title which St Hierom truly calls the key of the psalm, (whereby we are let into the sense), inferms us, that it is a meditation composed in his flight from Jerusalem, when his son Absalom conspired against him, and most of the kingdom fell off from him, (2 Sam. xv. &c.), which after his return thither he commanded to be sung in the tabernacle, in commemoration of that disconsolate condition. And here I must note, once for all, that it cannot be certainly known what is meant by the word Selah, which we meet withal thrice in this short psalm. The most probable opinion is, that it was a note in music. In which David (as Theodoret observes upon this word) being a very great master, he set some of his psalms himself, to be sung to such instruments as he thought were most agreeable to the notes. But that music being now lost, some interpreters have wholly omitted this word Selak, as I shall also do. Ver. 1. LORD, low are they increased that trouble me? many are they that rise up against me.] O Lord, who changest not, what an amazing change is this! I who in a divine manner was set by thee upon thy throne, and lately triumphed over so many foreign countries, (Psal. ii. 6. 7. 8.), now see great armies of my own subjects raised against me; and conspiring with my son, not only to pull the crown from my head, but to take away my life. Ver. 2. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.] The general cry is, that I am lost, and that thou who wast wont to be my helper, and in whom I always made my boast, hast quite forsaken me, as my people have done universally. 3. Ver. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me: my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.] But this (how sad soever it be) shall never shake my confidence in thee, O Lord, whom I still behold surrounding me with thy almighty protection: and therefore I will not cease to glory, and make my boast in thee; but hope (though now I am in a sorrowful condition) that thou wilt make me joyful again, and raise me out of this dejected estate of my former dignity. Ver. 4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.] Why should I doubt of it? when I never yet cried unto the Lord, either in this or any former distress, but he sent me relief from that place, where he having made his special residence, would have us thither direct our prayers. Ver. 5. I laid me down and slept: I awaked, for the LORD sustained me.] He hath already so quieted and composed my mind, that in the midst of this dreadful danger I laid me down securely, and slept profoundly, and awaked, as I slept, without any fear, or any disturbance for the Lord supported and upheld my spirit, in a firm confidence of his careful providence Over me. Ver. 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people, that have set themselves against me round about.] And therefore, were I beset with as many nations, as I see men now encamp themselves on all sides against me, I should not be at all daunted at it; Ver. 7. Arise, O LORD, save me, O my Gd: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone : thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.] But only address myself to thee, saying, Defer no longer, O Lord, but let them see thou hast not forsaken me. liver me, O my God, from these rebellious subjects, whom I beseech thee to discomfit and put to shame, as thou hast done many other powerful enemies, who most impiously have sought with eager desire to de vour me De Ver. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blissing is upon thy people. Selah.] Thou alone art the author of all happiness, and therefore unto thee I flee, to save and preserve me from this conspiracy : not that I may live to be revenged, but to do good unto thy people, whose prosperity I wish and will seek, though never so ungrateful and undutiful to me their sovereign. PSALM IV. To the chief musician upon Neginoth. A Psalm of David THE ARGUMENT. We can learn no more from this title, but that David was the author of this Psalm ; and that he delivered it to the master of music in the tabernacle, to be sung to the stringed instruments. But when or upon what occasion he penned it, is not certainly known, though the matter of it makes it probable, it was in the same (or the like) distress wherein he made the foregoing psalm. Ver. 1. HEAR EAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress: have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.] O my God, the most righteous Judge, who knowest the justice of my cause, and art the protector of oppressed innocence, vouchsafe to give me a gracious answer, now that I cry unto thee for help against my enemies. Thou hast heretofore made an open way for my escape out of the sorest straits and greatest dangers; which makes me hope thou wilt still take pity upon me, and hear the humble petition which I put up unto thee. Ver. 2. O ye sons of men, bow long will yè turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.] I am confident my desire is granted; and therefore do ye hearken also to me, O ye rulers of the people, by whose authority such multitudes are drawn into this conspiracy: cease to defame my government, ( Sam. xv. 3. &c.), and break off your vain endeavours to dethrone me. Why do you delight to weary yourselves in the pursuit of such fallacious counsels, and to employ so much industry in inventing calumnies, and spreading lies, to draw the people from me? Ver. 3. But know that the LORD hath set apart bim that is godly for himself: The LORD will bear when I call unto him.] Know that it is not in your power by all these arts to depose me; for I did not come to my kingdom by chance, nor by your choice, but by the special appointment of God; who, having so highly favoured me, that he hath selected me out of all other men, and in a wonderful manner advanced me to be his vicegerent; he will no doubt maintain me in my place, and graciously preserve me," when I implore his help from all the enemies that can assault me. Ver. 4. