Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 17
PSAL. XVII.
A Prayer of David] Hee was a man of prayer; but this was his appeal to God the ſupreme Judge, as the word importeth.
Verſ. 1. Hear the right O Lord] Heb. Righteouſneſſe, which cryeth unto God no leſſe than blood doth, Gen. 4. Or, hear the right, that is, my prayer, faith R. David, rightly made with heart and voice. Or, Hear O righteous Lord, as Chriſt alſo faith, O righteous Father, Joh. 17.
Attend unto my cry] Some prophane perſons bear well their croſſes, becauſe their cauſe is good; but they cry not when God bindeth them, Job 36.13. Or,Thucyd; Dio. if they cry, they cry out of hard fortune, as the Athenians did when their good Generall Nicias was ſlain, and their army routed in Cicily; or againſt Dame Vertue, as if it were no more than a meer name, as Brutus did, when beaten out of the field. Or, againſt Providence, as if there were a miſt over the eye of it, as Pompei did, when diſcomfited by Caeſar; ſo blaming the Sun, becauſe of the ſoreneſſe of his own blear eyes. But David (greatly wronged by Saul and his Courtiers) by humble and hearty prayer maketh his requeſt known to God with thankſgiving, Phil. 4.6. And this, like his harp, drove away the Evill ſpirit of grief and diſcontent.
That goeth not out of feigned lips] His devotion was not ludibrious, as is that of Hypocrites; it was not an empty ring, a meer out-ſide, the labour of the lips, but the travell of the hurt; it was ſincere and thorough-wrought, as St. James hath it; Wicked men ſpeak God fair, but it is as the Devill did our Saviour,foreign Jam. 5.16: to bee rid of him, or as thoſe, Pſal. 78.36. who flattered him with their mouthes, and lyed unto him with their tongues.
Verſ. 2. Let my ſentence come forth from thy preſence] Let it be both pronounced, and executed forthwith.
Let thine eyes behold, &c.] i.e. Make it appear that thou both leeſt and likeſt mine integrity; and that thou winkeſt not at mens wickedneſſes.
Verſ. 3. Thou haſt proved my heart] And knoweſt mee to bee no diſſembler and traytor, as they wrongfully charge mee, whilſt they muſe as they uſe.
Thou haſt viſited mee in the night] In which God is wont to ſtir up, and in mind men of his will, Job 4.13, 14. as being all gathered within themſelves; and when the darkneſſe doth unmask them of worldly diſſimulation.
Thou haſt tryed mee] As Metallaries do their gold and ſilver.
And ſhalt find nothing] Heb. hast not found, foreign deficit, ſaith Aben-Ezra; no blot or blemiſh, that is, not the ſpot of Gods Children, Deut. 32.5. no droſſe or deceit that may not well conſiſt with godlineſſe.
I am purpoſed that my mouth ſhall not tranſgreſſe] My generall purpoſe is ſuch, though I may have my particular failings. I ſpeak my whole heart, ſo ſarre as I know it. Magna eſt concordia cordis & oris.
Verſ. 4. Concerning the works of men] ſc. which ought to bee done by them, according to thy Law; Or, which they are wont to do, whether right or wrong, I have not now to ſay, but this I can ſafely ſay by thy mercy, that
By the word of thy lips] Which I have taken for the rule and rudder of my life,
I have kept mee from the paths of the deſtroyer] Effractoris, of the breach-maker; ſuch as is the Bridge-maker of Rome, at this day. David meaneth that hee had ſhunned the ſociety of graceleſſe perſons, Pſal. 26.4. Prov. 24.21. Jer. 15.17. and taken heed to his wayes, that hee offended not with his tongue, whilſt the wicked was preſent, Pſalm 39.1, 2. leſt the Wicked ſhould rejoyce at his Miſdemeanors, Pſal. 38.17.
Verſ. 5. Hold up my goings in thy paths, &c.] Keep me within the circle of thy Word, as thouhitherto haſt done; make me to walk exactly, and as in a frame, Epheſ. 5.15. Grant me thy preventing, concomitant, and ſubſequent grace; O thou God of all grace, perfect, ſtrengthen, ſtabliſh me, 1 Pet. 5.10.
That my foot-ſteps ſlip not] by the malice of Satan, who ſeeks to ſubvert ſuch as are moſt eminent, to the ſcandal of the weak, and ſcorn of the wicked; by the corruption alſo of mine own heart, Qua quiſ que ſibi Satan eſt, as one well faith, whereby every man is a Satan to himſelf; could we but divorce the fleſh from the Devil, there would be no ſuch danger: And laſtly, by the allurements, or affrightments of this preſent evil world; the way whereof is like the vale of Siddim, ſlimy, and ſlippery, full of Lime-pits, and Pit-falls, Springs, and ſtumbling-blocks.
Verſ. 6. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me] q. d. Thou waſt always wont to hear me, and therefore I preſume thou wilt. Experience breeds confidence.
Incline thine ear] See how he re-enforceth his former requeſt; as if he would wring the bleſſing of out Gods hands by an holy violence, and take no denial.
