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PSALM LIV.

To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

THE ARGUMENT.-This psalm, the title tells us, was composed, when (not long after the butchery of Doeg) the Ziphites, a false people, void of humanity, and that sought nothing but how to raise themselves, though by another's ruin, endeavoured to ingratiate themselves with Saul, by discovering to him where David lurked in their neighbourhood, (1 Sam. xxiii. 14. 19.); and undertook to guide the king to the very place, and assist the forces he should send to take him, ver. 20. &c. By which means, David was brought into such a great strait, (ver. 26.), that if Saul had not been diverted by a sudden invasion which the Philistines made, he could not have escaped him. In this distress, he made his address to God by prayer, in the words of the three first verses of this psalm. But on a sudden (hearing, I suppose, how Saul himself was alarmed with the news of an invasion) he breaks out, ver. 4. 5. into admiration of God's goodness. And when the danger was quite over, added, I suppose, the two last verses; wherein he expresses with what joy he took a view, from the mountain where he lay hid, of Saul's forces as they retreated. Which was a thing so memorable, that, when he came to the kingdom, he delivered the whole to the master of music in the tabernacle, to be sung as the 4th psalm, to the tune of Maschil.

Ver. 1. SAVE me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.] O God, whose name imports, that thou art the supreme Judge, and therefore the defender and protector of all injured and oppressed persons, I humbly implore thy aid in this great distress; beseeching thee, who can easily do it, to deliver me from my enemies, and by thy almigh. ty power vindicate my innocence; and maintain my righteous cause against those that are too strong for me, and wrongfully seek to destroy me.

Ver. 2. Hear my prayer, O God: give ear to the words of my mouth.] Deny me not this request, O God, I most earnestly intreat thee; but grant the petitions of thy poor servant, who hath nothing but his prayers to oppose to all those forces that surround him.

Ver. 3. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul; they have not set Gd before them. Selab.] And they are conducted by barbarous people, whom I have no way disobliged, for I never had any thing to do with them; and yet they have undertaken to deliver me into the hand of Saul, and those formidable enemies that are come to seek my life, (1 Sam. xxiii. 2c.); having no regard to God at all, but only studying, right or wrong, to gain. the favour of their prince.

Ver. 4. Behold, God is mine helper: the LORD is with them that uphold my soul.] O the wonderful goodness of God! who, in this deplorable condition sends me, in a strange and unexpected manner, most seasonable relief! behold, how he takes my part, the Lord preserves my life: for, alas! the small forces I have with me are unable to secure it; and can by no means support me against those numerous enemies that thought to destroy me.

Ver. 5. He shall reward evil unto my enemies; cut them off in thy truth.] And as for those spies that undertook to find out all my hiding-places, (1 Sam. xxiii. 22. 23.), he shall bring the mischief they intended to me upon themselves. Take a just vengeance on them, and execute thy threatenings, O Lord, against such treacherous persons.

Ver. 6. I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, O LORD, for it is good.] In the mean time I will not be sparing in expressing my thankfulness for what thou hast done already, but make thee my grateful acknowledgements both in word and deed. First, I will offer thee liberal sacrifices; and then I will accompany them with my praises of thy wisdom, power, and goodness, O Lord: which is the most pleasing sacrifice, I know, unto thee, and the most delightful employment unto me.

Ver. 7. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye bath seen his desire upon mine enemies.] Who, by his special providence, am marvellously delivered out of that distress wherein I was, and all the dangers which it threatened: for my eyes now dare look upon those enemies in their retreat, from whom I lately fled for fear, (1 Sam. xxiii. 26. 27. 28.)

PSALM LV.

To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A Psalm of David.

THE ARGUMENT.-This psalm was sent to the master of the music, to be sung as the former; having an occasion something like it. For the complaint which he makes in the middle of the psalm, that his greatest confidant proved treacherous to him, makes it probable, that it was composed when Ab. salom's rebellion broke out, and he was forced to flee suddenly from Jerusalem: and as he was going barefoot upon Mount Olivet, (he and all his company weeping), to increase his sorrow, met with the news that Ahitophel also was among the conspirations, 2 Sam. xv. 31. Upon which, we read there, he presently fell to his prayers; and as soon as he came to a place where he could rest, and retire himself, he represented, it is likely, the sadness of his condition more largely in this psalm; beseeching God to disappoint the conspirators, ver. 9. first, because of the violence they had committed at Jerusalem, (ver. 9. 10. 11.); and, secondly, because of the vile treachery of Ahitophel, from the 12th to the 15th, which seems to me ought to be connected with the beginning of the 9th verse,

for he goes on in the 15th, to beseech God to defeat them all, which he had begun in the 9th, but breaks off to insert his reasons why he was so earnest. And then, in the conclusion, he exhorts all those that adhered to him, not to be discouraged, but to cast their care upon the Lord; who would reward their pious confidence in him, by protecting and delivering them, and destroying their and his enemies.

