Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 3
PSALM III.
The Title. A Pſalm of David when he fled from Abſalom.] It is not improbable that this Pſalm was compoſed by David in the very time of his withdrawing himſelf from the rage of Abſalom, if we conſider firſt, that the time was long, ſecondly, how carefull David was to redeem all times of any freedome for any ſpirituall ſervices, and thirdly, that he was thereto inabled by the ſpeciall inſpiration of Gods ſpirit. Yet the words may well bear it, that it was compoſed afterward, to expreſſe how he was affected in that time of his diſtreſſe, thereby to ſound forth the praiſes of God.
Verſ. 1. Lord, how are they encreaſed that trouble me! &c.] It is ſaid 2 Sam. 15.12. that this conſpiracy was ſtrong; for the people encreaſed continually with Abſalom: and chap. 17.24. that Abſalom paſſed over Iordan, he and all the men of Iſrael with him; which was according to Huſhai's counſell verſ. 11. I counſell that all Iſrael be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the ſand that is by the ſea for multitude. And hence it is that David here complaining to God, upon whom he caſts his grief and care, mentions this three ſeverall times, that his enemies were ſo many; expreſſing himſelf by way of admiration, to ſhew how ſtrange it was, that ſo many ſhould ſo ſuddenly without any cauſe fall off from him, whom God had anointed to be their king, to ſet up an ambitious youngſter, as his ſon Abſalom was, to reign over them.
Verſ. 2. Many there be which ſay of my ſoul, &c.] That is, of me: See the Note Gen. 27.4. There is no help for him in God; that is, no hope or poſſibility of help. And thus they animated one another againſt him, and did thereby exceedingly wound his ſoul: either firſt, out of an Atheiſticall contempt of God, boaſting that now they had ſuch a ſtrong party, that God ſhould not be able to help him; and indeed we ſee with what confidence Ahithophel ſpake, 2 Sam. 17.2. I will come upon him while he is weary, &c. and all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will ſmite the king only: or ſecondly, becauſe they judged thus from that ſore calamity that God had brought upon him, in the inſurrection of his own ſon againſt him: or thirdly, becauſe they judged that God had forſaken him for his ſin in the matter of Uriah (which probably might be the reaſon that moved Ahithophel, though ſo great a Politician, to joyn with Abſalom) for ſo we ſee Shimei concluded, 2 Sam. 16.8.
Selah.] Divers opinions Expoſitours have concerning the meaning of this word, which is three ſeverall times inſerted in this, and often in other Pſalms; but very little clear evidence of reaſon there is in any thing they alledge as the ground of their opinions. That which hath moſt ſhew of likelyhood is, either firſt, that it is ſet as a muſicall pauſe, to ſhew that in that place the ſingers were for ſome time to make a ſtop in their ſinging: which may ſeem the more probable, becauſe we find this word no where in Scripture, but in this book of the Pſalms, and in the ſong of Habakkuk; and in both alwaies at the end of a verſe, unleſſe it be in theſe few places, to wit, Pſal. 55.19. and 57.3. and Habak. 3.3, 9. or ſecondly, that it was a Note to mind the ſingers, that in that place they were to lift up their voices; which is grounded upon this, that the word ſeems to be derived from an Hebrew word that ſignifieth to elevate or lift up. Theſe two, I ſay, are the moſt probable opinions. Only withall we muſt know, that the end of either of theſe was to ſignifie the obſervableneſſe of the foregoing paſſage, as here how conſiderable this ſad condition of David was, that his enemies ſhould ſay, there was no help for him in God. They that hold it was a muſicall pauſe, ſay it was to give a hint, that men ſhould ſeriouſly ponder of that which was then ſaid: and they that hold it was for the lifting up of the voice, or (as ſome think) to ſhew that the foregoing paſſage was to be ſung twice, do likewiſe conceive, that hereby was ſignified how admirable and obſervable that was for all that heard it.
Verſ. 3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.] He tearms God his glory, firſt, becauſe God had given him, and he knew would ſtill give him, cauſe of glorying in his favour and help: ſecondly, becauſe he had honoured him, and ſo would ſtill, by giving him victory over his enemies; and this he oppoſeth to the ſhame that lay now upon him, when he was glad to fly for the ſaving of his life: and thirdly, becauſe it was the Lord that had advanced him to that glorious condition of being king over his people, and therefore he doubted not but that he would maintain and protect him therein. And then again he tearms him the lifter up of his head, firſt, becauſe God did comfort and ſupport his dejected ſpirit, and keep him from ſinking under his afflictions: ſecondly, becauſe through Gods grace to him, he was inabled to bear up his head with confidence and comfort, according to that Luk. 21.28. And when theſe things begin to come to paſſe, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh: thirdly, becauſe God had often, and he knew ſtill would, deliver him out of troubles, and raiſe him from any diſhonour and reproach that ſhould be caſt upon him; as it is ſaid that the king of Babylon did lift up the head of Jehoiachin, when he freed him out of priſon, 2 King. 25.27: and fourthly, becauſe he had exalted him to be king, and therein he doubted not but he would continue him, according to that Pſal. 110.7. He shall drink of the brook in the way, therefore shall he lift up the head.
Verſ. 4. I cryed unto the Lord with my voice, &c.] Why was it not enough to ſay, I cryed unto the Lord, but that theſe words muſt be added, with my voice? I anſwer, firſt, becauſe he would covertly imply, that in ſtead of ſpending his breath, as in their afflictions many do, in vain and uſeleſſe complaints, and murmurings againſt God, he rather choſe to call upon God for help: ſecondly, becauſe he would hereby oppoſe the lifting up of his voice in prayer to their clamours and inſultations, as if he had ſaid, Their outcryes ſhall not put me to ſilence; whilſt they lifted up their voice in ſuch outcryes againſt me, God hath forſaken him, there is no help for him in God, this ſtopped not my mouth, but I cryed to the Lord with my voice: and thirdly, to ſhew, that by reaſon of the ſtrength of his affections, he not only prayed within himſelf, but alſo out of the fervency of his ſpirit, poured forth his deſires in vocall prayer. As for the following words, and he heard me out of his holy hill, it may be meant both of Gods hearing him out of heaven, which is ſometimes in the Scripture called Gods holy hill, as Pſal. 15.1. who shall dwell in thy holy hill? and alſo of the hill of Sion, and that becauſe the Ark was there, the ſign of Gods ſpirituall preſence amongſt them; and probable it is that David by this expreſſion intended to intimate, that though he was now driven from Gods holy hill, and had ſent back the Ark thither, as is related 2 Sam. 15.25. yet he doubted not but thence God would hear his prayer.
Verſ. 7. Ariſe, O Lord; ſave me, O my God, &c.] Though David had the Cherethites and Pelethites and Gittites with him, 2 Sam. 15.18. and many others, that fell not off to Abſalom, yet his truſt was in God, and not in them. As for the following words, for thou haſt ſmitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone, they may imply the ſhame and diſhonour that God had caſt upon them: (concerning which ſee the Note Job 16.10.) But I rather think the meaning to be, that Gods hand had been heavy upon them, as when a man ſtrikes one ſo on the cheek that he beats out his teeth; which is added in the next clauſe, thou haſt broken the teeth of the ungodly: Yet ſome conceive that ungodly men are compared here to wild beaſts, whoſe teeth being broken, they are diſabled to doe hurt as formerly.
Verſ. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, &c.] That is, It is only in his power to ſave, and it appertaineth to him to ſave thoſe that by Covenant are his people: which is more fully expreſſed in the next clauſe, thy bleſsing is upon thy people.