Augustine of Hippo

"For aliens have risen up against me" [Psalm 54:3]. What "aliens"? Was not David himself a Jew of the tribe of Judah? But the very place Ziph belonged to the tribe of Judah; it was of the Jews. How then "aliens"? Not in city, not in tribe, not in kindred, but in flower. ...But see the Ziphites, see them for a time flourishing. With reason "alien" sons. Thou amid the Ziphites hiding saidst what? …

On the Psalms, Psalm 54 ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

He has next added the reason why He prays for His words to be heard: For strangers are risen up against Me and violent men have sought after My soul; they have not set God before their eyes. The Only-begotten Son of God, the Word of God and God the Word— although assuredly He could Himself do all things that the Father could, as He says: What things soever the Father does, the Son also does in like manner John 5:19, while the name describing the divine nature which was His inseparably involved the inseparable possession of divine …

Homily on Psalm 54 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"Because strangers have risen up." Here he sets forth the necessity of praying, where he magnifies the persecution of his enemies: first from their disposition, second from their power, third from their contempt of God. From their disposition, because when someone who is utterly alien to another persecutes him, this is dangerous, because he attacks without mercy. And so he says, "because strangers," that is, demons or sinners -- if it is referred to any just person -- "have risen up against me" without any compassion or mercy. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