Psalm 59:11-13

The thought and structure of the second section of Psalm 59 (verses 11-17) are parallel to the thought and structure of the first section (verses 1-10). Accordingly, the second section naturally falls into two parts: verses 11-13 [parallel to verses 1-5] and verses 14-17 [parallel to verses 6-10]. The poet prays in verses 11-13:

"Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob."

1. There is an ongoing battle between the righteous and the wicked on earth; so the composer of Psalm 59 prays that God's people will always be aware that they are engaged in mortal combat against Satan and his forces. But Yahweh's power is greater than the forces of evil, and ultimately Yahweh will prevail and deliver his faithful people from his and their enemies.
2. Yahweh alone is our "shield" (see Genesis 15:1; Psalms 3:3; 7:10; 18:2, 30, 35 [=2 Samuel 22:3, 31, 36]; 28:7; 33:20; 84:11; 115:9-11; 119:114; 144:2), that is, our protection from all dangers.
3. As in verse 7, in verse 12 the author denounces the ungodly speech of her or his enemies, including cursing and lies. But such speech issues from the heart, which is the real source of sin: PRIDE (see Isaiah 2:6-22; Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Peter 5:5-6.
4. When Yahweh works in the lives of his chosen people, his primary purpose is to demonstrate to the whole world that he alone is God. See Joshua 4:23-24; 1 Samuel 17:46; 2 Kings 19:14-19= Isaiah 37:14-20.
The warfare between the redeemed and the obstinate rages daily. May God's people seek refuge behind their only reliable protection: Yahweh our "shield."

John Willis