提要
從詩篇五四篇的題目來看，我們明白，當大衛撰寫這一詩篇時，正是西弗人向掃羅告密，說他住在他們那裡的時候（撒上23：15、19~29）。雖然，西弗人是猶大支派（大衛支派）中的一族，他們都是不信上帝的人，所以大衛說他們是起來反抗他的「陌生的人」，所謂「壓迫者」就是掃羅及其部下，因為他們要追殺大衛（54：3；撒上23：15）。兩個仇敵團體都是目中無神的人；所以大衛描述他們的行為都是邪惡的，最後一定會招致上帝的報復（54：3下、5）。
當大衛確定上帝一定會拯救他時，他就宣稱，上帝會高舉他的生命；這一信念使他在困苦時，得到平安與安息（54：4；賽41：10；約14：16~18）。他堅定的信心容許他這樣說話，就好像上帝未來的拯救已經成就了一樣，所以他發誓要為耶和華獻上感謝和讚美的祭（比較詩50：14、23；來13：15）。
正如歷史記錄所示，耶和華的確要守信，拯救大衛脫離掃羅與西弗人的陰謀陷害。就在大衛被捕，似乎難逃一死的時候，耶和華及時發動，興起了非利士人攻擊掃羅的國家，於是掃羅不得不放棄追殺大衛，倉促領軍返回迎戰非利士人（撒上23：26~29）。
大衛的信心及對耶和華幫助的倚靠是經得住考驗的，甚至在他為王之後，也不改初衷；大衛的這一心路歷程在詩篇第五五篇中有明白的交待。至於它的著作時間，很可能是大衛遭遇其子押沙龍叛變時，心有所感而寫下的（撒下15：7~13）。他自己的兒子背叛他，使他的情感受創甚重，因而使他哀嘆不安，發聲唉哼（55：2、4）。他希望他能變成一隻鳥兒，飛逃到上帝的庇護所裡，脫離他的仇敵和他身邊的危險，因為那些人在城裡日夜散佈謠言攻擊他。更糟的情況乃是，那些轉而攻擊他的人也就是他的好友，及跟他一起敬拜上帝的人（55：12~14、20~21）。這裡所指的「好友」很可能就是亞希多弗，是大衛過去的好友，也是他的私人顧問（撒下15：12）。大衛逐漸明白，亞希多弗是一個偽君子，嘴裡講的話都是騙人的。大衛祈求上帝「變亂他們的舌頭」（55：9），因而使他回想起上帝審判巴比倫人的事，造成他們的混亂、分裂，也阻止他們的邪惡計劃。上帝藉著他的好友戶篩來回答他的禱告；由於上帝的運作，戶篩扮演一個間諜的角色，潛入押沙龍的小組織，破壞了押沙龍攻擊大衛的計劃（撒下15：34~37；17：7）。
由於不斷地禱告，大衛發現了一個庇護所（55：17），於是將他的負擔交給支持他的耶和華。當困難使我們心情沉重時，最好的方法就是將我的重擔交在上帝的手裡，因為他是看顧我們的上帝，也會在任何困難中保守我們。大衛禱告，求上帝快一點報復他的仇敵，使他滅亡（55：15、23）。他相信耶和華一定會回答他的禱告，因為他堅信上帝會救贖他，以及祂會懲罰那些不敬畏祂的人（55：19；比較撒下17：23；18：7）。
在詩篇第五六篇中，大衛再度因受仇敵欺凌而感悲傷；在這個時候，他祈求上帝在祂的烈怒中懲罰非利士人（56：7）。這首詩篇題目所示之時機是大衛為非利人士人在迦特所捕的時候。大衛共有兩次去到迦特，因此，大衛被補的時候很可能就是指他第一次逃到迦特、躲避掃羅殘害的時候；其時，他裝瘋，而且為王摒斥（撒上21：10~22：1）；第二次去迦特的時候乃是他與那一小支軍隊主動去到那裡，然而因為他是在放逐中，在某種意義上，他依然算是被捕的（撒下27：1~7）。
大衛面對惡毒的陰謀，心有所懼，也是很自然的事。不過，由於他不斷地禱告祈求上帝的憐憫，他自然就信靠上帝，並且克服了心中的恐懼。不論大衛的情況是多麼艱難，他堅定信靠上帝，並且「讚美祂的話」（56：4、10），因而能屹立在上帝的話語上，毫無所懼。他心有安慰，因為他知道，上帝在看守他，以及他的眼淚打動了上帝的心。他知道，「若是上帝幫助他，誰能敵擋他呢？」（羅8：31）。因此，他毫無所懼。他會信守誓言，向上帝獻上讚美的祭。一旦上帝救了他，保守他不再跌倒，他就會相信，他就行在光中（有新生命）（56：13下）。當耶穌拯救我們的靈魂，不使滅亡時，我們也能在祂的生命之光中行走（約8：12）。
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Overview
From the title of Psalm 54, we learn that David wrote it when the Ziphites betrayed his whereabouts to Saul (1 Samuel 23:15,19-29). Although the Ziphites were a clan within the tribe of Judah (David's tribe), they were ungodly, and thus David referred to them as "strangers" who rose up against him. The "oppressors" were Saul and his men, who were seeking to kill David (54:3; 1 Samuel 23:15). Both groups of adversaries had not set God before them; so David describes their actions as an evil for which God would bring retribution (54:3b, 5).
