A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 54
PSAL. LIV. To the chief Musician on Neginoth Maschil. A Psalme of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
DAvid being betrayed by the Ziphims; First, doth make his Prayer to God for delivery, ver. 1, 2. Secondly, he strengtheneth his faith by some reasons, ver. 3 Thirdly, he is confident of his own delivery, and of Gods judgement on the Ziphims, whereunto he subscribes, ver. 4, 5. And last of all, he promiseth praise to God for his own assured deliverance, ver. 6, 7.
From the Inscription; Learn, 1. Particular straits and particular deliveries should be particularly remarked, as David here remembereth the danger he was in by the treachery of the Ziphims. 2. Mighty men will finde readily more friends in an evil cause, then the godly do finde in a good cause: As Saul hath the Ziphims to offer their service to his cruelty, when David was in straits. 3. The wicked are very hearty to do an ill turn, and glad to finde occasion of it: Doth-not David, (say they) hide himself with us? as if this had been good and blessed newes.
Ver. 1. SAve me, O God, by thy Name, and judge me by thy strength.
2. Heare my Prayer, O God, give eare to the words of my mouth.
From Davids Prayer; Learne, 1. The godly can never be so surprised with trouble, but they should flie to God for delivery, as David doth here; and it is a rare vertue not to forget this relief in depth of distresse. 2. When men beleeve that God is all-sufficient and answerable to what is spoken of him, they have great encouragement to go to him in diffi…ulty, Save me by thy Name, saith David: Gods name gave him ground to pray and hope for deliverance. 3. Albeit no man should rashly call God to give judgement, yet in a good cause, against a strong Party, an upright man may call for and expect assistance from God; Iudge me by thy strongth, saith he. 4. In servent prayer, the very voice hath use, as with the supplicant to expresse his earnestnesse, and his faith in God, and to sti… him up, and hold him fixed to his supplication; so with God also hath it use in regard it is an expresse invocation of him, and a signe of dependance upon him, and of expectation of a good answer from him; Heare my Prayer, O God, give care unto the words of my mouth.
Ver. 3. For strangers are risen up against me; and oppressours seek after my soule, they have not set God before them. Selah.
The reasons supporting his saith in his Prayer, …e taken from the unkindnesse, unnatu…alnesse and cruelty not only of his Countrey-men, but also of his father in law, and of his old acquaintance, slippery Courtiers, who sometime professed friendship. Whence learn, 1. No strangers are more strange then they who cast off the bands of civility and nature, wherein they were bound: false Countrey-men, false brethren, false friends, false alliance, are those of whom men may expect le…st in their need, for David findeth such men to be his greatest enemies; Strangers are risen up against me, saith he. 2. When they who should protect a man, do him most wrong, God will hear the p…ints put up against such men: oppressours seek after my soul or …e. 3. When the fear of God is laid aside, there is nothing to be expected of the godlesse man but the worst of evills which he is able to do, there is no aw band to restrain him, for they have not set God before them. 4. The lesse hope there be of mans mercy, the more hope is of Gods help, the more unkinde and cruel men be, who should be friends, the more may the Lords kindnesse and comfort be expected for supply of inlacks, as here the d…ist of Davids argument holdeth forth.
Ver. 4. Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
In the third place he is assured of help to himself, and to his friends and of vengeance to his enemies. Whence learn, 1. Fervent … hath readily a swift answer, and sometimes wonderfully twist, even before a man have ended speech, as here David findeth in experience Behold (saith he) God is my helper, 2. The sight of faith is very clear, and piercing through all clouds, when God holds forth the light of his Spirit unto it, it can demonstrate God present in an instant, ready to help in greatest straits: Behold, God is my helpe. 3. There is more joy in Gods felt presence, then grief, in felt trouble; for, Behold, God is my helper, is more comfort then his friends unkindnesse, and strangers malice was grievous. 4. Such as do comfort and help a man in time of his tentation, are not onelyonly helpers unto him in the matter of his temporal life, but also instruments to save his soul, which by tentations is like to be drawn into sin, and so to destraction; for David saith of such men, they uphold my soul. 5. Such as take part with the persecuted Saints, God will take part with them: The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 6. As God is a friend to the friends of his distressed children, so is he a s… to their … and their foes shall smart for their enmity in due time: He shall reward evil to my enemies. 7. The doome of the wicked enemies of Gods children, is set down in Gods word, his truth is the wicked mans terror, and the godly … strength: Cut them off in thy truth. 8. Albeit we may not without cl… warrant pray against particular persons, yet we may subscribe to Gods Word set down in Scripture against his obstinate enemies, and our enemies for his cause: Cut them off in thy truth.
Ver. 6. I will freely sacrifice unto thee, I … praise thy Name (O LORD) for it is good
7. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
In the last place he promiseth praise to God for the certaily he had of his deliverance, whereof he was no lesse assured, the… if he had seen it with his eyes. Whence learn…. Promised and hoped for deliverance is able to affect the …, as a mercy present and already past, as here it doth David: I will sacrifice to thee, and praise thee. 2. Readinesse of heart to glorifie God, and liberty of spirit, with occasion granted to praise him for a benefit, is another … benefit superadded, and greatly to be esteemed of, as David doth account of it: I will freely sacrifice unto thee and praise thy Name, for it is good; tha… …s, not only is thy name good, but to have a heart sincerely to … …hee, and liberty to expresse thy praise before others is …. Then is an action good, when it is done, because it is a good …on, and is not gone about for by-ends; I will praise his name for it is good, saith he. 4. In one experience of one delivery man … foresight of ful delvery out of every evil or trouble wherein he can fall, as here David speaketh of hopes for full delivery, he hath delivered me out of all troubles. 5. The same light of Gods Word, made lively by Gods Spirit, is able to shew a man, both the destruction of his wicked enemies, and his own deliverance from them; and as a man may rejoyce in Gods mercy towards himself, so also may he rejoyce in Gods justice against his enemies, provided he be free of private revenge: mine eye hath scene thy judgements upon mine enemies.