The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 91
PSALM XCI.
ARGUMENT.
The Authour of this Pſalm is not known: but the occaſion ſeems to have been ſome great Peſtilence; in which the Pſalmiſt commends an humble confidence in God, and ardent love to Him, as the beſt ſecurity both in that, and in all other dangers. Maimonides thinks (as other of the Rabbins alſo do) that the Pſalmiſt hath a peculiar reſpect to the incurſions of evil ſpirits, Ver. 5, 6. as in the following Verſes, 7, 8. to thoſe miſchiefs which may come from the hand of evil men. And as far as thoſe Spirits had any hand in the Peſtilence here ſpoken of, his opinion is true; and his words in general are very ſignificant, that the Pſalmiſt here treats elegantly of that great Providence, which protects and keeps us from all evils, both univerſal and particular, &c. Thus he diſcourſes in his More Nevochim Part III. Chap. 51. where we have the reaſon of that name which is given to this Pſalm by the Talmudiſts; who call it A Song of evil Spirits. See Buxtorf Lex. Talmud. in the word foreign.
Now there is no Peſtilence ſo likely to have given occaſion to this Pſalm, as that in the latter end of David's Reign: who having numbred the people, and not made thoſe acknowledgments to God which the Law in that caſe preſcribed, (XXX. Exodus 12.) had this ſad choice given him by the Prophet Gad, whether he would be puniſhed for his negligence by Famine, or by the Sword of his Enemies, or by Peſtilence. And ſubmitting to the laſt (which God ſent a deſtroying Angel to inflict, 2 Sam. XXIV. 15, 16.) was taught, it is not unlikely, by that Prophet, called David's Seer, to recommend himſelf to the Divine Protection, in the words of this Pſalm. For that David himſelf was the Authour, as ſome conceive, is not ſo probable; becauſe there is no ſuch confeſſion of his Sin, and deprecation of the Divine Diſpleaſure in this Pſalm, as we reade he made on that occaſion, 2 Sam. XXIV. 1 Chron. XXI. unleſs we will imagine that he made this Pſalm after that Plague; to direct and excite all others, to make God their refuge, as he had done, in ſuch like calamities.
And this is far more probable, then that it ſhould be made by Moſes, as ſome of the Hebrews fancy; for none of the plagues in his time were ſo great as that in Davids: and the moſt of them fell on thoſe whom God had condemned to die in the Wilderneſs, (as he in the foregoing Pſalm commemorates) and therefore he could not promiſe long life to them upon any terms; as the Pſalmiſt here doth to the man that confides in God, Ver. laſt.
The ancient Interpreters by Schacal (which commonly ſignifies a Lion) do ſo unanimouſly underſtand ſome kind of Serpent, and not without reaſon (as Bochartus hath demonſtrated) that I have followed them, in my Paraphraſe of Verſe 13. and made no mention of thoſe Beaſts of prey, but onelyonly of venomous Creatures.
1. HE that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the moſt High, ſhall abide under the ſhadow of the Almighty.
1. IT is an undoubted truth, that he who always makes the Divine Providence his Sanctuary, and, commending himſelf to the protection of the moſt High, reſts in that and troubles himſelf no further; need not fear any danger whatſoever: but think himſelf ſafe and ſecure in his cuſtody; who, as He is Almighty ſo, will never fail thoſe that piouſly confide in Him.
2. I will ſay of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortreſs: my God, in him will I truſt.
2. And therefore I will now incourage my ſoul, to flee unto the Lord for ſhelter, ſaying; I have no confidence in any thing but Him alone: He is a better defence then the moſt impregnable fortreſs; being the Sovereign of the world, and ſo good to me upon all occaſions, that I will never diſtruſt his kindneſs.
3. Surely he ſhall deliver thee from the ſnare of the fowler: and from the noiſome peſtilence.
3. I doubt not but He will deliver thee from all unſeen dangers; particularly from this moſt deſtructive Peſtilence: whoſe venom catches men as inſenſibly and ſuddenly; as the ſnare doth the Bird, when it is laid by a cunning Fowler.
