Day 271: Psalms 57-59

Summary

The Bible Dept. – Day 271: Psalms 57-59

Host: Dr. Manny Arango
Date: September 28, 2025

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Episode Overview

Dr. Manny Arango takes listeners through Psalms 57, 58, and 59, unpacking their context in David's life, highlighting literary and theological themes, and drawing practical lessons for everyday living. The episode centers on how David, under threat from Saul, refuses to destroy his enemy and entrusts vengeance to God. Through historical analysis and poetic insights, Dr. Manny illustrates why these Psalms—with their repeated theme "do not destroy"—teach us about leadership, restraint, and God's justice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Episode Structure

• Dr. Manny introduces the three Psalms and their shared characteristics.
• The episode follows the series’ format: Context Clues → Nerdy Nuggets → Timeless Truths.

  “David is definitely gonna communicate with the language of being hunted like prey. So we’re gonna get a lot of animal-like language... super, super poetic.” (02:13)

2. Literary Structure: The Chiasm

• Definition & Application: Psalms 57, 58, and 59 form a chiasm, a literary "sandwich" where the outer Psalms interpret the inner one.

  “The gold is in the middle, right? So Psalm 57 and Psalm 59 are very, very, very similar, which help us to understand Psalm 58...” (03:02)

• Example from Mark (Jairus and the bleeding woman): The chiasm shows meaning is found not just in individual episodes, but how stories surround and interpret each other.

3. Context Clues: Historical Background

• Psalm 57
  • Set in 1 Samuel 24: David flees Saul, hiding in a cave.
  • David restrains himself from harming Saul, even when given the perfect opportunity.
• Psalm 59
  • Set in 1 Samuel 19: Saul sends men to kill David at his home; David’s wife Michal helps him escape.
• Psalms are not arranged chronologically; Psalm 59’s events occur before those of Psalm 57.

  “All three of these Psalms are written in a time of great distress while David is on the run.” (05:24)

4. Nerdy Nuggets: The “Do Not Destroy” Motif

• Repeated Musical Heading: All three Psalms are sung “to the tune of Do Not Destroy.”

  “For the director of music, to the tune of do not destroy… we’re going to see that repeated for all three of our Psalms.” (06:05–06:36)

• Biblical Connections:
  • Deuteronomy 9:25-26: Moses prays “do not destroy your people”—a plea for mercy.
  • Isaiah 65:8: God says not to destroy the cluster (His people) due to a blessing within.
  • 1 Samuel 26: David tells Abishai, “Do not destroy Saul,” despite the opportunity to kill him.
• Theological Implication:
  • The phrase links David’s character to that of Moses and God: “The reason that these psalms have to be sung to the tune of do not destroy is because… the writer uses the word 'destroy' to link David and his character to Moses and to Yahweh. This is brilliant.” (09:49–10:16)
  • Key Lesson: David models restraint, refusing to act as judge or executor—instead, leaving judgment to God.

5. In-Depth Contextual Lessons

• 1 Samuel 24 Recap (Psalm 57):

  • Saul enters the cave to relieve himself (“number two”), unaware David is inside.

    “Pretty comical that the king is…going number two and that the Bible is just going to tell us that.” (15:07–15:33)

  • David’s men urge him to kill Saul; David refuses, showing discipline and reverence for God’s anointing.

    “David feels conscience stricken about cutting a corner off of a man's robe who's actively trying to kill him. Man, this is character.” (16:03)

  • Leadership Principle: Distinguishing between people’s interpretations of God’s promises and God’s actual commands.

    “Every leader is going to have to get to a place where they go, I know how to discern the difference between what the Lord has said and how the people who are loyal to me are interpreting what the Lord has said.” (17:34)

• 1 Samuel 19 Recap (Psalm 59):

  • Saul’s growing obsession leads to attempts on David’s life; Michal deceives Saul’s men, buys David time to escape.

6. Timeless Truths & Practical Takeaways

• Restraint & Integrity:

  • Even in adversity, David refuses vengeance.

