The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 143
PSALM CXLIII.
A Pſalm of David.
ARGUMENT.
To the Title of A Pſalm of David, Theodoret ſays he found, in ſome Greek Copies, theſe words added (to explain the time of its compoſition) when Abſalom his Son perſecuted him. Which he confeſſes was not then in the Hebrew (no more then it is now) nor in other Interpreters of the Pſalms: but agrees well enough, he thinks, with the truth of the ſtory. So he that was the Authour of the vulgar Latine thought alſo: though there are ſome paſſages in the Pſalm, which ſound as if it had been made during the perſecution of Saul; at ſome time, when he was in the like diſtreſs with that deſcribed in the foregoing. For v. 3, 4. he uſes ſome of the ſame expreſſions, which we find there; and repreſents himſelf as in danger to be buried, in ſome ſuch Cave as that mentioned in the laſt verſe of Pſalm CVLII; where he begs, as he doth here, for a ſpeedy deliverance. Yet, for all this, there are other paſſages which will incline us to adhere to the forenamed Addition; and apply the Pſalm, to his flight from Abſalom. For then it was he had moſt reaſon to fear, leſt God ſhould deal with him according to his ſins: which he deprecates (v. 2.) with ſuch a deep ſenſe of his unworthineſs, that it hath made this to be numbred among the penitential Pſalms; and is the laſt of them. The memory of alſo of God's former deliverances of him, a great while before (v. 5.) may well refer to what He had done for him not onelyonly againſt Saul, but before he knew him: which as he doth not forget, ſo he hoped the Lord would now remember; and grant him the like again, when he was in the like diſtreſſes.
1. HEar my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my ſupplications: in thy faithfulneſs anſwer me, and in thy righteouſneſs.
1. I Renew my requeſts, and my earneſt ſupplications unto Thee, O Lord, for ſome relief, in theſe new ſtraits and difficulties into which I am faln: hoping, though I am very unworthy, yet in thy abundant mercy, Thou wilt faithfully fulfil the promiſes Thou haſt made to me.
2. And enter not into judgment with thy ſervant: for in thy ſight ſhall no man living be juſtified.
2. My ſins indeed (2 Sam. XII. 9, 10, 11.) have juſtly brought theſe troubles upon me; but I humbly beſeech Thee to own me ſtill for thy Servant, and not to call me unto a ſevere account for what I have done amiſs, but to deal favourably with me: For if thou ſhouldeſt proceed according to the rigour of the Law, the beſt man living (much leſs ſo great a Sinner as I) will not be acquitted at thy Tribunal.
3. For the enemy hath perſecuted my ſoul, he hath ſmitten my life down to the ground: he hath made me to dwell in darkneſs, as thoſe that have been long dead.
3. And I am not ſo bad, but my Enemy that perſecutes me is far worſe: who without any provocation ſeeks my life, and hath already utterly deſpoiled me of all the comforts of it, (2 Sam. XV. 30.) and forced me to ſeek my ſafety in holes and obſcure places, in the Wilderneſs (XVII. 16.) where I ſeem to be buried alive, without any hope of a reſurrection.
4. Therefore is my ſpirit overwhelmed within me: my heart within me is deſolate.
4. Which, as it calls to mind the diſtreſs wherein I was, when in my flight from Saul I hid my ſelf in Caves (ſee CXLII. 3.) ſo it hath the ſame effect upon me: for I am ready to ſwoun away in this great perplexity; which hath ſtruck me with ſuch aſtoniſhment, that I have no ſtrength remaining in me.
5. I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works: I muſe on the work of thy hands.
5. Till I call to mind, withall, not onelyonly what Thou didſt for me in that former perſecution; but long before in my younger days; when I was delivered by Thee from the greateſt dangers (1 Sam. XVII. 34, &c.) on theſe wonderfull works I meditate; and conſider with my ſelf, that not by my own ſtrength, but by thy ſtupendious power I was then preſerved.
6. I ſtretch forth my hands unto thee: my ſoul thirſteth after thee as a thirſty land. Selah
6. And then I feel my fainting Spirits return again; and though I deſpair of humane help, I make my prayer unto Thee, with a cherefull confidence, for thy relief: which I long for and expect with as eager deſire, as the parched ground gaſps for a refreſhing ſhowre.
7. Hear me ſpeedily, O LORD, my ſpirit faileth, hide not thy face from me: leſt I be like unto them that goe down into the pit.
7. Do not delay it, O Lord, I moſt earneſtly beſeech Thee; for I am not able to hold out much longer in this great extremity: deny not my humble requeſt, leſt I be utterly loſt (as I am in danger) without all hope of recovery, 2 Sam. XVII. 16.
8. Cauſe me to hear thy loving kindneſs in the morning, for in thee do I truſt, cauſe me to know the way wherein I ſhould walk: for I lift up my ſoul unto thee.
8. Though this night be very ſad, yet let me hear (according to the confidence I repoſe in thy mercy) better news, and ſee my Affairs in a more comfortable poſture in the morning, (2 Sam. XVII. 22, 23.) ſhew me which way I ſhall direct my courſe, and provide for my ſafety, (v. 24, 27.) for I depend intirely upon Thee.
9. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
9. Let me not fall into the hand of my Enemies; from whom I am now flying: but know not whither to go, but onelyonly to Thee, for ſhelter and protection.
10. Teach me to doe thy will, for thou art my God, thy Spirit is good: lead me into the land of uprightneſs.
10. Whoſe guidance I beſeech, as well as defence, that I may doe nothing (no not for my preſervation) but what is perfectly agreeable to thy Laws; for thy favour is my ſecurity, which I know is not otherways to be obtained: and therefore I deſire the conduct of thy good Spirit (which is ready to aſſiſt thoſe that ſeek it) as well to lead me in the plain path of juſtice and piety, as to ſuggeſt to me the way and means of eſcaping the ſnares of my Enemies; and of coming into an honeſt Country, where I may be free from the fear of being betrayed to them.
11. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy Names ſake: for thy righteouſneſs ſake bring my ſoul out of trouble.
11. I have nothing to move Thee to it, but onelyonly the honour it will be unto thy Majeſty; in reſpect to which I hope, O Lord, Thou wilt preſerve me from periſhing, and reſtore me again to my Kingdome: For though my ſtraits are ſo great, that my life is in extream danger; yet nothing can hinder the performance of thy juſt and faithfull promiſe to me.
12. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and deſtroy all them that afflict my ſoul: for I am thy ſervant.
12. Thy mercy alſo ſurpaſſes all the malice of my Enemies; whom I truſt Thou wilt cut off, and deſtroy, rather then let me continue in theſe hazzards: for I am thy Miniſter, and though never ſo unworthy, am appointed by Thee to govern thy people; in which office, I will doe Thee all faithfull ſervice.