4. He ſhall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings ſhalt thou truſt: his truth ſhall be thy ſhield and buckler.
4. He will affectionately defend thee, as a Hen doth her young ones under her wings: And therefore truſt to his benign Providence, and depend upon his faithfull word; oppoſing that to all the dangers which threaten thee, as a Souldier doth his Shield and Buckler to the Darts and thruſts of his enemies.
5. Thou ſhalt not be afraid for the terrour by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day:
5. Then thou needeſt not to be afraid, either of murtherers and robbers; whoſe ſudden attempts in the night, make them more dreadfull: nor of inſurrections, and popular tumults, and the open aſſaults of any adverſaries.
6. Nor for the peſtilence that walketh in darkneſs: nor for the deſtruction that waſteth at noon-day.
6. No, nor of thoſe infectious diſeaſes, which ariſe from unknown cauſes: nor of thoſe malignant fevers, which rage in the hotteſt ſeaſon of the year.
7. A thouſand ſhall fall at thy ſide, and ten thouſand at thy right hand: but it ſhall not come nigh thee.
7. Whereby though whole Towns and Countries be depopulated, a thouſand falling on the left hand, and ten thouſand on the right hand of thee; thou ſhalt remain untouched in that mortality.
8. OnelyOnly with thine eyes ſhalt thou behold and ſee the reward of the wicked.
8. And onelyonly be a ſpectatour of the Divine vengeance, in puniſhing wicked offenders ſo viſibly; that thou canſt not but obſerve his righteous Judgments, 2 Sam. XXIV. 15, 16.
9. Becauſe thou haſt made the LORD which is my refuge, even the moſt High thy habitation:
9. Becauſe I have placed my confidence and hope in Thee, O Lord; who art a ſanctuary, to which no violence can approach.
10. There ſhall no evil befall thee, neither ſhall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
10. Therefore reſt ſtill aſſured, O my Soul, that He will ſuffer no miſchief to befall thee: nor let this plague ſeize upon thy Family.
11. For he ſhall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.
11. But give his Angels, who are always ready to obey his commands, a ſtrict charge to take care of thee; and to preſerve thee whither ſoever thou goeſt.
12. They ſhall bear thee up in their hands, leſt thou daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone.
12. They ſhall as diligently attend thee, as a Nurſe doth her Child: guiding, ſupporting and defending thee, with ſuch a ſolicitous affection; that the leaſt harm ſhall not befall thee.
13. Thou ſhalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon ſhalt thou trample under feet.
13. No, ſhouldſt thou come among Serpents, Aſps and Dragons, with all the reſt of thoſe venemous ſort of Creatures, they ſhall not be able to doe thee hurt: but thou ſhalt victoriouſly trample upon them, and triumph over them, X. Luk. 19. XVI. Mark 18.
14. Becauſe he hath ſet his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will ſet him on high, becauſe he hath known my name.
14. For ſo hath the Lord declared his will and pleaſure to be, when He gave commiſſion to his Angels concerning me, ſaying; Becauſe he heartily loves Me, and delights in Me, therefore will I deliver him from all preſent danger, and raiſe him above the reach of all future: becauſe he hath acknowledged Me, to be the onelyonly ſafe refuge, and relied on My power for his protection;
15. He ſhall call upon me, and I will anſwer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him.
15. I will grant him all his petitions; eſpecially when he is in any diſtreſs, I will be preſent with him, to afford him ſutable comfort: and not onelyonly preſerve him from periſhing; but, after a happy deliverance, make him great and illuſtrious.
16. With long life will I ſatisfie him, and ſhew him my ſalvation.
16. And more then that he ſhall have the ſatisfaction of injoying his honour to a great old Age: and when his ſtrength fails him, I will not; but ſtill give him evident proofs of my care of him, and kindneſs towards him.