Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 18
PSAL. LIX.
David prayeth to be delivered from his enemies. 7 He complaineth of their crueltie. 9 He trusteth in God. 12 He prayeth against them. 17 He praiseth God.
To the Master of the Musicke, Corrupt not; Michtam of David, when Saul sent, and they kept the house for to kill him.
DEliver me from mine enemies, O my God: from them that rise up against me, set thou me on high. Deliver me from the workers of painfull iniquitie, and save thou me from the men of blouds.
For loe they lay wait for my soule, the strong doe draw together against mee: not for my trespasse, nor for my sinne, Iehovah.
Without iniquitie in me, they runne and make ready: raise thee up to meet mee, and see. And thou Iehovah God of hosts, God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathens: bee not gracious to any that unfaithfully worke iniquitie Selah. They returne at evening, they make noise as a dogge, and compasse the Citie. Loe, they utter with their mouth; swords are in their lips: for who heareth? But thou Iehovah wilt laugh at them, thou wilt mocke at all the heathens. His strength, unto thee will I take heed, for God is mine high defence. The God of my merciemercy will prevent me, God will let mee see on mine enviers. Slay them not, lest my people forget; make them wander abroad in thy power, and bring them downe, our shield, Lord. The sinne of their mouth, the word of their lips; when they shall be taken in their haughtinesse; and of cursing, and of false deniall, let them tell. Consume in wrath, consume and let them be no more; and let them know that God ruleth in Iakob, to the ends of the earth Selah. And they shall returne at evening, make noise as a dog, and compasse the citie. They shall wander abroad for to eat, and shall howle if they be not satisfied. But I will sing thy strength, and will shout at morning thy merciemercy; for thou hast beene an high defence to me, and a refuge in day of my distresse. My strength, unto thee will I sing Psalme, for God is mine high defence, the God of my mercy.
Annotations.
COrrupt not] or bring not to perdition. See Plasm. 57. 1. Michtam] a notable song: see Psalm. 16. 1. to kill him] or to doe him die. Saul having cast his speare at David, and missed him, sent messengers after unto Davids house, for to keepe (or watch) him, and to kill him. But his wife Michal (Sauls daughter,) bewrayed the matter, let David downe at a window, and so he escaped, 1 Sam. 19. 10, 11, 12. Hereupon he made this Psalme.
Vers. 2. set mee on high] set mee aloft, where I may be safe, that my foes reach not to me.
Vers. 4. not for my trespasse] to wit, against them; as else-where David professeth, 1 Sam. 24. 10, 12.
Vers. 5. without iniquitie] to wit, of mee, or on my part, understanding it of sinne, as in the former verse: or without punishment (understanding it of the enemies) they runne. &c. Iniquitie is often used for Punishment: See Psalm. 69. 28. Or, without iniquitie, (without blame) in their owne conceit; as in Ierem 50. 7. their enemies said wee offend not, because they have sinned, &c. to meet me] meaning, for good, that is, to assist me. For sometime meeting is to oppose and resist, Psal. 35. 3.
Vers. 6. to visit] namely, with punishment, as Exod. 20. 5. See otherwise, in Psal. 8. 5. the heathens] that is, the wicked mine enemies, called here heathens, as elsewhere strangers, Psalm. 54. 5. unfaithfully worke] or, distoyally commit. See this word, Psal. 25. 3.
Vers. 7. They returne at evening] The enemies, like hungry dogs, come at evening, secretly to surprise and devoure me. So wicked persecutors are likened to dogs, Psal. 22. 17. or it may be a prophesie of their extreme poverty, that when others goe to rest, they goe about howling for meat. make noise as a dog] barking, grinning, howling, as a dog for his meat; as after, vers. 15, 16. therefore the Greeke turneth it, they are hungry.
