Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 13
PSAL. XIII.
VErſ. 1. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever?] It appeareth that when David penned this Pſalm (which ſome think was about the end of Sauls Perſecution, when he was forced to fly into the Land of the Philiſtines, 1 Sam. 27.1.) he was under a dreadful deſertion, and that for a long while together; Hence his many How-longs, and for ever? Chriſt (ſaith Greenham) was forſaken for a few hours, David for a few months, and Job for a few years. Luther confeſſeth of himſelf, that after his converſion he lay three days in deſperation; and the like is reported of Mr. Robert Bol…on, who felt himſelf for the time in the Suburbs of Hell, as it were. So did Heman, Pſal. 88.5. ſo did David here, and elſewhere. The final abſence of God is Hell it ſelf; Depart from me yee curſed, is worſe than into everlaſting fire. To be puniſhed from the preſence of the Lord is the Hell of Hells, 2 Theſſ. 1.9. God ſeemeth to forget his deareſt Children ſometimes for a ſeaſon, to the end that they may remember themſelves, and become every way better; as the Lion leaves her Whelps till they have almoſt killed themſelves with roaring, that they may become the more courageous. But to ſpeak properly, God cannot forget his people, Iſa. 44.16. & 49.14, 15, 16. Non deſerit Deus, etiamſi deſerere videatur; non deſerit etiamſi deſerat, ſaith Auſtin: If he leave us for a time, yet he forſaketh us not at all. If he hide his face (as in the next words) which is a further trial, and a greater miſery (for it importeth indignation, contempt, and hatred) yet it is but for a moment, though it ſhould be during life; and he therefore taketh liberty to do it, ſaith one, becauſe he hath an eternity of time, to reveal his kindneſs in; time enough for kiſſes and embraces; mean while, as when the Sun is ecclipſed, though the earth wants the light thereof, yet not the influence thereof; ſo Gods ſupporting Grace is ever with his deſerted.
Verſ. 2. How long ſhall I take counſel in my ſoul?] i.e. conceal my grief, ſaith Aben-Ezra, which is no ſmall aggravation of it; or, how long ſhall I toſs and tumble in my mind, ſundry counſels, and purpoſes, but allto no purpoſe? This is no ſmall affliction, when we try all courſes to get out of durance, and nothing will do. Such muſt needs have much ſorrow in their hearts.
Having ſorrow in my heart daily] Heb. by day, ſc. when others are full of buſineſs and forget their ſorrows, ſaith R. David. But the Greek rendreth it, day and night. David was a cheerfull man, and a great Muſician; but at this time heavineſſe had poſſeſt his heart, and his harp would not relieve him. Sadneſſe of Spirit had dryed up his bones, Prov. 17.22. and made him a very bag of bones, a bottle in the ſmoak ſhrinking away to nothing almoſt. See Prov. 12.25. & 15.13. and the Notes.
Verſ. 3. Conſider and hear mee O Lord my God] Hee turns him to God in this peck of troubles (for they ſeldome come ſingle) and pleads the Covenant, My God; beſeeching him to ſee and hear both at once, how it fared with him, and to ſend him feaſonable and ſuitable ſuccour. It were wide with the faithfull, if they had not their God to repair unto in diſtreſſe, pouring out their ſouls into his bleſſed boſome. This they muſt do moſt earneſtly, when under a cloud of deſertion; as our Saviour being in an agony prayed more fervently, Luk. 22.44. and as Micah having loſt his Gods, ſet up his Note, Judg. 18.
Lighten mine eyes leſt I ſleep death] i. e. Comfort my conſcience, clear up my condition, and chear up my drooping ſpirit, leſt I faint away as a dying man, whoſe eyes through weakneſſe wax dimme; leſt I fall into that ſomnus ferreus, as the Poets call death, that longeſt ſleep;
Surge, ne longus tibi ſomnus unde
Non times, detur.Mor.lib.3.… 11.
Verſ. 4. Leſt mine enemy ſay, I have prevailed againſt him] This David frequently deprecateth, as a great evill, becauſe Gods honour was concerned in it, and would ſuffer by it. As unskilfull hunters ſhooting at wild Beaſts, do ſometimes kill a man; ſo Perſecutors ſhooting at Saints, hit Chriſt, reproach him; and this the Saints are very ſenſible of.
And thoſe that trouble me rejoyce when I am moved] Compoſe Comedies out of my Tragedies, & iram Dei ad calumniam rapiant. The wicked are vindictive and implacable, ſick of the Devills diſeaſe foreign, rejoycing at other mens harms, revelling in other mens ruins; But this is to inrage God, and haſten wrath, Prov. 24.17, 18.
Verſ. 5. But I have truſted in thy mercy] Notwithſtanding all the endeavours of Earth and of Hell to caſt down this caſtle of my confidence, I will not quit it; but be ſtill as a green Olive tree in the houſe of God; Ile truſt in the mercy of God for ever and ever, Pſal. 52.8.
Verſ. 6. I will ſing unto the Lord] How farre different is the end of this Pſalm, from the beginning? See the like, Pſalm 6.1. with the Note there.
Becauſe hee hath dealt bountifully with mee] Qui retribuit mihi, ſo Popiſh meritmongers read it, and would there-hence collect ſomething in favour of their abſurd Tenent, But their own Vulgar Tranſlation hath it, bona tribuit, Aynſworthhath givenmee good things; And it is well obſerved, that though the Hebrew word be ſometimes taken for rewarding evill for good, Pſal. 7.5. or evill for evill, Pſal. 137.8. yet from God to his people it commonly ſignifieth a bountifull rewarding of good things inſtead of evill, which wee rather do deſerve, So Pſal. 116.7. & 110.17. & 142.8.