Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 120
The cxx. PSALM.
David grounding his hopes upon former experience of merciemercy, praies to be delivered from that sad disaster which Doegs slanderous misre-presentation of him to Saul had brought him into. Prophetically he delivers his doom for it, and sadly laments his own banishment by it, whereof he shews the necessitie, and pleads his own integrity.
A song of degrees.Why these Psalms are called songs of degrees is unresolved amongst expositors, nor is the thing much material to be known, but it is concluded most probably for one of those two reasons. Either from the ascending of the voice by a gradual rising in the tune, or else, because the Levites or Priests did sing them in the ascent of the stairs to the Temple, or else standing upon the tops of the stairs, or on some high place above the people, where either they sung them alone, or begun them to the people, the better to be seen and heard.Psalm cxx.
1 I Have had experience of Gods good grace to me,1IN my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. for heretofore when I have been in jeopardie, I put up my earnest prayer to him, and truly I was heard in what I prayed for, had deliverance and preservation out of my danger.
2 And this incourageth me still to apply my self to him when ever I have need,2Deliver my Soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. or that any thing aileth me; Good Lord, look upon my wronged innocencie, the cause of my cruel persecution, and deliver me from the mischievous false reports suggested against me by Doeg to Saul, that fawning sycophant and lying informer, for which I run hazard to lose my life if God preserve it not.
3 Thou art in hope to get favour and preferment for this thy wicked officiousness,3What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue? whereas thy reward shall be of a far other nature, I doubt not but God will requite thee, he will give thee thy desert, and pay thee thy wages for such service done against his chosen, thy false and slanderous tongue shall have its recompence.
4 Even the mischief that by falshood it brings upon me,4Sharp arrows of the mightie, with coals of juniper. exasperating the displeasure and implacably inkindling the anger of Saul against me to destroy me, shall justly by a mightier hand be retorted upon thy self, for God shall one day let thy conscience loose upon thee, which shall be as so many pointed arrows in thy bosom shot from an Almighty arm, yea, the unutterable torments, and unquenchable fire of hell it self shall be thy portion.
5Wo is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar.5 Wo is me that by thy pernicious lies I am persecuted and driven into exile from the enjoyment of Gods ordinances, and Communion of his people in the land of the living, to wander in strange places, and cohabit amongst Gentiles void of the knowledge and fear of God, and common humanity, as bad to me as if I were in the barbarous and savage countrey and confines of Arabia, being forced out of the pale of the Church to shift for my life.
6My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.6 My life hath been in a great deal of danger along time, and sundry wayes in the land of Canaan where I inhabited as long as possibly I could, being loth to leave it till I must needs, labouring by all means possible to be in peace with Saul, that I might be quiet, but nothing would do to gain his good opinion, or perswade with him, such deadly hatred does he and his partie bear me, and so irreconcileable are they to me.
7I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.7 Lord, thou knowest how I have laboured for attonement, and how much I desire peace contrarie to what is falsly suggested against me, as if by rebellion I sought to get the Kingdom, nor can I be heard speak for my self to acquit mine innocencie, but am condemned and proscribed, nothing will serve them but my bloud, that they are resolved to have, and with hostile rage proclaim it.