Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 57
PSALM LVII.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician, Al-taſchith, &c.] Many Expoſitours hold that this alſo was ſome muſicall Inſtrument, or the firſt words of ſome ſong, to the tune whereof this Pſalm was to be ſung. Yet becauſe Al-taſchith ſignifyeth Deſtroy not, therefore others hold that this is prefixed in the Title, either as a memoriall of that memorable paſſage, when there was ſuch an opportunity offered for ſlaying Saul, and David did not only reſtrain his own affections with this thought, that he muſt not deſtroy the Lords anointed, 1 Sam. 24.6. but alſo ſtayed Abiſhai from doing it, when they found him aſleep in his camp, and that by uſing theſe very words, Deſtroy him not, as they are expreſſed 1 Sam. 26.9. (which is therefore only improbable, becauſe we have the ſame in the Titles of other Pſalms, as Pſal. 59, and 75, which were not penned upon any ſuch occaſion;) or rather as a memoriall of Gods mercy, who was pleaſed, when he was in ſuch deſperate danger, to give a command that he ſhould not be deſtroyed; or to expreſſe the argument of the Pſalm, to wit, that it is a deprecatory Pſalm (and ſuch the reſt alſo are that have this Title) made when he was in danger of death, and wherein he begs of God that he might not be deſtroyed, notwithſtanding his enemies purſued him ſo fiercely. Michtam of David, when he ſled from Saul in the cave; to wit, the cave of Adullam, 1 Sam. 22.1; or the cave in the wilderneſſe of En-gedi, 1 Sam. 24.1. where Saul by Gods providence fell into Davids hands, but that, as is above ſaid, he would not deſtroy him.
Verſ. 1. My ſoul truſteth in thee, &c.] That is, Though I have taken this cave for a hiding place, yet my truſt is not in that, but in thee; ſee the Notes Pſal. 33.20, and 1 Sam. 24.22: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge; herein, as ſome think, he alludes to the wings of the Cherubims over the mercy-ſeat; for this expreſſion ſee the Notes Ruth 2.12, and Pſal. 17.8.
Verſ. 2. I will cry unto God moſt high, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 9.2: unto God that performeth all things for me; which may be referred to the accompliſhment of Davids affairs, to wit, that all that was done by him or for him, was accompliſhed by the all-ruling power and providence of God; or elſe to the full performance of all things that God had promiſed; or elſe to the perfecting of all things which the Lord undertook to doe for him, to wit, that God did not leave his work imperfect, but did ſurely finiſh it in his own good time. And obſervable it is, which ſome do here note, namely, that expreſſing this in the preſent tenſe, he performeth all things for me, David doth imply, that even then in the great dangers he was in, God was carrying on his purpoſes of mercy, though in outward appearance things ſeemed to work contrary thereto.
Verſ. 3. He shall ſend from heaven and ſave me, &c.] That is, ſay ſome, He ſhall ſend his angels to ſave me; but for the meaning of this expreſſion, ſee the Note 2 Sam. 22.17: from the reproach of him that would ſwallow me up; that is, from the ruine which mine enemies intend to bring upon me (for had they herein prevailed over David, it would have tended to the reproach of him and his cauſe) and eſpecially from the ſlanderous and ſcornfull inſulting ſpeeches, wherewith they reproached him. And indeed ſo it was, when David following Saul out of the cave had pleaded his cauſe with him, and Saul thereupon had acknowledged his innocency and condemned himſelf, 1 Sam. 24.16, 17. God shall ſend forth his mercy and his truth; that is, God ſhall ſend help becauſe of his mercy and truth; or, by helping me God ſhall manifeſt unto all men his mercy to me, and his truth in making good his promiſes. The firſt clauſe may be render'd, as in the margin of our Bibles, He shall ſend from heaven and ſave me; he reproacheth him that would ſwallow me up: and then the meaning is, that God would bring reproach upon his enemies, to wit, by deſtroying them, and ſo by diſappointing them of their hopes, and fruſtrating their plots and attempts againſt him.
Verſ. 4. I lye even among them that are ſet on fire, &c.] That is, men of a hot, fierce and furious ſpirit, that being enflamed with wrath and envy, are continuall incendiaries to enflame others againſt me. And by ſaying that he did lie amongſt ſuch men, he would imply, that he was amongſt them, as one that was caſt down, weak and helpleſſe, waiting upon God, but no way able to reſiſt them, nor knowing which way in regard of men to turn himſelf for ſuccour. Even among the ſons of men; ſo he tearms his enemies, either by way of contempt, becauſe they were, notwithſtanding their greatneſſe in Sauls court, but weak fleſh and bloud, as other men are; or elſe to imply, that however they pretended themſelves the ſons of God, yet they were not indeed ſuch, but mere carnall men, void of all piety and grace: whoſe teeth are ſpears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp ſword; where by terming their teeth ſpears and arrows, he intends to ſet them forth as cruell monſters, that were greater deſtroyers then any beaſts of prey could be; or elſe their teeth are thus deſcribed together with their tongue, both being the inſtruments of ſpeech, to imply, that by their ſlanderous and miſchievous tongues they did moſt cruelly wound and tear both him and others, the righteous ſervants of God.
Verſ. 5. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.] As if he had ſaid, Thy glory lyes at the ſtake in the dangers of thy ſervant, and therefore by delivering me manifeſt the glory of thy power and goodneſſe &c. to be above all the creatures in heaven and earth; or, ſhew forth thy glory, that both angels and men throughout the earth may admire and praiſe thy name.
Verſ. 6. They have prepared a net for my ſteps, my ſoul is bowed down, &c.] That is, I am ſo encompaſſed with their net, that I am in a manner overwhelmed, and ready to fall under their power; or, my ſoul is even preſſed down with fear, as birds that will couch down and lye cloſe to the ground to hide themſelves from danger: ſee the Notes alſo Pſal. 38.6, and 44.25. They have digged a pit before me, into the midſt whereof they are fallen themſelves: and ſo indeed it was with Saul, who ſeeking to ſurprize David, did himſelf fall into Davids hands in the cave, where he might have ſlain him.
Verſ. 7. My heart is fixed, O God, &c.] That is, I am confidently perſwaded that thou wilt deliver me; according to that Pſal. 112.7. his heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord: or, I have fully determined to praiſe thy name; and therefore it may be tranſlated, My heart is prepared, O God, &c. as being chearfully ready to praiſe thy name, I will ſing and give praiſe.
Verſ. 8. Awake up, my glory, &c.] That is, my ſoul, or my tongue; ſee the Note Gen. 49.6. Yet ſome underſtand it of his skill in compoſing Pſalms, or of the holy ſpirit of God wherewith he was inſpired when he did compoſe them; and others of his harp, for his skilfull playing whereon he was very renowned: and indeed that follows in the next words, awake pſaltery and harp.
Verſ. 9. I will praiſe thee, O Lord, among the people: I will ſing unto thee among the nations.] That is, both among Jews and Gentiles; and moſt probable it is, that this he ſpake as a type of Chriſt, and as foreſeeing the calling of the Gentiles: ſee the Note 2 Sam. 22.50.
Verſ. 10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, &c.] See the Notes Pſal. 8.1, and 36.5.