A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 55
PSAL. I. V. To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A Psalme of David.
THis Psalme containeth this doctrine, That albeit Christ and his followers may be in great straits by the … of their pretended friends, yet through Gods favour they shall be delivered, as David felt in experience. The use of which Doctrine is subjoyned in the end of the Psalme, which well agreeeth with the Psalmists condition in the time of Absaloms and Achitophels conspiracie.
The parts of the Psalme we may make these three. In the …st is set down his sorrowful supplication to ver. 16. In the next, his comforting of himself in the Lord his deliverer, to ver 22. In the third, the use of this experience, in the two last verses.
In his supplication he prayeth in the first place for a gracious hearing, because of the calumnies and cruelty of his enemies, ver. 1, 2, 3. In the next place he setteth down his pitiful condition of minde, ver 4, 5. making him to wish to be faire from the company of these conspirators, which were combined against him, ver. 6, 7, 8. In the third place, he prayeth to God to confound their counsels, because the whole City was in an uproare against him, seeking how to execute their mischievous plot, ver. 9, 10, 11. In the fourth place h… condescends upon a more particular reason of his prayer for confounding their counsels, because the plotter of the conspiracy had been most intimate in his familiarity, and deep upon his counsel, ver. 12, 13, 14. Whereupon in the last place by way of prayer he prophesieth of the curse of God to come upon them, ver. 15.
In the second part of the Psalme he comforteth himself in God; First, by his resolution constantly to depend upon God, and hopefully to pray, ver. 16, …7. Seondly, by his former experiences of deliverances granted to him before, ver. 18. Thirdly, because he was assured God should take order with his enemies for their treacherous breach of Covenant, and pla… ing of their malicious designes with fair pretences, and deep dissimulation, ver. 19, 20, 21.
In the third part of the Psalme are the uses of this experience, ver. 22, 23.
Ver. 1. GIve eare to my prayer, O God, and hide not thy self from my supplication.
2. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourne in my complaint, and make a noise.
3. Because of the voice of the enemies, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
From his addresse unto God for relief in this, as in his other sad conditions; Learn, 1. Many grievances are the godly subject unto, but in none of them all is there any ease for them, till they go to God and lay out their case before him: Give care to my prayer, O God. 2. As it is ease of heart to supplicants to have any signe of the acceptance of their supplication; So not to finde accesse in prayer doth adde much weight to their trouble. hide not (saith he) thy self from my supplication. 3. When a sad heart is fixed on God, and findeth what to say to him, it may expect that its words shall not be misregarded of God, but punctually taken knowledge of: attend unto me, and hear me. 4. Though a childe of God were never so stout-hearted naturally, yet when God exerciseth his spirit with trouble, he shall be made to weep before God as a childe, and must not be ashamed to be thus humbled before him: I mourn in my complaint, (saith he) and make a noise. 5. A mourning supplicant shall neither … his prayers nor his teares, for I mourne, is brought for a reason of his hope, that God shall attend and hear him. 6. When the godly fall into persecution and trouble from men, their lives, their estate, and their good name, readily come altogether to be in danger at once; as it befell David when the conspirators made head against him, they traduced his former government, as if he had been a wicked man, and sought to bear him down, and to have his life; because of the voice of the enemy, there is their railing; because of the oppression of the wicked, there is their violence robbing him of his estate; they cast iniquity upon me, there are their slanderous traducings of him, and charging him with faults falsely; In wrath they hate me, there is their cruell seeking to kill him.
Ver. 4. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrours of death are fallen upon me.
5. Fearfulnesse and trembling are come upon me, and borrour hath overwhelmed me.
In this pitiful condition of minde; Learn, 1. It is not a thing inconsistent with godlinesse to be much moved with fear in time of danger; natural affections are not taken away in conversion, but sanctified and moderated: My heart is sore pained within me. 2. Natural wit, and courage are not sufficient to bear a man out in a great stresse, for they will fail him, and if a man have not stronger supporters then his natural parts, he is undone, for here the terrours of death are fallen upon me, and borrour hath overwhelmed me. 3. The godly have an advantage above all natural men: for when natural strength and courage doth fail them, they have nothing behinde, but the godly have faith in God, to open a fountain of fresh supply of wisdome, courage and strength to them, when parts natural do sail them; for David being now emptied of natural furniture, hath wisdome and strength to go to God, and hope of heart to be helped by him.
Ver. 6. And I said, O that I had wings like a Dove; for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
7. Lo, then would I wander farre off, and remaine in the wildernesse. Selah.
8. I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest.
Where is he wished to have been out of the reach and society of such wicked enemies; Learn 1. When a man may escape a present hazard of …, with a good conscience, he may lawfully flie and eschew the danger, as David here wished he could have escaped; O if I had wings, then would I flie away. 2. A godly man may be in such peril as it seems to him he cannot without a miracle be delivered, as David saw no way to escape the conspiracie, … this way: O that I had the wings of a Dove; and yet God may so dispose, as he may be delivered in an ordinary way, as here David was. 3. It is better to be in the Wildernesse in some cases, then to be in the company of the wicked: Lo, I would wander farre off, and remaine in the wildernesse. 4. The way to eschew the fury of a sudden insurrection of a tumultuous multitude, is not to come forth and appease them with words, but to decline their present furie by going out of the way, if God offer occasion: I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest.
