In this psalm David wrote about the time Saul sent troops to watch David’s house and kill him when he left in the morning. (Ref: 1 Samuel 19:11-24) David’s wife Michal warned David and helped him escape. David was in danger because God had sent an evil spirit to torment Saul because of his sin making him mentally unstable. So what could David do? He prayed!
In verse 5, David asked God to punish them, but in verse 11, he asked God not to kill them. He wanted God to destroy them, destroy their power, destroy their influence, destroy them financially, but not kill them. Why? Because “my people soon forget such lessons”. If these men died, they would soon be forgotten, but if they were humiliated, they would be around for people to remember their treachery and how God dealt with them, and the cause of their destruction would long be remembered.
The second thing interesting about this psalm is found in verses 16-17. In spite of the pressure to save his life, David found praise to God as the answer to his problems. In difficult times, most of us worry about the circumstances and pressures. But David said, “But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my Refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to You I sing praises, for You, O God are my refuge, the God Who shows me unfailing love.”
In my life, I did not respond the way David did. I wonder what would have changed if instead of worry and frustration I had found the ability to trust in and praise God knowing He would direct my path.