Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 59
PSAL. LIX.
ALtaſchith] Deſtroy not, preſerve me from this Ambuſcado. See Pſal. 57. title.
When Saul ſent, and they watched the houſe] But were diſappointed by Michal ſhifting him out of the way, preferring an Husband before a Father, though ſhe had otherwiſe no great goodneſs in her. The glory of this deliverance David wholly aſcribeth to God, and ſeeketh help of him.
Verſ. 1. Deliver me from mine enemies, O God] This Pſalm is the ſame in ſubſtance with thoſe afore-going, viz. Davids deſire to be delivered from Sauls craft and cruelty.
Defend me from them] Heb. Set me on high, farre out of their reach.
Verſ. 2. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity] Sauls Aſſaſines, and Bloud-hounds, hired to diſpatch me.
Verſ. 3.R. Obad. Gaon in loc. The mighty are gathered againſt me] The ſeven ſons of Saul (ſay the Rabbines) who were afterwards hang'd, 2 Sam. 21. with a company of cut-throats attending them.
Verſ. 4. They run and prepare themſelves] At Sauls command, never inquiring into the cauſe, right or wrong; but taking his will for warrant good enough.
Awake to help me] Heb. to meet me, ſc. in mercy, Ut occurras & ſuccurrat mihi, or, at my calling, as ſome render it.
And behold] See the Note on Pſal. 34.15.
Verſ. 5. Awake to viſit all the Heathen] Theſe Paganiſh Iſraelites, who might have ſome Heathens alſo amongſt them, Sauls Slaughtermen, men fleſht in bloud.
Be not merciful to any wicked tranſgreſſors] Heb. That treacherouſly work iniquity, that do it Conſulto & data opera. Deſperado…s, Reprobates, deſtined to eternal deſtruction.
Verſ. 6. They return at evening] ſc. To mine houſe at Gibeah of Saul, hoping to finde me then at home again; as if like the hunted Hate, I muſt needs return to my old fourm.
They make a noyſe like a Dogge] When coming the ſecond night alſo they miſſed of David, they barked and houled like mad Doggs, ready to take every one they met by the throat.
And go round about the City] Ferretting, and ſearching after him in all places, and perhaps ſurrounding the City to ſurpriſe him.
Verſ. 7. Behold they b…lch out with the…r mouth] Calling me Traitor where ever they come, and ſeeking to double murther him, viz. by detraction, and by deadly practice. As a fountain caſteth out waters, ſo do graceleſs men wickedneſs, Jer. 6.7.
Swords are in their lips] Or, To their lips they adde ſwords, they word it not only, but are armed and well appointed. But it is well that they blurt out their bloody purpoſes, and ſo give warning. Hu…c tibi p…gionem mittit Senat… … faci…u… fat… &c non implevit.
For who, ſay they, doth hear?] i.e. Who, that we need care for? Davids friends they thought durſt not utter their diſcontent; and for God, they took no great thought, Pſal. 10.3.8.55.20.
Verſ. 8. But thou, O Lord, ſhalt laugh at them] q. d. Thou not only heareſt, but jeareſt at their madneſſe, and wilt bring all their purpoſes to nought with little adoe… and as it were, playing and ſporting. See Pſal. 2.4.
Verſ. 9. Becauſe of his ſtrength will I wait on thee] The ſtronger Sa…l… the more will I adhere to thee. Or thus, His ſtrength will I reſerve to thee; that is, I will turn him over to …, who a… far ſtronger, to take an order with him; to put a hook into his noſe, and a bridle into his jaws, and to bring mee at length to the Kingdome.
For God is my defence] Heb. My high place; therefore what need I feat him, or his Emiſſaries.
Verſ. 10. The God of my mercy ſhall prevent me] Or, God will prevent mee with his mercy, ſc. before I ask, or think, howſoever, in the opportunity of time, he will not fail mee.
God ſhall let mee ſee, &c.] See Pſal. 54.7.
Verſ. 11. Slay them not, l…ſt my people forget] Marcet ſine adverſarie virtus, the natural heat decayeth if it have not wherewith to wraſtle, Carthage was not to be deſtroyed, that Rome might not want an adverſary. The Saints have the reliques of corruption left in them for exerciſe of their graces. Slay them not, ſaith David; and the Chaldee addeth, ſtatim, forthwith, or outright, but by degrees rather; leſt my people, my followers and fellow ſouldiers, forget their skill in armes, or thy judgements on the enemies.
Scatter them by thy power] That they may wander as Cain did, and be reſtleſſe. Or, ſhake them to and fro as meal is ſhaken in a ſieve; let them be diſſipated, and by degrees waſted, that they may be as ſo many ſtanding monuments of the divine Juſtice, ut …o ſint illuſtriera & teſt atiora tua judicia, as the diſ-jected people of the Jews are at this day.
Verſ. 12. For the ſin of their mouth, &c.] The Arabians have this proverb, Take heed leſt thy tongue cut thy throat. Many a mans mouth is a purgatory to the Maſter. Hard words muſt bee reckoned for, Jude 15. the Jews find it ſo, and will do.
And for curſing, &c.] Curſing men are curſed men.
Verſ. 13. Conſume them in wrath, &c.] But by degrees, as verſ. 11. ſlowly,Paulati… ſeu gradatim & in fine penitus corruant. Kimchi. but ſurely and ſeverely; that they may feel themſelves waſted. There may be much poyſon in little drops.
And let them know] Know to their coſt. Or, Let men know.
Verſ. 14. And at evening let them return, &c.] Let theſe back-ſliders in heart be filled with their own wayes; run about for hunger, as before they did for malice, verſ. Revertantur famelici. Vat. Sit poena corum ſicut peccatum, Kimchi.6. Here the Prophet mindeth to mock them, ſaith an Interpreter.
Verſ. 15. Let them wander up and down for meat] Sicut mendici de oſtio ad ostium faciunt, as Beggers do from door to door, ſaith Kimchi.
And grudge if they be not ſatisfied] Murmure againſt God and men, howling againſt Heaven as hungry Woolfs, Iſa. 8.21. Others underſtand it thus, Lee them run to and fro for meat, that is, to devour mee, as Pſal. 27.2. but ſurely they ſhall not be ſatisfied (but miſſe of their deſign) thou…h they tarry all night, watching for mee.
Verſ. 16. In the morning]. That time wherein they thought to have ſurpriſed mee, 1 Sam. 19.11. but thou haſt ſecured mee. See Iſa. 65.14.
Verſ. 17. O my ſtrength] All Davids ſtrength was derivative; in himſelf he was weak as water.