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Psalm 59 · a question people ask

The title is about a house being watched. Why does the psalm speak of "the nations" (59:5, 59:8)?

In the text

The psalm doesn't explain it. It asks, "You, LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors" (59:5), and says, "You scoff at all the nations" (59:8). Nations is goyim both times. Near its end it prays, "Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth" (59:13). The title names Saul and a house (59:1), and the psalm names "the nations"; it doesn't say how the two fit together, and these notes don't guess. In Psalm 2 too, God laughs where the nations rage (Psalm 2:1, 2:4). Nothing in the psalm points to any people or nation today.

The verses

“For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.”
Psalm 59:1 · World English Bible
“You, LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.”
Psalm 59:5 · World English Bible
“But you, LORD, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.”
Psalm 59:8 · World English Bible
“Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.”
Psalm 59:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 59

Psalm 59: God is my high tower

Psalm 59's title says "they watched the house to kill him" (59:1), and in the middle the psalmist says to God, "I watch for you" (59:9): the same Hebrew verb. Its refrains come back changed: the dogs return at evening (59:6, 59:14), and at the end the watching has become singing, in the morning, to God, "my high tower" (59:16-17).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions