This Psalm of David is seen as an Imprecatory Psalm. And that means it is written to call upon God to bring down judgement or curses upon one's enemies. There are several Psalms like this; if you read them, you can see a similar thought running through them (e.g. Psalms 7, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 137, 139).
It cannot be ascertained the reason for David writing this Psalm; most believe that it was when David was being hunted by Saul & therefore elaborates 1 Samuel chapter 24, & specifically to verse 15. So the imprecation (call for justice) is not against Saul himself, since David had actually spared Saul's life in this incident, but was against those who stirred up Saul to have such a hatred & jealousy against David.
However, others don't see this Psalm as applying to that incident, but to the opposition David received by Ahithophel, or maybe Shimei, or even Mephibosheth's ingratitude or even Absalom's rebellion. Whatever the reason for writing the Psalm, & like many of the Psalms, one can break it down to understand the writer's thoughts & feelings that he experienced in his troubles.
So we see verses 1-10 as David's petition to the Lord for deliverance & bringing down of judgement upon his enemies.
Verses 11-16: David's lamentation over the unjust hatred he receives from his enemies.
Verses 17-28: his further petition to the Lord for deliverance & justice.
And finally, there is always a note of praise & joy in these Psalms, in knowing that the Lord will not withhold His Hand from evil doers.
Just a further note: I had given some more examples of Imprecatory Psalms that you could look up, but they were culled, leaving only Psalm 7. So here they are again:
It cannot be ascertained the reason for David writing this Psalm; most believe that it was when David was being hunted by Saul & therefore elaborates 1 Samuel chapter 24, & specifically to verse 15. So the imprecation (call for justice) is not against Saul himself, since David had actually spared Saul's life in this incident, but was against those who stirred up Saul to have such a hatred & jealousy against David.
However, others don't see this Psalm as applying to that incident, but to the opposition David received by Ahithophel, or maybe Shimei, or even Mephibosheth's ingratitude or even Absalom's rebellion. Whatever the reason for writing the Psalm, & like many of the Psalms, one can break it down to understand the writer's thoughts & feelings that he experienced in his troubles.
So we see verses 1-10 as David's petition to the Lord for deliverance & bringing down of judgement upon his enemies.
Verses 11-16: David's lamentation over the unjust hatred he receives from his enemies.
Verses 17-28: his further petition to the Lord for deliverance & justice.
And finally, there is always a note of praise & joy in these Psalms, in knowing that the Lord will not withhold His Hand from evil doers.
Psalm 55; Psalm 58; Psalm 59; Psalm 69; Psalm 79; Psalm 109; Psalm 137; and Psalm 139.
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