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own beart upon your bed, and be still. Selab.] Dread his displeasure, I beseech you, though you fear not my power; and let not your anger at me make you any longer offend him, by persisting in this rebellion, into which you have run rashly: but if you will debate the matter calmly within yourselves, and, when all the bustle and tumult of the day is over, ask yourselves at night what ground there is for it; I doubt not you will find reason to lay down your arms, and be quiet. Ver. 5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.] As for you, my friends, that adhere still to me, though you are driven with me from God's holy place, yet fear nothing; but only take care to observe strictly all the rules of righteousness, which are the most acceptable sacrifices you can offer to the Lord; and then confide in him; and though your forces are few, doubt not of the victory. Ver. 6. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, Ift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.] You are desirous, I know, to see peace and settlement restored; of which many are apt to despair, saying, Who shall make us so happy? But do thou, O Lord, look favourably upon us, and bless us, and then I am surer of it than if I saw the most powerful armies appear, with banners displayed for my succour. Ver. 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.] The very thoughts of it, this small glimpse of thy love, hath already filled my heart with such joy, that it far exceeds all the pleasure my enemies can take in seeing their barns full of corn, and their presses overflow with wine. Ver. 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.] Nor can they take their rest more securely than I; for, though encompassed with these dangers, I no sooner lay me down, but I fall asleep; because when I have no other guard about me, thou, Lord, alone art a sufficient defence unto me. PSALM V. To the chief musician upon Nehrloth. A Psalm of David. THE ARGUMENT.-A psalm composed by David, (but whether when he was persecuted by Saul, or by Absalom, I cannot certainly determine), and delivered to the master of music in the tabernicle, after his troubles were over, to be sung in parts to the organ; in commemoration of that sad condition, and the devout confidence he placed in God, of deliverance out of it. Ver. 1. GIVE IVE ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation.] Thou seest, O Lord, unto what grievous straits I am reduced: Let them move thee to grant me my request, and to have regard to the silent groans and sighs, whereby I call upon thee for relief. Ver. 2. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.] To thee I appeal as my sovereign Lord and supreme Judge; from whose almighty power I earnestly beg protection, and from whose justice I humbly implore the vindication of my innocence. Ver. 3. My voice shalt thou bear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.] And thou wilt be as speedy, I hope, in thy help and succour, as I am early in my prayer: For the first thing I do is, to address myself to thee. I no sooner awake, but I dispose myself to wait on thee, (as an humble suiter at the gate of thy mercy), and expect what thou wilt be pleased to do for me. Ver. 4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.] Who wilt not fail, I am confident, to answer my expectations; for thou art a most righteous Judge, who art so far from approving this unjust persecution of me, (or rebellion against me), that thou abhorrest such wicked practices. They may prosper for a little time. in these evil courses, but shall have no place in thy favour, Ver. 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.] Thou wilt condemn them to suffer the punishment of their folly and madness; and banish those from thy presence, who in their blind rage have driven me from my habitation: for all such wicked doers are odious to thee. Ver. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.] Thou wilt utterly destroy those that abuse their tongues to tell lies, whereby they defame and calumniate my government: their bloody designs, which they seek to compass by fraud and treachery, make them abominable to the Divine Majesty. Ver. 7. But as for me, I will come into thy house, in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.] But I, whom they have driven not only from my own house, but (which is far worse) from thine, hope, by thine infinite goodness towards me, to be restored again to go into thy courts; and there, with the humblest reverence, to worship thee, towards the place where thou hast set the monument of thy presence with us. be Ver. 8. Lead me, O LORD, into thy righteousness, cause of mine enemies: make the way straight before my face.] And in the mean time, thou wilt be my guide and conducter in the way of thy commandments, which are the rule of righteousness; that my ene mics, who seek for something to colour their hatred to me, may have nothing to object against me. They would gladly see me trip, and they watch for my halting and therefore do thou make thy way so plain before me, and order my goings so stedfastly, that I may never stumble, much less fall, and give them any advantage over me. Ver. 9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre, they fletter with their tongue.] For with what triumph would they blaze abroad my real faults, who now stick not to tell all manner of lies of me? Their hearts are perpetually hatching the most malicious and mischievous stories, which they utter with open mouth, gaping for the destruction of the innocent to whom when they speak fair, and put on a guise of friendship, it is with an intent to devour them. Ver. 10. