Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 10 – Psalm 13
Tenth PSALM.
David represents to God his own and his peoples condition generally in this world, under the insolent confidence of the wicked, heaping unmeasurable pressures upon the godly, by reason of his long-suffering towards them, which makes them worse and not better, as he finds by experience in his persecutors Saul and his complices. And therefore praies the Lord to appear for his people against them that do but abuse his patience, and doubts not but he will, even destroy the Churches enemies, as he did the Cananites for Israels sake,Psalm 10. being the same God in pittie and power now as ever.
1, 2 MOst merciful and righteous Lord,1WHy standest thou afar of, O Lord? why hidest thou thy self in times of trouble? why art thou contrarie to thy nature and promise, a stranger to the trouble of thy people, me, and others; and takest no knowledge of it to help us in it,2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices, that they have imagined. but seemeth to let the wicked afflict the godly without regard, who by thy forbearance is heightned exceedingly in wickednes, and takes a pride to vex and trample down the poor, thinking to make themselves great by oppression, but, Lord, do thou blast and utterly disappoint their wicked designs against them that are good, and do thou turn all the evil they unjustly imagine against the innocent upon the nocent.
3 And truly its time for thee to shew thy self,3For the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. for men grow shameless in wickednes, and are confident by those courses to carrie all before them, thinking meanly of all good men, and the ways they walk, that are not as wicked and worldly minded as themselves, esteeming those onelyonly wise and happie that heap up riches, and grow great by hook or crook, whom yet the Lord abhors and counts the greatest fools.
4 The wicked have had such a time of it against the godly,4The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. and therewith are grown so high-minded, and self-confident, that he never cares whether God be with him or against him, he thinks least of him, or sets least by him, of any thing.
5His ways are always grievous: thy judgements are far above out of his sight.5 Leading a life as if there were no God, for his whole trade and course is composed of nothing else but disobedience to God and injurie to men, and because he feels not thy judgements, he is therefore fearless, and thinks they will never befal him, but that he is safe enough, not caring a jot, but setting at nought both God, and all that take Gods part with me against him.
6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.6 And hath fully concluded in the pride of his heart, and confidence of his present condition, that he shall never be worse than he is, but shall ever prosper, and never taste of misfortune.
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit, and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanitie.7 He stands in no aw of God, nor scruples no sin, but gives libertie of speech to himself to curse, swear, and forswear, lie and dissemble, in so much as that he is altogether conversant in mischievous speeches, and self confident boastings, not any truth or good comes from him.
8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily …et against the poor.8 He every where fore-laids me, lying in wait near high ways, and neighbour Towns, to catch me, and seeks in holes and corners where he thinks I hide my self or may pass by, to find me out and murder me without any cause given, watching diligently all opportunities and means to take me at unawares, who am poor and friendless.
9He lieth in wait secretly as a Lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor, he doth cat…h the poor: when he draweth him into his net.9 He is as greedily affected and as cruelly disposed towards me as a Lion to his prey; seeking all advantages against me, never regarding mine innocencie and the unjust sufferings he exposeth me to, studying by all means possible to seduce and to entrap me in my simplicitie, that he may circumvent me to destroy me.
10 And as proud as he is,10He croucheth, and humbleth himself; that the poor may fall by his strong ones. yet in subtilty he can abase himself and with glavering speeches, and fawning behaviour indirectly endeavour the overthrow of the innocent and distressed, that by fair pretences he may deceive and bring them under his power, and execute his rage upon them by the hands of his privado's, desperate Assassinats.
11 And in all this is confident of impunitie,11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face, he will never see it. taking for granted, because at present he perceives not God, to mind him, that therefore he never will, but as he thinks whats past is forgotten, so he shall speed no worse for the time to come.
12 But Lord let him find it otherways by some manifestation of thy self in judgement,12Arise, O Lord, O God lift up thine hand; forget not the humble. good God have a care of thine honour and mine innocence, and other thy people who are concerned in me, yea, of thy whole Church which is resembled by me, by executing some remarkable judgement, and let not the world have cause to think thee careless of the afflicted, that humbly depend upon thee.
13 Why shouldest thou by thy forbearance give the wicked such occasion to insult over thee,13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. and slight thy judgements, confidently promising himself, that thou wilt never call him to an account for what he does.
