overthrow had not merely been reported to him, but he had had ocular demonstration of its reality. This is not the expression of malice, but of certainty. The fact on which the eye of the psalmist rested was his own safety. Of that he was assured by what he had witnessed with his own eyes; and in that fact he rejoiced. There is no more reason to charge malignity in this case on David, or to suppose that he rejoiced in the destruction of his enemies as such, than there is in our own case when we are rescued from impending danger. It is proper for Americans to rejoice in their freedom, and to give thanks to God for it; nor, in doing this, is it to be supposed that there is a malicious pleasure in the fact that in the accomplishment of this thousands of British soldiers were slain, or that thousands of women and children as the result of their discomfiture were made widows and orphans. We can be thankful for the mercies which we enjoy without having any malignant delight in those woes of others through which our blessings may have come upon us.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. For he hath delivered me] Saul had now decamped; and was returned to save his territories; and David in the meanwhile escaped to En-gedi. God was most evidently the author of this deliverance.
Mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.] It is not likely that this Psalm was written after the death of Saul; and therefore David could not say that he had seen his desire. But there is nothing in the text for his desire; and the words might be translated, My eye hath seen my enemies-they have been so near that I could plainly discover them. Thus almost all the Versions have understood the text. I have seen them, and yet they were not permitted to approach me. God has been my Deliverer.
ANALYSIS OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH PSALM
There are three parts in this Psalm: –
I. David’s prayer for help and salvation, Ps 54:1-3.
II. His confidence that he should have help, Ps 54:4-5.
III. His gratitude and obedience, Ps 54:6-7.
1. David’s petition: 1. “Save me.” 2. “Plead my cause.” 3. “Hear my prayer.” 4. “Give ear to my words.” He is much in earnest; and yet does not desire his prayer to be heard unless his cause be just. If just, then let God plead it.
2. He produces two grounds upon which he petitions: 1. God’s name. 2. God’s strength. 1. He that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; I call: “Save me in thy name!” 2. Thou art a powerful God, able to do it: “Save me in thy strength.”
The greatness of his danger causes him to urge his prayer.
1. His enemies were strangers; from whom no favour could be expected.
2. They were violent oppressors – formidable, cruel tyrants, from whom he could expect no mercy.
3. They were such as could be satisfied with nothing less than his blood: “They rise to seek after my life.”
4. They had no fear of God: “They have not set God before them.”
II. Notwithstanding they are all that I have already stated; and, humanly speaking, I have nothing but destruction to expect; yet I will not fear: because, 1. God is with me. 2. He is against them.
1. “God is my helper:” as he has promised, so he has done, and will do, to me.
2. “God is with them also who uphold my soul. Selah.” Behold this!
But he opposes them who oppose me; is an enemy to them who are mine enemies.
1. “He shall reward evil” to such: of this being assured, he proceeds to imprecate.
2. Destroy thou them: “Cut them off in thy truth.” Thou hast promised that it shall be well with the righteous; and that snares, fire, and brimstone, shall be rained on the wicked. Let God be true: Fiat justitia; ruat coelum, pereat mundus. They must be cut off.
III. For such a mercy David promises not to be unthankful.
1. For this he would offer a princely sacrifice: “I will freely sacrifice.”
2. He would praise the name of the Lord: “I will praise thy name.”
For this he gives two reasons: –
1. That which internally moved him: “For it is good.”
2. That which was outwardly impulsive; his deliverance. 1. His deliverance was great and effectual: “Thou hast delivered me out of all my trouble.” 2. His danger was so imminent that, humanly speaking, there was no escape. The enemy was within sight who was bent on his destruction; yet he was delivered; and they were confounded. On these accounts it was right that he should sing praise, and offer sacrifice. To the grateful, God is bountiful.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He speaks of it as a thing already done, either to express his assurance of it, or because this Psalm was made after it was done.