Ver. 1. GIVE car to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication.] O God, the supreme Judge of all the world, I mos: humbly address myself to thee, who art inclined to relieve those that are oppressed; beseeching thee not to reject a poor supplicant, but graciously to receive his petition which he puts up unto thee.

Ver. 2. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise.] Let the sadness of my condition move thee to consider and relieve me; which I am not able to represent in my prayer, without shrieks and lamentable cries: so great is the perturbation of my mind.

Ver. 3. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.] Because my own son is become my enemy, and hath blown the trumpet of rebellion against me, (2 Sam. xv. 10.), and because of the sore straits to which he hath wickedly reduced me for which, that there might be some colour, he and his associates load me with false accusations, and say I am unjust, and take no care of my people, (2 Sam. xv. 3. 4.), and therefore furiously set themselves against me, to dethrone me.

Ver. 4. My heart is sore pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.] This is a sore grief unto my heart, and puts me into the very agonies of death; which, without thy mercy, I must suddenly expect, (2 Sam. xvii. 2.)

Ver. 5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror bath overwhelmed me.] The suddenness and strength of this conspiracy hath struck me into such a fear, as makes me tremble: I am involved in such difficulties, that, which way soever I look, horror and consternation seize upon me.

Ver. 3. And I said, O that I had wings like a dove; for then would I fly away, and be at rest.] In this confusion I rather wished than hoped to escape, (2 Sam. xv. 14.), saying, Who will lend me wings as swift as those of a dove, that I may flee away to some place of safety and repose?

Ver. 7. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.] Lo, then would I go to some far distant country, though I wandered I knew not whither, (2 Sam. xv. 20.); I would hide myself in some desart place, remote from all society.

Ver. 8. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.] And I would make all the haste imagineable to escape this fierce persecution, (2 Sam. xvii. 16. 21.), which is risen like a sudden storm of wind, or violent tempest, and threatens utterly to sub

vert me,

Ver. 9. Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues ; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.] O Lord, let that speedy destruction swallow up them, which they design against me, (2 Sam. xvii. 16.); divide their counsels, and raise dissentions against them, (2 Sam. xv. 34. xvii. 14. 15.); for I am certainly informed, that by rapine and cruelty, brawling and contention, they have filled the whole city of Jerusalem with tumult and confusion.

Ver. 10. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.] There is nothing else to be seen, either by day or by night; for they that guard the gates, or go the rounds, make it their business to ravage and spoil, to pick quarrels, and fall out with every body they meet withal; and such as run to the main guards, in hope to meet with some relief, are miserably deceived; for there the same iniquity, oppression, and injurious dealing, keep their station.

Ver. 11. Wickedness is in the midst thereof; deceit and guile depart not from her streets.] There is no place free either from their open violence, or secret fraud and deceit; but they barbarously abuse or cunningly circumvent the inhabitants, both within doors and without.

Ver. 12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him:] And there is one most notorious traitor, whose ingratitude deserves to be severely punished; for he hath maliciously reproached and calumniated me and my government, when I thought of no such treachery: for we never had any quarrel, (then his treason would not have been so strange, but far more tolerable): nor did he give any sign of hatred to me; for then I could have secured myself, by withdrawing from his familiarity.

Ver. 13. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.] No; thou, O most perfidious of all mankind, who contrivest this mischief against me, was the person whom I esteemed above all others; whom I loved as myself; whose counsel I ever followed; and to whom, as my friend, I unbosomed all my secrets.

Ver. 14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God together.] Whose conversation was most delightful to me, and to whom I thought I had been tied, not only by the bond of civil friendship, but (which is far more stronger) of religion.

Ver. 15. Let death seize upon them, and let them go quick down into bell; for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.] Let death seize upon them unexpectedly, as this treason broke out against me; let them sink on a sudden into the grave, when they think of nothing less; for wheresover they go, all manner of mischief marches along with them.