Ver. 9. Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11. Wickednesse is in the midst thereof, deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
In the third place he prayeth to confound the counsel of the enemies because they had put the whole City in a confusion, and set the citizens upon a course of … and violence. Whence learn, 1. A visible Church may at some time be in so sinful a condition, as a godly man shall not know what to do, or to whom he may have … where to hide him; as here the condition of the holy City, the City of Ierusalem is described. 2 The prayers of the godly are more able to disappoint the plots of cruel enemies, then all humane policy: Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues. 3. The beleever should make use of such courses as God hath taken before for disappointing wicked enterprises, for supporting of his faith in his need, as here David maketh use of Gods dissolving the conspiracy of Cora…, Dathan and Abiram, and of the proud enterprise of the wicked in building Babel; Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues. 4. A man should be very sure, that such as he doth pray against, and complaineth of unto God, are in a wicked condition, and upon a mischievous course; for David giveth for a reason of his imprecation, that he had seen violence and strife in the city. The Rulers of the city diligently watching for his … to do mischief; day and night going about the walls, mischief, so…row, wickednesse, … in the midst of it, and openly … in the streets.
Ver. 12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that bated me that did magnifie himself against me, then I would have hid my self from him.
13. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
In … place he condescendeth upon a more special … of his … Achitophel and other like …, (…) had … abused their trust and familiarity which they had with him, whose ingratitude …ieved him … then the …; Whence learn, 1. It is … thing for … to … as … their … to become … specially in a good cause; this doth Davids experience make evident. 2. The worst that a professed enemy can do against the godly in a good cause, is more tolerable then treachery against us, or the forsaking of us by a professed friend; for that importeth a reproach in the Party forsaken, as having an evil …, or being unworthy to be assisted; It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it. 3. The injuries of a respected enemy, are not so … …ble before they … done, nor so piercing when they are done, as the injuries of one whom a man suspecteth not, or as the injuries done to us by a professed and trusted friend; Neither was it he that hated me, then I could have hid my self from him. 4. The disappointing of us by a friend in a good cause, much more the open opposition, and most of all the treachery of a trusted friend against us in a good cause, doth carry with it a vilifying and despising of our person and cause; and importeth our ill deserving at their hand, our ill carriage in the cause, and our deserving to be forsaken, and saith in effect, that the false friend or traitor hath reason to be avenged on us, and to oppose us in that cause; and what can be heavier to a godly persecuted person? for this is a very exalting of the Traitor against us: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me. 5. Amongst many friendly neighbours, it hath been the custom of godly and wise men to chuse out some to be their most intimate friends, whom they would use most familiarly and freely, whose counsel they would take, and most readily follow; It was thou, O man, mine equal, my guide, and my acquaintance. 6. To finde a godly and wise man, with whom we may be free in all cases of minde or conscience, wherein we may fall, to whom we may freely open our minde, and be strengthened by him in the service of God, it is a notable refreshment, and part of happinesse and contentment: We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 7. A godly and wise man may be deceived in his choice by the close carriage of an hypocrite, who because he hath no sound principles of stedfastnesse in a good cause, may both disappoint his friend, and deceive himself also, and so do that which he did not at first intend to do. This disappointment to the godly is a very heavy affliction: But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide.
Ver. 15. Let death seise upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickednesse is in their dwellings, and among them.
From his Prophetical imprecation against his enemies, such as Achitophel was to David, and Iudas to Christ, and such like, together with their followers and complices; Learn, 1. Swift destruction is the reward of the enemies of Gods servants, and specially of treacherous Apostates from a good cause, as Achitophel's and Iudaas's latter end gave example: Let death seise upon them, and let them go down quick into hell. 2. Such as give entertainment and lodging to wickednesse, shall have hell for their lodging, where wickednesse lodgeth; for here it is given for a reason why the wicked shall go down to hell, Because wickednesse is in their dwellings, and among them. 3. What the Lord hath revealed to be his righteous decree, the godly may warrantably subscribe unto it; Let death seise on them, &c.
Ver. 16. As for me, I will call upon God: and the Lord shall save me.
17. Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray and cry aloud, and he shall heare my voice.
In the second part of the Psalme, he comforteth himself in his resolution, constantly to depend on God, and his confidence to finde accesse in worship. Whence learn, 1. The right use of Gods judgements on the wicked, for their wickednesse is to draw near to God, to worship him and depend upon him, as David here resolved; As for me, I will call upon God. 2. A man may be sure to be saved in drawing near to the Lord whatsoever shall befall the wicked, I will call on God, and the Lord shall save me. 3. He who resolveth to live upon Gods good will and furniture, and hopeth to be saved at last, must resolve also to be constant, servent and importunate in his daily worship and attendance on God; Evening and morning will I pray and cry aloud. 4. As it is needful upon all occasions to watch unto Prayer, and to entertain a frame of Spirit fit for supplication: so is it fit for giving of our selves more specially and fully to this work, to have (albeit not fixed canoni…k houres,) yet set times every day, at or about which we may follow religious worship, such as are morning, evening and noon, or any other time most fitting for the work; all circumstances being compared, as here Davids resolution and example doth teach us.
