Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 14
PSAL. LV.
David in his prayer complaineth of his fearefull case. 10 He prayeth against his enemies, of whose wickednesse and treacherie he complaineth. 17 He comforteth himselfe in Gods preservation of him, and confusion of his enemies.
To the master of the musicke, on Neginoth, an instructing Psalme of David.
HEare thou, O God, my prayer, and hide not thy selfe from my supplication for grace. Attend to me, and answer me; I mourn in my meditatiō, & make a troubled noise. For the voice of the enemy, because of the vexation of the wicked; for they bring upon me painfull iniquitie, and in anger they spightfully hate me. My heart is pained within me, and the terrours of death are fallen upon me. Feare and trembling is come into me, and horrour hath covered me. So that I say, who will give me a wing as a dove, that I might flie and dwell. Loe, I would make farre off my wandring flight, I would lodge in the wildernesse Selah. I would hasten my safe escaping from the winde of driving forward, from the tempest. Swallow them, Lord, divide their tongue, for I see violent wrong and strife in the citie. Day and night, they compasse it upon the wals thereof, and painfull iniquitie and molestation are within it. Wofull evils are within it, and fraud and guile departeth not from the street thereof. For not an enemie reproached me, for I could beare it: not my hater magnified against me, for I could be hidden from him. But it was thou O man esteemed of as my selfe, my guide and my knowne acquaintance. Wee which together made sweet secret counsell, went into Gods house with the society. Let death seize upon them, let them goe downe quicke to hell; for evill are in their dwelling place in their in most part. I will call unto God, and Iehovah will save me. Evening, and morning, and at no one, will I meditate and make a noise, and he heard my voyce. Hee hath redeemed my soule in peace from the battell against me, for with many were they with me. God will heare and afflict them, even he that sitteth from antiquitie Selah, for that they have no changes, neither feare they God. He sent forth his hand on his peaceable friends, he profaned his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but battell was in his heart; his words were softer than oile, but they were drawne swords. Cast thou thy carefull burden upon Iehovah, and he will sustaine thee; he will not give the just man for ever to be moved. But thou, O God, wilt make them goe downe to the pit of corruption; men of blouds and of deceit, shal not live halfe their dayes, but I will trust in thee.
Annotations.
VErs. 3. I mourne] as one cast downe with sorrow, making a dolefull noise. meditation] or, discoursing talke, prayer, complaint. The Hebrew Siach signifieth any large discourse or exercise of the minde or mouth, by busie musing, talking, praying, communing with ones selfe or others.
Vers. 4. they bring] they make move or turne upon me iniquitie; both by unjust imputation of evill, and inflicting of punishment. For the word is used both for iniquitie and the punishment thereof, as is noted Psal. 5. 6. The Chaldee saith, they testifie falshood against me. spightfully hate me] or, beare me a privy grud…e, with a purpose to avenge, as the word signifieth, Gen. 27. 41. and 50. 15.
Vers. 5. is pained] or, trembleth with paine. The word usually meaneth such paines as a woman feeleth in her travell.
Vers. 6. horrour] or, amazed quaking; when the senses are smitten with astonishment. Therefore the Greeke, turnes it, darknesse.
Vers. 7. who will give] a wish, O that I had, or, O that some would give. See Psal. 14. 7. wing as a dove] which being a fearfull bird, flieth fast to desarts and rocks to hide it selfe, Ier. 48. 28. wing is put for wings, as fowle for fowles, Psal 8. 9. that I might flie] or, I would flie, and dwell, to wit, somewhere, where I can finde safety; but no place is named, to note the more uncertainty.
Vers. 8. in the wildernesse] the place whither the woman (the Church) also flieth in her persecution, Rev. 12. 6. 14.
Vers. 9. hasten safe escaping, &c.] or, I would speed my evasion, hasten any deliverance. So David hastened his flight from Absalom, 2 Sam. 15. 14▪ &c. from wind of driving forward] that is, from the driving (stormy) wind, that beareth all things away before it. meaning the storme of persecution, which forced him to flie. The Greeke turneth it, from pusillanimitie (or seeblenesse of spirit;) intimating his inly feares driving him to this flight.
Vers. 10. Swallow] that is, destroy. It hath respect to Dathan and Abirams death, who with their company were swallowed alive into the earth, Numb. 16. 32. as after in the 16 verse here is explained. divide their tongue] for, their tongues, that is, their language, counsels, plots, &c. As at Babel tongues were confounded, Gen. 11. 7. so tongues of Absaloms Counsellors (that persecuted David) were divided, 2 Sam. 17. 1,—5,—14.
Vers. 11. they compasse it] to wit, violent wrong and strife before mentioned, which were as wals about the towne: or they, that is, those wicked persons.
Vers. 13. For, not an enemie] or, Because it was no enemie that reproached me: the Greeke turneth it thus, for if an enemy reproached me, I could suffer it, &c. for I could beare] Hebr. and I could beare it: and being in stead of for, or otherwise, as in Psal. 60. 13. and 51. 18. magnified] that is, spake great and boastfull words: See before, Psal. 35. 26.
