O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.

“"Hear my prayer, O God, give ear to the words of my mouth." The obvious thing for the prophet to say was, "O God, hear me." But because he is speaking as the mouthpiece of him who alone knew how to pray, we are constantly and repeatedly assured that God will hear our prayer. The words of Paul teach us that no one knows how he ought to pray: "For we know not how to pray as we ought." A human being in his weakness, therefore, has no right to demand that his prayer should be heard; for even the teacher of the Gentiles does not know the true purpose and intention of prayer, even after the Lord had provided a model. What we are shown here is the perfect confidence of Jesus, who alone sees the Father, who alone knows the Father, who alone can pray all night long—the Gospel tells us that the Lord continued all night in prayer7—who in the mirror of words has shown us the true image of the deepest of all mysteries in the simple words we use in prayer. And so, in demanding that his prayer be heard and in order to teach us that this was the prerogative of his perfect confidence, David added, "Give ear to the words of my mouth." Now can any person have such confidence that he can desire that the words of his mouth should be heard? It is with words, for instance, that we express emotions and mental instincts, when inflamed by anger, moved by hatred to slander, by flattery to fawn, motivated by hope of gain or fear of shame to lie or by resentment at injury to insult someone? Was there ever a person who was pure and patient throughout his life who was not subject to these human shortcomings? The only person who could have confidently desired this is one who has not sinned, in whose mouth there has been no deceit, who gave his back to the smiters, who did not turn his cheek away from the blow, who did not avoid scorn and spitting, who never resisted the will of him who ordered it all but was always gladly obedient.”

“"O God, in Thy name make me safe, and in Thy virtue judge me" [Psalm 54:1]. Let the Church say this, hiding amid the Ziphites. Let the Christian body say this, keeping secret the good of its morals, expecting in secret the reward of its merits, let it say this: "In Thy virtues judge me." Thou hast come, O Christ, humble Thou hast appeared, despised Thou hast been, scourged hast been, crucified hast been slain hast been; but, on the third day hast risen, on the fortieth day into Heaven hast ascended: Thou sittest at the right hand of the Father, and no one seeth: Thy Spirit thence Thou hast sent, which men that were worthy have received; fulfilled with Thy love, the praise of that very humility of Thine throughout the world and nations they have preached: Thy name I see to excel among mankind, but nevertheless as weak to us hast Thou been preached. For not even did that Teacher of the Gentiles say, that among us he knew anything, "Save Christ Jesus, and Him crucified;" in order that of Him we might choose the reproach, rather than the glory of the flourishing Ziphites. Nevertheless, of Him he saith what? "Although He died of weakness, yet He liveth of the power of God." He came then that He might die of weakness, He is to come that He may judge in the power of God: but through the weakness of the Cross His name hath been illustrious. Whosoever shall not have believed upon the name made illustrious through weakness, shall stand in awe at the Judge, when He shall have come in power. But, lest He that once was weak, when He shall have come strong, with that fan send us to the left hand; may He "save us in His name, and judge us in His virtue." For who so rash as to have desired this, as to say to God, for instance "Judge me"? Is it not wont to be said to men for a curse, "God judge thee"? So evidently it is a curse, if He judge thee in His virtue; and shall not have saved thee in His name: but when in name precedent He shall have saved thee, to thy health in virtue consequent He shall judge. Be thou without care: that judgment shall not to thee be punishment, but dividing. For in a certain Psalm thus is said: "Judge me, O God, and divide my cause from the nation unholy."...”

