Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 56
PSALM LVI.
The Title. TO the chief muſician upon Ionath-elem-rechokim, &c.] Some take theſe alſo to be the firſt words of ſome known ſong, to the tune whereof this Pſalm was to be ſung. But yet others tranſlate the words thus, touching a ſoul that ſuffereth violence from a band of ſtrangers; and others better thus, upon the dumb dove in a farre country: wherein they ſay David tearms himſelf a dove, becauſe being fled to the Philiſtines, he was there as a dove amongſt many birds of prey; for which alſo ſee the Note Pſal. 55.6; and dumb, becauſe though he heard there many reproachfull ſpeeches againſt God and his people, yet he was forced to be ſilent; neither durſt he beſides complain of the wicked dealings of Saul and his courtiers, for fear of expoſing the people of God to the ſcorn and deriſion of the heathen. Michtam of David; ſee the Note on the title of the 16. Pſalm: when the Philiſtines took him in Gath; which I conceive muſt needs be meant of that ſtory 1 Sam. 21.14, 15. though, becauſe there is another Pſalm before, to wit Pſal. 34. that was compoſed upon that occaſion, ſome conceive that this was penned when he was again in danger the ſecond time he went thither, 1 Sam. 29.3, 4.
Verſ. 4. In God I will praiſe his word.] That is, I will praiſe God for his word: as if he had ſaid, Though God may ſeem to diſregard me, yea to be againſt me; yet having his promiſe, that he will never fail his, but will protect and bleſſe them, and having withall his expreſſe promiſe made to me by Samuel concerning the kingdome, on this word of his I will reſt, and in this I will rejoyce, and bleſſe God for it. This I conceive is the plain meaning of theſe words. Yet ſome make this to be the ſenſe of them; In God I will praiſe his word, that is, with Gods help I doubt not but I ſhall have occaſion to rejoyce in his holy promiſes. And ſome likewiſe underſtand it of the word of Gods decree, to wit, that whatever God ſhould decree concerning him, he would praiſe God for it.
Verſ. 6. They hide themſelves, &c.] To wit, that they may carry their plots the more cloſely, and may lye in wait unawares to doe me a miſchief: they mark my ſteps when they wait for my ſoul; that is, they watch to lay ſnares for me; or, they mark and obſerve all my actions and converſation, to ſee if they can pick a quarrell or get any advantage againſt me; or, they watch my goings, that they may follow and purſue me, which way ſoever I turn my ſelf: and all this, becauſe they wait for my ſoul, that is, to take away my life; for nothing leſſe will content them.
Verſ. 7. Shall they eſcape by iniquity? &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, They think by taking away my life, to ſecure themſelves, and to ſettle Saul and his poſterity in the kingdome: but ſhall this doe it? Is iniquity, which provokes God to take vengeance, likely to ſecure them from vengeance? No doubtleſſe; this will rather haſten their deſtruction: and this therefore he deſires God to manifeſt in the following words, in thine anger caſt down the people, O God.
Verſ. 8. Thou telleſt my wandrings, &c.] That is, Thou doſt: exactly know in what a reſtleſſe condition I have lived many yeares together, being driven up and down from one place to another, and no where ſuffered to abide in quiet: put thou my tears into thy bottle; that is, let them not be loſt and ſhed in vain, do not deſpiſe and diſregard them, but be mindfull of them, and let it be ſeen that thou makeſt precious account of them. He compares the teares that he ſhed, when he was as it were in the wine-preſſe of affliction, to the wine that is preſſed out of the grapes, every drop whereof they are carefull to ſave.
Verſ. 12. Thy vows are upon me, O God, &c.] That is, By vows made to thee in the hour of my diſtreſſe, I took upon me to return thee praiſe, if thou didſt deliver me; and ſo there lyes an obligation upon my ſoul, and therewith much care and ſollicitouſneſſe of ſpirit, to make good my engagements. The very ſame expreſſion we have Act. 21.23. we have four men which have a vow on them.
Verſ. 13. For thou haſt delivered my ſoul from death, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 6.4. and 1 Sam. 21.13: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling? that is, ſeeing thou haſt delivered me thus from the jaws of death, wilt thou not alſo ſupport me, that I may not ſink through deſpair in any future tryalls and troubles, and keep me from falling into any ſinfull practiſe, though my temptations be many and great? or, wilt not thou ſtill preſerve me, that I may not be overthrown by mine enemies, or fall under the power of them that ſeek my ruine? ſee the Note Job 12.5: that I may walk before God, to wit, truſting in him, ſeeking to pleaſe him, enjoying his grace and favour, and having him alwaies before mine eyes; ſee the Note Gen. 17.1: in the light of the living, that is, here in this world: yet ſome underſtand it alſo of the light of heaven. The ſame is intended as where the Scripture ſpeaks of the land of the living: for which ſee the Note Pſal. 27.13.