Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 7
Seventh PSALM.
David being falsely accused to Saul by Cush to have abused his favour, and made use of his reconciliation to strengthen himself against him and supplant him in the Kingdom, and Saul by this slanderous report being inraged against David, prosecutes him with greater hatred than before, whereupon David flies to God by prayer for deliverance from Sauls inraged cruelty, pleading his innocencie in the thing whereof he was accused, whereupon he stirs up God to stand for him against his cruel adversaries, for the promise sake which he had made him of the Kingdom, and the service he would procure him in Israel thereby, and withall prayes him that he will judge him according to his innocencie, and the wicked according to their wickedness, for that he knew who was in fault, he, or his enemies. And in confidence thereof prophesies his enemies ruin and disappointment, and that he shall live to see the day when he shall have cause to praise God for it, and when that day comes, he promises not to fail to do it.
Psalm 7. Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.A Psalm which David made and set to the tune of Shiggaion, whereby he sought the Lord when as he was endangered by false accusation of him to Saul by that pick-thank flatterer Cush, the Benjamite.
1 MOst Almighty Lord,1O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. and my most gracious God, unto thy power and goodness do I flie for safe-guard, relying onelyonly on thee, and therefore pray thee undertake my defence against my many adversaries, Saul and his partizans, who do most wrongfully persecute me, from whose hands therefore, good Lord, deliver me.
2 Lest if I fall into his hands he take away my life and put me to death by torments,2Lest he tear my soul like a Lion, renting it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. now that he is so inraged by false flatterers, and I have none left about him that will or dare stand my friend, and speak a good word for me.
3 My most righteous Lord and God,3O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquitie in my hands. if this thing be true that Saul is informed off against me, and for which he thus persecutes me, if I have had any treacherous design upon him, or broken Covenant with him as is suggested.
4 If under the colour of peace and agreement I have sought to bring to pass any treacherous or treasonable thing,4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me. (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemie. or since our capitulation have falsified my word, (nay, I am so far from thinking evil to Saul, that though he be mine utter enemie, and hath wrongfully and without any cause at any time given by me laboured my destruction, which nature can ill brook, yet even then in that time of open hostilitie, when I had him at advantage, and might have rid my self of him once or twice, such was my respect and loyaltie to him, and fear of sinning against thee, that I delivered him, though to the hazard of mine own life thereby.)
5 If thou Lord who knowest all things,5Let the enemie persecute my soul, and take it, yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. know me guilty of this persidious treacherie whereof I am accused, then in thy righteous judgement let Saul never cease to seek my life, till he have it, and then let him put me to as shameful a death as ever any suffered, and brand me for a most treacherous ignominious wretch to all posteritie, even from my heart I wish it.
6Arise, O Lord, in thine a…ger, lift up thy self, because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgement that thou hast commanded.6 But, Lord, thou knowest its otherways, therefore in thy just displeasure, and in the greatness of thy power bestir thee in my behalf to right me on my false accusers and bloudie persecutors, because of their unjust violence against me, and delay no longer, but take this season of their sinning to destroy them, and fulfil that righteous decree and judgement which is gone forth of thy mouth, concerning the making me the Kingly type of Christ over Israel.
7So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou …e high.7 And I will cause thy sanctuarie to be erected upon Sion, so shall all Israel meet solemnly to worship thee, therefore for thy peoples sake who do now want the means of serving and seeking thee as they desire, seat thy self upon thy Tribunal to do justice which now thou hast long forborn, and shew forth thy power from heaven, as formerly thou hast done in their behalfs.
8The Lord shall …udge the people: …udge me, O Lord, according, to my righteousness and according to mine integritie that is in me.8 The Lord will right this wrong which his people sustain, in having his worship deteined from them; and I pray thee consider my case too, O Lord, to right me also on mine enemies who have deprived me of thine ordinances, for that thou knowest me just in my behaviour, and in mine heart upright towards Saul, and most falsly slandered in those things whereof I am accused, and for which I am persecuted.
9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just: …or the righteous God trieth the hea…rs and reins.9 O Lord do thou put an end to the wicked practises of mine ungodly enemies, but make good thy promise of mine establishment in the throne of Israel, who fears thy name, and am just in all my dealings, for thou that knowest the inward thoughts and desires of mens hearts canst judge whether I or mine enemies be the wrong-doors.
10 My trust is wholly in the Lord for my preservation,10My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. against the furie of mine implacable and malicious adversaries, who I know will not let the upright hearted man perish who fears to sin, and hath a care to walk honestly.
11 God though he seem slack yet will sooner or later judge the righteous mans cause,11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angrie with the wicked every day. and as well as the wicked seem to prosper, yet hath God a continual eye upon them, and their evil ways, whereby his displeasure is daily increased against them.
12 He indeed waits a time to see if the wicked will repent and turn from his evil ways,12If he turn not, he will whe… his sword, he hath bent his bow, and made it readie. but if after he have waited a while, he turn not, then will he be the more inraged & severe in the execution of justice, for which he hath all things in a readiness when the time comes.
13 Yea he is preparing all the while,13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death, he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. he lets him live in sin to bring upon him utter destruction for it at last, and the proud persecutors of the poor and godly, he means in the end to make them the marks at whom he will discharge all his quiver of plagues and punishments.
14 The world shall see,14Behold, he travelleth with iniquitie, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falshood. that after he hath taken a great deal of pains, and been at much trouble to compass his wicked ends by wicked means, and hath with much studie contrived mischievous devices against the innocent, the end will be, that he will be deceived in his expectation, both of the righteous mans ruin, and his own prospering, for he shall be the man that shall perish with all his machinations, but the upright man shall be preserved in his innocencie.
15He made a pit and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.15 After he hath long set his wits a work, and moiled and toiled to compass the godly mans destruction, God shall so bring it about, that his very design upon the righteous shall turn to his own utter undoing.
16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come upon his own pate.16 All the ill he meant to others shall light upon himself, and his violence against the good, shall fall heavie upon him to his utter destruction.
17I will praise the Lord according to his righteousnes: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.17 That day I know and am sure I shall live to see, (though it seems afar off) when I shall have cause to praise the Lord for keeping promise with me, and for all his righteous judging me according to mine innocencie, in my deliverance and mine enemies downfall; and when this is which I am sure will be, I promise before hand (in the faith of it) that I will praise the power and goodness of the Lord God Almightie who rules over all; and raiseth, and abaseth, whom he pleaseth.