Psalm 59

Psalm 59 • 1 min. read • grade level: 12

This is still the cry of the same godly, consciously innocent sufferer, against the confederacy of mighty wicked ones, who, in infidel pride, despise the judgments of God. They are called “the heathen,” regarded as infidel, while God is all the hope of the poor afflicted one. The language may remind us of Psalm 2:1¹Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (Psalm 2:1), and Joel 3:12¹²Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. (Joel 3:12). It is to be read as the cry of the suffering Remnant in the latter day against the confederacy. Signal judgment upon it is sought for (Psa. 59:11¹¹Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. (Psalm 59:11)); as Jesus desires the same on His Jewish persecutors, in Psalm 69. And as the Jewish nation are at this present time under signal judgment, so will this Gentile confederacy be in the coming day of vengeance. (See Isa. 66:24²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (Isaiah 66:24).)

Messiah, to whom “the people” belong (Psa. 59:11¹¹Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. (Psalm 59:11)) seems to lift up this cry for His Remnant against “all the heathen.” And His confidence in God is strongly expressed in the cry He utters, and in spite of the enemy’s strength and malice.