    “‘May the Lord judge between you and me.’ Okay, so this whole theme, do not destroy.” (19:35)

  • Timeless Truth: "David will not destroy that which only God is allowed to destroy."

• Leadership & Character:

  • Difficult leaders reveal our character.

    “Even a bad leader can create good character. Or let me say this can reveal good character in you. Bad leadership reveals more about me than it does about them.” (23:39)

• God’s Role:

  • God alone elevates and judges.

    “It's God who elevates people in his church. God does that stuff.” (24:52)

• Vengeance Belongs to God:

  • Romans 12:19 / Deuteronomy 32:35 cited: “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”
  • David’s Model: He waits for God to act, even when justice seems obvious.

    “How I respond to you says more about me than it says about you. And so I am not going to match your energy…I am going to treat you based on my covenant loyalty to Yahweh, not based on how your actions towards me deserve to be treated.” (25:57)

• Personal Stories:

  • Dr. Manny reflects on his own experience serving under various leaders—both good and bad—and emphasizes God’s protection and faithfulness when we stay under His covering.

    “God can cover you better than you can protect yourself…vengeance is mine, says the Lord. And so you can let go of whatever the grudge is or the bitterness or the unforgiveness and let God enact vengeance.” (27:02–27:43)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Literary Structure:

  “A chiasm means the gold is in the middle.” (03:02)

• On David’s Restraint:

  “David will not destroy that which only God is allowed to destroy. And that is gonna be our timeless truth for the day.” (11:26)

• Humorous Context:

  “Pretty comical that the king is…going number two and that the Bible is just going to tell us that he's going number two!” (15:29)

• On Leaders and Character:

  “Bad leadership reveals more about me than it does about them…I’m also thankful for the toxic leaders because they’ve revealed something about me to me.” (23:40)

• On Vengeance:

  “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord…David could have easily sought vengeance on Saul…but I am not going to match your energy.” (25:00–25:57)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:32] — Introduction of animal-like, poetic imagery in the Psalms
• [03:01] — Explanation of chiasm structure and interpretive method
• [04:18] — Context headings for Psalms 57 and 59, and their links to 1 Samuel
• [06:05–06:45] — Discussion of repeated musical heading "Do Not Destroy"
• [09:41] — The significance of the “Do Not Destroy” motif in biblical tradition
• [14:43] — Deep dive into the context of 1 Samuel 24 (David spares Saul in the cave)
• [17:05] — Leadership insights: Whose advice should leaders follow?
• [20:21] — Context of Psalm 59 (Saul’s attack on David at home, Michal’s ruse)
• [23:39] — Bad leaders reveal (not just shape) our character
• [25:00] — Timeless truth: Vengeance is God’s, not ours

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Episode Tone & Language

Dr. Manny’s teaching is approachable, energetic, and candid—mixing robust biblical scholarship with leadership wisdom and even some playful humor (especially around the “bathroom” scene in 1 Samuel 24). The tone remains encouraging, instructive, and at times intimately pastoral.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a compelling reading of Psalms 57, 58, and 59, urging listeners to embrace biblical restraint, trust God’s justice, and cultivate character—even when tested by difficult people or circumstances. Dr. Manny’s deep dives into literary structure, intertextual clues, and honest leadership advice make these ancient poems freshly relevant.

Transcript

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Hey, Bible nerds. This is Dr. Manny Arango and I'm your host for the Bible department podcast. Powered by Arma. This podcast follows a Bible reading plan we created to help you read the entire Bible in a year.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You can head to the show notes.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Or thebibledepartment.com to download our reading plan and join the journey.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Welcome to Day 271 here on the Bible Department Podcast.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I'm your host, Dr. Manny Rango, and today we are looking at Psalms 57, 58 and 59.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All three of these Psalms are McTams.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