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsils; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee.] O thou most righteous Judge, pronounce that sentence of condemnation against them which they deserve. Let their own devices, whereby they seek to ruin me, destroy themselves; and disperse them, because of their multiplied impieties. For it is thy cause more than mine that is now disputed, while they reject him whom thou hast appointed king of thy people. Ver. 11. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because thou defend est them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.] This will excite all those who are faithful to thee, and confide in nothing but thy merciful protection, to rejoice and triumph perpetually in thy praise. They will be encouraged by thy wonderful goodness and power, appearing in my deliverance, to hope thou wilt protect and succour them also; and never fail to fill the hearts of all those that truly love thee with the highest joy in thee. Ver. 12. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous: with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.] For thou, Lord, who art faithful and true, hast engaged thyself, by thy gracious promise, to do good unto the righteous; whom thou lovest, and delightest in, and therefore wilt crown with thy favour, and encircle him as with an impenetrable shield, against all the darts of his enemies. PSALM VI. To the chief musician of Neginoth upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. THE ARGUMENT.-When David laboured under some grievous disease, he made his complaint to God, and deprecated his displeasure according to the sense of this psalm: Which he composed, it is likely, after his recovery; and ordered the master of music in the tabernacle to cause it to be sung to the harp of eight strings. That seems to be the best interpretation of Sheminith, which the Chaldee follows; and it may be justified from what we read, I Chron. chap. xv. ver. 21. Of Neginoth, see Psal. iv. By way of accommodation, the words of this psalm have been applied to the sickness of the mind; but upon the former account also, it may be called one of the penitential psalms. Ver. 1. LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.] O Lord, who delightest in mercy, moderate, I beseech thee, thy sharp correction, and do not proceed to inflict upon me the severest marks of thy displeasure. Ver. 2. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak: O LORD, beat me, for my bones are vexed.] I am brought very low already, my strength faileth me, and every joint in my body trembles; and therefore now, O Lord, thy mercy will come very seasonably. Good Lord, from whom alone I expect a cure, let it be sufficient that I have suffered so much already, and vouchsafe to heal me. Ver. 3. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?] For this sore affliction, and the dread of thy farther displeasure, have struck into my soul also an exceeding great consternation : and how long it will continue, thou, Lord, alone knowest. Ver. 4. Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: Ob save me for thy mercies sake.] My enemies think thou hast quite forsaken me: convince them of their error, O Lord, by being reconciled, and restoring to me the kindness thou wast wont to shew me. Deliver me from this anguish and fear, and (though not for my merits, yet) for thy mercy save me from going down into the grave. Ver. 5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks?] For there I can have no opportunity to do thee service, the dead being utterly unable to commemorate thy wonderful works, and propagate the memory of them to posterity. As long as I live I will shew forth thy praise; but who can celebrate thy name, and instruct thy people, in the grave? Ver. 6. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.] To that silent place I shall soon descend, unless thou makest haste to deliver me; for I am tired out with those pains under which I groan. The night, which is wont to quiet all men's grief, and lay their troubles asleep, is to me so restless and uneasy, that the incessant agonies I am in dissolve me into sweat; and I do nothing but pour out floods of tears; Ver. 7. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.] Which have made such furrows in my face, that my countenance hath lost all its beauty, and looks like that of a consumptive man, who is dropping into his grave. I am worn away with the mere grief and indignation of seeing all mine enemies insulting over me, and with joy waiting for my death. Ver. 8. