Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 59 with John Calvin and Philip Melanchthon – Deliverance from Enemies Deliver me from my enemies, O God! (v. 1) They rise up against him, referring not simply to the fierceness of their assaults, but their great superiority of power; and yet he asks that he may be lifted up on high, above the reach of this overwhelming attack. He teaches us that we should trust God’s ability to deliver us even in emergencies, when our enemies have an overwhelming advantage. In the following verse, while he expresses the extremity to which he was reduced, he also considers the injustice and cruelty of his persecutors. I have already observed that our confidence in our approach to the throne of grace will be proportional to the degree in which we are conscious of our integrity; for we feel greater freedom in pleading a cause which is the cause of God himself. He is the vindicator of justice, the supporter of the righteous cause everywhere, and those who oppress the innocent must rank themselves among his enemies. David therefore bases his first request upon his complete lack of earthly assistance, exposed as he was to plots on every side, and attacked by an imposing conspiracy. His second request rests upon a declaration of his innocence. It may be true that afflictions are sent by God to his people as a punishment for their sins, but as far as Saul was concerned, David could rightly exempt himself from blame, and appeals to God on behalf of his integrity, which lay under suspicion from unjust slander. ——— The question here is whether it is permitted to curse enemies, as is often done in the Psalms? I respond yes, if all four of these things are true: First, the cause