McTams, that's right. If you haven't done the reading yet, then you're definitely gonna wanna go ahead and do the reading.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Easy reading, obviously.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Poems are pretty easy to read. Psalm 57, 58, 59. You're gonna see similar themes throughout. David is definitely gonna communicate with the language of being hunted like prey. So we're gonna get a lot of animal like language for the people that are trying to devour him or ensnare him or trap him. Super, super poetic.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Really beautiful.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

In my opinion, like always, if you haven't in the reading, then you're not gonna really understand the content of this episode. I'm gonna start out with context clues.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Then we're gonna move to nerdy.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It's always going to leave off with a timeless truth. If you've done the reading, then with no further ado, let's jump into the episode.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All right, we've got context for Psalm.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

57 and Psalm 59. Actually Psalm 57, 58 and 59 kind.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Of work as a chiasm.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And if you're new to the podcast, you may not know how chiasms work. It means that the outside of the sandwich kind of begins to become an interpretive clue for what's happening inside. Right? So a chia orgasm, let's say in the New Testament, in the Book of Mark would be Jairus has a daughter who's sick. He goes to see Jesus to get healing for his daughter. And in the middle of Jairus's conversation with Jesus, a woman with the issue of blood pops up. And then after the one with the issue of blood is healed, they go to Jairus's house. So it's like Jairus one with the issue of blood, Jairus. So Jairus becomes the sandwich or the bread for the sandwich. And then the one with the issue of blood becomes the meat. What's in the middle? And so you've got to interpret what's happening with the girl and with Jairus to understand what's happening with the woman and vice versa. You got to understand what's happening with the woman to understand what's happening with girl and with Jairus. Right? So another word for this would be an intercalation or just a sandwich. But a chiasm means that the gold is in the middle, right? So Psalm 57 is, Psalm 59 are very, very, very similar, which help us to understand Psalm 58, which doesn't have a context heading. So Psalm 57 does have a context heading.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Psalm 57 tells us right up at the top, it says when David had fled from Saul into the cave.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And so the context for Psalm 57 is going to be 1st Samuel, chapter 24. And we're going to look at 1st Samuel, chapter 24 in just a second Psalm. The context for Psalm 59, we can read the heading right up at the top of the Psalms is gonna be when Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him. Okay, so the context for Psalm 57 is 1st Samuel, chapter 24. And I just wanna make note that this is not a chronological order. So Psalm 59's context is First Samuel, chapter 2019. Okay, so First Samuel, chapter 24 for the context, Samuel, chapter 57, sorry, Psalm 57. And then First Samuel 19 is the context for Psalm 59. All right?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So all three of these Psalms are.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Written in a time of great distress while David is on the run. And so the context really in terms of just distressed and on the run is the same as yesterday. If you Were here for day two 70 of the podcast.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay, now there's another little.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

We're going to get into 1st Samuel 24 and 1 Samuel 19 in just a moment. So a little bit more context than.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Normal, but there's another little.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It's kind of a nerdy nugget of context.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So it's still a context clue, but it's. It's a nerdy nugget of context.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So I know I'm merging context clues with nerdy nuggets here. Let's look at the headings again.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Psalm 57 says this for the director.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Of music, to the tune of do not destroy. To the tune of do not destroy. Okay, now let's look at 58, Psalm 58 for the director of music to the tune of do not destroy.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And then let's look at Psalm 59.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

These are our three Psalms for the day.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

For the director of music to the tune of do not destroy. Of David a Miktan. Okay, we're gonna see that repeated for.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All three of our psalms that we.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Have assigned to the Bible reading plan today. To the tune of do not destroy.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So what's going on with that?