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath beard the voice of my weeping.] But why am I thus concerned at their behaviour, and torment myself, as if my life depended on their pleasure; which is in the hand of God alone, who pities my mournful condition, and will grant me that which I have sought with so many tears? And therefore go your way, ye evil-doers, and stay no longer here expecting my death. Desist from all your wicked contrivances against me, and be not so vain as to hope to triumph over me. Ver. 9. The LORD bath beard my supplication, the LORD will receive my prayer.] The Lord hath not rejected me, as you imagine, but is graciously pleased both with my deprecation of his displeasure, and with my petitions to him for his favour. Ver. 1o. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed; let them return, and be ashamed suddenly.] And therefore I tell my enemies once more, that they shall all be ashamed of their vain hopes to see me dead. I shall live to disappoint them, and make them terribly afraid; nay, they shall make a sudden retreat, and be confounded to see themselves so shamefully defeated. PSALM VII. Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words (or business) of Cush the Benjamite. THE ARGUMENT.-An excellent psalm, composed by David to commemorate the loving-kindness of the Lord, upon occasion of some calumnies and false accusations, wherein Cush, one of the same tribe with Saul, (and probably one of his courtiers or captains, if not one of his kinsmen), had charged David with some very great crime, of treason, it is likely, and conspiracy against Saul. Athanasius indeed, (as we find in some fragments of his upon the Psalms), thinks that David made this xaging day, as he calls it, when Hushai (whom he takes for Cush) had defeated the good counsel of Ahitophel by a discourse he made, to shew it was not safe to set upon so warlike a prince as David, without a greater force than Absalom had at present; whereby he saved David from certain ruin. But I see nothing in the psalm to give a colour to this conjecture; for the words therein mentioned were against David, not in his favour. The name of Hushai, also, is otherwise written, and he is called an Archite, not a Benjamite; which St Basil (whose opinion this was) endeavours to solve, by saying he was called Benjemeni, because he managed his matters so dextrously, in overthrowing the counsel of Ahitophel. But that is only a piece of wit; and the conjecture of Valentine Schindler seems to be more probable, that by Cush he secretly notes (by a change of letters) Saul himself, the son of Kish, who could no more alter his mind, fall of hatred to David, than a man of Cush, or an Ethiopian, could his skin or complexion. Ver. I. 0 LORD my God, in thee do 1 put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.] O Lord, who hast hitherto been my VOL. III. L most gracious God, and Jefended my innocence against those who have falsely accused me, I ought not to doubt of thy continued care and love towards me; and therefore fly unto thee, with a humble confidence in thy almighty goodness, that thou wilt preserve and deliver me from this new persecution which is raised against me. Ver. 2. Lest be tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces while there is none to deliver.] For if thou dost not protect me, I am no more able to stand before Saul, than a lamb before a lion; so great is his power, and so implacable his rage, that if thou sufferest me to fall into his hands, there is no creature can rescue me, but he will infallibly destroy me. Ver. 3. O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my bands;] And let him destroy me, O Lord, if I be guilty of that whereof I am accused. Thou art the most righteous Judge of ali, and to thee I here again most solemnly appeal, as I have done before him, (1 Sam. xxiv. 12. 15.), desiring that thou wilt judge between us. If I have cons spired against him, or had any design to do him hurt, (as he was made to believe, i Sam. xxiv. 9.), if any such thing hath so much as entered into my thoughts; Ver. 4. If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy ;)] If I have either injured him when he was kind to me, or sought to be revenged of him since he has injured me: (No, I abhorred to take revenge, so far was I from seeking it when he fell into my hand, and spared him twice when it was in my power to have killed him, who causelessly endeavoured to kill me, 1 Sam. xxiv. xxvi.). Ver. 5. Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selab.] Then I beg no mercy; let him go on to be my enemy; let him pursue me till he apprehend me, and execute his desire upon me. I refuse not to die, nay, to be trod under foot like dirt, with the greatest contempt; and to be as much reproached when I am dead, as I have been honoured alive. Ver. 6. Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies; and awake for me to the judgement that thou hast commanded.] But if I be innocent in this matter, (as thou, Lord, knowest I am), then I beseech thee to shew thy displeasure at this unjust proceeding. Let my enemies know that thou art the sovereign Lord of all, by suppressing them, now that they rage thus furiously. Thou hast appointed judges upon earth to distribute justice, and relieve the oppressed; but hast reserved the supreme judgement to thyself, even over them as well as others; and therefore I beseech thee to take cognizance of my cause, and issue out thy orders speedily for my deliverance from this persecution. Ver. 7. So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about; for their sakes, therefore, return thou on high.] Which will draw all the people to make their resort to thee, and wait upon thee, till thou dost them justice. For that reason ascend thy judgementseat again, and, as thou hast done formerly, vin dicate me from these calumnies, and assert my inno cence. Ver. 8. The LORD shall judge the people: Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.] The Sovereign of the world will not fail to dispense equal justice unto all, according to their works; of which I beseech thee, O Lord, to give an example in me, who desire no greater favour than to be disposed of according to my innocence in this matter. Thou hast designed, in deed, a kingdom for me; but let me lose it, if ever I entertain a disloyal thought against him who now enjoys it. Ver. 9. