Big Idea: Although the enemies of our personal world—sickness, slander, uncertainty, and so on—may roam as scavengers of the night, in faithful trust we will sing God’s morning song of love.

Understanding the Text

In terms of traditional categories, this psalm is an individual lament, for the suppliant’s character has been maligned by his enemies, to which he attests his innocence and confesses his faith in the loving God.

Judging from the titles of Psalms 56–60, we see literary threads that connect these psalms as a group (see table 1 in the unit on Ps. 56). Psalms 58 (58:3–5) and 59 (59:3–4, 6–7, 14–15) deal with the wicked who use the power of speech to destroy the objects of their malicious motivations.

Outline/Structure

Psalm 59 falls into two parts, each ending with a refrain…