Verse 1

Psalm 54:1-7. See on Psalm 4:1, title; see on Psalm 32:1, title; for the history, see 1 Samuel 23:19, 1 Samuel 23:29; 1 Samuel 26:1-25. After an earnest cry for help, the Psalmist promises praise in the assurance of a hearing.

by thy name — (Psalm 5:11), specially, power.

judge me — as in Psalm 7:8; Psalm 26:1.

Verse 2

(Compare Psalm 4:1; Psalm 5:1).

Verse 3

strangers — perhaps Ziphites.

oppressors — literally, “terrible ones” (Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 25:3). Such were Saul and his army.

not set  …  them — acted as atheists, without God‘s fear (compare Psalm 16:8).

Verse 4

(Compare Psalm 30:10).

with them — on their side, and for me (compare Psalm 46:11).

Verse 5

evil — or, “Evil shall return on” (Psalm 7:16) my enemies or watchers, that is, to do me evil (Psalm 6:7).

in thy truth — Thy verified promise.

Verse 6

I will freely, etc. — or, present a freewill offering (Leviticus 7:16; Numbers 15:3).

Verse 7

desire — (compare Psalm 59:10; Psalm 112:8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (compare Psalm 52:6, Psalm 52:7).