1 Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man;
2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.
6 I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
7 Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Free Grace note
David hands the fight to God instead of grabbing it himself. Surrounded by violent men whose tongues drip "viper's poison," David does not scheme back. In verse six he simply turns and says, "You are my God," then names his shelter: "the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle." This is the pattern Scripture repeats: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). David asks God to withhold the plans of the wicked, which is very different from taking justice into his own hands. When people plot against you or cut you down with words, you have two options: become the judge yourself, or put a bigger God between you and the threat. David chooses the second. He is not pretending the danger is small. He is trusting that his defense belongs to the Lord.
8 Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11 An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Free Grace note
The presence of God is promised to the afflicted, not the strong. The psalm ends with quiet confidence: "the righteous will give thanks to your name, the upright will dwell in your presence." Notice who receives this. Not the powerful or the self made, but "the afflicted" and "the needy" of verse twelve. This runs all through Scripture. God dwells "with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit" (Isaiah 57:15), and Jesus opened His teaching with, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Dwelling in God's presence is a gift given to those who know they cannot fix things themselves. If you feel afflicted and needy right now, you are not disqualified from His presence. You are exactly the kind of person the promise names.
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