Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 52 – Psalm 54
PSALM LII.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician, Maſchil, &c.] For this word Maſchil, ſee the Note upon the Title of the 32. Pſalm. A Pſalm of David when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, &c. and ſo thereupon at Sauls command had ſlain Ahimelech with fourſcore and five prieſts beſides, and had deſtroyed the city Nob and all that was therein. For that this Pſalm was compoſed after that bloudy maſſacre of Doeg, thoſe words do evidence verſ. 4. Thou loveſt all devouring words, O thou deceitfull tongue: ſee alſo the Note 1 Sam. 22.9.
Verſ. 1. Why boaſtest thou thy ſelf in miſchief, O mighty man? &c.] Doegs boaſting might be, either of the evil he had done, or of farther miſchief he intended to doe, or of the ſucceſſe of the falſe tale he had told to Saul; whether in regard of the evil he had thereby brought upon the Prieſts of the Lord, or of the favour he had thereby obtained with Saul, and the preferment perhaps and rewards he had thereupon conferred on him: and accordingly the drift of this interrogation, Why boaſteſt thou thy ſelf in miſchief? is either to imply, that it was a high degree of wickedneſſe to boaſt of ſuch a villany, in ſtead of fearing vengeance from God; as if he had ſaid, How dareſt thou thus to boaſt thy ſelf? or elſe to ſignify that there was no juſt cauſe for his boaſting, both in regard there was nothing worthy of ſuch triumphing in that which he had done, and becauſe in the concluſion it would be found there was nothing gotten by it. And ſo thoſe words, O mighty man, may be added alſo, either by way of Irony, as if he had ſaid, A great deal of valour and proweſſe you have ſhewn in ſlaying a company of unarmed men, the Prieſts of the Lord, yea women and children, no way able to reſiſt you; or elſe to imply the ground of his vain boaſting, to wit, either his preſent greatneſſe, as being a man in great place, and of great power with Saul, 1 Sam. 22.9. or the great preferments he expected from Saul. And then for the laſt words, the goodneſſe of God endureth continually, they are oppoſed to Doegs boaſting; and import as much as if David had ſaid, God is ever good to his, and hereon I rely againſt all thy vaunts and threatnings: neither thy might nor wickedneſſe can fruſtrate Gods goodneſſe; though God may afflict his ſervants for a time, yet he will deliver them again as oft as he afflicts them, and will never be weary of helping them: yea he is good to them even when he ſuffers wicked men to prevail over them.
Verſ. 2. Thy tongue deviſeth miſchiefs, &c.] That is, it utters thoſe things wherewith thou haſt deviſed to doe miſchief: and thus Doeg is charged, that he did not raſhly and unadviſedly utter thoſe things to Saul, that had brought ſo much miſchief upon the Prieſts of the Lord, but that he had plotted it before-hand: like a sharp raſour, working deceitfully; to wit, when in ſtead of cutting off the hair, it cutteth a mans throat. I know ſome would have thoſe laſt words, working deceitfully, to be only ſpoken of Doegs tongue, and that with reference to the ſnares that were laid thereby for the ruine of Gods faithfull ſervants. But I rather think that theſe words are to be referred both to Doegs tongue, and likewiſe to the raſour whereto his tongue is compared: for as his tongue is compared to a sharp raſour, becauſe as a ſharp raſour doth ſodainly and eaſily, as it were with a touch, take off all the hair to the very roots, yea and may wound deeply in ſtead of ſhaving, if it goes awry; ſo Doegs tongue had ſodainly, with a few words ſpeaking, cauſed not only fourſcore and five of the Prieſts to be cut off, but alſo all the inhabitants of Nob, yea even their children and ſucklings, 1 Sam. 22.19: ſo it is alſo compared to a ſharp raſour, working deceitfully, becauſe as a raſour may be ſaid to work deceitfully, when in ſtead of trimming a man, it doth, as in a trice, when no ſuch thing is feared, cut a mans throat; ſo it might be ſaid alſo of Doegs tongue, that it did work deceitfully, becauſe being created for Gods glory and the good of men, he had therewith deceived Saul, making him believe that Ahimelech had conſpired with David againſt him, when there was no ſuch thing, and thereby had alſo brought ruine upon Ahimelech and his family, to whom he had carried himſelf with all fairneſſe a little before, when he was with him in the Tabernacle.
