Psalm 59:1
ESV
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;
NIV
For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
NASB
Rescue me from my enemies, my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
CSB
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy." A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him. Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.
NLT
Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.
KJV
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
NKJV
{To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.} Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.
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.
Psalm 59:1–8 contains David's prayer for rescue from his enemies. These men are evil and conspire against David, despite him having done nothing wrong. Yet David is assured that his God, powerful enough to control the entire world, can thwart their plots.
David prays, asking the Lord to deliver him from a lurking band of bloodthirsty enemies. He calls on the God of Israel to make an example of these lying, evil men, and to destroy them entirely. Rather than despair, David firmly trusts in the Lord and looks forward to victory. David concludes his psalm with praise to the Lord, his Strength, whose love is loyal. David praises God for being his fortress and shelter.
