Psalms 54

General context

The speaker asks God to save him by his name and judge him by his strength, to hear his prayer and give ear to the words of his mouth. Strangers have risen against him and oppressors seek his soul; they have not set God before them, and Selah follows. He declares that God is his helper and that the Lord is with those who uphold his soul. God will reward evil to his enemies, and he asks God to cut them off in his truth. He will freely sacrifice to God and praise the Lord's name, for it is good. He says God has delivered him out of all trouble, and his eye has seen his desire upon his enemies.

Cited passages: Psalms 54:1, Psalms 54:2, Psalms 54:3, Psalms 54:4, Psalms 54:5, Psalms 54:6, Psalms 54:7

Psalms 54 (KJV)

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Historical context

The text as printed here carries no heading; verse 1 opens with "Save me, O God, by thy name", so this source names no author, occasion or musical direction. The speaker is a single "I" addressing God, with verses 4 and 7 speaking of God in the third person. The enemies are called "strangers" and "oppressors" and are said not to have set God before them; they are not named, counted or placed. The psalm gives no event beyond their rising and seeking the speaker's soul. The last verse speaks of deliverance as done, "he hath delivered me out of all trouble", while the opening asks to be saved; the text does not say whether the deliverance came between the two or is spoken in anticipation. "His desire upon mine enemies" is stated without describing what the eye saw. Selah stands once, after verse 3. The promised "sacrifice" is called free but not specified.

Cited passages: Psalms 54:1, Psalms 54:3, Psalms 54:7, Psalms 54:6

Literary context

Seven verses run the whole course from petition to thanks. Verses 1 and 2 are four requests in parallel, save, judge, hear, give ear; verse 3 gives the reason with "For" and closes with Selah; verse 4 answers with "Behold" and confidence; verse 5 returns to petition against the enemies; verses 6 and 7 are vow and thanks. "Name" frames the poem: the speaker asks to be saved "by thy name" and ends promising to praise "thy name". The enemies' fault is stated in one phrase, not setting God before them, and the speaker's answer is to set God before himself with "God is mine helper". The tense shifts from asking to having been delivered, so the psalm ends on the far side of the trouble it opened in. Its opening plea to be heard is matched by Psalm 55, which begins "Give ear to my prayer, O God".

Cited passages: Psalms 54:1, Psalms 54:3, Psalms 54:4, Psalms 54:6, Psalms 54:7, Psalms 55:1

Key moments

1. Save me by thy name (Psalms 54:1). The speaker asks God to save him by his name and judge him by his strength.
2. Strangers risen against me (Psalms 54:3). Strangers and oppressors seek his soul and do not set God before them.
3. God is mine helper (Psalms 54:4). He declares that God is his helper and is with those who uphold his soul.
4. Cut them off in thy truth (Psalms 54:5). He asks God to reward evil to his enemies and cut them off.
5. A free sacrifice (Psalms 54:6). He vows to sacrifice freely and praise the Lord's name because it is good.
6. Delivered out of all trouble (Psalms 54:7). He says God has delivered him and his eye has seen his desire on his enemies.

For reflection

The psalm begins by asking to be saved and ends by saying the speaker has been delivered from all trouble; what happens in the four verses between that lets him speak that way?

People in this chapter

• David
• Saul (King)