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And I know this is super granular. Like, you can't just read the psalm itself. You kind of gotta read the heading. Okay, so what's up with this tune, do not destroy?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Well, let's kind of help us dive.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

In to what that could mean.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Because I've got. I've got some clues as to what's going on here. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter nine.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Deuteronomy chapter nine, verse 25. This is Moses talking.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

There's a golden calf incident, and Moses is going to intercede on the behalf of the people because God actually says to Moses, hey, I'm going to destroy all these people. And then me and you can start over. Okay, let's Read Deuteronomy chapter 9. I lay prostrate before the Lord. This is Moses recounting something that had happened a long time ago.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I lay prostrate before the Lord those.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

40 days and 40 nights because the Lord had said he would destroy you. Verse 26. I prayed to the Lord and said, sovereign Lord, do not destroy. Do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. So Moses prays to the Lord that the Lord would not destroy. Here we go. Do not destroy. That's Moses prayer to the Lord. Do not destroy your people, your own inheritance. That you redeem by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. We're going to see this phrase again in Isaiah, chapter 65, verse 8. This is what the Lord says, as when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, don't destroy it, there is still a blessing in it. So I will do on behalf of my servants, I will not destroy them all. Do not destroy. So now let's go to First Samuel, chapter 26. Okay, this is David who has an opportunity to kill the man who's trying to kill him, Saul. And here's what he says. But David said to Abishai, do not destroy him. Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless as surely as the Lord lives? He said, the Lord himself will will strike him where his time will come, and he will die where he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the spear and the water jug that are near his head, and let's go. So David took the spear and the water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. Do not destroy.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So what?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Okay, why did I lead us down this trail of breadcrumbs?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Because just the heading on Psalm 57.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

58, and 59 are actually telling us.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That David has the character of Moses and Yahweh. That is what's being said here. The reason that these psalms have to be sung to the tune of do not destroy is because then you're supposed to Google search in your mind. Where else does the Bible say, do not destroy? And then you go look up those stories and you go, oh, Moses said those words to the Lord when the Lord wanted to destroy the people. And then Isaiah says, speaking for God, that God is not going to destroy the people of Israel, although they're rebellious. And then we get this story of David in 1st Samuel 26, where he could kill Saul. But it's intentional not to use the word kill, but use the word destroy, because every word in Hebrew is very, very intentional. So the writer uses the word destroy to link David and his character to Moses and to Yahweh. This is brilliant. This is just such an artistic way to write. And so the theme that we have for all three of these psalms is that David will not destroy that which only God is allowed to destroy. And that is gonna be our timeless truth for the day. Because a lot of us, we're battling with unforgiveness and vengeance and jealousy, but we don't realize vengeance belongs to the Lord. In the moment I try to take vengeance for myself, then actually I'm stepping into God's shoes. I'm stepping into God's position and I'm acting like God. I'm actually doing something that's very, very idolatrous. All right, so let's back up and get even more context, okay? Cause that's the theme running through these three psalms is the very tune that the psalms have to be played to. Are telling you something about David's character, that he will not destroy Saul, even though Saul is actively trying to murder him. Saul is trying to kill David, but David will not destroy Saul because like Moses and like Yahweh, David will refuse to destroy anything that he has not been given a green light to destroy. Wow. That right there, just that alone blows my mind. Okay, now let's actually look at the context. Family, the wait is over. My brand new book, Crushing Chaos is out now and available everywhere. Books are sold. Literally. Today I walked into a Barnes and Noble and I signed a bunch of copies at a physical location. So you can grab this book at.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Dr. Manny Arango]

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[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All right, the context for Psalm 57 is 1st Samuel, chapter 24. So let's flip to 1st Samuel, chapter 24. What's happening in 1st Samuel chapter 24?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I'll tell you exactly what's happening.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay? David is hiding, okay, in a cave. And Saul goes into the cave to relieve himself, okay, this is actually supposed.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

To be pretty funny, okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That. That Saul has to go number two. And it's clear that he's got to go number two and not number one. Because while he's going number two, David is going to cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And he's only able to do that if he's going number two, not if he's going number one. So pretty comical that the king is.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

