What does Psalm 59:1 mean?
David often experienced danger, sometimes from his own people. Early in his life, the greatest threat came from Saul, who was then king, and jealously hated David. At one point, Saul conspired to have men wait to assassinate David as he left his home in the morning. But Michal—David's wife and Saul's daughter—warned David and helped him escape through a window (1 Samuel 19:11–16). The incident which inspired this psalm also resembles an experience of the apostle Paul in Damascus (Acts 9:23–25).The essence of David's request is protection. He recognizes the conspiracy against him (Psalm 59:2–3). This psalm will refer to these enemies as "evil," "bloodthirsty," and "fierce." David will repeatedly depict them as a pack of savage wild dogs (Psalm 59:6, 14–15).
This is one of the so-called "imprecatory" psalms: prayers for God to bring brutal justice on evil people (Psalm 5; 58; 137). David does not plan to take revenge himself—rather, he trusts that the Lord will act in His own way (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). This psalm is labeled using the term "miktam," which suggests a musical style. The words are meant to be sung along to a tune titled "Do Not Destroy:" a melody used as a basis for several other psalms (Psalm 57; 58; 75). The "choirmaster" is probably the person who led group worship events.