“"God, by your name." Above, in other Psalms, the Psalmist dwelt upon the iniquity of sinners as regards the affection for sin and contempt of God; here he sets forth the persecution which he suffers from them. The title: "Unto the end, an understanding of David, among songs." The first part of the title is plain. The second touches upon the history which is written in 1 Kings 23, when David came to the desert of the city of Ziph, and the men of that city accused David to Saul, and Saul persecuted him, yet was not able to seize him; whence this accusation did not harm David, in which it is signified that the Ziphites — that is, those who flourish in this world; Isaiah: "the glory of the world is like the flower of the field" — accuse the saints, yet are not able to harm them, because the saint is hidden among the Ziphites, since the saint does not flourish among sinners, but his flourishing is in what is hidden — namely, the flowers of honesty. Colossians 3: "your life is hidden with Christ." David therefore treats in this Psalm of the good who are hidden among the wicked and suffer persecution from them. This Psalm, then, is divided into three parts. First he sets forth a prayer. Second he shows the necessity of praying, at "for strangers." Third he sets forth a recompense, at "I will freely sacrifice." Concerning the first he does two things. First he sets down the petition. Second he sets down the granting of it, at "God, hear." His petition turns on two things. For first he asks on his own behalf. Second, on behalf of his enemies. For on his own behalf he asks that he be saved, not through his own merits but on account of love of the divine name. Whence he says: "God, in your name save me." Acts 4: "there is no other name given under heaven," and so on. Proverbs 18: "the name of the Lord is a most strong tower." On behalf of his adversaries he asks for judgment, which can be understood in three ways. In one way, of the judgment of discernment — namely, that his cause be examined. Psalm: "judge me, God, and discern." In another way, that it be understood of the judgment of persecution — namely, that according to his justice God judge him, freeing him from evils. Isaiah 12: "he shall judge the poor in justice." In another way, of the judgment of condemnation. And this he does not ask out of desire for vengeance, but by conforming himself to divine justice. Or he says this by foreseeing the judgment of the wicked. And this is what he says: "and in your power judge me, God; hear my prayer." Here the granting of the prayer is set down. In prayer there are two things: namely, that which is asked for, and the asking itself. Now sometimes God grants what is asked for, and not the asking itself, because that which is asked for, one obtains from grace and mercy, and these are gifts given by God. But the asking itself sometimes proceeds from a sinner, and therefore is not granted, because it is not acceptable to God. And therefore he asks, namely, that his prayer or petition be fulfilled, when he says: "God, hear my prayer," and that God perceive his words with his ears — "with your ears perceive the words of my mouth" — which happens when God accepts and approves his words. Psalm: "my words with your ears," and so on. "For strangers have risen up." Here he sets down the necessity of praying, where he dwells upon the persecution of his enemies: first from their disposition, second from their power, third from their contempt of God. From their disposition: because when someone entirely a stranger to another persecutes him, this is dangerous, since he rises up against him without mercy; and therefore he says, "for strangers" — that is, demons, or sinners. If it be referred to any righteous man, "they have risen up against me" without any compassion or mercy. But those can be called strangers who conduct themselves otherwise than friends do, just as Saul was a stranger to David, and the Ziphites who accused him to Saul. Job 19: "my acquaintances have withdrawn from me like strangers." From their power: because when a weak man attacks, one can defend oneself; but these are strong, "for the strong have sought my soul." 1 Kings 24: "Saul chose three thousand men to pursue David." Or "the strong," that is, demons. Luke 11: "when a strong man armed," that is, the devil, and so on. From contempt of God: because sometimes someone desists from persecution insofar as he is held back by love of God. But these do not desist even for this reason, whence he says, "and they have not set God before their sight." Psalm: "for he said in his heart: God will not require it." "For behold, God helps me." Here he shows that he has been heard in prayer. And first he shows that he has been heard as to one thing. Second he sets down being heard as to other things, at "turn away the evils." It was said above that the prayer was on his own behalf when he said "save me," and for his enemies when he said "in your power." First, then, he says he was heard on his own behalf, for he says he was saved; and then he spoke of the enemies who rose up against him and who sought his soul, and in both respects he has been saved. For against the insult of his enemies he says, "behold, God helps me" — that is, he affords me help. Isaiah 50: "the Lord God is my helper." Against this — that they seek my soul — he says, "the Lord is the upholder of my soul," as if to say: the Lord has saved me by taking me up into his protection. Wisdom 3: "the souls of the just are in the hand of God." Psalm: "but you, Lord, are the upholder," and so on. "Turn away the evils upon my enemies." Here he asks to be heard on behalf of his enemies. And he asks two things corresponding to the two things they were doing to him: they were persecuting him, and they were seeking to kill him; and therefore he asks that they themselves suffer persecution and be killed. As to the first he says, "turn away" — namely, from me — "upon my enemies the evils" which they seek to bring upon me, as if to say: turn back upon them those evils which they wish to bring upon me. As to the second he says, "destroy them," that is, cause them to be destroyed, that is, killed; "and this in your power" — or, "in your power," that is, on account of your power. But this seems to be against the word of Christ, who says: "pray for those who persecute you." It must be said that all these imprecations which are read in the prophets can be understood in three ways. In one way, by way of pronouncement, because they were speaking by the Spirit of God and foretelling future things — by way of speech, as if he said "turn away," etc., that is, "you will turn away." Whence in the Hebrew it is found in the present tense, "you turn away." In another way, according to conformity with divine justice. Third, according to spiritual denunciation: sinners, when they cease to sin, then they die and cease to be sinners. And this is to be prayed for continually. "I will freely sacrifice to you." Here he sets down the recompense. And first the recompense is set down. Second, the reason for the recompense is set down. He intends to recompense with two things: sacrifice and confession. As to the first he says, "I will freely sacrifice to you." Against this, above he said "if you had desired sacrifice, I would have given it." And it must be said that here he speaks of the sacrifice which is acceptable to God, which is the sacrifice of a contrite spirit and of the chastisement of the body. 1 Corinthians 9: "I chastise my body," and so on. Romans 12: "that you present your bodies a living sacrifice," and so on. The third sacrifice is of better things. Hebrews, the last chapter: "do not forget beneficence and fellowship, for by such sacrifices God is well pleased" — that is, God is appeased. With this threefold sacrifice, then, I will sacrifice to you, freely, that is, with joy. 1 Esdras 3: "in all in which sacrifice was offered of one's own accord." 