Vers. 8. utter] or well out, as from a fountaine; belch or babble, as Prov. 15. 2, 28. This similitude is explained, Ierem. 6. 7. As the fountaine casteth out her waters, so shee casteth out her malice. swords &c.] that is, they speake sharpe devouring words. So the Chaldee interpreteth it, words that are sharpe like a sword. See Psalm. 57. 5. who heareth] These are the adversaries words, who thought that none did heare, or (as the Chaldee addeth) would punish them.
Vers. 10. His strength] understand, O God that art his strength: and it may be meant of himselfe, though he speake as of another: 1. Because in the Hebrew there is sometime a sudden change of the person, as Dan. 9. 4. thou keepest covenant towards them which love him, that is, which love thee, Deut. 5. 10. that love me, and keepe his Commandements; for, my commands, Mic. 1. 2. Heare yee people all they, for all yee. 2. Because in the last verse of this Psalme it is repeated, My strength. 3. Also in this place, both the Greeke and Chaldee turne it My strength. 4. Because in the next verse it is written in the Hebrew text letters, his mercy, but by the vowels and margine, read, my mercy; which giveth occasion to suppose the like meaning here. Howbeit the sense is good, if we understand it of the enemie Saul, thus, O God that art his strength, and hast given him the kingdome, and this power. For even wicked rulers have no power, except it be given them from above, Ioh. 19. 11. And David much respected Saul, as Gods Anointed, 1 Sam 26. 11. 2 Sam. 1. 14. I take heed] or, will I keep, observe, that is, wait upon thee, or keep thanks and praises for thee, as vers. 18.
Vers. 11. God of my mercy] or, of his mercy, (as is observed on the former verse;) or, my God of mercy, that is, my mercifull God. prevent me] to wit, with mercy, or blessings, as Psal. 21. 4. let mee see] to wit, vengeance, Psalm. 54. 9. as the Chaldee also here explaineth it.
Vers. 12. people forget] to wit, their sinne, and punishment for the same. Dead men are forgotten, Psal. 31. 13. Eccles. 9. 5. so their punishment whiles they live, is the more memorable. make them wander] to wit, as vagabonds. The word hath reference to Cains judgment, who was not killed, but marked for a vagabond, Gen. 4. 14, 15. Some punishments are lesse tolerable than death it selfe, Revelat. 9. 6.
Vers. 13. The sinne of their mouth, &c.] This sentence is difficult; for, 1. It may have reference to the former, that my people forget not their sinnes and punishments, but may tell of them: or, 2. It may respect themselves; let them tell (or confesse) their owne sinnes and punishments, as did Cain, Iudas, &c. Gen. 4. 13, 14. Mat. 27. 4. Or, 3. It. may shew the cause of their judgements, For the sin of their mouth, &c. and so the Chaldee expoundeth it. when they shall.] or, and let them be taken. and of cursing] or, for the curse, (the execration,) which may be understood of the sinne, according to Psal. 10. 7. or, of the punishment thereof, as Deut. 30. 7. of false deniall] of their lying, or of their leannesse. The originall signifieth either, and may also be meant of sinne, or the punishment thereof. let them tell] or, they shall tell, speaking of his people, or of the wicked themselves.
Vers. 14. Consume] to wit, them, as Loose, Mat. 21. 2. for, loose him, Mark. 11. 2.
Vers. 15. And they shall returne] or, let them returne &c. a prophesie of, or prayer for their punishment answerable to their sinne, as before, vers. 7.
Vers. 16. They shall wander] or, make themselves wander, scatter themselves abroad. The Hebrew hath a double reading, to include both these: so 2 Sam. 15. 20. See a like punishment of the wicked, Job 15. 23. The Chaldee addeth, They shall wander abroad, that they may take a prey for to eat. shall howle] or, shall tary all night, to wit, hungrie and unsatisfied. The Hebrew signifieth either of these: but the Greeke chooseth the former, they shall murmure, howling for hunger.
Vers. 17. sing thy strength] that is, praise with song thy strength, who canst defeat my soes, and protect me.