I Will Sing of Your Strength – Psalm 59:16,17

This is yet another psalm in which the header describes its situational origin as the time when king Saul was seeking to kill David and David had to flee for safety.  This particular psalm refers to 1 Samuel 19, when David’s wife Michal helped David escape from their home by telling Saul’s men he was sick in bed and putting things under the covers to look like David was there.  When her father Saul confronts her about letting David escape, she claims David threatened her and she had no choice.  Oh, the intrigue!

One problem in this psalm, however, is that the enemies David speaks of are the nations, which normally means non-Israelites or Gentiles, whereas Saul’s men watching at his window are Israelites, not Gentiles.  If we take the header description as accurate, then perhaps David is speaking of these Jewish men as if they are Gentiles because they are so wicked.  Or it may be that the header, as some argue, is not part of Scripture and therefore not an accurate description for this psalm.

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.  For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.  O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.  (Psalm 59:16-17 ESV)

Giving praise to God for His goodness and protection is done well in verbal testimony to others, but singing His praise in another important way to acknowledge His greatness.  Singing engages aspects of our minds and hearts and personalities that enable others as well to take praise to another level.  Why shouldn’t we sing when we have seen God be our loving fortress in our day of distress.