Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 15
PSAL. LVI.
David praying to God in confidence of his word, complaineth of his enemies. 10 Heprof…sseth his confidence in Gods word, and promiseth to praise him.
To the master of the musicke, concerning the dumbe dove in faire places, Michtam of David, when the Philistims tooke him in Gath.
BE gracious to mee, O God, for sory man would swallow me up; all the day, warring he oppresseth me. Mine enviers would swallow mee up all the day, for many do… warte with me, O most high. In the day I shall feare, I will trust unto thee.
In God, I will praise his word; in God doe I trust, I will not feare what flesh can doe unto mee. All the day my words they grievously wrest; against me all their thoughts be for evill. They draw together, they keep close themselves, they doe observe my steps, because they earnestly expect my soule. For painfull iniquitie shall they escape safe? in anger cast downe the peoples, O God. Thou hast counted my wandring; put thou my teares in thy bottle: are they not in thy register? Then shall mine enemies turne backe in the day that I call; this I know, that God will be for mee. In God, I will praise the word; in Iehovah, I will praise the word.
In God doe I trust, I will not feare what earthly man can doe unto me. Thy vowes are upon me, O God; I will pay confessions unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soule from death; hast thou not also my feet from sliding? for to walke on, before God, in the light of the living.
Annotations.
COncerning the dumbe dove] or after the Hebrew phrase, the dove of dumbnesse; thus David speaketh of himselfe, as of a dove subject to vexation among the …avenous kites the Philistims, which were farre dis…oyned from Gods people in faith, though neare in habitation; as the Greeke translateth it, the people farre off from the Saints. Or Aelem, interpreted dumbnesse, may also be turned, a Congregation, as in Psalm. 58. 2. and so the meaning is, the dove of the Congregation of them that be farre of, that is, of the Philistims. And thus the Chaldee expoundeth it, To praise for the congregation, which is like to a silent dove, in the time when they are driven farre from their cities, &c. Michtam] a Iewell, or golden Psalme▪ See Psalm. 16. 1. tooke him in Gath] David fleeing from Saul to Achish King of Gath, and being there knowne, changed his behaviour, and fained him-selfe foolish, and was so dismissed, 1 Sam. 21. 10, &c. whereupon he made the …4. Psalme. After that he fled againe to K. Achish, and dwelt there with him, he and his company, 1 Sam. 27. 1, 2, 3, &c.
Vers. 2. would swallow me up] or, breatheth after me, to take and dev…ure me. The word Shaaph is used for sooping in of drinke, Iob 5. 5. also, of the wind or breath, Ier. 2▪ …4. and 14. 6. and so for breathing after any thing to come thereto, Ioh 7. 2. Eccles. 1. 5. So after, in Psal 57 4. and 119. 131. O most high] O high God, as the Chaldee explaineth it. The Greeke saith, from the height; wee may also translate it, in height, that is, highly (proudly) they warre against me. But Marom Height, is sometime Gods attribute, as Mich. 6. 6. Psal. 92. 9.
Vers. 4. In the day] or, what day, that is, whensoever I shall be afraid.
Vers. 5. what flesh can doe] or, question-wise, what can flesh doe unto me? by flesh, meaning corrupt and weake man, as is expressed, vers. 12. The like title is given to men, in Psal. 78. …9. Gen. 6. 3. Esay 40▪ 6.
Vers. 6. they grievously wrest] they pairfully forme, and frame my words (or my matters▪) perverting them, and giving them another figure or fashion. So the Hebrew word is used for fashioning, Iob 10. 8. It signifieth also, grieving, Esa. 63. 9.
Vers. 7. They draw together] or, gather, that is, convene and combine together, or, gather warres, as is expressed, Psal. 140. 3. So Psal. 59. 4. my steps] or my heeles▪ or foots…les, after the manner of that old Serpent, Gen. 3. 15.
Vers. 8. cast downe] or make descend, to wit, to the pit of corruption, as Psal. 55. 24. or nether parts of the earth, as Ezek. 32. 18.
Vers. 9. my wandring] my flitting to and fro, as from Sauls presence to Gath, 1 Sa…. 21. 10. from thence to the cave of Adullam, 1 Sam. 22. 1. from thence to Mispeh in Moab, vers. 3. then to the forest of Hareth in Iudah; vers. 5. then to Keilah, 1 Sam. 23. 5. thence to the wildernesse of Ziph, vers. 14. thence to the wildernesse of Maon, ver. 25. then to Eugedi, 1 Sam. 24. 1, …. and so from place to place, as a partrich on the mountaines: in all which David acknowledged Gods care and providence towards him. in thy bottle] that is, reserve them diligently. Bottles were used to put in milke and wine, Iudg. 4. 19. 1 Sam. 16. 20. In the Hebrew there is an allusion to the former word wandring, called Nod, a bottle being also in that tongue called Nod, having difference in writing, but none in sound. are they not in thy register?] or, in thy booke and reckoning? meaning, doubtlesse they are. A question is often used for an earnest affirmation or deniall. As when one Evangelist saith, Doe yee not erre? Mar. 12. 24. another saith, ye doe erre, Mat. 22. 29.
Vers. 10. that God will be for me] or, with me, or, that God is mine: as the Greeke saith, thou art my God.
Vers. 13. Thy vowes are upon me] that is, I have thank-offerings ready, wherewith to pay my vowes which I made unto thee. A like phrase is in Prov. 7. 14. VponUpon me are peace-offerings. See also how vowes were paid with peace or thank-offerings, Lev. 7. 15, 16. Psal. 66. 13. Or, they are upon me, that is, I am bound to pay them, or, doe now binde my selfe and take them upon me. The Chaldee saith, O… me I have received, O God, thy vowes. confessions] that is, as the Chaldee saith, sacrifices of confession, or thanks: which were distinguished from vowes, Lev. 7. 12, 15, 16.
Vers. 14. hast thou not also] meaning, surely thou hast: as before in vers. 9. and Psal. 116. 9. from sliding] or, from driving, from thrust, that is, from sliding by the thrust of my enemies. to walke on] or converse: it noteth a continuall and pleasing carriage of ones selfe acceptable to God: therefore the Greeke expresseth it by well-pleasing; and the Apostle followeth the same, in Heb. 11. 5. from Gen. 5. 24. So in Psal. 116. 9. The meaning also of the phrase here is, that I may walke: as that which one Prophet saith, lashabeth, to dwell, 1 Chron. 17 4. another saith, leshibti, that I may dwell, 2 Sam. 7 5. the light of the living] or, light of life: meaning the vitall of lively light which men here on earth doe enjoy: and therefore in Iob 33. 28, 30. this is opposed to the pit or grave; and in Psal. 116. 9. it is called the land of the living; whereof see Psal. 27. 13. This also respecteth the better light of life, mentioned by our Saviour, Ioh. 8. 12.