Psalm 59 12For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips —let them be caught in their arrogance. For the curses and lies they tell; 13in anger destroy them, destroy them until they’re gone. Then they’ll know God rules over Jacob and to the most distant parts of the world.
A few verses ago, David wanted the LORD to keep them around so they may be an example to people so they may see what happens to such people eventually. Now, the time in the psalm comes in which David desires their destruction. What could have David desire such things of these people? They sin with mouths and with the words of their lips. They curse and lie with their lips, mouths and tongues. This should not surprise us. David is writing here inspired by the Holy Spirit. God hates lies and liars. This is God’s desire for such people. Jesus would tell such people in His day that Abraham wasn’t their father but the devil was, because they wanted to kill Him. They were trying to kill Him by lying and twisting what Jesus said.
Lies do anger God. Jesus is the Truth. Lies blaspheme Jesus. People who tell lies and delight in lies oppose Jesus. This is why David wants them destroyed by God until they are gone. When God acts and He destroys these children of the devil, then they’ll know God who rules over Jacob, who is the King of Israel all over the world. Let us then glorify the name of Jesus by telling the truth. Let us fear His name more than we fear what harm may come to us if we tell the truth.
14When evening comes they return, howling like dogs and prowling around the city. 15They wander around to devour, and if they don’t get all they want, they go on all night.
These people who seek David’s life don’t seem to give up. Such people are not only after David. Throughout Israel’s history, these are those people whom the LORD condemns throughout the prophets. They seek to hurt and harm people whom they think they can take advantage of. They hurt and harm people, namely the widow, the orphan, the poor, the foreigner and the priests. They took advantage of these people through lies and bribery, subverting justice. We see this still in our days throughout the nations. You may even be subject to it yourselves. They act under the cover of darkness to make their deeds appear as if they are acting in the light but they are not.
16But I will sing about Your power and in the morning shout loudly about Your kindness. You are my Mountain Refuge where I can flee when I’m in trouble. 170 My Strength, I am watching for You because God is my Mountain Refuge.
In opposition to those who speak in darkness, David sings about God’s power and kindness in the morning. He speaks in the day when it is light because he delights in the Truth. He delights in Jesus. David repeats what he says earlier that the LORD is his misgab, his Mountain Fortess he flees to when he is in trouble. He closes by repeating verse 9. God is My Strength. This is a name for God, My Strength. All other helps will fail when I need them the most. God will not fail us. To be God is to be our Strength. David watched for the LORD to act. We wait upon the LORD Jesus Christ who is our Strength. We, like David, wait on Him because He is our Mountain Refuge, our Misgab. With God as our Strength and Mountain Refuge, we have the high ground over sin, death and the power of the devil, God is this for us in Christ Jesus. Put your faith in Him. You will not be disappointed.
O God our Strength, Mountain Fortress and Shield, give us faith to live in Your Truth, look to You alone for help in every trouble and to be our refuge. Do not let our trust in You fail us when night is its darkest but in the morning open our lips that we may sing Your praise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.