You know, going number two and that the Bible is just going to tell us that he's going number two.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That's what's funny.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It says this. Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Afterwards, David was conscious, stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to the men, the Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master. The Lord's anointed, or lay my hand on him, for he is the anointed of the Lord. With these words, David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So I love this. David feels conscience stricken about cutting a corner off of a man's robe who's actively trying to kill him. Man, this is character. I know I've said this so many times when talking about David that David is less moral than Saul, but David has better character than Saul, okay? He will not touch God's anointed. And had David kept this same mindset when dealing with Uriah, AKA Bathsheba, he would have done good in life. But people are complex and people change.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So the context of Psalm 57 is that David is in the desert of En Gedi, okay? And Saul takes 3,000 men and set out to look for David and his men near the crags of the wild goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way, a cave was there, and Saul began to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. Now. I need you to see this.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

If you're in 1st Samuel 24, you got to see this. Verse 4. The men said. So David's men, what do they say? This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish. So the men are now reminding David of a word he's received from God, a promise he's received from God. But David does not take his cues from his followers. This is a good leadership lesson right here, that every leader is going to have to get to a place where they go. I know how to discern the difference between what the Lord has said and how the people who are loyal to me are interpreting what the Lord has said.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So the men said, I want you to compare that to verse nine.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Drop down to verse nine, because we're.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Going to compare and contrast Samuel, sorry, Saul, to David.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Verse nine says these words of chapter 24 of First Samuel, he said to Saul. So now David is going to confront Saul. He's got a corner of his robe. He's going to confront Saul. Why do you listen when men say David is bent on harming you? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands. In the cave, I could have killed you very, very easily. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, I will not lay my hand on my Lord because he is the Lord's anointed. See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand. I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. And obviously, cutting off the corner of the robe proves I could have killed you because you were in a vulnerable position.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I could have easily killed you. I did not kill you. I need you to know that. I could have, though. Here's the contrast. David is saying to Saul, why are you listening to your men? Get this. I'm not listening to mine. My men are telling me to kill you. But I don't listen to my followers. I listen to the Lord. And instead of listening to the Lord, you've decided to listen to your people, your followers? Why? David is literally contrasting himself with Saul. Hey, he's saying, saul, can you do what I'm doing? I'm not listening to my men. I'm listening to the Lord. I'm taking my cues from the Lord, not from my followers.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I love this, okay. And then he says these words, verse 12. May the Lord judge between you and me. Okay, so this whole theme, do not destroy.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Do not destroy. We saw this theme in First Samuel, Chapter 26, but we're also seeing it here in First Samuel, Chapter 24, that now there's multiple times where David could kill Saul and he refuses to kill the person who's trying to kill him. Right. What's the context for Psalm 59? It's 1st Samuel, chapter 19. So we got to flip all the way five chapters in the past.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Again, I hope you get this by now.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

The Psalms are not going to give us these moments in chronological order.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

19.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And it says this in the. In the heading.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

When Saul had sent men to watch.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

David's house in order to kill him. Okay, so this is the thing that's.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Going to spark David being on the run. We'll actually back up two verses.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

We'll start reading in verse nine, chapter 19, verse nine.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

