Chronology note: Although their titles do not specifically indicate that they were written during the time that David was fleeing from Saul, the content of these two psalms does reflect the situation. If you prefer to date them later in David’s life, we have no quarrel.

Psalm 35

• Praise to the Lord is found in three places: verses 9-10, 18, and 27-28. Perhaps praise is the conclusion of three consecutive divisions of the psalm.
• Three times we read about David’s opposition: verses 1-3, 11-16, and 19-21. Perhaps laying his burden before the Lord begins each of three consecutive divisions of the psalm.
• Between the burden and the praise in each of the three sections we read David’s prayer requests: 4-8, 17, and 22-26, most often begun in the old English with “Let…”.

Psalm 36

• Here we see the contrast between a wicked man (vss. 1-4) and God (vss. 5-10).
• With God’s majesty in view, David’s prayer is that God will be on his side (11-12); indeed, by faith he sees it so!

Meditation Points:

1. David’s enemies were real. His prayers were real also.
2. Jesus said to pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44-48). Would you say that these psalms qualify?
3. Why would David pray? What could God do about the situation?
4. David knew God, and he knew a lot about God. Do you know much about God? David’s faith was great because his familiarity with God’s greatness was great. Little familiarity with God leads to little, if any, faith.

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Meditation Points:

• “The king has commanded me a business” (1 Samuel 21:2); and “the king’s business required haste” (1 Samuel 21:8). Was David speaking about God, his King; or was he intentionally deceiving the priest?
• David and his men ate the holy shewbread (21:4-6). Jesus refers to this event (Mark 2:25-26) as an illustration that sometimes the ritual law is subsidiary to the preservation of life. Chew on this for a while.
• The only weapon available was the sword of Goliath (verse 9), which David took as he fled to Goliath’s homeland of Gath (verse10)!
• Should David have run to the enemy for refuge, or should he have stayed to face Saul? (Should Jonah have gotten on the boat leading away from Ninevah?)
• Psalm 56
  • David’s complaints (vss. 1-2, 5-6) that people were against him.
  • David’s confidence (vss 3-4, 7-9) that God will protect him.
  • David’s praise of God (vss. 10-13) for who He is and what He does.

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Meditation Points:

• Michal lied to the king’s messengers, and to her father the king, in order to help David escape with his life (19:13-14). Rahab hid the spies from Jericho’s soldiers. Many people hid Jews from Nazi soldiers. Would you have done the same?
• Did Micahl lie (to protect herself?) when she blamed David for the ruse (19:17)?
• Although Samuel was no longer involved in the day-to-day government of Israel, he did not retire completely from society. Still he ministered as head of the school of the prophets (19:20); and it was to him that David ran (19:18).
• A whole lot of prophesying going on (19:20-24).
  • the prophets
  • three groups of soldiers
  • king Saul himself
• Prophesying may also include praising God and preaching, as well as foretelling the future. Whatever is was that they were doing, it distracted the soldiers and Saul from their goal of arresting David.
• David and Jonathan covenanted to protect one another (20:16-17, 42). No greater love has any man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
• Jonathan lied to his father, king Saul, about David’s whereabouts (1 Samuel 20:28-29). We really do need to discuss all this lying.
• Jonathan learned the ugly truth about his father’s intent to kill David (20:33). Such discoveries about beloved family are never pleasant.

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Meditation Points:

• Don’t forget to read the Psalm titles.
• David had trouble in his life. That trouble is the basis of this psalm. The difference between this psalm and country-western songs that talk about life’s troubles, is that this song ends glorifying God rather than the songwriter’s woes.
• Who could believe that his father-in-law, Saul the king of Israel, wanted to kill David? Often we find people who do not like us, and that without cause.
• You’ll find a mixture of praying (vss. 1-2, 5, 11-13, 14-15) and complaining (vss. 3-4, 6-7) in this psalm. Are your prayers a mixture of praying and complaining, too?
• Selah (vss. 5, 13). Some have suggested this is a musical notation indicating a place to rest. Perhaps in our reading these would be good places to stop and meditate.
• “Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.” (vs. 5).
• “Who, they say, does hear?” When sinners think nobody is watching, they’ll try almost anything.
• God’s sense of humor (Psalm 59:8).
• David is annoyed by the speech sins of his adversaries (vs. 12).
• God is powerful and merciful (vs. 16). Do you know this to be true in your life?
• “My defense and refuge in the day of trouble” (vs. 17). Where do you turn for help?

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