Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 6
PSALM VI.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician on N…ginoth upon Sheminith.] For the firſt part of the Title, ſee the Note upon the Title Pſal. 4. and concerning Sheminith, ſee the Note 1 Chron. 15.21. This is the firſt of thoſe that are commonly called the ſeven Penitentiall Pſalms; the other ſix are the 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and the 143.
Verſ. 1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, &c.] That is, Correct me not in thine anger; for ſo this word rebuke is often taken in the Scripture, as Rev. 3.19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten: and by this which he deſires, that God would not correct him in his anger, nor in his ſore diſpleaſure, is meant, either that God would correct him gently and moderately, and ſo that which he prayeth againſt may be, that ſeverity which God uſeth ſometimes in correcting his own children; or elſe that God would not lay his hand upon him in wrath, by way of ſatisfying his juſtice, but in fatherly mercy to correct him as his child, and not utterly to deſtroy him as an enemy, according to that Jer. 10.24. Correct me, but with judgement, not in thine anger, leſt thou bring me to nothing.
Verſ. 2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.] That is, my moſt inward parts: ſee the Note, Job 30.17. Very probable it is which ſome gather from theſe words, to wit, that Davids aim in this Pſalm was to ſet forth how he was affected in ſome ſore fit of ſickneſſe, or to teach Gods ſervants how they ought to be affected in that condition. Yet theſe words, I am weak, may be meant of his being brought low by any deadly diſtreſſe or danger; and deliverance from any ſuch diſtreſſe may be tearmed healing, as Deuter. 32.39. I wound, and I heal; and ſo alſo the healing of the ſick foul with comfort or grace, as Pſal. 41.4. Heal my ſoul, for I have ſinned againſt thee.
Verſ. 3. My ſoul is alſo ſore vexed, &c.] To wit, with fear of thine indignation, with grief for my ſins and thy diſpleaſure, and the inſultation of mine enemies over me: but thou, O Lord, how long? that is, how long wilt thou afflict me? or how long wilt thou defer to help me? but, as one whoſe words were ſwallowed up with grief, he only ſaith, How long?
Verſ. 4. Return, O Lord, &c.] That is, Whereas thou haſt withdrawn thy ſelf for a time from me, return, and be with me again, to help and comfort me, as formerly: deliver my ſoul, that is, deliver me, or ſave my life. Nor needs it ſeem ſtrange that David ſhould ſo earneſtly beg for life; firſt, becauſe death is naturally dreadfull to all men: ſecondly, becauſe the bliſſe of the Saints departed was not ſo clearly revealed under the Old Teſtament, as it is now: thirdly, becauſe the bliſſe of this life was by Gods appointment to them a pledge of their future life and happineſſe: and fourthly, becauſe he might fear that the cauſe of Religion, which he ſought to eſtabliſh aright, might ſuffer much after his departure.
Verſ. 5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee, &c.] That is, When men are dead, they cannot record and praiſe thy name before men, as I deſire to doe.
Verſ. 6. All the night make I my bed to ſwim, &c.] He mentions the night, either becauſe ſick men are uſually worſt in the night; or becauſe he had then moſt freedome to think of his ſins, or his enemies that longed for his death, and might with moſt privacy pour forth his tears before God.
Verſ. 7. Mine eye is conſumed becauſe of grief, &c.] For weeping, yea grief alone, may darken and marre the eyes. See Job 17.7.
Verſ. 8. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.] Being delivered from his ſickneſſe, or the deadly danger he was in, or at leaſt being aſſured of deliverance, in theſe words either David reſolves to caſt off thoſe his enemies, that had been formerly familiar with him, and in the mean ſeaſon deſired his death; or elſe he engageth himſelf, as by way of thankfulneſſe for this mercy, that he would not henceforth have any communion with any wicked men; or elſe rather by theſe words he inſults over his enemies, telling them they might be gone with ſhame, that had ſtood gaping after his death, or ſought it, and that becauſe the Lord had now heard his prayer and tears.
Verſ. 10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and ſore vexed, &c.] To wit, as being diſappointed of what they hoped for: let them return and be ashamed ſuddenly; that is, let them turn their backs and be gone with ſhame (according to that Pſal. 56.9. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back) and that ſuddenly, that is, God on a ſudden delivering me out of their hands.