September 13, 2017 (Wednesday)
Ziph was a city in the Judean Mountains (Joshua 15:55), south-east of Hebron. Here David hid himself from Saul (1 Samuel 23:19; Psalm 54). Inhabitants of the city (Ziphites) reported David’s location to Saul. They hated David for some reason, but they probably were seeking reward by betraying his presence among them as he fled from Saul’s unreasonable wrath. This is David’s prayer for God’s help.
Psalm 54
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
I. I Need Your Help, O God (1-3)
1 Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;
ruthless people are trying to kill me–
people without regard for God.
II. I Will Praise You for Your Help (4-7)
4 Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
5 Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
7 You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
(from “Jack’s Blog“): “The Ziphites were self-seekers. They betrayed David because they believed it was in their best interest. They didn’t care for David or the Kingdom of Israel, they only cared about pursuing their own personal interest. The Ziphites cared nothing for God which explains why they had no concern for David. Christian brotherhood is always greater than biological kinship. When David was having a bad day, he wrote a song or sang one. How do you handle a bad day?”