Psalms 59:16
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The morning imagery carries profound significance in biblical thought. Ancient peoples feared the night—time of danger, vulnerability, spiritual threat. Morning represented deliverance, new beginning, hope renewed. God's mercies are 'new every morning' (Lamentations 3:23). Psalm 30:5 promises joy comes in the morning after weeping through the night. Resurrection occurred at dawn, when women came to Jesus's tomb 'early... when it was yet dark' (John 20:1).
For David specifically, morning had immediate significance. Saul's men watched his house overnight to kill him 'in the morning' (1 Samuel 19:11). But Michal warned David and helped him escape through a window, so he survived to see morning. Every morning of his life thereafter testified to God's faithful deliverance. Later, when David fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, he camped overnight in the wilderness and survived to return. Morning consistently represented divine deliverance.
Singing aloud was characteristic of Israel's worship. Temple worship involved choirs, instrumentalists, and congregation singing psalms antiphonally. Levitical musicians were appointed to 'prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals' (1 Chronicles 25:1). Worship wasn't quiet, meditative, private experience but loud, joyful, corporate celebration. The Hebrew word ranan (sing aloud) appears throughout Psalms describing exuberant praise.
The pattern of moving from lament to praise characterizes many psalms and reflects Israel's worship theology. Psalms of lament typically begin with urgent cry, describe trouble in vivid terms, appeal to God for deliverance, express confidence in God's faithfulness, and conclude with vow to praise. This pattern transforms prayer from complaint to worship, anxiety to trust, despair to hope. The structure itself teaches that faith moves through trouble toward praise.
For persecuted believers throughout history, committing to 'sing aloud' despite danger has been revolutionary act of defiance against evil and testimony to faith. Christians in Roman arenas sang hymns before martyrdom. Medieval believers sang while being burned at the stake. Modern believers in persecuting regimes gather secretly to sing praise. Worship in suffering witnesses that God remains worthy regardless of circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you 'sing of God's power' and 'mercy' (covenant love) while still in the midst of trouble, before deliverance arrives?
- What is the significance of singing 'in the morning' both literally (after surviving the night) and metaphorically (after the 'night' of trial passes)?
- How does remembering past instances when God was 'defence and refuge' strengthen faith during present troubles?
- What is the relationship between experiencing God's faithfulness 'in the day of trouble' and the commitment to praise, and how does this transform our perspective on trials?
- Why does David commit to singing 'aloud' (exuberantly, publicly) rather than quiet, private thanksgiving, and what does this teach about public testimony?
Analysis & Commentary
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. This verse returns to the commitment to praise that characterizes many lament psalms. After describing enemies' violence, appealing for deliverance, and expressing confidence in God's vindication, David vows to sing praise. "But I will sing" (va'ani ashir, וַאֲנִי אָשִׁיר) is emphatic: "But I, I myself will sing." Regardless of what enemies do, David will worship.
"Of thy power" (uzzekha, עֻזְּךָ) celebrates God's strength, might, and ability to save. This directly contrasts enemy strength mentioned in verse 9. Against overwhelming human power, David celebrates superior divine power. God's power isn't merely theoretical but demonstrated through actual deliverance—power proven effective in David's experience.
"Yea, I will sing aloud" (arannein, אֲרַנֵּן) intensifies the commitment. Ranan means to shout for joy, cry out, sing loudly—exuberant, joyful, uninhibited praise. This isn't subdued, private devotion but loud, public, joyful celebration of God's goodness. The repetition of singing ("I will sing... I will sing aloud") emphasizes wholehearted worship response.
"Of thy mercy" (chasdekha, חַסְדֶּךָ) returns to covenant love theme (cf. v.10). Chesed is loyal love, steadfast faithfulness, covenant commitment. David will celebrate not just God's power but His faithful covenant love—power exercised in faithfulness to covenant promises. God's might is never capricious or cruel but always directed by His covenant love toward His people.
"In the morning" (labbboqer, לַבֹּקֶר) suggests the time when danger passed. David wrote this psalm at night when enemies watched his house (cf. 1 Samuel 19:11—Saul's men watched overnight to kill David at dawn). David expects to survive the night and sing God's praise at morning. "Morning" also represents deliverance generally—after night of trouble, dawn brings relief. Psalm 30:5 promises: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
"For thou hast been my defence and refuge" provides the reason for praise. Misgav (defence/high tower) and manos (refuge/place to flee) both emphasize security. God has proven Himself faithful protector—past deliverance grounds confident expectation of future deliverance and motivates present praise.
"In the day of my trouble" (beyom tzar-li, בְּיוֹם צַר־לִי) acknowledges trouble's reality. David doesn't deny danger or pretend all is well. But within trouble, God has been faithful refuge. Praise emerges not from absence of trouble but from experiencing divine faithfulness within trouble.