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but stablish the just; for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.] I leave it to thee to perform thy own purposes, who hast long borne with the wicked in their unjust proceedings, but wilt at last put a stop to them, and settle the righteous, whom they injuriously persecute from place to place, in a peaceable possession of what thou hast promised. For thou, Lord, discernest the most secret thoughts and desires of then both; and as thou canst not be deceived with specious shows, so thou wilt not be corrupted, either by fear or favour, to pronounce an unrighteous sentence. Ver. 10. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.] That is my comfort, none but God, the Judge of all, can either absolve or condemn me; and he knows so well the sincerity of my heart, that I assure myself from him of protection and deliver ance. Ver. 11. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.] For he is so just a Judge, that he will defend the cause of the righteous, and never be persuaded to take part with the wicked; with whom he is highly displeased all the time that he forbears to strike him, and cut him off in his evil courses. Ver. 12. If he turn not, he will what his sword; be bath bent his bow, and made it ready.] And if he will not repent, as he is invited by that forbearance, he shall be punished at last with so much the greater severity, because he would take no warning, but went on confidently, notwithstanding the vengeance he was told was preparing for him: Ver. 13. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.] Vengeance which will certainly come, though it stay long, and not fail to do execution; for it is decreed in heaven, (if they do not repent), and will pierce through the very heart of Saul, and all the rest of my fierce and outrageous persecutors. Ver. 14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and bath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.] See here the folly of this calumniator, who wickedly plots my ruin, and hath formed most mischievous designs against my life, which shall all miscarry, and deceive his expectation. Ver. 15. He made a pit and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.] And he shall not escape so neither; for, beside the shame of not being able to compass his design, he shall suffer that himself which he laboured to do to me. Just as you see sometimes a man fall into the pit which was digged with his own hands; so shall he fall upon the sword which himself hath drawn, 1 Sam. xxxi. 4. Ver. 16. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.] The mischief which, with so much pains, he contrived against me, shall be retorted upon that head which projected it: All his violence and cruel persecutions, wherewith he thought to oppress me, shall fall down (like a stone thrown into the air) upon himself, and crush him to pieces. Ver. 17. I will praise the LORD according to bis righteousness; and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.] Which shall afford matter of perpetual praise to me, who will most thankfully acknowledge not only the power, but the just judgement of God, and his faithfulness to his word. With the greatest delight and joy shall my songs celebrate the glorious majesty of the Lord, which far surmounts our highest thoughts and thanksgivings. PSALM VIII. To the chief musician upon Gittith. A Psalm of David. THE ARGUMENT.-The Targum takes the word Gittith to denote, that this psalm was to be sung to a harp which David brought with him from Gath. Others think it to be only a note in music, or to have relation to the time of vintage. But Theodoret looking upon it (as indeed it seems to be) Jaλuòs ixivixi, a psalm of triumph to God, the author of some great victory he had gotten, I take it to have been composed by David, and delivered to the master of the music in the tabernacle after he had overthrown that haughty insolent giant, Goliah of Gath. Which is very agreeable to the matter of the psalm, and a lively emblem of Christ's conquest over our great enemy the devil. Ver. 1. LORD our LORD, how excellent is thy name 0 in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.] O Lord, the Sovereign of the world, who art graciously pleased to own us in a peculiar manner to be thy subjects, who can behold the wonders of thy works, and the wisdom of thy providence, and not be astonished at the incomparable greatness and splendour of thy majesty? which all the earth proclaims with the highest praises; but cannot be contained within the spacious bounds of the heavens, whose glorious brightness it far surpasses. Ver. 2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou. mightest still the enemy and the avenger.] What an amazing wonder is it, that thou shouldest enable the weakest of men to do the greatest and most praiseworthy things! and particularly hast now assisted me (who in comparison of Goliah am but an infant) with power and strength to subdue that mighty giant! It is enough to confound all the enemies, and to stop |