| Psalms 54 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH, MASCHIL, A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN THE ZIPHIM [i.e. People of Ziph] CAME AND SAID TO SAUL, DOTH NOT DAVID HIDE WITH US? TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN: Hebrew "LeMenatsayach" meaning "conductor" but also implying (as S.R. Hirsch translates) "TO HE WHO GRANTS VICTORY". MASCHIL: means "give instruction, ability, train", from the root SCL "intelligence, learning". This is the source of the English word "skill". S. R. Hirsch explains the preliminary words to say: "To Him, Who, through the power of music, helps the spirit and mind of the Psalmist to emerge victorious from amidst all vicissitudes that crush and oppress". David used music and prayer accompanied by music and inspired through it as a means to communicate with the Almighty and to transmit learning to others. ZIPHIM: The settlement of Ziph was in the region of Keilah where David was encamped. The Ziphites informed on David. AND THE ZIPHITES CAME UNTO SAUL TO GIBEAH, SAYING, DOTH NOT DAVID HIDE HIMSELF IN THE HILL OF HACHILAH, WHICH IS BEFORE JESHIMON? [1-Samuel 26:1] After that Saul came down with his force, camped with his force nearby and fell asleep due to a slumber cast upon them by the Almighty (1-Samuel 26:12). David together with Abishai entered the camp of Saul and took the spear that was stuck in the ground by the head of Saul and the water container from his side and left. David then went to the top of a nearby hill and cried out to Saul informing him that his life had been spared. [Voices can carry well and for a great distance in desert areas]. Saul acknowledged the righteousness of David and departed (1-Samuel 26:25). [Psalms 54:1] SAVE ME, O GOD, BY THY NAME, AND JUDGE ME BY THY STRENGTH. [Psalms 54:2] HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD; GIVE EAR TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH. [Psalms 54:3] FOR STRANGERS ARE RISEN UP AGAINST ME, AND OPPRESSORS SEEK AFTER MY SOUL: THEY HAVE NOT SET GOD BEFORE THEM. SELAH. This is a known phenomenon. There is something animal-like about human nature. It happens that when people see weakness and vulnerability on the side of the oppressed their herd instinct leads them to side with the oppressor. It only needed the powerful Nazi propaganda machinery to say that there was something criminal about being Jewish for people to agree with them. This applied when the people themselves were strangers to both the Nazis and the Jews and were themselves victims of the Nazis. Conspiracy Freaks and all they who take the side of the Arabs against Israel have a similar mind-set to what the Nazi sympathizers had. We do not even have to go that far. We all know cases where the victim of wrongdoing has been condemned by others simply because the victimizer was considered too strong to cope with. In a way we ourselves may have even been tempted to take such an attitude without realizing it. <<THEY HAVE NOT SET GOD BEFORE THEM>>: This is the solution. If we set God before us the chances are that we will not make such mistakes. [Psalms 54:4] BEHOLD, GOD IS MINE HELPER: THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL. God speaks to me through they who support me. They who support me express the will of the Almighty. [Psalms 54:5] HE SHALL REWARD EVIL UNTO MINE ENEMIES: CUT THEM OFF IN THY TRUTH. <<MINE ENEMIES>>: Hebrew "shorori". S.R. Hirsch explains (Psalms 5:9) this word as derived from "shor" meaning to see that which is not plainly obvious. In other words (in this case) they see things about me that do not exist or that should not be considered. Through truth God will cut them off. [Psalms 54:6] I WILL FREELY SACRIFICE UNTO THEE: I WILL PRAISE THY NAME, O LORD; FOR IT IS GOOD. [Psalms 54:7] FOR HE HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF ALL TROUBLE: AND MINE EYE HATH SEEN HIS DESIRE UPON MINE ENEMIES. |