Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 55
The lv. PSALM.
David being greatly oppressed by Saul, and in some imminent danger (probably that of Keilah) plyes God hard by argument in prayer, wishing himself any where out of Sauls reach, and that God would by some exemplarie judgement both punish and disappoint his enemies, declaiming against the base perfidiousness of some old acquaintance and intimates of his, wishing such wicked dissemblers to God and man might perish remarkably, but for all their crast and hypocrisie towards him doubts not but God will stand by him, as he hath done, and both preserve him and punish them. He sets forth Sauls perfidious hatred against him, but strengthens his faith in God, who he is assured will put a speedy end to his cruelty, and his own miserie.
Psalm lv. To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.To him that is most skilful upon the stringed instrument Neginoth, to which this Psalm of instruction to trust in God for deliverance in greatest troubles, is chiefly set, do I David that made it recommend it, for the care and ordering of it in the Quire.
1 O God,1GIve ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thy self from my supplication. mine extremitie is thine opportunitie, as is my danger, such is my prayer, the one present, the other pressing. In thy faithfulness hear me making my piteous moan in this my miserie for grace and merciemercy to be shewn me, and thy power to appear for me in this my necessitie.
2 Be not careless of my condition,2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise. but weigh well what I say and pray, being so nearly concerned, and grant what I ask: for as my grief, such is my sorrow, both of them very great, forcing me bitterly to complain to thee of mine enemies, and to lament my self with woful bewailing, which for all my strivings I cannot smother, but they do break out from me.
3 Because of the calumnies and threats of Saul and his complices against me,3Because of the voice of the enemie, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquitie upon me, and in wrath they hate me. and their cruel and unjust persecution of me, for they lay treason and conspiracie to my charge, which I was never guiltie of, and for this their false accusation they, (as if it were true) bear a deadly hatred to me, and with furie and revenge seek to take away my life.
4 Their rage and crueltie is such,4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrours of death are fallen upon me. as I am in such continual danger by it, that I sustain wonderful trouble of mind, and am almost sunk into despair of escaping their hands, who at this instant do put my life in peril, if thou deliver not.
5 I cannot express the miserie that I am in,5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horrour hath over-whelmed me. and the anguish of mind I lie under at present, my dangers are so imminent, and my trouble so insupportable.
6And I said, O that I had wings like a dove; for then would I flie aw…y, and be at rest.6 Insomuch that I could wish my self any where far enough off, to avoid Sauls causless suspition of me, where ever I might enjoy my peace and freedom from this continual fear I am in of him.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderderness. Selah.7 Had I but means he should soon see I would quit his Kingdom, where I am such an eye-sore to him, and live in the most solitarie place in all the world, rather than to be thus in continual trouble and hazard. I would to God it were so.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm, and tempest.8 He should soon be rid of me, if I could tell how to get from him, before I would lead this life to undergo this continual storm and tempest of such uncessant vexations within and without, I would thrust my ship into any creek in the whole world, go as far from him, as my legs, nay wings could carrie me, if I had them.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their rongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the Citie.9 Thou hast, O Lord, heretofore admirably manifested thy power, in a marveilous manner destroying those that opposed, and mutined against thy servants, witness Korah and his complices; and against thee, witness the confusion of Babel: Truly now art thou also affronted, and I thy servant endangered as Moses was then by a sort of people (the Lord divert and frustrate their malice by destroying them, and scattering and dividing them and their counsels) that are set at libertie by their own deboisherie, and their ring-leaders authoritie, to practise all manner of wickedness against thy Church and me, without any restraint or punishment, as if there were no Law nor Government in Israel, neither indeed is there, nothing is practised now adaies but how to wrong and oppress the innocent every where.
10 These are the things that all sorts of people,10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. all the Kingdom over watch and are solicitous to bring to pass, nothing but dissolutenes and wrong-doing in stead of good Laws and orders are practised under Saul, to the exceeding great sorrow and sufferings of the faithful in the land.
11 Not onelyonly the out-skirts of the Kingdom that border upon heathens and infidels,11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guil depart not from her streets. but even the heart and principal parts of it are adulterated, and as wicked as the rest, and so are the principal men too that should know, and do better, they that should give good example stick not openly and professedly to plot and practise treacherie and collusion against me, under that very name and notion to make themselves great with Saul.
