Psalm 59 (58):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, they were individuals stained with violence who put to death the Innocent One, in whom no fault could be found. They are called men of blood because, when the outsider washed his hands and sought to release Christ, they shouted, "Crucify Him, crucify Him" (Matthew 27:23). These were the same men who, when confronted with their wrongdoing concerning the blood of Christ, proclaimed that responsibility would rest upon them and their descendants: "His blood be upon us and upon our children" (Matthew 27:25). Yet, even after His Resurrection and Ascension, these bloodthirsty men continued to oppose His Body, for the Church experienced persecution, originating as it did from the Jewish community, from which our Apostles also came.

He goes on to portray the motives of his adversaries. Rescue me from those who commit wickedness and protect me from the violent man, meaning that my foes are despicable killers and unrighteous individuals, to whom I have caused not the slightest injury.

David refers to the insurgents who aimed to take his life, including Saul and the soldiers accompanying him, and additionally, as noted by Athanasius, the demons that incited them. He describes both the wrongdoers and the bloodthirsty as one and the same; for the wrongful act deceives the innocent and those who commit no wrongdoing, while the bloodthirsty person delights in the act of taking life and spilling blood.

David, in his plea for divine assistance, vividly illustrates the brutal defeat of his adversaries. By the phrase "rise up," he conveys not only the audacity or rapidity of their assault but also the overwhelming force with which they oppressed him. In the subsequent verse, he expresses his anguish over the unjust and lawless ferocity of his foes. He unites these sentiments, indicating that he lacks the strength to resist while, through no fault of his own, he is subjected to such harsh and cruel treatment. Although he acknowledges his own imperfections, in Saul's assessment, he distances himself from any culpability, thereby entrusting his innocence to God's judgment, which has been obscured by the malicious accusations of others.

The flight of David from the house of Saul symbolizes the entombment of the sinless body of Christ the Savior as He triumphed over death, imprinted in the hearts of the faithful and proclaimed for the eternal glory and honor of God. This psalm expresses the Lord Christ's earnest prayer to God the Father during His redemptive Passion. The Lord Jesus committed no sin but guided sinners toward the path of salvation. Trust in the Gospel, for at the Last Judgment it will be declared to the wicked: Depart from Me, you cursed.