14 But its sure enough that thou takest notice of the mischievous and spiteful carriage of the wicked both against God,14Thou hast seen it, for tho… beholdest mischief and spite to require it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee, thou art the …e… per of the fatherless. and those that are godly, for what ever, they think yet I know thou precisely markest them to pay them home with condigne punishment, in the faith whereof it is, that the poor afflicted man, I, and others that in this world must look to fare as I do, puts himself and his cause over into thine hands to be righted, for that thou art the helper of the helpless and distressed against oppressors.
15Break thou the arm of the wicked, and the evil man: seek out his wick…dness till thou find none.15 Weaken thou the power of the wicked wherein he so much trusteth, and which he imploys to evil purposes, trase him quite through the course and trade of his iniquities, even to the uttermost end of them, and punish him accordingly.
16The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.16 The Lord that governs his Church and people hath approved himself, and ever wil, to be the supream commander, and disposer of all, and over all, for their sakes as appears by his wonderful works; for how hath he destroyed the heathen in this land? which he promised to bestow upon Israel, and made it holy of prophane, in so much as they are wasted to just nothing who were potent and numerous; and his worship and worshippers planted in it, maugre their resistance, after that sort shall he do by the enemies of his Church and people, destroy them, as these.
17Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.17 For it hath been alwayes Gods manner to trie his peoples faith and patience, till they see a need of him, and make their humble addresses to him, and then to help them. Yea, when he has a purpose and sees it time to work their deliverance, and destroy their enemies, then doth he inspire them with a more than ordinarie spirit of prayer and faith to seek and hope for those very things?
18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.18 Which shall certainly come to pass, for therefore hath God deferred it, and always doth, until most remarkably for his peoples greater good, and his greater glorie he may vindicate their oppressions, and enfranchise them from under the tyrannie of their oppressors, who when they are at the highest in carnal confidence, and the godly at the lowest in worldly diffidence, thats Gods time to rescue these, and ruin those.
The xi. PSALM.
David by protesting his trust in God, silences his companions, and rejects the advice they gave him to save himself by flight, and give over expecting the Kingdom, disswades them from disheartning him, and shews how he no whit doubteth, but by the justice of God, his wicked enemies for all their malicious designs upon him, should perish in their wickednes, and that he should be sustained in his uprightnes.
To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung.Psalm xi. To the chief musician, A Psalm of David.
1 IN the Lord whom I know to be a sufficient safeguard,1IN the Lord put … my trust: how say ye to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain. do I trust to fulfil his promise. How then is it that you my companions dispair, and to the grief of my soul counsel me distrustfully to give all for lost, abandon the cause, and never more to look after it, but how to save my self.
2 For though its true the power and malice of mine enemies is great:2For lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string: that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. yet consider this, They are wicked and manage an unrighteous cause, maliciously seeking my destruction, whom they in their own consciences know to be upright and innocent, and therefore I am confident it shall turn to theirs.
3 Do not ye tempt me by despair to relinquish a righteous cause,3If the foundations be destroyed; what can the righteous do? and to distrust a righteous God. For faith and an upright heart are the onelyonly foundations that a righteous man hath to support himself withall, and if you undermine them, you quite undoe him.
4 Be confident of this therefore,4The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lords throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eye lids trie the children of men. that God is neither absent nor idle, but is present in his tabernacle here below, to hear the prayer of the righteous and afflicted, and also sits a judge in heaven above, strictly noticing thence the ways of men, beholding who does right, and wrong.
5The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth.5 The Lord takes special notice of the righteous man, and his cause, to approve both him and it, but as for the unrighteous and cruel persecutor, he hates him at his heart, and so he shall find.
6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.6 For however the wicked may go on in their evil ways for a time, yet God shall overtake them, with an unexpected storm of judgements, wherein their sins shall ensnare them, even as he did Sodom and Gomorrha. God will fearfully execute his wrath upon them. This shall certainly be their reward, and herewith shall their cup be filled to the brim, and they made to drink it to the bottom.
7For the righteous Lord loveth righteousnes, his countenan…e doth behold the upright.7 For God who is just hates injustice, and onelyonly loves and liketh righteous ways and causes, so as to bless and prosper them, as also amongst men, the upright and innocent are onelyonly they he beholds with favour and affection to reward and defend them.
The xii. PSALM.
David cries to God to succour him against the treacherous dealing of feigned friends. And upon his prayer promiseth himself by Gods just judgement the ruin both of his undermining and insulting enemies, and also his own deliverance from their oppression and pride: Magnifying the promises of God for their faithfulnes, he encourageth all Gods people to trust in God, and in conclusion shews the reason why his enemies were so many and so treacherous, because they that could work him most mischief, had most favour.