2 Corinthians 9: "God loves a cheerful giver." As to the second he says, "I will confess to your name, Lord, for" — namely, by an act of thanksgiving. Tobit 12: "bless the God of heaven," that is, give thanks. And why? Not on account of temporal goods, as sinners do, of whom it is said, "he will praise you when you have done well to him." But on account of God's goodness and kindness, and on account of the benefits received, because I have been heard in my petitions. Whence he says he was heard as to what concerns himself, when he says, "for you have delivered me out of all tribulation." And you have heard him as to his enemies, for "my eye has looked down upon my enemies," because they were not able to harm me. Or "looked down," etc., because he despised their felicity and prosperity: "he is brought to nothing," and so on.”

“We have here the lively actings of David's faith in his prayer, by which he was assured that the issue would be comfortable, though the attempt upon him was formidable. I. He was sure that he had God on his side, that God took his part (Psa 54:4); he speaks it with an air of triumph and exultation, Behold, God is my helper. If we be for him, he is for us; and, if he be for us, we shall have such help in him that we need not fear any power engaged against us. Though men and devils aim to be our destroyers, they shall not prevail while God is our helper: The Lord is with those that uphold my soul. Compare Psa 118:7, "The Lord taketh my part with those that help me. There are some that uphold me, and God is one of them; he is the principal one; none of them could help me if he did not help them." Every creature is that to us (and no more) that God makes it to be. He means, "The Lord is he that upholds my soul, and keeps me from tiring in my work and sinking under my burdens." He that by his providence upholds all things by his grace upholds the souls of his people. God, who will in due time save his people, does, in the mean time, sustain them and bear them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail before him. II. God taking part with him, he doubted not but his enemies should both flee and fall before him (Psa 54:5): "He shall reward evil unto my enemies that observe me, seeking an opportunity to do me a mischief. The evil they designed against me the righteous God will return upon their own heads." David would not render evil to them, but he knew God would: I as a deaf man heard not, for thou wilt hear. The enemies we forgive, if they repent not, God will judge; and for this reason we must not avenge ourselves, because God has said, Vengeance is mine. But he prays, Cut them off in thy truth. This is not a prayer of malice, but a prayer of faith; for it has an eye to the word of God, and only desires the performance of that. There is truth in God's threatenings as well as in his promises, and sinners that repent not will find it so to their cost. III. He promises to give thanks to God for all the experiences he had had of his goodness to him (Psa 54:6): I will sacrifice unto thee. Though sacrifices were expensive, yet, when God required that his worshippers should in that way praise him, David would not only offer them, but offer them freely and without grudging. All our spiritual sacrifices must, in this sense, be free-will-offerings; for God loves a cheerful giver. Yet he will not only bring his sacrifice, which was but the shadow, the ceremony; he will mind the substance: I will praise thy name. A thankful heart, and the calves of our lips giving thanks to his name, are the sacrifices God will accept: "I will praise thy name, for it is good. Thy name is not only great but good, and therefore to be praised. To praise thy name is not only what we are bound to, but it is good, it is pleasant, it is profitable; it is good for us (Psa 92:1); therefore I will praise thy name." IV. He speaks of his deliverance as a thing done (Psa 54:7): I will praise thy name, and say, "He has delivered me; this shall be my song then." That which he rejoices in is a complete deliverance - He has delivered me from all trouble; and a deliverance to his heart's content - My eye has seen its desire upon my enemies, not seen them cut off and ruined, but forced to retreat, tidings being brought to Saul that the Philistines were upon him, Sa1 23:27, Sa1 23:28. All David desired was to be himself safe; when he saw Saul draw off his forces he saw his desire. He has delivered me from all trouble. Either, 1. With this thought David comforted himself when he was in distress: "He has delivered me from all trouble hitherto, and many a time I have gained my point, and seen my desire on my enemies; therefore he will deliver me out of this trouble." We should thus, in our greatest straits, encourage ourselves with our past experiences. Or, 2. With this thought he magnified his present deliverance when the fright was over, that it was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completing of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him, because, having God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it had been done already. "He that has begun to deliver me from all troubles, and will at length give me to see my desire upon my enemies." This may perhaps point at Christ, of whom David was a type; God would deliver him out of all the troubles of his state of humiliation, and he was perfectly sure of it; and all things are said to be put under his feet; for, though we see not yet all things put under him, yet we are sure he shall reign till all his enemies be made his footstool, and he shall see his desire upon them. However, it is an encouragement to all believers to make that use of their particular deliverances which St. Paul does (like David here), Ti2 4:17, Ti2 4:18, He that delivered me from the mouth of the lion shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom.”