His desire; or, thy vengeance; which may be understood out of Psa 54:5. But there is no necessity of any supplement. The words in the Hebrew run thus,
mine eye hath looked upon mine enemies; either with delight, as this phrase signifies, Psa 22:17; 27:4, and elsewhere; or without fear or shame. I shall not be afraid to look them in the face, having God on my side.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. mine eye . . . desire(comparePsa 59:10; Psa 112:8),expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies asthose of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (comparePsa 52:6; Psa 52:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble,…. As he desired, 1Sa 26:24; that is, out of all his present trouble; not that he had no more afterwards; for as soon as one trouble is gone, generally speaking, another comes; but as God delivered him out of his present distress, so he believed he would deliver him out of all his afflictions in future times;
and mine eye hath seen [his desire] upon mine enemies: or revenge, as the Targum supplies it; not that he delighted in the destruction of his enemies, but in the justice of God glorified thereby, and in the goodness of God to him, in delivering him from them; see Re 18:20.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) This verse does not actually state what has happened, but, according to a well-known Hebrew idiom should be rendered, When he shall have delivered, &c
Hath seen his desire.Or, hath gloated on The Hebrews use the words seeing and looking very expressively, making the simple verb do almost what the eye itself can do: show hatred, love, triumph, defeat, wistfulness, disgust, &C (See Psa. 35:21; Psa. 52:6; Psa. 59:10; Psa. 92:11; Son. 6:13; &c)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Hath delivered hath seen The past tense of the verbs is the language of faith, which speaks of future events as already accomplished, “and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Rom 4:17. Mine eye hath seen, etc. The words his desire are not in the text, which simply reads, Mine eye has looked on my enemies; an expression to be interpreted idiomatically. Not merely that they had approached so near that he saw them in their retreat, which, indeed, is quite probable, but that he “calmly surveyed them without alarm, for he feels that the shield of God’s power and love is cast over him to protect him,” (Wordsworth,) with the idea further implied, that God had given him to see their downfall in the miscarriage of their plans, as in Psa 59:11; Psa 92:12, where “his desire” is not in the text.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 54:7. He hath delivered me out of all trouble From every strait. In Psa 92:11 we have a similar expression to the last clause of this verse, mine eye hath seen, &c. where the words his desire, are supplied by our translators, and are not in the original. As the sentence, Mine eye hath seen upon mine enemies, seems imperfect, it has been variously filled up. Bishop Hare adds, quod volui: mine eye hath seen what I would, or wished, &c. Le Clerc, fine metu, without any fear of them; not to mention any other: but I apprehend there is no need of any supplement, and that though the sentence is not quite complete, yet any addition would take from the spirit of it. It is a sort of triumph over his enemies: Mine eye looked upon them; as we render the words, Gen 29:32. “They came near enough to be seen by me, and that was all. God kept them from coming near me, so that they all have been disappointed of their prey.” This was the very case with David, when Saul encompassed him with his troops, and, by an unexpected call, was obliged to retreat. Or the words may be rendered, mine eyes saw mine enemies: “Saw them with pleasure at a distance, and enjoyed the sight; especially when they marched off, and left me to escape.” See Chandler, and Psa 64:8.; Ecc 2:1.; Isa 66:5. Dr. Delaney renders it, God hath snatched me out of every strait, and on mine enemies hath mine eye seen; or, as the Arabic explains it, rested. God hath delivered him out of all his straits, (for, doubtless, it was a distressful dilemma to be forced either to die tamely, or fight his sovereign and his own people,) and he could now calmly and confidently survey those enemies whom before he did not dare to look in the face. The prayers of great men in distress, and their thanksgivings after great deliverances, have always been matter of uncommon delight to curiosity, and men of serious and religious spirits. Nor does the glory of any great man ever shine out to their eyes in half the lustre, as when they behold him upon his knees, lifting up his eyes, or stretching out his hands, to heaven; or, what is yet greater, prostrating himself before it, in humiliation and acknowledgment. Then is the hero seen in all his dignity! and in this light it must be owned that Henry the Fourth of France, before the battle of Yvry, and Henry the Fifth of England, after that of Agincourt, and David after this deliverance, appear with a grandeur very superior to that of either a Caesar or an Alexander. The latter, in their height of glory, were but mere rulers of men, but the former, upon their knees, the dependants and the friends of God.