With assurance of deliverance from his divine helper, David declared that God would uphold his life; this gave him peace and rest in the midst of trouble (54:4; Isaiah 41:10; John 14:16-18). His great faith permitted him to speak as though the future deliverance of God had already been accomplished, and he vowed to offer unto the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise (cf. Psalm 50:14, 23; Hebrews 13:15).
As the historical records show, the Lord was indeed faithful to deliver David from the evil plans of Saul and the Ziphites. Just at the time when David's capture and death seemed inevitable, the Lord intervened by raising up the Philistines to attack the country, thus causing Saul to leave his pursuit of David to fight the other battle (1 Samuel 23:26-29).
David's faith and dependence upon God's help endured, even after he became king, as is evident in Psalm 55. The occasion for writing was most likely when he was confronted with the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:7-13). The treachery against David by his own son affected him so deeply with emotional hurt that he groaned and felt physical pain (55:2, 4). He wished he could flee like a bird to a safe place of refuge in the Lord and be far from his enemies and the dangers all around him, for they were busy night and day in his city spreading lies and strife. What made it worse was that among those who turned against him was his close friend with whom he had a covenant and with whom he worshipped God (55:12-14, 20-21). This is likely a referring to Ahithophel, David's former companion and private advisor (2 Samuel 15:12). David came to understand that Ahithophel was a hypocrite who spoke words full of deception and guile. David prayed for God to "divide their tongues" (55:9) which is reminiscent of God's judgment upon the people of Babel in bringing confusion, division, and a stop to their evil plan. God answered this prayer through Hushai, David's true friend, who infiltrated Absalom's inner circle as a spy and foiled Ahithophel's plans against David (2 Samuel 15:34-37; 17:7).
David found that place of refuge through constant prayer, (55:17) casting his burden on the Lord who sustains him. When troubles give us a heavy heart, the wisest action is to unburden ourselves upon the Lord, for He truly cares for us and will sustain us through any circumstance. David prayed that God would bring quick retribution and that his enemies would perish in their prime (55:15, 23). He was confident that the Lord would answer this prayer, because he had faith that God would redeem him and that He punishes those who do not fear Him (55:19; cf. 2 Samuel 17:23; 18:7).
In Psalm 56, David once again laments over his treatment by his enemies, and this time it is the Philistines who he asks God to punish in His wrath (56:7). The occasion for the psalm given in the title was when David was captured by the Philistines in Gath. There were two occasions when David went to Gath, but it is most likely referring to the first time when he fled there from Saul, was captured, feigned insanity, and was thrown out by the king (1 Samuel 21:10-21:1); the second time, he and his small army went there voluntarily, yet because he was in exile, he was in a sense a captive (1 Samuel 27:1-7).
It is only natural that the malicious plots against David caused him to fear. However, through much prayer and supplication in entreating God for mercy, he trusted in God and overcame his fear. No matter how difficult the circumstances, David resolved to trust God and "praise His word" (56:4, 10), and thus he stood strong upon the Word of God without fear. He took comfort in knowing that God watches over him, and his tears touched the heart of God. He knew that 'if God was for him, who could be against him?' (Romans 8:31). Therefore, he had no fear. He could proclaim with faith that when he was safe and delivered from his enemies, he would keep his vow to the Lord by offering Him the sacrifice of praise. Once God had saved and preserved him from falling, then he could be confident that he would walk in the light (have new life) (56:13b). When Jesus saves our souls from destruction, we too can walk in His Light (John 8:12).
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