Verſ. 3. Thou loveſt evil more then good, &c.] See the Note 1 Sam. 22.10.
Verſ. 4. Thou lovest all devouring words, &c.] This is ſpoken with reference to that horrid maſſacre of the Prieſts and the inhabitants of Nob, 1. Sam. 22.18, 19. wherein ſuch multitudes were on a ſudden ſwallowed up, and all by means of Doegs wicked tongue; to which he the rather aſcribes this act of devouring, in alluſion to the naturall uſe of the tongue in drawing in the meat to the throat, which is to be ſwallowed down.
Verſ. 5. God shall likewiſe deſtroy thee for ever, &c.] To wit, as thou haſt deſtroyed the Prieſts of the Lord: he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place; though being become great through Sauls favour thou mayeſt judge thy ſelf unmoveable: and root thee out of the land of the living; that is, and cut off thee and all thy poſterity, as thou didſt deſtroy not the prieſts only, but their children too: ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 27.13.
Verſ. 6. The righteous alſo shall ſee, and fear.] That is, Though wicked men may cloſe their eyes, and refuſe to take notice of it; yet the righteous ſhall obſerve it; and finding hereby how ſure God is to take part with his ſervants againſt thoſe that oppreſſe them, it will not only make them afraid of doing any ſuch evil as Doeg hath done, but will alſo cauſe them every way to fear God the more, not abandoning the profeſſion or waies of godlineſſe, when they ſee the wicked triumph.
Verſ. 7. Loe, this is the man that made not God his ſtrength; but truſted in the abundance of his riches, &c.] As was evident in that he was not afraid to offend God, that he might enrich himſelf: and ſtrengthened himſelf in his wickedneſſe; that is, encouraged himſelf in the wickedneſſe he had committed, or ſought to advance himſelf, and to make himſelf great and mighty by that his wickedneſſe.
Verſ. 8. But I am like a green olive-tree in the houſe of God, &c.] As if he had ſaid, Though I be now in a poor deſpiſed condition, and baniſhed from the Church and people of God; yet I doubt not but that I ſhall therein continue in a flouriſhing eſtate, enjoying with others the comfort of Gods Tabernacle, and yielding fruit delightfull and profitable both to God and man: ſee the Note Pſal. 23.6. Now the ground of this his hope he adds in the next words, I truſt in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Verſ. 9. I will praiſe thee for ever, becauſe thou haſt done it, &c.] That is, thou haſt deſtroyed Doeg; or, thou haſt made me like a green olive-tree; or, thou haſt cauſed me to truſt in thy mercy. For it may be referred either to any of thoſe things which God had already done for him, when he compoſed this Pſalm, as his delivering him from the plots of Doeg and others, who might often have ruined him, encouraged by the ſucceſſe of Doeg in the evil he had brought upon the prieſts of the Lord, had not God wonderfully preſerved him; or to thoſe things which he knew God would doe, as the deſtruction of Doeg, and the reducing of him to a flouriſhing eſtate amongſt the people of God, of which he ſpeaks, through the aſſurance of faith, as if it were done already, I will praiſe thee for ever, becauſe thou haſt done it: as if he had ſaid, What others are too often wont to aſcribe to chance or to themſelves, I aſcribe wholly to thy providence over me. And I will wait on thy name; that is, being encouraged by this experience, I will wait on thee, thy power, grace and favour; or thy word and promiſes; ſee the Notes Pſa. 5.11, & 20.1. Yea ſome limit it to that particular promiſe made to David concerning the kingdome. As for that laſt clauſe, for it is good before thy ſaints, either it may be referred to that waiting upon God which he had promiſed, it is good before thy ſaints to wait upon thy name, that is, it will be good and profitable to ſtir up them to wait likewiſe upon God in the like caſes; or, it is good before thy ſaints, that is, thy ſaints will account it good to wait upon thee: or elſe it may be referred to the Name of God, I will wait upon thy name, for it is good before thy ſaints; that is, thy name is good before thy ſaints. However wicked men, though God doth never ſo much good for them, are not ſenſible of it, but rather thy name is hatefull and dreadfull to them; yet to thy ſaints it is good, they know it to be ſo, and have had experience of it, and therefore to them it is amiable and delightfull, they hope in it, and call upon it; and the rather it will be ſuch to them, when they ſhall hear of this mercy afforded me.
