Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 54 with Augustine – The Folly of Betrayal The title of this psalm has fruit in its long-windedness, if it is understood. And because the psalm is short, let us linger over the title. For every verse depends on this. The title reads: “When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” Saul was persecutor of holy David. Saul represented a worldly kingdom, belonging not to life but to death. And David himself represented Christ, or of the Body of Christ. What about the Ziphites? There was a certain village, Ziph, whose inhabitants were Ziphites, in whose country David had hidden himself, when Saul wanted to find and kill him. These Ziphites then, when they had learned this, betrayed him to king Saul, his persecutor, saying, “Is not David hiding among us?” Their betrayal was of no good to them, and no harm came to David. For their evil plot was discovered, but Saul still could not seize David. Rather in a certain cave in that very country, when Saul had been given into his hands, David spared him, and did not do what was in his power (1 Sam 24:4). But Saul was seeking to do what was not in his power. Let those who have been Ziphites take note. Would you also wish to be a Ziphite? They flourish in the world, wither in judgment, and after suffering, will be thrown into everlasting fire. Would you also choose this? Are you ignorant of what he has promised you, who has come to you, what he displayed in himself?