Vers. 14. But thou] Hebr. And thou; and is often used for but, as Gen. 42. 10. Isa. 10. 20. So in Greeke, Rom. 1. 13. and often in the Psalmes. The Chaldee addeth, But thou Achi…ophel a man like to me, &c. esteemed of as my selfe] or, according to mine order, or estimation, that is, my very equall, my p…re: of as much regard and worth as my selfe. The Greeke turneth it, like minded: a word which the Apostle useth, Phil. 2. 20. my guide] or, my Duke, my Chiefetaine, or master. So the Hebrew All…ph is used generally for a Duke or Chiefe governour▪ Gen. 36. …5. &c. and so the Greeke turneth it here. It is also used in speciall for …hiefe friend, P…. 16. 28. and 17. 9. Mic. 7. 5. which sense is good in this place. A…l may be the man here aimed at, as the Chaldee nameth him, who was one of Davids▪ Princes and friends, even his chiefe counsellor, and became a traitor, 2 Sam. 15. 12. 31. and 16. 23. my knowne acquaintance] or, my familiar whom I acquainted with my counsels, purposes, &c. as Psal. 31. 12.
Vers. 15. made sweet secret counsell] that is, sweetly communicated our secret affaires each to other, or the mystory of god… ▪ whereof see Psal. 25. 14. These were fulfilled betweene David and Ach…tophel, Christ and Iudas the traitor. with the … or, in the concourse, company, that is, the multitude that runne together, frequenting the publike assemblies. And this was done with cutward haste and hurtling together, and with … minds: wherefore the Greeke hereturneth it unanimitie or concord. This word is after used for a company or concourse, Psalm. 64. 3. and hath the name of tumultuous running together, Psal. 2. 1.
Vers. 16. Let death seize] o…, Death shall seize, exact his due as a creditor on his debtor. The Chaldee expoundeth it, Let sentence of death make them guiltie. upon them] and, on him, as the Hebrew forme noteth, that is, on every of them. to hell] to the place and state of death, Psal. 16. 10. as the conspirators with Korah went downe quicke into hell, Numb. 16. 30, 33. in their dwelling place] or, in their …journing place; for this life is a pilgrimage where men are but guests. in their inmost part] or, within them, in the midst of them, meaning their heart.
Vers. 18. and at noone] These three times in the day they used to pray in Israel, as David here practised, and Daniel afterwards, Dan. 6. 10. and at the sixt houre (which was their …oone tide) Peter … to prayer, Act. 10. 9. Though the day was then divided into twelve houres, Ioh. 11. 9. yet of old they had but these three times or houres▪ meditate] or pray: see the note on verse 3. and Psal▪ 77. 4.
Vers. 19. from the battell against me] from the … sigh… (the conflict) with me: the Greeke saith, from them that … neere to me, meaning his foes; as Psal, 27. 2. with many] or, in many were they with me. This is doubtfull whether it be meant of foes, or friends. If of …, it may be resolved thus, for with many (with a great multitude) they were fighters with me. If of friends, it may be understood of Gods Angels, that in a great number were with him, pitching campe for his aid, Psal. 34. 8. as Elishah said, many moe are with us than with them, 2 Kings 6. 16, 17. The Chaldee explaineth it, for in many afflictions his word was for my helpe.
Vers. 20. even he that sitteth] that is, the eternall, that abideth one and the same, in counsell, power, &c. no changes] or alterations from evill to good, and are not bettered. Thus the Chaldee Paraphrast taketh it, of sinners which change not their evillway. It may also be meant no alterations of their good estate, that is, no adversities, as Io… 10. 17.
Vers. 21. He sent forth his hand] that is, laid violent hands: as Nehem. 13. 21. his peaceable friends] or, them that were at peace with him.
Vers. 22. drawne swords] that is, wounding deadly. A like similitude Solomon useth, Prov. 12. 18. There is that speaketh words like the prickings of a sword. See also Psal. 57. 5.
Vers. 23. thy carefull burden] or thy gift, that is, whatsoever thou art carefull to have given thee in all thy wants and need, or whatsoever …e giveth thee to exercise thy faith & patience, by advers…ies. The Greeke well turneth it, thy care: which phrase the Apostle useth, 1 Pet. 5. 7. Cast all your care upon him, &c. The Chaldee saith, Cast thy hope on the Lord. Compare also herewith Mat. 6. 25. Luke 12. 22. Psal. 37. 5. Sustaine thee] or, foster and nourish thee, with food and all other necessaries. The word though it be generall, yet is often used for nourishing, Gen. 45. 11. and 47. 12. 1 King. 18. 4. So the Greeke also turneth it here. not give] that is, not suffer, as Psal. 16. 10.
Vers. 24. pit of corruption] the Chaldee expoundeth it, the deepe Gehenna. men of blouds, &c.] that is, bloudy men; as Psalm. 5. 7. not live halfe] H…br. not halfen their daies, that is, not come to halfe the daies of their life, but be cut off by untimely death. So Job. 15. 32.