Psalms 54:4 - Meaning and Application

Here we see how David’s faith was alive in prayer. He trusted that the outcome would be good, even though the attack against him was serious.

First, he was sure that God was on his side and supported him (Psalm 54:4). He says it with confidence, “Behold, God is my helper.” If we are on God’s side, then he is on our side. And if he is for us, then we do not need to fear any power against us. Men and demons may try to destroy us, but they will not succeed while God is our helper. “The Lord is with those who uphold my soul.” Compare (Psalm 118:7), “The Lord takes my part with those who help me.” There are people who support us, but God is one of them in the highest sense. In fact, none of them could help us if he did not help them first. Every creature is only what God makes it to be, and no more. David means, “The Lord is the one who keeps my soul strong, and keeps me from growing tired in my work or sinking under my burdens.” The God who upholds all things by his power also upholds his people by his grace. He will save them in his time, and in the meantime he supports them so that the life he has given them does not fail before him.

Because God was on his side, David did not doubt that his enemies would flee and fall before him (Psalm 54:5). “He will repay evil to my enemies, who watch me and look for a chance to harm me.” The evil they planned against him, the righteous God would send back on their own heads. David would not repay them with evil himself, but he knew God would. He says, “I was like a deaf man and did not hear, because you will hear.” The enemies we forgive, if they do not repent, will be judged by God. That is why we must not take revenge ourselves, because God has said, “Vengeance is mine.” David then prays, “Cut them off in your truth.” This is not a prayer from hatred, but a prayer of faith. It looks to God’s word and only asks that he do what he has said. God’s warnings are true as well as his promises, and stubborn sinners will find that out to their cost.

David also promises to thank God for all the kindness he has already received (Psalm 54:6). “I will sacrifice to you.” Even though sacrifices were costly, David was willing to offer them freely when God called for that kind of worship. He would not do it grudgingly. In the same way, all our spiritual sacrifices, our worship and service, should be freewill offerings. God loves a cheerful giver. Yet David will not stop with the outward sacrifice, which was only a shadow of the real thing. He will give the deeper offering too: “I will praise your name.” A thankful heart, and thankful words, are the sacrifices God accepts. “I will praise your name, for it is good.” God’s name is not only great, but good, and that is reason enough to praise it. Praising his name is not only our duty, it is also good for us, pleasant for us, and profitable for us (Psalm 92:1). So David says, “I will praise your name.”

He ends by speaking of his deliverance as if it were already complete (Psalm 54:7). “I will praise your name,” he says, “and say, He has delivered me.” That will be his song. What he rejoices in is a full deliverance, “He has delivered me from all trouble.” It is also a deliverance that fully satisfied him, “My eye has seen my desire upon my enemies.” That does not mean he saw them destroyed, but that he saw them forced to withdraw. For example, Saul had to break off his pursuit when news came that the Philistines were attacking (1 Samuel 23:27, 1 Samuel 23:28). David only wanted to be safe himself, and when Saul pulled back, David had what he wanted.

“He has delivered me from all trouble.” David may mean this in one of two ways. He may be comforting himself in trouble by looking back: God has delivered him many times before, so he will deliver him again. Or he may be magnifying his present rescue after the danger passed, treating it as a sign of more deliverance still to come. He speaks of the full completion of his rescue as if it were already done, because God had promised it, and that made it as sure as if it had happened. God had begun to deliver him from all trouble, and would one day let him see his desire upon his enemies.

This may also point to Christ, of whom David was a type, a pattern that pointed ahead to him. God would deliver Christ from all the troubles of his lowly life on earth, and David was sure of that. In the end, all things are said to be put under Christ’s feet. Though we do not yet see everything under him, we are sure he will reign until all his enemies become his footstool, and he will see his desire upon them. In any case, this should encourage every believer to use personal deliverances the way Paul does in (2 Timothy 4:17, 2 Timothy 4:18). “He who delivered me from the lion’s mouth will deliver me from every evil work, and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”