This psalm refers to events in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, and precedes the moment celebrated in Psalm 34. This is very much a Covenant song. The Law of God promises divine protection among other blessings to those who obey. On the one hand, David is willing to give his life as the price of God’s favor. He knows that God has called him and the Prophet Samuel had anointed him the next king of Israel. But the Law says David must wait until God deals with the reigning King Saul. So David flees to the Philistines and would have lived quietly among them. The Philistines surely knew of court politics in Israel and why David was among them. Still, some insisted he could not take refuge among them. It was easy to seize David, since he had nowhere else to go. This was his prayer during that time of custody.
We note in passing the header refers to some long lost tune more commonly known then as “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.”
David calls first for God’s mercy, since there is precious little mercy from the people around him. He pictures them crowing at the chance to take revenge on someone who had been obedient to Jehovah in all things. It is very obviously a reference to armed military men, and David is hounded at home and abroad. His fears David can handle, but he must trust in God to handle his enemies, as they are God’s enemies, too. As such, they are mere men who cannot defy God.
David is in dire straights. It’s not just one or two, but a whole herd of folks investing significant effort and resources in capturing him like a trophy. He prays God to keep track of all this sorrow as evidence against them. Every tear should be saved up in a water skin as evidence for the divine court. Every detail is already noted in Heaven’s record of events.
Indeed, if they knew just Who was supporting and protecting David, they would immediately flee when David cried out His name. David suffers no doubt in the favor of his Lord. God has committed Himself with a solemn vow to those who trust Him, and that includes David. Again, what human can oppose Almighty God? Without His permission, they can do nothing to David. For his part, David is committed to God’s glory and intends to uphold his end of the Covenant. Nothing could be sweeter in this life.