In his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Saul tried to pin him to the.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night, David made good his escape. Okay, so David is obviously in Saul's palace, and Saul tries to pin him to the wall with a spear, meaning throw the spear through him to kill him. And so now verse 11 is where we pick up, which is what Psalm 59 is based on.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It says Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, that's his wife, that's also Saul's daughter, David's wife, Saul's daughter, warned him, if you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed. So Michal let David down through a window and he fled and escaped. Then Michol took an idol and lay it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goat's hair at the head. When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michol said he is ill. Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him. But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goat's hair. Saul said to Michal, why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away? So that he escaped. Michal told him. He said to me, let me get away. Why Should I kill you? So David fled. He made his escape. He went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. And now David is officially going to be on the run. Okay, so These Psalms, Psalm 57, 58, and 59, all center around Saul's schizophrenic, evil spirited desire to kill David and David's loyalty to Saul and to Yahweh. There's a couple of timeless truths that we can learn. Okay, I spent 20 minutes giving context, but honestly, the context brings these Psalms to life. Okay, without the context, the Psalms are beautiful in and of themselves. But to know what David is talking about helps you to appreciate the actual Psalms in a whole different way. There's a couple of lessons, timeless truths I think we could take out of this. Number one, even a bad leader can create good character. Or let me say this can reveal good character in you. Bad leadership reveals more about me than it does about them.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Bad leadership.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Now, I've had good leaders. I've had bad leaders. I've had toxic leaders. I've had healthy leaders. Now I've been on staff three different times in my life. I'm now leading a church, planting a church. And not every leader I've ever had has been a healthy, positive, good leader. I've had some toxic leaders. And I will say I'm so thankful for the good leaders, but I'm also thankful for the toxic leaders because they've revealed something about me to me. And so I think sometimes we think the only people we can learn from are good, healthy, perfect, great, awesome leaders. But the reality is that David, we are not impressed by David because he had a fantastic leader. We're impressed by David because Saul's wicked. And it juxtaposes David's character so much more. Okay, number two, it is God who elevates. It is God who judges. And ultimately it is God who replaces people, not us. Oh, we need to know that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That it's God who gives platforms.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It's God who elevates people in his church. God does that stuff.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And if there's one big idea that.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I want to, like, drive home as we land the plane here, It's Deuteronomy, chapter 34. Sorry, chapter 32, verse 35. Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verse 35. And Paul is going to quote this in the New Testament and in Romans 12:19. And here's the simple idea. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. David could have easily sought vengeance on Saul, for all of Saul's evil plotting and death threats and attacks. But David declares, you know what? How I respond to you says more about me than it says about you. And so I am not going to match your energy. I'm not going to respond in kind. I am going to treat you based on my covenant loyalty to Yahweh, not based on how your actions towards me deserve to be treated.

[Listener or Minor Contributor]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And David could have made every excuse in the world to kill Saul. Because in David's mind, he could have.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Just come to the conclusion, well, God's already anointed me to be king.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

But here's what David understands. He actually says this, I think, in 1st Samuel 23, if the Lord is going to kill him, then let the Lord do it. I won't be the one to do it.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And I think sometimes we assume, well, since it's God's will, I may as well be the one to act out God's will. And actually, the same can be said.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

About Judas in the New Testament.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Somebody's got to betray Jesus, but it.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Doesn'T have to be Judas. Judas could have decided, it ain't gonna be me.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Somebody's gotta betray Jesus. It ain't gotta be me. And you can see how David goes, saul's gotta die, but I ain't gonna be the one to do it. And I think that, you know, I've said to a lot of wives, hey.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

If your husband, who you're submitted to, tells you to do something stupid, how.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

About you just make sure that he.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Has a problem with God?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But the moment I step out from under the covering, now I have a.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Problem with God too. Or rather, God has a problem with me.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And in every situation where I've had a bad leader, I'm here to tell.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

You right now, God's protected me. I've obeyed, I've submitted. I've done what that person has asked me to do, and God's protected me, and God's covered me. And I love that these are mictams, and that that word ketemu means to cover. Because not only do I think David is praying these with a covering over his lips, I think that these psalms are a testament to the fact that God can cover you better than you can protect yourself. And God begins to say, vengeance is mine, says the Lord. And so you can let go of.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Whatever the grudge is or the bitterness.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Or the unforgiveness and let God enact vengeance.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Because guess what?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

He can heap burning coals on people's heads better than you can.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All right, tomorrow we've got day 272. We're going to be looking at Psalms 60 to 62 right here. Same time, same place, same channel.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I love you guys. If you're on a streak, I'm proud of you. If you're not, let's go.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Come on. It's the Psalms.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Let's dive in. Love you guys. See you tomorrow.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Peace. Thanks so much for joining us on.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

The Bible Department podcast.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You can find us online and learn.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

More about the show at thebibledepartment.com and on Instagram hebibledepartment.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

If you enjoyed this episode and want.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

To dive deeper into the Bible, you.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Can get free access to our library.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Of [e-mail] we'll see you back here tomorrow.