Why does David first say “do not kill” and later “consume”?
He asks for a process: scatter and expose them so the community learns, then bring entrenched evil to an end. The concern is remembered public justice, not contradictory impulses.
PSALM 59 — THE GOD WHO MEETS ME WITH STEADFAST LOVE
Why does David first say “do not kill” and later “consume”? Study Psalm 59 with context, apologetic analysis, and cross-references.
Psalm 593 questions
Source linked
Commentary provenance
Dr. Lucas D. Shallua Commentary · PSALM 59 — THE GOD WHO MEETS ME WITH STEADFAST LOVE
The precise difficulties
- Why does David first say “do not kill” and later “consume”?
- Why ask God not to be gracious to evildoers?
- How can David be innocent if he is a sinner?
Verse and question study
Why ask God not to be gracious to evildoers?
The petition concerns treacherous people persisting in lethal rebellion. It asks that judgment not be suspended in a way that abandons victims; it does not forbid prayer that enemies repent and cease being treacherous.
How can David be innocent if he is a sinner?
He denies the offense alleged or any conduct warranting assassination. Specific innocence and general need for forgiveness coexist throughout the Psalter.
Historical and literary context
Genre: individual lament, confidence psalm, and imprecatory prayer. The superscription identifies another Davidic miktam set to “Do Not Destroy” and connects it to Saul's attempt to have David killed at home (1 Samuel 19:11–17). Michal enabled his escape while the watchers expected to seize him in the morning. Refrains about God as strength and fortress occur at verses 9–10 and 16–17. The psalm expands from local assassins to “nations,” either universalizing the threat, describing foreign-like wickedness, or reflecting later communal use. English Psalm 59 is Psalm 58 in Greek/Latin numbering.
Apologetic note
Psalm 59 gives victims of surveillance and state-sponsored violence a vocabulary that neither normalizes the threat nor demands private retaliation. It asks for transparent judgment whose lesson the community remembers. Divine laughter confronts the perpetrators' assumption that hidden coordination is unheard.
Chapter cross-references
- 1 Samuel 19:8–17 Saul's agents watch David's house
- Psalm 2:1–4 God laughs at rebellious rulers
- Psalm 7:3–10 Specific innocence is submitted to God's search
- Psalm 18:2 God is rock and fortress
- Psalm 55:9–11 Violence circles the city
- Psalm 57:1–3 Steadfast love comes from heaven to rescue
- Proverbs 12:13 An evil person is trapped by sinful lips
- Matthew 26:3–5 Authorities secretly plot Jesus' death
- Acts 23:12–24 A lethal ambush is exposed and prevented
- Romans 13:1–4 Public judgment should restrain wrongdoing
- 2 Timothy 4:16–18 The Lord stands by and delivers Paul
- Revelation 2:23 Christ searches hearts and repays deeds
- Revelation 19:15–16 The universal King ends entrenched rebellion
Source and editorial status
Dr. Shallua’s Commentary
This study preserves the hard questions, explanations, context, apologetic note, and references from Dr. Shallua's Commentary.