Purpose and Thrust (Psalm 59) -- essay by Hans-Joachim Kraus (his commentary PSALMS 1 - 59, Fortress Press, 1993)

Exegetical approach to this "prayer song":  From the depths of slander and persecution a falsely accused individual calls to Yahweh or help.  The enemies want to kill the psalmist and separate him from Yahweh.  The appeal in verses 4b - 5 prays that God may come forward as the one who is alive and "arisen."
Dark and disgusting is the picture of the greedy enemies as the abysmal powers.  But in the depth of the inescapable persecution there awakes (so to say, as an answer to and reflection of the reveille called out in verses 4b - 5) trust in Yahweh's power, which rules over the whole earth and mocks at all enemies.  The judge of the people is the Deus praesens -- the refuge and protective fortress for him who is surrounded by hostile forces.
In the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) the salvation of God is effective in history; in symbolic manifestations it makes its entrance in the midst o this world and carries out the justifying verdict.  It is under this presupposition that verses 11 - 13 are to be understood.  It is not the cruel demand for revenge that dictates the petitions and demands, but the plea that the rule of God in Israel which is breaking out in judgment may not be overlooked or forgotten (verse 11a) but may become known in all the world (verse 13).
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