Psalm 54

Betrayed by the Ziphites.

Reference story in I Samuel 23:19 and 26:1.  

Twice they have done this.  We don't know if the song was written after the first or second incident.  Either would fit.

In the first instance, David is fleeing from Saul, who seeks to kill him.  The incident @ Nob has already happened, and also the incident at Gath, where David escaped by acting insane.  He's been on the run since, hiding in various places.  He lands in Ziph.  And they go and tell Saul where he is hiding.    In the second instance, the same thing occurs.  David is betrayed twice by the same people.

Betrayed.  David calls on his God for help.  He is being pursued without cause, an innocent fugitive.  His enemy is closing in on him, getting closer and closer.  He is overwhelmed and outnumbered.

Save me!   Vindicate me!    Not only is Saul his enemy, trying to kill him without cause, but now his own countrymen, the Ziphites, have betrayed him to his enemy.

In man he has no ally, but in God he has a sure help.

Deliverance comes.  In the first instance, Saul is called away at the last minute because his own enemies, the Philistines, have attacked the homeland and he must leave his pursuit of David to fight a justified war.  And so, just when it looked like David would be captured by Saul, God rescues him!         In the second instance, God allows David opportunity to return the evil to Saul, but refuses to harm him, for God has put him on the throne.  Once Saul realizes this, he confesses his sin.  But his heart is far from God.   He seeks God, but can't find Him, so he runs to a medium.  Within a very short time, Saul and his sons are killed in battle.  David is rescued yet once again.

Whether written at the first or the second instance of betrayal by the Ziphites is irrelevant.  The point is that David ran to God for help.  He trusted and waited on Him.

The second point is this:  God is great, and greatly to be praised.  He is our helper, and upholds the life of the upright.   And vengeance belongs to Him.   Not only will He deliver His own, He will judge the rest.