Ver. 18. He hath delivered my soule in peace from the battel that was against me: for there were many with me.
His next encouragement is taken from the experiences of former deliveries given to him by God. Whence learn, 1. Then do we make good use of experiences, when we stir up our selves, thereby to beleeve the more for them in God, and to call on him in all conditions, as David here giveth this, He hath delivered my soul, as a reason of his former resolution. 2. In the midst of war the Lord can keep a man as safe as in the time of peace, and in extreme perils preserve him from danger; He hath deliverd my soul in peace from the battel that …as against me. 3 He that depends upon God in the time of trouble, albeit he had an hoste against him, yet hath he more with him when God is with him, then can be against him: He hath delivered my soul, for there are many with me.
Ver. 19. God shall heare and afflict them, even he that abideth of old▪ Selah: because they have no changes, therefore they feare not God.
20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his Covenant.
21. The words of his mouth were smoother then butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer then oile, yet were they drawn swords.
His third encouragement is taken from assurance, that God should punish his enemies for their godlesse security, b…each of Covenant, and deep di…mulation. Whence learn, 1. Upon the complaint of the opp… servants of God, not only a…e they delivered them…lves, but also their enemies are punished; God shall …ear and afflict th…. 2. Gods eternity and immutability is a sufficient gro…d of the mani…station of his mercy to his own people, and … against their enemies from generation to generation; God shall hear me, and afflict them, even he th… abideth of old. S…h 3. The more gently the Lord: deales with the wicked in not ex…cising them with so many cresses, outward and inward, as he doth his own, the more godless are they, the more se… a…e they; and the more godless and secure they are, the more certain is their vexation coming; He will afflict them sore, because they have no changes; therefore they feare not God. This is one reason of the Lords pursuing the wicked. 4. Whoever he be that maketh a breach in the peace between himself and others, shall have God for his P…ty, who shall not faile to afflict the Peace-breaker, he shall afflict them, and namely the chief Ring leaders; Who have put forth their hands against such as be at peace with them: and this is another reason of the Lords punishing of the enemies of his People. 5. The Lord will make a quarrel, and pursue for the breach of Covenant in special, because this is a most solemn confirmation of peace, and wherein God hath specially interest to s…e it performed, or the breach of it punished; He hath broken his Covenant; and this is the third reason of Gods punishing false brethren, pretended friends to Gods people, but in effect most pernicious foes. 6. The bosome-enemies of the Church, and underminers of the Lords people, and of his work in their hands, do make fairest pretences; when their vilest plots are in hand, then they are at Haile Master, and at offering of kisses, when they are about to be…ay; The words of his mouth were smoother then butter, but warre was in his heart: his words were softer then oile, yet were they drawn swords: and this vile dissimulation is the fourth reason of the Lords avenging the persecution of false brethren.
Ver. 22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their dayes; but I will trust in thee.
The use of this experience he setteth forth; first, by giving counsel to the oppressed, to cast their burden upon the Lord, when they are over-burdened, and by making promises for encouraging them thereto. Secondly, by giving assurance of the perdition of the treacherous enemies of the Church. Thirdly, by setting forth his own resolution to keep confidence in God. Whence learn, 1. The use of the experience which godly persons have had, of comfort in, and deliverie out of trouble, is the encouragement of us to take the same course, which the godly followed before us in seeking our relief in God only; Cast thy burden on the Lord. 2. Whos…ever do roll over themselves upon God in their weighty troubles, shall never sink under them; Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. 3. Though the godly be troubled and tossed, yet because they continue to seek God, and to walk in the way of righteousnesse, they shall never be driven from their anchor-hold, they shall not be loosed at the root, their building shall be found still in its own place, upon the rock; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 4. As on the one hand the Lord shall hold up the believer, how low soever he shall be brought, that he perish not; so shall the Lord still bring down the wicked to perdition, how high soever, how fixed soever his stare appear, beleeve this who will: God will not suffer the righteous to be moved, but thou, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction. 5. Treacherous and cruel adversaries of the Lords people shall be cut off, before they accomplish their bloody plots, they shall never die full of dayes, but wrath shall take them away, when they would least; Bl…y and de…itful men shall not live half their dayes. 6. Wherher such as do trouble the godly live longer or shorter, they will breed exercise to the godly, so long as they live; and the only …st that godly hearts can have against all the trouble they feel or fear from their en…mies, or other wayes, is to stay themselves on the Lord; for so resolveth the Psalmist, But I will trust in th…, saith he, and so closeth.