REFLECTIONS.1st, It is a comfort to a child of God, that, whatever he meets with from man, he has a friend to fly to, who will yield him full relief. We have here,
1. David’s prayer for help and strength. Save me, O God, by thy name; by thy power and wisdom, which can frustrate the devices of my perfidious foes; or, for thy name’s sake, to manifest thy glory in protecting the poor destitute that flies to thee for succour; and judge me by thy strength: strongly interpose in my behalf; and, as my cause is just, be thou my judge, O Lord, and avenge me of mine enemies. Note; (1.) Prayer is a sovereign medicine for every distress. (2.) Salvation cometh from God, and he never faileth those who seek him.
2. He complains of his persecutors. Strangers are risen up against me: though they were of his own tribe, and professors of the same religion, yet they acted worse than Philistines; and oppressors, or the mighty men, Saul, Doeg, and the Ziphites, seek after my soul: nothing but his life would gratify their blood-thirsty malice: they have not set God before them; pay no regard to his appointment, forget his all-seeing eye, and disregard the threatenings of his word. Note; (1.) The bitterest enemies of a child of God, are often his nearest neighbours and relations. (2.) When men leave God out of their sight, there is no wickedness too great for them. (3.) Though our spiritual foes seek with more inveterate malice after our souls, than these Ziphites after David, God will not leave us in their hands, if we cleave to him.
2nd, Having commended his cause in prayer to God, we have,
1. The lively profession of his confidence in God. Behold, take notice of it, ye children of God, for your encouragement; be admonished, ye sons of wickedness, before it be too late; God is my helper against every foe, therefore will I not faint or fear: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul; he is my upholder, and the friend of my friends, approving and supporting them in their adherence to me. Note; (1.) They who are faithful to God, shall find that he will raise them up friends in the worst of times. (2.) They who espouse the cause of injured innocence, shall be supported by the God of truth.
2. God’s gracious help he promises thankfully to remember. I will freely sacrifice unto thee, not only the free-will offerings of bullocks, but the more pleasing oblation of the calves of the lips. I will praise thy name, for it is good; gracious, and worthy to be praised; and most becoming him would it be, who had experienced God’s goodness, to shew it forth continually.
3. He looks upon his petitions as already accomplished, since faith is in exercise. He hath delivered me out of all my trouble, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies; humbled, and disabled from hurting him.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
READER, let you and I make the same conclusion from the perusal of this Psalm, as is here made, and the confidence in this will bear our souls up during the exercises of the passing hour, be they what they may. We shall feel no shrinkings, we shall make no false conclusions in our progress to the end of our pilgrimage, if our hearts are in the mean time fixed trusting in the Lord. By a steady, fixed, well-grounded faith on God’s rich mercy in Christ, holding on our course, and holding out our assurance, whether the providences of our God seem to frown or look cheerful; by keeping fast hold of God the Father’s covenant, and Christ’s merit, and the everlasting efficacy of his blood and righteousness, we shall find that God is still our helper, and the Lord is with them that uphold our souls.
Blessed Redeemer! give me grace to look to thee, and to call to my recollection thine exercises amidst the false friends and open foes, which in the days of thy flesh surrounded thee. Lord, help me so to consider thee, who didst endure such a contradiction against thyself, that I may not be weary and faint in mind. And while the Ziphims of the present hour harass and distress me, and would deliver my soul into the hand of the enemy; oh! for grace to be looking unto thee, and deriving strength from thee, that I may discover thy gracious hand delivering me out of all may troubles, and making me more than conqueror in thy strength, and in the power of thy might.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.
Ver. 7. For he hath delivered me ] i.e. He surely will. This is the language of faith; this is the triumph of trust.
And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
delivered = rescued.
seen his desire: or, looked upon, and thus seen Jehovah’s deliverance. To the chief Musician. See App-64.
on = relating to.
Neginoth = smitings : i.e. the great smitings of my enemies by Jehovah. App-65.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
For he: Psa 34:19, Gen 48:16, 1Sa 26:24, 2Sa 4:9, 2Ti 4:18
and mine: Psa 37:34, Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11, Psa 59:10, Psa 91:8, Psa 92:11, Psa 112:8
Reciprocal: Psa 35:21 – Aha Psa 118:7 – therefore Jer 20:12 – let me Oba 1:12 – looked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath {g} seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.
(g) We may lawfully rejoice for God’s judgments against the wicked, if our affections are pure.