“Beware of the Dogs” Part 1
Text: Psalm 59
To the chief Musician, Al-tas’-chith, Mich’-tam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. MICHTAM [MICK tam] (meaning unknown) – Its meaning is uncertain.
The word may be a musical term indicating how the psalm should be sung.
Written by David at the time King Saul set guards at his home to capture and kill him. TLB
Introduction: The background for this Psalm is I Samuel 19:8-11. 8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him.9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
OT:4324 Miykal (me-kawl’); apparently the same as OT:4323; revulet; Mikal, Saul’s daughter: KJV – Michal.
PRAY as we continue make sure to ask God to speak to you!!!
Psalm 59 vs. 6, 11, and 14 are key verses.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog and go round about the city.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
14 And at evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
As a Delivery person in the past the sign “Beware of the Dogs” was always taken quite literally as on many occasions I ended up facing a dog bite situation.
In this Psalm, David finds himself in a dilemma. Saul had turned loose the dogs on David. The idea of wild dogs has meaning of wild and savage. Ready to eat the blood of God’s anointed David.
In Acts 20:28-31 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Paul warns the church here to beware of wolves who come in and spare not the flock. Remember Jesus had Judas. Today we face these savages, wild dogs, and wolves. May we learn from David’s experience how to handle these situations when they come?
Notice:
I. David’s Danger v. 1-9 He wrote this Psalm during a difficult situation. The old king had turned on the new king. David had faced lions, bears, and even a giant but it was the dirty dogs that caused him to cry out to God.
A. His Plea v. 1-2 “deliver me”Psalm 59:1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Verse 1. [Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God] This prayer was offered when the spies sent by Saul surrounded the house of David. They had come to apprehend him, and it is to be presumed that they had come in sufficient numbers, and with sufficient power, to effect their object.
Their purpose was not to break in upon him in the night, but to watch their opportunity, when he went forth in the morning, to slay him (1 Sam 19:11), and there seemed no way for him to escape. Of their coming, and of their design, Michal, the daughter of Saul, and the wife of David seems to have been apprised-perhaps by someone in her father’s family. She informed David of the arrangement and assured him that unless he should escape in the night, he would be put to death in the morning.
She, therefore, let him down through a window, and he escaped 1 Sam 19:12. It was in this way that he was in fact delivered; in this way that his prayer was answered. A faithful wife saved him.
[Defend me from them that rise up against me] Margin, as in Hebrew, “Set me on high.” The idea is that of placing him, as it were, on a tower, or on an eminence which would be inaccessible. These were common places of refuge or defense.
Psalm 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men.
[Deliver me from the workers of iniquity] The workers of iniquity here referred to were Saul and those whom he employed to carry out his murderous purpose-the people that had been sent to slay him.
[And save me from bloody men] Hebrew, “Men of blood;” that is, men whose trade is blood; who seek to shed my blood, or who seek my life.
1. Saul was the master behind the dogs.2. David reminded Saul of God’s rejection of him.3. The instructions were simple “Kill David” God is a very present help in David’s time of trouble.
B. His Panic v.3-5 “They lie wait for my soul” Psalm 59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
[For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul] They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Judges 9:32; 21:20; Ps 10:9. The word “soul” here means “life.” They lie in an ambush that they may kill me.
[The mighty are gathered against me] Strong men; hostile men; cruel men. Saul would employ on this occasion not the weak, the cowardly, the faint-hearted, but men of courage and strength; men who were unprincipled in their character; men who would not be likely to be moved by request or turned from their purpose by compassion.
It is not mere “strength” that is here referred to, but that kind of strength or courage that can be employed in a desperate enterprise, and which is suited to accomplish any scheme of wickedness, however daring or difficult.
[Not for my transgression, nor for my sin] This is done not on account of my violating the laws of the land, nor because it is alleged that I am a sinner against God. David was conscious that he did not deserve this treatment from the hand of man.
He had been guilty of no wrong against Saul that exposed him to just punishment.
He carried with him the consciousness of innocence as to any crime that could have made this treatment proper, and he felt that it was all the result of unjust suspicions.
It was not improper for him to refer to this in his prayer; for, however, he might feel that he was a sinner in the sight of God, yet he felt that a great and grievous wrong was done him by man; and he prayed, therefore, that a righteous God would interpose.
Psalm 59:4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
[They run and prepare themselves] That is, they “hasten” to accomplish this; they are quick to obey the command of Saul requiring them to slay me.
The word “prepare” refers to whatever was deemed necessary to enable them to accomplish what they had been commanded to do-arming themselves, making provision for their journey, etc.
[Without my fault] That is, without anything on my part to deserve this, or to justify Saul and those employed by him in what they attempt to do.
David, in all this, was conscious of innocence. In his own feelings toward Saul, and in all his public acts, he knew that he had sought only the king’s welfare and that he had been obedient to the laws.
[Awake to help me] That is, “arouse,” as one does from sleep. The word rendered “to help me,” is rendered in the margin, “to meet me.” This is the meaning of the Hebrew. It is a prayer that God would meet him, or come to him, and aid him.
Psalm 59:5 Thou, therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
[Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts] God of armies: commanding all the armies of heaven-the angels, and the stars and constellations drawn out in the form of armies; thou, thus endowed with all power, and able to subdue all people though arrayed and combined for purposes of evil-awake to my help. On the meaning of the phrase “God of hosts,”
[The God of Israel] The God of the Hebrew people-the descendants of Jacob or Israel-the Protector of thy people-awake to help me, one of those who, being of that covenant people, come under the promise of protection.