PSALM LIII.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician upon Mahalath.] It is generally held, that this was the name of ſome muſicall Inſtrument, or ſome known ſong, to the tune whereof this Pſalm was to be ſung.
Verſ. 1. The fool hath ſaid in his heart, &c.] This Pſalm is the ſame almoſt with Pſalm 14; only in ſome few places there is ſome little difference: and therefore for this ſee the Notes there. Some ſay that, becauſe that which is here delivered is ſo neceſſary to be often thought on, therefore David left it upon record in two ſeverall Pſalms.
Verſ. 5. There were they in great fear, where no fear was, &c.] As if he had ſaid, And ſo thoſe that are now ſuch a terrour to others, ſhall come to be terrifyed themſelves: thoſe deſperate men that feared not God, and called not on his name, ſhall be in great fear, where no fear was; that is, God ſhall ſtrike them with terrour on a ſudden when they are altogether fearleſſe; or, when there is indeed, in regard of that which they feare, no cauſe at all of fear. As for the following words, they are ſpoken to every faithfull man that had been in danger of ſuch Atheiſticall oppreſſours: for God hath ſcattered the bones of him that encampeth againſt thee; that is, he hath broken their power; or, he hath ſlain them, tearing them, as it were, in pieces, as a lion doth his prey: thou haſt put them to shame, to wit, by overcoming them, God alſo thereby manifeſting his diſpleaſure againſt them; whence it is that he adds, becauſe God hath deſpiſed them.
PSALM LIV.
The Title. TO the chief muſician on Neginoth, &c.] For this word Neginoth, ſee the Note on the title Pſal. 4. A Pſalm of David, when the Ziphims came, &c. of which ſee the Note 1 Sam. 23.19. For though the Ziphims did a ſecond time alſo endeavour to betray David into Sauls hands, 1 Sam. 26.1, 2. and both times David was brought thereby into very great danger, which might give juſt occaſion for compoſing this Pſalm; yet the words here in the Title, Doth not David hide himſelf with us? ſeem rather to point out that firſt diſcovery of the Ziphims, 1 Sam. 23.19.
Verſ. 1. Save me, O God, by thy name, &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, Seeing all outward means fail, ſave me by thy ſelf, even by thine own immediate power; ſee the Note Pſal. 20.1: and judge me by thy ſtrength; ſee the Note Pſal. 26.1.
Verſ. 3. For ſtrangers are riſen up againſt me.] So he tearms his perſecutours, as elſewhere alſo ſtrange children, Pſal. 144.7: either becauſe they were in their minds alienated from God, and eſtranged from the faithfull ſervants of God; or becauſe they were mere ſtrangers to that piety and goodneſſe which ſhould be in the people of God; and ſo alſo conſequently becauſe though they profeſſed themſelves Iſraelites, yet they were not ſuch indeed, but were in Gods account no better then heathens, aliens and ſtrangers from the common-wealth of Iſrael, 1 Joh. 2.19. for which ſee the Note Pſal. 10.16; or elſe becauſe they carried themſelves moſt inhumanely to him, more like Barbarians, Philiſtines or Babylonians, then like Iſraelites, and ſuch as were his brethren of the ſame tribe with him. However, obſervable it is, that David in theſe words ſeems to comfort himſelf with this, that God would ſurely take part with his own ſervant, rather then with thoſe that were mere ſtrangers to him.
Verſ. 4. The Lord is with them that uphold my ſoul.] That is, with my friends and followers, that doe what they can to preſerve my life; and ſo though they be but few and weak, yet God being with them, I need not fear.
Verſ. 5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies, &c.] To wit, by bringing that upon them, which they intended to bring upon me. It is in the Hebrew, He shall reward evil unto thoſe that obſerve me; that is, that watch for an opportunity to ruine me: which might indeed moſt fitly be ſaid of the Ziphims, whoſe work enjoyned them by Saul was, to obſerve and mark all the lurking-places where David hid himſelf, and then to acquaint him with it: ſee 1 Sam. 23.22, 23. Cut them off in thy truth, that is, in thy juſtice; or, according to thy promiſe; which ſome alſo reſtrain to the promiſe made to David concerning the kingdome.
Verſ. 6. I will praiſe thy name, O Lord, for it is good.] See the Note Pſal. 52.9.