I will sing of your love
Psalms 59:16 - King Saul wanted David dead, yet David’s faith was so strong that he could sing joyful praises of God’s protection and deliverance while on the run.
This image was created using DALL·E, OpenAI’s legacy image generation model.
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
Psalms 59:16 NIV
Psalm 59 is titled “For the director of music. To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’. Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.”
Wow - that’s a lot of information to start off a psalm! This incident is described in 1 Samuel 19:11-12, with King Saul revealing his hatred of David and intentions to murder him, which caused David to become a fugitive for many years. David wrote the song later to commemorate the Lord’s deliverance and protection, setting it to an existing tune. What’s a miktam (מִכְתָּם)? Well, the answer to that question has been lost to time, although it could simply mean “a poem” that was then set to music.
David is on the run. It is thought by Biblical scholars that he was a fugitive from Saul’s men for 10 to 15 years. It is a credit to David’s rock-solid faith that he could go through this period of uncertainty in his life singing his praises of God - “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love”.
Think of it: David has a number of men who want to murder him, but instead of lying awake fearing his possible demise, he sings of God’s power and mercy. He knows that he will still be alive the next morning thanks to God’s protection, at which time he’ll sing again!
David wasn’t perfect, but he had unshakable faith. The highest powers of the kingdom wished him dead, but he sings songs of praise instead of bemoaning his situation. At the beginning of Psalm 59 (verse 1), David asks God for deliverance:
'Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me. '
Psalms 59:1
A fortress in Judea around the time of King Saul. This image was created using DALL·E, OpenAI’s legacy image generation model.
By this point near the end of the psalm, David is so confident that he sings that God is “my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” In Psalm 59:16-17, David uses three separate Hebrew words to describe singing God’s praises. He sings (שִׁיר - šîr) of God’s strength, he joyfully sings (רָנַן - rānan) of God’s love, and he sings praises (זָמַר - zāmar) to God for being his strength and fortress.
The word fortress brings to mind an image of protection and safety. In David’s time, a fortress provided security and defense against enemies for many people. This metaphor is used frequently in the Psalms to describe God’s protection (see Psalm 46:7, Psalm 37:39) in times of danger against both physical and spiritual threats.
David also used the word refuge to describe God’s role as his sanctuary in his difficulties. In ancient Hebrew, this word was מָנוֹס - mānôs - a place of escape. It seems to denote a place where one could find solitary peace and protection, perhaps a quiet spot away from those who were out to kill you! I think my favorite AI artist Dall-E did a wonderful job of envisioning what this refuge may have looked like in the image at the top of this devotional.
Believers find peace and protection in Jesus Christ. These songs of David are a reminder that God delivers and sustains His people!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, when I arise in the morning, I pray that I will be mindful of your unending protection and love, and sing my praises to you. When trouble comes my way, I know that you are my strength and the place of refuge in which I can find peace and safety. I thank You for always being with me, and I ask for Your assistance in helping others to calm their fears through reminders of how You deliver Your faithful from evil. I make my humble prayer in the name of Jesus, AMEN.
God taught me to sing in times of tragedy, trouble & uncertainity. When my young husband died instantly in a head on collision, my father-in-law died of a sudden heart attack & my younger brother died while driving a full load of dirt in our company dumptruck -- all of these tragedies within one year of each other. God is with me---that's all that matters.
Psalm 23:4-6
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.