[Awake to visit all the heathen] On the word here rendered “heathen” – gowyim (OT:1471). It is from the use of this word in this verse and in Ps 59:8, as remarked in the Introduction to the Psalm,
In this sense, the word might be employed with reference to those who were engaged in seeking the life of David. David, using the common word “heathen” or “nations,” as denoting those who are wicked, cruel, and harsh, prays that God would awake to visit them; that is, to visit them for purposes of punishment, or so to visit them as to prevent their carrying out their designs.
[Be not merciful to any tricked transgressors] That is, Arrest and punish them “as” transgressors, or “being” transgressors. This prayer is not inconsistent with a desire that such people might be converted, and “thus” obtain mercy; but it is a prayer that God would not suffer them, being wicked people, to go at large and accomplish the work of wickedness which they designed.
[Selah] A musical pause.
1). David is on his knees in prayer. It does not look good.
2). He found himself in a situation that seemed hopeless. God puts us in those situations so we will turn to Him and realize He is our only source of help.
3). David had done no wrong. “not for my transgression” like Job. Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. ASV
At other times David had cried out because of his transgressions. Psalm 51: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou might be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
But this time he had done nothing wrong,
4). David says “Wake up God and help me” verse 4. How human! awake to help me, and behold.
5). God is waiting for us to be on our knees as the dogs surround us.
6). We are human, we have faults, but let us not forget God is awake and is not surprised by that which is going on in our life.
7). He remembers his knowledge of God: He cries out to Jehovah Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts)-
This title of God indicates that the Lord hears the cries of His people when they are afflicted and He spares them from destruction NT:4519 sabaoth (sab-ah-owth’); of Hebrew origin [OT:6635 in feminine plural]; armies; sabaoth (i.e. tsebaoth), a military epithet of God: KJV – Sabaoth.
James 5:44 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Rom 9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.
Lord of Hosts- God is The Commander in Chief-He has all power. God of Israel- A covenant relationship. Through David, the Messiah will come! 8. In the deepest of panic we need to read and study and be reminded of who God is and of His great promises.
C. His Peril v.6-9 “they return…make a noise like a dog” Psalm 59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
[They return at evening] Many have rendered this in the imperative, as in Ps 59:14, “Let them return at evening,” etc.
But the more natural and obvious interpretation is to render it in the indicative, as describing the manner in which his enemies came upon him-like dogs seeking their prey; fierce mastiffs, Pitbull, Dobermans, Rottweilers, howling and ready to spring upon him. From the phrase “they return at evening,” thus explained, it would seem probable that they watched their opportunity, or lay in wait, to secure their object; that having failed at first, they drew off again until evening, perhaps continuing thus for several days unable to accomplish their object.
[They make a noise like a dog] So savages, after lurking stealthily all day, raise the war-whoop at night and come upon their victims. It is possible that an assault of this kind “had” been attempted; or, more probably, it is a description of the manner in which they “would” make their assault, and of the spirit with which it would be done.
[And go round about the city] The word “city” is used in a large sense in the Scriptures, and is often applied to places that we should now describe as “villages.” Any town within the limits of which David was lodged, would answer to this term.
Psalm 59:7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
1. They seem to say, “Who is going to hear?” “Who is going to stop us” v.7
[Behold, they belch out with their mouth] The word rendered “belch out” means properly to boil forth; to gush out, to flow; and then, to pour forth copiously, or in a running stream, as a fountain does. Hence, the word means also to pour out “words” – words that flow freely-words of folly, abuse, or reproach.
Prov 15:2, “The mouth of fools poured out (Margin, belched or babbled) foolishness.”
Prov 15:28, “The mouth of the wicked poured out evil things;” that is, “gushes over” with wicked things as a fountain overflows. In this place, the word means that the enemies of David who were in pursuit of his life, poured out reproaches and threatening’s like a gushing fountain.
[Swords are on their lips] Their words are as sharp swords.
[For who, say they, doth hear?] That is, no one hears who will be able to punish us. They dread no man, and they have no fear of God. The words “say they” are, however, supplied here by the translators, and are not in the original; and the language “may” be understood as that of David himself, “as if” no one heard; that is, It is no wonder that they thus pour out words of reproach, for who “is” there to hear and to punish them? The former interpretation, however, is to be preferred.
The language expresses the feelings of the enemies of David, who indulged freely in the language of abuse and reproach “as if” there were none to hear.
2. May I say God hears! When the dogs come, God Hears!
3. God will judge, God will right all wrong.
4. In fact God is recording: Matthew 12:36-37
Matt 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned.
5. God hears in our peril. 6. God will take care of it, not me. v.8
Psalm 59:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
OT:3932 la` ag (law-ag’); a primitive root; to deride; by implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly: KJV – have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering.
[But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them] That is, God will hear them and will have all their efforts in derision, or will treat them with contempt.
[Thou shalt have all the heathen in derision] All those referred to in this psalm-the enemies of David-who have the character, and who manifest the spirit of the pagan; that is, of those who are not actuated by true religion.
This verse expresses the strong conviction of David, that all the efforts of his enemies would be vain; that God “would be” his Protector; and that he would save him from their evil designs.
Psalm 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense.
[Because of his strength will I wait upon thee] literally, “His strength-I will wait upon thee.”
The reference here is not to the strength or power of God, as if the fact that “He” was powerful was a reason why the psalmist should look to him but it is to the strength or power of the enemy-of Saul and his followers.
There is much abruptness in the expression. The psalmist looks at the power of his enemy. “‘His strength,’ he cries. It is great. It is beyond my power to resist it. It is so great that I have no other refuge but God; and because it is so great, I will fix my eyes on him alone.” The word rendered “wait upon” means rather to look to; to observe; to fix the eyes upon.
[For God is my defense] Margin, “My high place.” That is, God was to him “as” a high place, or a place of refuge; a place where he would be safe.
7. David’s danger was real but looked upon through the eyes of God it was ridiculous.
(from Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
