THE INSCRIPTION
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. ,
The word “Jonathelemrechokim” probably means “the silent dove among strangers” which aptly describes how David felt, like a dove driven from its nest to seek a place of safety in a stranger’s land.
The portion “when the Philistines took him in Gath,” evidently refers to the event recorded in 1Sa 21:10-15 . David fled to king Achish for fear of Saul. But when Achish’s servants identified him as the hero of whom they sing one to another saying, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”, fear gripped David. He feigned madness and they took him and drove him away.
DAVID COMPLAINED TO THE LORD (v 1-2 )
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
The word “daily” (x2) indicates that the oppression was incessant, there was no respite. The phrase “swallow me up” (x2) indicates how his enemies’ desire was to make an end of him, giving him no chance of recovery.
While David’s enemies do not show him any mercy, he cried unto the Lord “Be merciful to me, O God”. This is an example to us. The world is not often merciful to us. But our God is plenteous in mercy. The more we feel oppressed, the more it should turn us in prayer to the righteous God, our heavenly Father. He like every good father is soon aroused when his children are shamefully entreated.
Are you oppressed because of your Christian testimony? Are you tempted and tried by Satan? Are you beset by a sin which seeks to swallow you up? Have you tried and failed? Come to God, cry to Him for deliverance. He is the “God most High”, nothing is too difficult for Him.
DAVID DECLARES HIS TRUST & CONFIDENCE IN GOD IN TIMES OF DANGER (v 3-4 )
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
David was really afraid. Behind him was Saul. Before him were the unfriendly Philistines. Who is the object of David’s trust and confidence? Ans: GOD and His WORD (v 4 ). David says “I will put my trust in God” & “I will praise his word”, i.e. praise God for His written words, which contain the precious promises of God.
What can flesh do to me against God, the omnipotent? Ro 8:31 …If God be for us, who can be against us?...33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?
DAVID DESCRIBES HIS ENEMIES (v 5-6 )
5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
They twisted what David said out of context and carried evil tales and made him appear to say something which he never did. Some people are very good at this. They quote you out of context and put words in your mouth.
All their thoughts aboutDavid were evil. Their thoughts were the source of all their evil acts. In contrast the thoughts of our Father in heaven are so different. Jer 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
They take conference together and discussed how they might find fault with David and bring him to nothing. They marked his steps and sent news of his whereabouts to Saul. (e.g.1Sa 23:19 ). Read how the enemies of Daniel likewise plotted against him in Da 6:3-7 .
His confident belief that God will judge and remember him (v 7-9 )
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
David prayed “Shall they escape”? & “Cast them down”! It is acceptable to pray to God to judge your cause and not to exact your own vengeance. Vengeance belongs to God, He will repay. God wants you to commit all judgment unto him and to rest confident that He is righteous and in his time He will judge.
David knew that God was fully acquainted with his grief. God knew all his sorrows of wandering in the wilderness, fleeing from Saul. God remembered all the tears of David, He “puts them in a bottle” and He records them in His “book”.
Dearly beloved, do you sorrow because of oppression and unfairness? Do you suffer for righteousness sake? Do you struggle with sins and sometimes find the fight so fierce that you can only cry to God? God remembers all your tears and He will make it right one day.
David was confident that “God is for me [him]”. Yea, if God is for David, who can be against David? This is the holy confidence of one who is doing God’s will. From the Scriptures, you know and can say that “God is for me”. That is enough to see you through all your struggles.
DAVID'S ASSURANCE THAT GOD HIS DELIVERER WILL YET DELIVER (v 10-13 )
10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. 12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Verses 10-11 , although similar to v 4 , emphasizes the Word of God. In GOD, what was it that David especially gave thanks and praise for? Ans: “His word”. What time I am afraid, I will trust in Him. Why Him? Is it not because of His Word that we have been led to know Him? Should we not praise God for His precious word?
David remembered his vows made in his trouble, “Thy vows are upon me”. He would “render” praises unto God, he would ‘pay’ what he had vowed.
“For thou hast delivered my soul (“life.”) from death”. David met with many near misses because of his enemies; he was pursued from place to place. Out of them all, the Lord graciously delivered. He prayed thus “Wilt not thou [continue to] deliver my feet from falling”. Past deliverance gives us hope for present and future deliverance.
1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
God will deliver so “that I may walk before God”, He will not tempt us beyond what we are able. Amen.