Psalm xii. To the chief musician upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.To him that is most skilful in the eighth tune or upon the instrument with eight strings, called Sheminith; whereto this Psalm is chiefly set, do I David that made it recommend it.
1HElp Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children o… men.1 O Lord, in thy faithfulnes succour me, for I am left alone to serve thee, all men forsaking God and me, deceitfully studying by all manner of treacherous dealing to work wickednes against me.
2 I know not any one I can trust be he never so neer me,2They speak vanitie every one with hi… neighbour: with flattering lips, and wit… a double heart … they speak. I find all men so full of feigned friendship, such lying dissemblers, practising nothing but flattery and falshood.
3 But my confidence is,3The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. that though I cannot know them to avoid them, yet the righteous God will be meet with them, and by their own ruin disappoint them of their ends against me; both the dissembler and the proud boaster, that either seeks to deceive me or sets light by me, and my righteous cause, will he preserve me from, and right me upon.
4 Who have arrogantly boasted themselves to be too cunning for me,4Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is Lord over us? and confidently given it out they will deceive and entrap me; presuming themselves lawless in all they say, or do, though never so false, and not accountable to any, no not to God himself, whom they disesteem for my sake.
5 But this shall be the issue.5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needie, now will I arise (saith the Lord) I will set him in safetie from him, that puffeth at him. That when they have done their worst, and their hopes be at the fairest: Then will God, beholding mine oppression and wrong, and hearing my prayer, arise for me (as he hath promised) and deliver me from the disdainful pride and malice of my scornful and wicked enemies.
6 The promises which the Lord hath given to me,6The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. and to his people, have no deceit in them, but are most true and faithful ones, I have had often trial of them in my manifold afflictions, and I ever found them so.
7 And I dare affirm it of thee,7Thou shalt keep them, (O Lord,) thou shalt preserve them from this Generation for ever. (O righteous Lord,) thou wilt ever be to all them that trust in thee a faithful keeper and preserver in all ages hereafter, as thou hast been to me, whom thou hast made an example of thy truth and goodness to all Generations.
8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.8 But no wonder, there are so many wicked wretches that set themselves on every side, and use all means to procure my ruin, seeing they that can work most wickednes against me be they never so base and vile, are most set by, and best rewarded.
The xiii. PSALM.
David …xpostulates with God touching his long delay in fulfilling his promis…s, and his undergoing such miseries, whilest his enemies prosper. Whereupon he prayes him to lay his case to heart, and that timely too, least death surprize him before he enjoy the promise, and so his enemie take occasion to blasphem… and insult at his downfal. After which prayer his heart is refreshed with a fresh gail of saith, wherein he confidently promises himself deliverance,Psalm xiii. To the chief musician, A Psalm of David. and God the praises of it.
To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire, do I David that made this Psalm recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung.
1HOw long wilt thou forget me (O Lord) for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?1 MAny gracious promises hast thou made me, but how long, Lord, shall I waite for their accomplishment? will they never be fulfild? how long wilt thou exercise me under adversitie?
2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemies be exalted over me?2 How long shall my soul be off and on, tossed between hope and dispair, not knowing what to think of my self and thee, by reason of mine incessant miseries, notwithstanding all thy promises. How long wilt thou suffer mine enemie to have the better, and I the worse?
3Consider and hear me, O Lord my God, lighten mine eyes, least I sleep the sleep of death.3 Consider my case and hear my prayer, O Almightie and most merciful Lord God, and give me betimes to see thy faithfulnes by my deliverance, least by extremitie of grief and trouble death cut me short of thy promise.
4Lest mine enemies say I have prevailed against him, and those that trouble me, rejoyce when I am moved.4 Yea least my wicked enemie insult and say; for all the promises which thou hast made, and my confidence in them, the day is his, and those that have long sought my ruin, rejoyce to see it.
5 But yet for all my present perplexities,5But I have trusted in thy merciemercy, my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation. and mine enemies insolencies, as I have, so I do still firmly trust that thou wilt shew me merciemercy, and am confident, that my heart shall one day have as much joy (as now it has sorrow) in a gracious and glorious deliverance.
6 I know the time shall come when I shall and will endite a Psalm of praise to thee the Lord,6I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. for fulfilling those great things thou hast promised, which I am as confident of, as if they were now done.