Ver. 16. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.] As for me, I will injure nobody to preserve myself, but only commend myself and my cause to God, the righteous Judge: and the Almighty Lord, who changes not, will deliver me as he hath done formerly.

Ver. 17. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice.] For this I will not cease to solicit him when I go to bed, and when I rise, and before I take my repast; both in my inward thoughts, and with my mouth, in silent desires and lamentable moans, I will never give over my importunity, till he graciously grant my petition, and send me relief.

Ver. 18. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.] He will rescue me from the hand of this rebellious army which comes against me, and restore me to my throne in peace: for be they never so nume rous, there is a far greater power on my side, to defend me, and to fight for me.

Ver. 19. God shall bear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selab. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not Cod.] God himself, who hath so long governed the world most justly, and never alters, nor changes, will hear my prayer, and bring down their pride: for having prospered hitherto in their villany, there is not one of them that repents; but they all pertinaciously persist in their rebellion, without fear of the divine vengeance:

any

Ver. 20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.] Especially that perfidious person, who hath not only violated all the laws of friendship, but profanely broken his promise and oath of fidelity, wherein he was engaged to me.

Ver. 21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.] Nothing can be falser than he; who entertained me with the fairest and smoothest language, when at the same time he was contriving this rebellion in his heart; all his soft words and tender professions of kindness to me, served only to hide his design of giving me a mortal wound. Ver. 22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.] But why do I trouble myself any farther with him? Be not dejected, O my soul, (and let me give this counsel to every one that adheres to me), but reposing thy humble trust in God, cast all the burdens of thy cares upon him; who will certainly support thee under any troubles that he is pleased to impose upon thee. Preserve thy integrity; and, though thou mayst be shaken and disturbed for a time, he will not suffer thee to be moved out of thy place, but quietly settle thee there again.

Ver. 23. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.] But as for those that have given me this disturbance, thou, O God, wilt bring them to an untimely end, and throw them headlong into the pit of destruction. They are men that thirst after blood, and by all manner of fraud and treachery endeavour to compass their ends and such shall perish in the flower of their age; when I trust to spend my days in prosperity and peace.

VOL. III.

PSALM LVI.

To the chief musician, upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in. Gath.

T

THE ARGUMENT.-A psalm composed by David, when, for fear of Saul, he fled like an innocent dove into remote countries. More particularly when he was forced to take shelter among the Philistines in Gath, 1 Sam. xxi. ; where the lords of the court brought him to King Achish, with such high commendations of his valour, as he thought might endanger his life. And therefore he put on the guise of a man beside himself; silently bewailing the sadness of his condition, which constrained him to make use of such artifices; and complaining to God of the cruelty of his enemies, who had driven him into this and many other straits: but making no remonstrances to Achish how he was used, nor begging his assistance against them. Not a word of this; which is the reason, possibly, why he compares himself here in the title to a silent or dumb dove; if interpreters rightly understand the words Jonath-elem, which they expound in that manner. And Kinchi thinks, he the rather compares himself to a dove, because that is accounted a silly creature, (Hosea, vii. 11.), and. David now seemed no better.

And this is the reason that this psalm is also called Michtam, (see Psal. xvi.), because it is a commemoration of God's singular care over him, in many. great dangers, especially at Gath; when he entirely depended upon his favour and love alone; supporting himself (and seeking no farther for help) by his gracious promise to him; which he thankfully acknowledges, especially in the conclusion of this psalm.

I

Which was penned, it appears from ver. 8. after many wanderings of this good man; first, to Samuel in Naioth, Sam. xix. 18.; then to Jonathan, xx. 1.; then to Nb, xxi. 1.; after that to Gath, ver. 10.; from thence to Adullam, xxii. 1.; and then into the country. of Moab, ver. 3. ; from whence he was admonished by the prophet Gad, to go to a place of greater security, ver. 6.; which he found in the forest of Hareth, Sam. xxii. 5. where, I suppose, he might have a little repose and leisure, to reflect upon what was. past, and to compose this psalm: and from that forest, I fancy, he might call himself (if we admit of Bochartus his change of one point, lib. 1. de Animal. cap. 3. part 2.) Jonathelim-rechokim, a dove in the remote woods. Where he made this psalm before the rest of his wanderings to other places, which afterwards followed. And when he came to the kingdom, he delivered it to the chief master of music, to be sung after the tune of a song, which began with these words (as Aben-Ezra takes it), Jonath-elim-rechokim.

