Seder 9: Psalm 59---Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

 Psalm 59 is one of the six Psalms labeled a "miktam."  It is also one of four psalms to be sung "according to Do Not Destroy" (Ps 57-59, 75).  

The psalm's superscription connects it to the time when Saul sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him (1 Sa 19:11).  In that situation God delivered David through the help of Jonathan and Michal.  Accordingly, the midrash on Psalm 59 recalls Ecclesiastes 4:12, which says, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him---a threefold cord is not quickly broken." The midrash also reflects on the value of a good spouse.  

Psalm 59 is an individual lament that also takes a global view of things.  The psalmist prays for God's deliverance and vindication so that the whole world will know God rules over all, and over Israel in particular (vv 5, 13).  

He describes enemies who are attacking him for no reason (see 1 Sa 20:1; 24:11, where David protests his innocence), and who believe they will not he held accountable for their actions.  He prays that God will punish them in such a way as to to send the most effective message to the world.  He asks that they be trapped by their own plots and ultimately destroyed (vv 10-13).  

In a familiar pattern in the psalms, lament is transformed to confident praise as the psalmist reflects on God's strength and faithfulness.  He knows that God is his fortress, a sure source of protection.

Seder 30: Psalm 142--- Help for the Tired and Lonely

 Psalm 142 is an individual lament psalm.  The psalmist, exhausted and lonely, knows God is the one to whom he can turn.  He has been struggling to know what to do, and he knows that God can lead him in the right way (v 3).  At a time when there is no person on his side, he knows God is there (vv 4-6).

The psalmist looks forward to a time when his trial is over and he can praise God publicly, supported by other believers (v 7).  

Psalm 142 is traditionally associated with the situation when David and his ragtag army were hiding in a cave at En Gedi while King Saul was pursuing them (1 Sam 24).  Rabbinic interpretation of the psalm looked for connections with this specific setting.  

For example, verse 1 uses parallelism:  "With my voice I cry out to the Lord, with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord."  The sages asserted that the parallelism suggested David prayed for two things---to not fall into Saul's hands, and for Saul not to fall into his hands.  They also said that the "trap" in verse 3 might be the temptation to kill Saul.  

The sages were experts at connecting scriptures.  In verse 4, the psalmist says,

"Look to the right and see; there is none who takes notice of me."  

The rabbis noted that while there was no human who would help David, God was there.  They quoted  Psalm 109:31:  

"For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death."

This connection fits right in with the message of the psalm.  God is always there.