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"Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God, defend me from them that rise up against
me" (Psa. 59: 1).
The Psalm is divided into two parts by the references to God as David's defence. If,
instead of the somewhat ambiguous rendering: "Because of His strength will I wait on
thee" (verse 9), we read "O my strength" as in verse 17; the two verses can then be read
together:
"O my Strength, I will wait upon Thee, for God is my defence."
"O my Strength, unto Thee will I sing, for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy."
Note the advance in verse 17 over verse 9. In verse 9 David says, "I will wait", but at
the close he says, "I will sing" (verse 17). Further, whilst in verse 10 he says: "The God
of my mercy shall prevent me", in verse 17 he adds to the words, "for God is my
defence", the words "and my mercy".
God was not only David's "Strength" but his "Mercy". He (David) was "set on high",
i.e. lifted above the conspiracy of his foes.
Well may we sing:
"O Redeemer, what a Friend Thou art to me,
O what a Refuge I have found in Thee."
Or, in perhaps better known words:
"All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring.
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing."
"The Eternal God is thy Refuge."