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Ver. 1. ᏴᎬ E merciful unto me, O God; for man

would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.] O God, the Supreme, and therefore impartial Judge of all the world, take pity upon me, I beseech thee, and rescue me from the violence of my enemies for Saul, forgetting his own mortality, and how unseemly it is for frail man to continue his enmities for ever, most eagerly pursues me, with an insatiable desire to take away my life; he never intermits his persecutions, but presses me so closely, that he gives me no time to breathe.

Ver. 2. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou Most High. He sends abroad his spies, to watch all opportunities to ensnare me; for which they gape as greedily as ravenous beasts do for their prey and great multitudes there age, O thou Most High, (who alone canst disappoint them), that, proud of their numbers and of their power, have insolently set themselves against me to destroy me :

Ver. 3. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.] As I have just reason to fear they will, unless I be defended by thee, with whom I have intrusted myself and all my concerns; which is the only thing whereby I overcome those fears when they seize

upon me.

Ver. 4. In God I will praise his word; in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.] By the help of God, I will be so far from being dismayed, that I will rejoice in the faithful promise he hath made to me by his prophet, (1 Sam. xvi. 13. 2 Sam. iii. 9. v. 2.); though it be not fulfilled presently, yet by his assistance I will depend, as I have done hitherto, upon his fidelity for the performance of it, and never fear what frail man can do to hinder it.

Ver. 5. Every day they wrest my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil. I know what an ill construction my enemies would put upon these words, if they could hear what I say; for they do nothing but wrest the most innocent speeches; and be cause I profess to confide in God, pretend that I conspire against the king, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9.); their whole business being nothing else, but to contrive how to do me mischief.

Ver. 6. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.] For this end they hold many consultations among themselves, and lay snares privily for me; curiously observing all my motions, and still expecting an opportunity to take away my life.

Ver. 7. Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.] Shall this iniquity alway go unpunished? or by their subtilty and craft shall they, who thus unjustly persecute the innocent, escape thy vengeance? O God, the righteous Judge, throw down those insolent people, who have so long provoked thy patience; and make them feel the effects of thy just displeasure.

Ver. 8. Thou tellest my wanderings; put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?] Thou art perfectly acquainted, I am sure, how often I have

been forced to fly, like a vagabond, from place to
place, which has cost me many a tear: good Lord,
preserve a kind remembrance of them; and let them
not perish as things thou nothing regardest. But why
am I so importunate for this, since I know thou art so
far from despising my misery, that thou art as mind-
ful of it, as if thou keptest a register of every tear,
and of all my troubles?

9.

cry

Ver. When I unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back this I know, for God is for me.] My prayer therefore shall prevail, when my enemies oppress me, and obtain a glorious victory over them; of this I am assured, because the mighty God, who rules all the world, is on my side.

Ver. 10. In God will I praise his word; in the Lord will I praise his word.] By his gracious assistance, I will continue my resolution to rejoice in the faithful promise I before mentioned: lie is the eternal Lord, who never alters nor changes, and I will be, like him, immutably rejoicing in that faithful promise.

Ver. 11. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.] Nothing shall shake the confidence I have reposed in him; nor will I fear what the greatest man can do, were he more powerful than he is, to hinder the accomplishment of what the Lord designs for me.

Ver. 12. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.] Nor will I ever be unmindful of the promises I have made to thee, O God; to whom, when I was in distress, I vowed the most grateful acknowledgements, if thou wouldest deliver me though I am not able to requite thy kindness, yet I will not cease to magnify and extol it with my highest praises.

Ver. 13. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?] For thou hast so remarkably rescued me from death, (to thy goodness I ascribe it, not to my policy), when I was in the power of the Philistines, that I ought not to doubt of thy continued preservation of me, from the snares my enemies lay to entrap me, or from the open violence they use to overthrow me thou wilt support me still to praise thee, and to perform further service to thee here in this world; as I intend to do most sincerely.

PSALM LVII.

