Peril and Prayer
Psalm 54:1-7
Save me, O God, by your name, and judge me by your strength.…


Here we have -

I. PERIL MOVING TO PRAYER. (Vers. 1-3.) Danger may arise from various causes. Soul-danger is the worst. Then when sore pressed and in trouble, the instinct of the heart is to cry to God, "Save me!" Prayer is "the mighty utterance of a mighty need" (Trench).

II. PRAYER INSPIRING CONFIDENCE. (Ver. 4.) Prayer brings the soul into the very presence of God. The thought of what he is (" thy Name") and of what he has done ("God is mine Helper"), furnish ample pleas for entreaty, and sure ground for hope. Experience gives us courage to cleave to the word of promise. "If God be with us, who can be against us?"

III. CONFIDENCE ANTICIPATING DELIVERANCE. (Ver. 5.) The nearer we get to God, the more truly we are in sympathy with him, so as to make his will our will, the more certain do we become of deliverance. We rise to the vision of victory. God is ever on the side of right. There may still be clouds, but we see the bright light shining above the clouds. There may still be struggles and pains, but we press on with renewed ardour and assurance, for we know whom we have believed, and that he is able to keep that which we have committed to him, and to bring forth judgment unto victory.

IV. DELIVERANCE. AWAKING PRAISE. (Ver. 6.) Some forget their obligations to God when the danger is past; but it will not be so with the righteous. Like the Samaritan leper, they return to give glory to God - with sacrifices of thanksgiving and songs of praise. - W.F.



Parallel Verses
KJV: {To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?} Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

WEB: Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.




The Salvation of the Church, and the Destruction of Her Enemies
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