Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 1 · Psalm 13
PSAL. XIII. This Pſalm is a fit Prayer for a ſoul that is ſenſible of Gods Deſertion.
THere be three parts of this Pſalm.
1. A heavy and bitter complaint for Gods abſence, ver. 1, 2.
2. An earneſt Petition for Gods return, ver. 3. the Reaſon, ver. 4.
3. A profeſſion of his faith and confidence, and joy in God, with his thankſgiving, ver. 5, 6.
1. The firſt part. He complains that God was diſpleaſed with him.He bitterly complains, and aggravates it.
1. That God had forgotten him: Wilt thou forget me?
2. That he hid his face from him: Wilt thou hide thy face?
3. That he was diſtracted with many cares, what way to take, and what counſel to follow, Ver. 1 to recover Gods favour. I take counſel in my ſoul, having ſorrow in my heart.
4. Ver. 2 In the mean time, His enemy was exalted, triumphed, and inſulted over him.And that his enemy inſulted over him. And that yet God delayed his help.
5. And laſtly, complains of the delay, which is quickned by the Eroteſis, and the Anaphora: Quouſ que , quouſ que , quouſ que ! How long! what for ever?
2. The ſecond part. He petitions that,His Petition ſet down in the third verſe; of which there be three degrees oppoſed to the parts of his complaint, ver. 1, 2.
1. 1God would look on him.Look upon me, or conſider me; Thou haſt hitherto ſeemed to turn away thy face, but once behold me, and ſhew me one good look.
2. 2Hear him.Hear me; Thou haſt ſeemed to have forgotten, but now I pray thee remember me, Ver. 3 and ſhew, that thou doſt not neglect my prayer.
3. 3Illuminate him.Lighten my eyes; I have been vexed in my ſoul, and agitated various counſels to recover thy favour; but do thou inſtruct me, and illuminate me, what courſe I ſhall take.
Now that this his Petition might be the ſooner heard, This Petition he enforceth:he preſſeth many Arguments.
1. 1From the relation betwixt God and him.From that Relation that was betwixt him and God; O Lord my God hear me.
2. 2From the event. 1. Death.From a bitter event that was like to follow upon the repulſe and delay, if God heard him not, he ſhould die, his heart failing him: Leſt I ſleep the ſleep of death.
3. Ver. 4 From another conſequent that would follow; viz. the boaſting and inſultation of his enemies; 2Inſultation of the enemy.Leſt my enemy ſay, I have prevailed againſt him, and thoſe that trouble me rejoyce when I am removed: But though he were delay'd, yet he deſpairs not; for,
3. The third part. He yet deſpairs not.In the cloſe, the Prophet profeſſeth his faith, joy, thankfulneſs.
1. His faith; I have truſted in thy mercy.
2. Ver. 5 His joy; My heart ſhall rejoyce in thy ſalvation.
3. Ver. 6 His thankfulneſs; I will ſing unto the Lord, becauſe he hath dealt bountifully with me.
The Prayer collected out of the thirteenth Pſalm.
Ver. 1 O Lord how long wilt thou ſo carry thyſelf toward me, as if thou hadſt altogether blotted me out of thy Memory; How long O Lord, as if thou wert angry, doſt thou hide thy face, and turn thy countenance from me, ſeeming to have no care of me, or to ſhew me the leaſt favorable aſpect? How long ſhall I be in a doubt what to do, Ver. 2 and deliberate with my ſelf whither, or to whom to flie for ſuccour in this my extremity: I am daily oppreſſed with ſadneſs and ſorrow in my heart, while nothing preſents it ſelf to my mind, that may eaſe my grief: Beſides, my enemy thinks that he hath gotten the upper hand over me; O Lord, how long, ſhall he exalt himſelf, inſult, and cruelly, and proudly triumph over me?
'Tis enough, 'tis enough, O Lord, that thou haſt turned away thine eyes from me; 'tis enough, Ver. 3 that thou haſt long ſhut thine ears at the voice of my complaint: Now caſt upon me one kind look, conſider my adverſities, and hear my grievous moans, Thou, whom I only ſerve; Thou, upon whom alone I do depend.
In theſe great evils, in this agony of ſoul, Ver. 4 in this déep darkneſs of diſcomfort, I live and pine, I pine and grieve, and my eyes are grown dim with floods of tears; but do thou, O Lord, with the chearful light of thy countenance diſpel this thick darkneſs that is come over my ſoul; lighten mine eyes, that I may ſée ſome way of eſcape, leſt being oppreſſed with the ſenſe of my miſery, I be ſwallowed up of ſorrow, and ſurpreſſed by a deadly ſléep of deſpair: Should ſuch a thing happen, my enemy will rejoyce at it, and be apt to boaſt; I have prevailed againſt him, and thoſe that trouble me, will be glad when I am moved or removed.
But, O Lord, though hitherto I behold outwardly no other things, Ver. 5 but ſigns of thine anger and diſpleaſure, yet, as I have alwayes truſted, ſo I will truſt; not in my merits, but thy mercy; and my heart, when thou ſhalt frée me from this grief and fear, ſhall rejoyce and be glad in that ſalvation thou ſhalt ſend me: And for very joy, from a grateful heart, I will give thée thanks, Ver. 6 and ſing Hymns to the honour of my Lord, who hath repaid me good for the hope that I have repoſed in him; and I will chant Pſalms to the praiſe of that God, who hath dealt lovingly and bountifully with me, declaring the greatneſs and goodneſs of his power and love for my deliverance, ever and ever.