To the chief musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of Da-
vid, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

THE ARGUMENT.-This psalm, the title informs us,
was penned upon the like occasion with the for-
mer. For after several other wanderings, (besides
Sam.
those he speaks of in the foregoing psalm, ver. 8.),
or removes from place to place, mentioned
xxiii. you find David in the strong hold of En-gedi,
ver. 29. where there was a cave among the rocks,
xxiv. 2. 3. in which David and his men lurked and
hid themselves, for fear of Saul; Who, in his pur

suit of them, came to ease himself in this very place, where they skulked; and thereby presented David with as fair an opportunity as could be desired to kill him. Which he might have done without any noise, if his piety, and religious resolution to do nothing that was sinful, no not to gain a kingdom, but, (trusting to the faithful promise he speaks of, Psal. Ivii. 4. 10.), to wait wholly upon God, to prefer him when, and as he pleased, to the throne, had not hindered him. For some of his men, observing the advantage, would fain have dispatched him, if David had not forbidden the person who was ready to strike the blow, saying, Al-taschith, Thou shalt not destroy him, or, destroy him not. So some expound that word, which we find in the title of the psalm; though others (observing the same word to be in the title of the two following psalms, and of the 75th, which belongeth not to this matter) judge it more probable that Altaschith was the beginning of some song, according to which this psalm was to be sung. To which, notwithstanding, in my opinion, it may be replied, that those three psalms which follow after this, had that title prefixed, only to show that they were to be sung like this.

In which David commemorates God's great mercy in mollifying the heart of Saul at that time, by the kindness and piety which he expressed towards him: remembering, in the first place, what kind of thoughts he had when he was in the cave, and saw himself in manifest danger of being taken by Saul's forces; and then blessing God for the sudden change which was made in his condition, by Saul's falling into his hand, to do what he pleased with him, by the demonstration he gave him, that he had not traiterous thoughts in his heart, but bare still a due reverence to him, notwithstanding the ill usage he received from him. It is called Michtam, for the same reason that the former was, because of the singular favour which God shewed him in his deliverance; more precious to him than any jewel, and that deserved an everlasting remembrance. (See Psal. xvi.)

Ver. 1. BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.] O God, the ruler and governor of all the world, I most earnestly beseech thee to be merciful and gracious to me: O take some pity upon me, who rely solely on thy mercy, having no confidence in these fortresses, or secret places, where I hide myself; but trusting merely to thy Almighty protection, on which I will still depend, as I have done hitherto, for defence and preservation, till this danger be past, which is now impendent over me, and threatens to destroy me.

Ver. 2. I will cry unto God most high: unto God that performeth all things for me.] There is none superior or equal to him, unto whom I will continually commend myself; unto that mighty God, who will finish, I hope, what he hath begun to do for me.

Ver. 3. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selab. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.] There are greater armies in heaven than those that here surround me; which, rather than I shall perish, he will send for my deliverance; he will expose him. to shame and reproach, that gapes like a ravenous beast to devour me: I doubt not of it; for besides his infinite mercy, I have his promise for my security; in the performance of which, he will visibly declare his fidelity.

Ver. 4. My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire; even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongues a sharpsword.] And now there is a fit opportunity, when my life is in extreme danger; for here I lie close, and dare not stir, being encompassed with enemies picked out on purpose to destroy me, (1 Sam. xxiv. 2.), who are as fierce and cruel as lions, and enraged against me so furiously, that they are continually incensing Saul to pursue me; tearing my good name (as they hope to do me) in pieces, and giving the most deadly wound to my reputation, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9.)

Ver. 5. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens : let thy glory be above all the earth.] Confute them, O God, the most righteous Judge of men's actions and intentions; and by delivering me from this imminent danger, raise to thyself the highest praises; and spread the fame of thy glorious power, goodness, wisdom, and truth, throughout all the earth.

Ver. 6. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they have fallen themselves. Selah.] And how ready art thou to hear the prayers of thy faithful servant! For, after all their projects and devices to entrap me, when I was just falling into their hands, I am miraculously preserved, and they themselves precipitously run into that very danger wherein they thought to have caught me, 1 Sam. xxiv. 3. 4. 5. &c.

Ver. 7. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.] My heart also is ready, O God, my heart is prepared and firmly resolved, to pay thee the vows which I made in my distress;

my song shall be of thee, and with all the joy I can express, I will set forth thy praise.

Ver. 8. Awake up, my glory; awake psaltery and harp; I myself will awake early.] My tongue, wherewith I ought to glorify thee, shall be no longer silent, or merely full of complaints; nor shall any instrument of music be wanting to accompany my hymns; which I will sing unto thee so early, that I will prevent the rising sun.

Ver. 9. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people; I will sing unto thee among the nations.] Nor will I content myself with my private acknowledgements of thy goodness; but I will publish thy praise in the greatest assemblies of thy people, among whom this song shall be sung; yea, other nations shall read therein, how thankful I am to thee for what thou hast done.

Ver. 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens

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