Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 3 · Commentary on psalm 14
PSAL. LXXXVI.
David strengtheneth his prayer by the conscience of his religion, 5 by the goodnesse and power of God. 11 Her desireth the continuance of former grace. 14 Complaining of the proud, he craveth some token of Gods goodnesse.
A Prayer of David.
BOw downe thine eare Iehovah, answer me, for I am poore, afflicted, and needy. Keepe my soule, for I am mercifull; thou my God save thy servant, that trusleth unto thee. Be gracious unto me, Iehovah, for unto thee doe I call all the day. Rejoyce the soule of thy servant, for unto thee Lord lift I up my soule. For thou Iehovah art good, and mercifully pardonest, and much of merciemercy to all that call upon thee. Give eare Iehovah to my prayer, and attend to the voyce of my supplications for grace. In the day of my distresse will I call unto thee, for thou wilt answer me. There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord, and none like thy works. All nations whom thou hast made, shall come and bow downe themselves before thee, O Lord, & shall glorifie thy Name. For great art thou, and dost marvellous things; thou art God thy selfe alone. Teach me, O Iehovah, thy way, I will walke in thy truth; unite my heart for to feare thy Name. I will confesse thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorifie thy Name for ever. For thy mercy is great toward me, and thou hast delivered my soule from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen up against me, and the assembly of violent men seeke my soule, and they have not set thee before them. But thou Lord art a God, pittifull and gracious, long suffering, and much of merciemercy and truth. Turne the face unto me, and be gracious to me; give thy strength to thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Doe with mee a signe for good, and let my haters see and be abashed, because thou, Iehovah, hast holpen mee, and comforted me.
Annotations.
A Prayer] the like title is of Psalme 17. To Christ may this Psalme fitly be applied.
Vers. 2. mercifull] or, a gracious Saint, pious, holy. See Psal. 4. 4. This ti…e God taketh to himselfe, Ier. 3. 12.
Vers. 4. Lift I up] See the Notes on Psal. 25. 1. The Chaldee saith, lift I up my soule in prayer.
Vers. 5. mercifully pardonest] or, art propitious, a forgiver: the Chaldee addeth, of them which turne to the Law. See Psal. 25. 11.
Vers. 8. among the gods] Though there be that are called Gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be many gods, and many Lords;) yet unto us there is but one God, &c. 1 Cor. 8. 5, 6. all the gods of the peoples are idols, Psal. 96. 5. Or, by gods may be meant Angels, as the Chaldee here explaineth it, and the Princes of the world. and none] to wit, can doe workes like thine; or, no workes are like thy works, Psal. 13 6. 4.
Vers. 11. Vnite my heart] apply and knit it to thy feare onelyonly, and that with simplicitie.
Vers. 13. hell] or grave, the state of death: see Ps. 16. 10.
Vers. 14. the proud] Compare this with Psalm. 54. 5.
Vers. 15. pitifull] or, full of ruth, merciemercy, and tender love. When Gods name was proclaimed before Moses, this title with other was in it, Exo. 34. 5, 6. long suffering] Hebr. long of nostrils, that is, of anger; long ere thou be angry. The nose and anger have one name in Hebrew: see Psalm. 2. 5.
Vers. 16. son of thine handmaid] that is, borne thy servant, of godly parents that were thy servitors. Of Christ, this also was true, the sonne of Mary the Virgin, the handmaid of the Lord, Luk. 1. 48. See the like speech, Psal. 116. 16.
Vers. 17. Doe with me a signe] or, Shew it me: that is, So deale with me, in my deliverance and preservation, that I may have my selfe, and may be to others a signe, for good. Korah and his company were for a signe to the Israelites, Num. 16. 38. & 26. 10. Ionas a signe to the Ninevites, and Christ to the Iewes, Luke 11. 30.