A Psalm of David when Chased by Saul

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^b When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

1Deliver me from my enemies, O God;

be my fortress against those who are attacking me.

2Deliver me from evildoers

and save me from those who are after my blood.3See how they lie in wait for me!Fierce men conspire against me

For no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.

Arise to help me; look on my plight!

5You, Lord God Almighty,

you who are the God of Israel,

rouse yourself to punish all the nations;

show no mercy to wicked traitors.^c

6They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

7See what they spew from their mouths—

the words from their lips are sharp as swords,

and they think, “Who can hear us?”

8But you laugh at them, Lord;

you scoff at all those nations.

9You are my strength, I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,

10my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

11But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^d

or my people will forget.

In your might uproot them

and bring them down.

12For the sins of their mouths,

for the words of their lips,

let them be caught in their pride.

For the curses and lies they utter,

13consume them in your wrath,

consume them till they are no more.

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.

17You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.

Thoughts: There are several Psalms of David that he wrote on the run from Saul.  Psalm 17 is a Psalm he wrote when he was betrayed by Cush, a Benjamite.  Here David writes about the time Saul sent men to watch his house but his wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, pretended he was asleep, putting something in his bed. 
    David takes refuge not in a fortress but in God.  He did the same when Absolam pursued him.  Then he left Jerusalem to go in the wilderness where he could not be cornered as easily.  David's prayer is not that his enemies would be killed (Saul was praying that he could kill David).  David's prayer is that their pride would ensnare them.  Usually our sins have a way of coming back on us.  In the end, David outlasted Saul because of his trust in the Lord (which Saul could never attain). Saul was jealous. In the end his jealousy weakened his army and destroyed him.  David put his trust in God and was saved, though he went through hardship.  This is a call to us all to trust God in the hard and unjust times of life.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you and rely on you.