Psalm 54:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

NIV: I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

NASB: Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, Lord, for it is good.

CSB: I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you. I will praise your name, Lord, because it is good.

NLT: I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

KJV: I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

NKJV: I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

David looked forward to worshiping in the sanctuary, despite being pursued by enemies (1 Samuel 23:19–20) and praying for God's rescue (Psalm 54:1–3). His confidence in God was so strong that he entrusted all justice and retribution into the Lord's care (Psalm 54:4–5). This verse continues that assured praise; David plans for how he will praise and honor God once the danger has been overcome. Because David had been rescued in the past (Psalm 54:7), he is all the more sure the Lord will preserve him in this situation.

As the name suggests, a "freewill offering" was not required. It was voluntary and would express David's gratitude for the Lord's goodness. Believers in the Church Age should voluntarily present themselves to the Lord out of gratitude for His kindnesses. Paul writes in Romans 12:1: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." In addition, Christian believers should thank the Lord always for present blessings and a glorious future. First Thessalonians 5:16–18 exhorts believers to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Hebrews 12:28–29 says, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Psalm 54:4–7 follows David's prayer for rescue with an expression of absolute confidence. He vows to honor the Lord for answering his prayer. He speaks as if sure the Lord will keep him safe. At the time David wrote this song, he was not near the tabernacle, but fully expected to return there. As part of his confidence, David plans to present a freewill offering and give thanks to the Lord. This was written while David was being betrayed by the people of Ziph and pursued by King Saul (1 Samuel 23:19–20).

David prays for God's rescue and vindication. Heartless, godless men are working to have him killed (1 Samuel 23:19–20). However, David is certain that God is his helper and will keep him alive. He believes God will bring vengeance on those enemies, ending their lives while sparing David. David is so confident in the Lord's rescue that he promises to present a freewill offering when he returns to the sanctuary. David's trust in God is based, in part, on the ways the Lord had helped him in the past.

Psalm 54 is one of the psalms written by David when he was a fugitive from King Saul. David describes his dependence on the Lord to help him in a crisis. The crisis involved the Ziphites' betraying David by telling Saul where he was (1 Samuel 23:19–20; 26:1–2). God rewarded David's confidence and refusal to take revenge (1 Samuel 24:4–8) by sparing his life.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.