Psalm 54:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

NIV: You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

NASB: For He has saved me from all trouble, And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.

CSB: For he has rescued me from every trouble, and my eye has looked down on my enemies.

NLT: For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

KJV: For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

NKJV: For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

When betrayed by enemies and pursued by Saul (1 Samuel 23:19–20), David prayed for rescue (Psalm 54:1–3). This was immediately followed by his confident declaration that the Lord would keep him safe, take vengeance on the evil ones, and bring David safely back to worship in the sanctuary (Psalm 54:4–6).

Among the reasons David is so confident is prior experience. God had already delivered him from dangers and allowed him to look in triumph on his enemies. Of course, David would still face many troubles and battles before taking his rightful place on the throne of Israel, but his faith was strong. He regarded the ultimate victory as having been accomplished already. Many believe David also wrote Psalm 118. There, the psalmist testifies, "The Lᴏʀᴅ is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those that hate me" (Psalm 118:7).

Christians, too, are victors by the Lord's grace. Paul writes about the troubles that assail believers (Romans 8:36), but adds, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). Someday, believers will return from heaven to earth with the Lord Jesus Christ and share in His victory over evildoers. Although they will not engage the enemy, they will witness Jesus' triumph (Revelation 19:11–21).

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.