HELPER-Psalm 54

HELPER, Sustainer, Supporter, Upholder: “Surely God [ĕlōhîm] is my help [ʿēzer]; the Lord [ăḏōnāy] is the one [among those] who sustains [supports, upholds, props] me” (Ps 54:5). “Cast your cares on the LORD [Yᵊhōvâ] and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Ps 55:22).

1. 1. 1. 1. HELP (Ps 54:1-3)! “Save me, O God…” (Ps 54:1).

1. 1. 1. 2. HELPER (Ps 54:4). “Surely God is my help…” (Ps 54:4).

1. 1. 1. 3. HELPED (Ps 54:5-7). “You have delivered me…” (Ps 54:7).

Psalm 54 is a plea for deliverance. It is about the help God gave David when he was betrayed by his own people, the Ziphites. It shares with Psalms 52 and 53 the theme of enemies who have no regard for God (Ps 52:7; 53:1, 4, 54:3). It revolves around the major theme of God as HELPER: “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains [supports, upholds] me” (Ps 54:4). References to God’s “name” as the basis of his hope for deliverance bracket the psalm at the beginning with “God/Elohim” (Ps 54:1) and the end with “LORD/Yahweh” (Ps 54:6).

I. HELP (54:1-3).

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” This historical note is connected with the Ziphites [who are from Judah as David was] informing Saul that David and his men were hiding in their territory, and promised to turn him over to Saul (1 Sam 23:19-20; 26:1).

1 Save me, O God [ĕlōhîm], by your name (1 Sam 25:25; Ps 23:3; 48:9-10; 52:9; Ac 3:16);
vindicate me [plead my cause] by your might.

2 Hear my prayer, O God [ĕlōhîm];
listen to the words of my mouth.

3 Arrogant foes [strangers] are attacking me;
ruthless [terrifying] people are trying to kill me—
people without regard for God [ĕlōhîm].

What’s in a name (Ps 54:1)?

• “Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him” (1 Sam 25:25).
• “…he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (Ps 23:3).
• “And I will hope in your name, for your name is good” (Ps 52:9b).
• “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love [hesed]. Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness (Ps 48:9-10).

  “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Ac 3:16).

II. HELPER (Ps 54:4).

4 Surely God [ĕlōhîm] is my help; the Lord [ăḏōnāy] is the one [among those] who sustains [supports, upholds] me. (1 Sam 23:13; 2 Sam 23:8ff; Ps 30:10; 118:7; 72:12)

Where does your help come from (Ps 54:4)?

• “So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there” (1 Sam 23:13).
• “These are the names of David’s mighty warriors…” “Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.” “Among the Thirty were…” (2 Sam 23:8, 17, 34).
• “Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help” (Ps 30:10).
• “The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies” (Ps 118:7).
• “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help” (Ps 72:12).

III. HELPED (Ps 54:5-7).

5 Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them. (Rom 12:19)

6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering (Ps 51:12) to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. (Ps 50:7-15; 51:16-17; Dt 12:5-7)

7 You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

Does God need your offering? Should you make offerings to God? How should you make them?

• “I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine… ‘Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me’” (Ps 50:7-15).
• “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Ps 51:12, 16-17).
• “…seek the place the Lord your God will choose … to put his Name there for his dwelling. … there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings…” (Dt 12:5-6).

Help when Abandoned and Betrayed. Delivered from Every Trouble. Betrayal. Go to God. Forgive (Lk 23:34; Phil 4:13; Heb 12:15).