“Behold, God is mine helper,.... This being a matter of wonder to be helped in so extraordinary a manner, and a sure and certain case, and what was deserving the attention of others; for the encouragement of their faith and hope in like cases, a "behold" is prefixed unto it: and what is here said is true of David's son, the Messiah, and is expressed by him in much the same language, Isa 50:9; and of all the saints whom the Lord helps, as at first conversion, out of the pit wherein is no water, out of the horrible pit, the mire and clay of nature's darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; so out of all their afflictions and temptations, and out of the hands of all their enemies; he helps in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty; and he helps to all mercies, temporal and spiritual, needful for them; which help is quick and present, seasonable and suitable, always sufficient; and is what they have reason to expect both from what he has said to them in promise, and from what he has done for them; the Lord is with them that uphold my soul; that ministered to his sustenance, as Abigail did, and that gathered to him and joined him, and exposed their lives in the defence of him; these the Lord was with, blessed, protected, and afforded them his gracious presence. Such there were with Christ; who followed him in the regeneration; who ministered to him of their substance, whom God rewarded in a way of grace; and he blesses them that bless his, and do good to them; they being the excellent in the earth, in whom is his delight, the apple of his eye, and his jewels. Or the sense is, that the Lord is he that upheld his soul; not only the chief of his upholders, but the only one: so R. Moses (l) interprets it, that he is the alone upholder, and is instead of all upholders, and answers to them all; who upheld his soul in life, and followed him with his goodness: as when God is said to be the first, and "with the last", the meaning is, that he is the first and the last, Isa 41:4; see Psa 118:7; so he upheld the soul of Christ in the wilderness, and in the garden, and on the cross; see Isa 42:1. And he upholds all his people in a providential way in their beings, and supplies them with all the necessaries of life; and, in a spiritual way, maintaining their spiritual life, supplying them with all grace, bearing them up under all trials, holding up their goings in his ways, and preserving them to the end. (l) Apud Aben Ezram in loc.”

“(Heb.: 54:6-9) In this second half, the poet, in the certainty of being heard, rejoices in help, and makes a vow of thanksgiving. The בּ of בּסמכי is not meant to imply that God is one out of many who upheld his threatened life; but rather that He comes within the category of such, and fills it up in Himself alone, cf. Psa 118:7; and for the origin of this Beth essentiae, Psa 99:6, Jdg 11:35. In Psa 54:7 the Kerמ merits the preference over the Chethמb (evil shall "revert" to my spies), which would at least require על instead of ל (cf. Psa 7:17). Concerning שׁררי, vid., on Psa 27:11. In the rapid transition to invocation in Psa 54:7 the end of the Psalm announces itself. The truth of God is not described as an instrumental agent of the cutting off, but as an impelling cause. It is the same Beth as in the expression בּנדבה (Num 15:3): by or out of free impulse. These free-will sacrifices are not spiritual here in opposition to the ritual sacrifices (Psa 50:14), but ritual as an outward representation of the spiritual. The subject of הצּילני is the Name of God; the post-biblical language, following Lev 24:11, calls God straightway השּׁם, and passages like Isa 30:27 and the one before us come very near to this usage. The praeterites mention the ground of the thanksgiving. What David now still hopes for will then lie behind him in the past. The closing line, v. 9b, recalls Psa 35:21, cf. Psa 59:11; Psa 92:12; the invoking of the curse upon his enemies in v. 8 recalls Psa 17:13; Psa 56:8; Psa 59:12.; and the vow of thanksgiving in v. 8 recalls Psa 22:26; Psa 35:18; Psa 40:10.”