Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 53 – Psalm 54
The liii. PSALM.
David speaking in the wisdom of the holy Ghost, befools the wisdom of all flesh, which in all men naturally out of an enmitie and misunderstanding of God, leads only unto sin, and professedly hates those few in the world whom God hath renewed, instead of seeking to become such themselves. But he shews, that they both have and shall certainly smart for that sin of contempt and hatred of God and his Church, and praies, that God would presently by him give tranquillity to his people,Psalm liii. To the chief musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. as Christ shall to his Church.
To him that is most skilful upon the wind instrument Mahalath, is this Psalm of Davids making committed, instructing what man is by nature, what Gods people must find from such, and how God will take their parts against them.
1THe fool hath said in his heart, there is no God; corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquitie: there is none that doth good.1 MAn by his fall hath lost, and naturally is void of the right understanding of God, believing nothing so of him as he is, and so makes him as if he were not. And out of this depraved ignorance, all natural men live in sin, and from the beginning have multiplied abominations; not one, either is, or ever was, that by nature without special and supernatural grace ever knew or served the Lord aright.
2 The Lord made a long trial of it,2God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. in the first age of the world, in that time of nature between Adam and the Law, purposely to see what nature of it self would bring forth, whether there were any that could and would improve it to the knowledge, belief, and worship of God, his love and service, as a glass for after-ages to see themselves in.
3 But he found by long trial and experience,3Every one of them is gone back, they are altogether become filthie; there is none that doth good, no not one. notwithstanding his documents and judgements upon the old world, and so he finds still, that all men are naturally fools, void of true understanding, carnally-minded, and generally without exception, of polluted hearts and lives, lothsome in his sight; that none in nature does that which is right or acceptable, no, not a man of all mankind, every imagination of the thoughts of whose heart is onelyonly evil continually.
4 Insomuch as God himself admired to see all men by nature void of knowledge,4Have the workers of iniquitie no knowledge? who eat up my people, as they eat bread, they have not called upon God. and given over to sin, yea, even to the hatred and devouring those few in the world that are the people of God, and have obtained merciemercy, and (differing from them) walk in wayes of holiness and righteousness, never taking thought to do, or to be, like them, neither themselves by nature worshipping God, nor yet seeking to God for the grace and inablement that they had, but contemned it, and hated them.
5 Which at last brought fearful and unexpected desolation upon them,5There were they in great fear, where no fear was; for God hath scat…ered the bones of him that encampeth against thee, thou shalt put them to flame, because God hath despised them. when the floud came and swept them all away in the midst of their jollitie. Like measure shall the wicked contemners, and haters of God and his worshippers have in after-ages, God will certainly take part with his Church, though never so few, against her persecutors and despisers though never so many, to save it, and ruin them: As then he did, so shall he in his fierce wrath destroy even the whole world of wicked wretches that know not God, and persecute his Church, she shall worst them, as contemptible as she seems, because themselves are as hateful and detestable to God, as she is to them, who is and ever will be an enemy to his Churches enemies, to blast, befool, and utterly destroy them.
6O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion! when God bringeth back the capti…itie of his people, Jacob shall rejoyce, and Israel shall be glad.6 O that the time were come, which I am sure will come and is not long to, that God will be mine enemies ruin, settle my Kingdom in Sion, as a type of Christs in heaven, and then and there by me send deliverance and happiness to his people Israel, as he will thence salvation to his Church by him. When God shall thus have delivered them from their enemies and out of their present troubles (as formerly he did out of their captivities) into peace and tranquillitie, as his Church by Christ shall be from wrath and hell, how shall the faithful and true Israel of God, who properly are the seed of his servant Jacob, rejoyce proportionably now in the type as then in the antitype?
The liiii. PSALM.
David taketh occasion to ingage God the more to him, by how much the more his enemies and dangers increased upon him, by secret treacheries, and open violences, and found God as he hoped, his deliverer, whereupon he goes a pin higher, and strengthens his faith in his ultimate deliverance, and establishment promised; at which time, when it shall come to pass, he promises not to be a little thankful to God.
The liiii. Psalm. To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?To him that is most skilfull upon the stringed instrument Neginoth, is this Psalm committed, of Davids making, upon that occasion when the Ziphims came once and again to inform Saul where David had retired himself with his men, for him to persecute him. Instructing us to draw near to God, as dangers draw nearer to us.
1 LOrd remember thy gracious ingagements for my preservation,1SAve me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. and future establishment, accordingly in thy grace and faithfulness deliver me out of mine extream difficulties, when all humane help fails, then for thy righteousness sake who knowest mine innocencie, and mine enemies treacherie, let thy miraculous and omnipotent power appear for me.
2 Lord be mindful of me that flie to thee for succour;2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. and make thee my refuge, hear my prayer in this my necessitie, and grant me the deliverance I so earnestly make suite for.
3 For besides the King and his courtiers,3For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressours seek after my soul, they have not set God before them. Selah. and his ordinarie souldierie, men, that never saw my face, meerly, because I come to safeguard my self amongst them, without any harm to any of them. The Ziphims, are also conspired against me, and have betrayed me to Saul and his complices, my deadly enemies, who are upon their march against me to catch or kill me; These Ziphims, as they are strangers to me, so they are to God and his wayes, else they durst never have sought to betray innocent bloud in this sort. The Lord remember them for it.
4 But though enemies increase and dangers multiply, 4Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my Soul.yet by experience I find that God is able to deliver me, and doth do so, as my late wonderful escapes have made to appear, and though I have many against me that seek my life, and but few with me or for me, yet they that are on my side, he is on theirs, and preserves them for my sake.
5He shall reward evil unto mine enemies; cut them off in thy truth.5 The Lord shall be meet with these unjust enemies of mine, and reward them according to their treacherous dealing, and cruel persecution, in thine own time and way, O Lord, ease me of them, by destroying them that would destroy me without cause, according to thy faithful promises and righteous judgements.
6I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, (O Lord) for it is good.6 If so, when that time comes, whereas now I am exercised in fear & dependence, then will I be as conversant in faithful thanks-givings, when thou shalt set me free, I will praise thee with an inlarged heart, and offer free-will-offerings & peace-offerings to thee in a plentiful and gratuitous manner, magnifying thy grace and faithfulness, which I have found made good unto me.
7For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.7 For so it shall come to pass, I am as sure of it as if it were already, my faith carries me to it, beyond and above all intervening difficulties, so that I (me thinks) already enjoy my quietus est, and see my bloud-thirsty enemies laid low enough for doing me any more harm.