…2 Yea,12For it was …ot an enemy that reproched me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnifie himself against me, then I would have hid my self from him. principally those that were mine intimates are now become mine accusers to Saul, and of all others profess most hatred to me, and speak the foulest against me, which I confess is a great trouble and temptation to me, to see my self deserted of such: as for others that allwayes maligned me, I should not have mattered it from them, had they onelyonly that had allwayes born me ill will, to raise themselves in the Kings favour, vapoured against me and tempted my ruin, I should not have been exposed to such dangers by it as now I am by mine own credulitie, and my dissembling adherents, but would have shifted for my safetie in another manner.
13 But I am betrayed by such as I durst have put my life into their hands,13But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guid, and mine acquaintance. one that seemed to draw the same breath with me hath opened his mouth against me, one that formerly I set by as if he had been my brother, whom I allways took for my bosom friend, and relied much on him in all matters of concernment, as such an one.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.14 Communicating mine affairs to him, and he his to me, with mutual and friendly advisements thereupon, and have many a time conferred together (I thinking him sincere both to God and me) in matters divine as well as humane, and joyntly frequented the publick worship of God, as fellow-heirs of heaven, never imagining then, that ever he would have turned persecutor of Gods Church and people.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.15 O that God would now execute just and exemplarie vengeance upon such hypocrites, as he hath done formerly in like case upon Korah and his companie, for the terrour of others, and way-making for his peoples and Churches peace, who conspire together by fraud or violence to do all the mischief they can against them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.16 But how ever I am thus forsaken and betrayed, yet I have one sure friend, God, in whom I have and still do trust and firmly believe. I will stick to him, though none but he stick to me, and in the faith of his faithfulness and friendship will in all times of danger make mine addresses to him by prayer, and doubt not of preservation and deliverance maugre all the malice of mine open enemies and treacherous friends.
17Evening & morning, and at noon will I pray, and crie aloud: and he shall hear my voice.17 I will not cease to worship him still, though mine old companions fellow-worshippers have forsaken both me and it, I will dayly and duly frequent him as heretofore, and my prayers and cries shall be answerable to my griefs, they shall put an edge upon them, and make me both incessant and importunate with God, who I am sure will not turn the deaf ear towards me, but I shall find he hears effectually.
18 He hath done so heretofore,18He hath delivered my Soul in peace from the battel that was against me; for there were many with me. when I have been in exceeding great straits, the Lord hath set my soul free from the fear and trouble it was in, defeating mine enemies, and given me the victorie over them, when by outward appearance I was very unlikely to obtain it, but that God from heaven fought for me, and was in stead of legions to me.
19 And as God hath been,19God shall hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old, Selah: because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. and done, for me upon my prayers, so will he do still, hear and deliver me from mine enemies, and put them to the worst continually, they shall find him no changeling, but ever the same towards me and against them. So be it, O Lord, delay not to bring them under the wheel that they may tast of adversitie as I have done; for their temporal felicitie, and the unalterableness of it, notwithstanding their sinfull courses, for which they receive no punishment either by humane Law or divine hand, maketh them boldly persist, not fearing thy justice, the smart whereof they never yet felt.
20 That implacable enemie of mine,20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. Saul, how doth he still persist to war upon me? though he hath been more than once convinced of mine innocencie and loyaltie towards him, not sticking to break all bonds humane and divine, yea, though never so sacred, to effect his malicious designs against me.
21 Many a time,21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oyl, yet were they drawn swords. when I have given good proof of mine integritie towards him by sparing his life when he was in my power, how hath he then bespoke me with specious shews of love and friendship, commending me, and condemning himself, when yet he meant me nothing but mischief, as appeared in the event, for so soon as ever he thought to take me at advantage, he, notwithstanding what he had said, attempted my destruction that saved his life.
22Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.22 But God hath still delivered me both from his open violence, and secret machinations, and so will still, both me and all others that humbly and faithfully repose themselves and cast their care upon him, he will succour and sustain them, such as keep a good conscience and walk uprightly, God will take their parts, and disappoint the purposes of wicked men against them, and not subject them to their power and malice.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloudie and deceitful men, shall not live out half their dayes, but I will trust in thee.23 But as thou wilt be just to protect thine, and deliver them, so to punish their oppressours, who, because they seek to destroy the righteous, shall themselves be destroyed, even with everlasting destruction, from which there shall be no deliverance, cruel bloud-thirsty and treacherous minded men may for a time oppress the innocent, but they shall find, that God can preserve them, when as they themselves shall come to an untimely end; such, and at such a time, as they never dreamed of. So that let Saul and the rest of mine enemies hold on their course, though at present they lead me a miserable life, and they themselves have the world at will, yet shall it not abate of my confidence, but that they shall come to a speedy and miserable end, and I shall enjoy the fruit of mine innocencie and thy faithfulness.