A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 70
PSAL. LXX. To the chief Musician. A Psalme of David, to bring to remembrance.
THis Psalm is almost one in words with the latter end of Psalm 40. wherein David being in present danger of his life by his enemies, prayeth first, for speedy delivery, ver. 1. next, for shameful disappointment to his enemies, ver. 2, 3. and thirdly, for a comfortable life to all the godly, ver. 4. from which condition albeit he himself was very farre for the present, yet he professeth he doth relie on God by faith, and prayeth for a timous delivery, ver. 5.
From the Inscription; Learn, 1. Our most notable dangers and deliveries should most carefully be observed and remembered, and made use of; This is a Psalm to bring to remembrance. 2. What hard condition we have been in before, we may fall into the like again; and the same gracious means we have used before, in seeking our relief of God, we should use again; and what words of prayer we have used before, we may use again, without any either needlesse affectation of other words, or superstitious tying of our selves to the same words, as the example of David teacheth us, when we compare the end of the 40. Psalm with this Psalm.
Ver. 1. MAke haste, O God, to deliver me: make haste, to helpe me, O LORD.
From the first petition; Learn, 1. Though death or danger of it were never so near, God can come quickly and prevent it; and prayer is a swift messenger, which in the twinkling of an eye can go and return with an answer from heaven, as this abrupt beginning of his prayer doth teach us; O Lord, to deliver me. These words, make haste; are not expressed in the Original; for the haste was so great as he could not expresse it, till he drew his breath. 2. As we have need of help, God will make haste unto our help; Make haste to help me, O LORD.
Ver. 2. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soule: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
3. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
From the second petition; Learn, 1. The more that the enemies of Gods people do promise to themselves certainly to destroy such of the Saints as they do pitch upon when their plot shall be ripe and fixed, when God doth disappoint them they are the more confounded and ashamed; Let them be ashamed and confounded, who seek after my soule, or my life. 2. All the enemies of Gods children, shall at last think shame of their injuries done to them, and evils which they have wished unto them, to wit, when they shall know whose children they are, and what interest God hath in them, then at last shall they flee, and hide themselvs for shame; Let them he turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. 3. The damage of the godly is the delight of the wicked; and an enemy to the godly, is he that laughs and scorns at the misery of the godly; They say, when they see them in trouble, Aha, aha. 4. Albeit what shame the wicked do put upon the godly for righteousnesse, or for their sufferings for righteousness, is not the shame of the godly, but the shame of the enemies, who do what they can to expose the godly to shame, yet shall the enemies have shame yet more for their pains, and the terrible wrath of God shall chase them out of Gods presence; Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame, that say, Aha, aha.
Ver. 4. Let all those that seek thee, rejoyce and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation, say continually, Let God be magnified.
From the third petition; Learn, 1. Whatsoever be our own hard condition at any time, we should seek the welfare and prosperity of the rest of Gods children, and it is the property of each of the godly in their trouble, to wish all the rest to be partakers of the blessednesse which their own soul doth seek after, but not to be like to them in trouble or bonds; Let all those that seek thee, rejoyce and be glad in thee. 2. If one of the godly be delivered out of his troubles, all the rest, who did pray for the delivery should rejoyce in God also, as for a benefit given to themselves; Let all those that seek thee, rejoyce and be glad in thee. 3. The godly do not desire deliverance to themselves or their fellows except in Gods way, in a cleanly and holy way: and the more of God is seen in the delivery of his servants, the more are they glad in the Lord; They are those that love Gods salvation. 4. It is a most suitable service for the Saints, to be alwayes praising God; Let those that love thy salvation, say continually, The Lord be magnified.
Ver. 5. But I am poor and needy, make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer, O LORD make no tarrying.
From the fifth petition; Learn, 1. Albeit we be not in such a condition, as we wish all the godly were in, yet let us lay out that condition before a pitiful God, and submit our selves to him in the condition wherein we are; But I am poor and needy, 2. The sense of a hard condition, is a preparation and a ground of hope to be brought out of it to a better; I am poor and needy, make haste unto me, O God. 3. Whatsoever dispensation we shall meet with, we should hold fast the claim of faith, and of our interest in God; Thou art my help, and my deliverer. 4. Having setled our dependance upon God, we may without being mistaken of God, speak all our desires to him; and having done so, should leave our supplication and case at his feet with confidence: O Lord, make no tarrying.