Verſ. 7. Shew thy marvellous loving kindneſs, &c.] Mirificas benignitates tuas; leſs than a marvellous mercifulneſs will not ſerve Davids turn, he was ſo hardly beſtead; ut niſi miabiliter feceris, pereo. We now alive have lived in an age of Miracles; and God hath dealt with our Land, not according to his ordinary courſe, but according to his Prerogative; by a Miracle of his Mercy have we hitherto ſubſiſted, and by a prop of his extraordinary patience.
O thou that ſaveſt, &c.] Servator ſperantiam. Choyce muſt be made in Prayer of fit Titles and Attributes of God; ſuch as may ſtrengthen faith, and quicken affection.
From thoſe that riſe up againſt them] Or, against thy right hand. The Saints are at Chriſts right hand, Pſal. 45.9. as Chriſt is at the Fathers; and he puts his holy hand betwixt them and harm.
Verſ. 8. Keep me as the apple of the eye] Heb. As the black of the apple of the eye, two words to the ſame ſenſe, for more vehemency. q. d. Serva me ſtudioſiſſimè. The apple of the eye, that little man in the eye (as the Hebrew word importeth, the girl, foreign Huc pertinet locus Cicer. a De nat. deor.as the Greeks for like cauſe call it) is the tendereſt piece of the tendereſt part, the eye; which is kept moſt diligently, and ſtrongly guarded by Nature with tunicles. David therefore fitly prayeth to be ſo kept.
Hide me under the ſhadow of thy wings] Another excellent ſimilitude taken from Fowls, which either cover their Young with their wings from the ſcorching heat of the Sun beams, as doth the Eagle; or keep them thereby from the cold, or from the Kite, as Hens do. Gods love to, and care of his poor people is hereby ſhadowed out; as it was likewiſe by the out-ſpread wings of the Cherubins in the Sanctuary. See Ruth 2.12. Deut. 32.10. Zach. 2.8. Pſal. 36.8. & 57.2. Matth. 23.37.
Verſ. 9. From the wicked that oppreſs me] Heb. That waſte me, i.e. that caſt me out into baniſhment, deſpoyled of all. This hard uſage of his enemies drove David into Gods bleſſed Boſom; as Children miſuſed abroad, run home to their Parents.
From my deadly enemies] Heb. My enemies againſt the ſoul. i. e. the Life at leaſt, if not the ſoul, which they would gladly deſtroy. Some malice is ſo miſcheivous, that it would ruine Body and Soul together; as that Monſter of Millain, the enemies of John Huſſe, and Hierom of Prague, whoſe bodies they delivered to the fire, and their Souls to the Devil. David elſewhere complaineth of his enemies, that they did Satanically hate him. Pſal. 55 4. Beware of men, ſaith our Saviour, Mat. 10. for one man is a Devil to another.
Verſ. 10. They are incloſed in their own fat] See Job 15.27. with the Note. They abound in all delights,Adipem ſuum obeſant. Trem. and therefore ſpare not to ſpeak proudly. They have cloſed up their eyes in their fulſome fat, ut non videant nec timeant te, ſaith R. Solomon, that they can neither ſee, nor fear thee.
With their mouth they ſpeak proudly] Heb. in pride, that is, Palam & plenis buccis; openly and with full mouth they contemn God and men; they belch out Blaſphemies, and do what they pleaſe.
Verſ. 11. They have now compaſſed us in our ſteps] i.e. Me and my company; ſo that we cannot ſtir any whither but we are in danger of them. In all thy ways acknowledge God, and he ſhall direct thy paths, Prov. 3.6. Commit thy way unto the Lord, truſt alſo in him, &c. Pſal. 37.5. Keep within Gods Precincts, and thou ſhalt be under his protection. He took order that a Bird ſhould be ſafe upon her own Neſt.
They have ſet their eyes bowing down to the earth] i.e. Hoc unum ſpectant ut ruamus, Junius;They are earneſtly bent, and firmly reſolved upon our ruine, as one that fixeth his eyes upon another, to mark him, or to know him again; or as Bulls ready to run at one, ſet their eyes downward.
Verſ. 12. Like as a Lion that is greedy, &c.] Cruelty and Craft are conjoyned in the Churches enemies; as the Aſpe never wandreth alone, they ſay, without his companion. David here pointeth out ſome one ſpecial enemy (Saul likely) who ſhould have been a Shepherd, but proved a Lion.
As a young Lion lurking] Therefore as we tender our ſafety, keep cloſe to God, out of whoſe hands none can take us, no not the roaring Lion of Hell.
Verſ. 13. Ariſe, O Lord, diſappoint him] Anticipa faciem ejus, that is, that raging and ravening Lion; ſtep between me and him, and ſtop his fury, defeat his purpoſe, and diſable his power.
Which is thy Sword] As Aſſyria is called the Rod of his Wrath. Attilas ſtiled himſelf, Orbis flagellum, the wrath of God, and the ſcourge of the World, Turk, Hiſt.So Tamerlan was commonly called, The Wrath of God, and Terrour of the world. Some render it, by thy Sword, i.e. or thy might and power. See Job 40.41. or by thy Word execute thy judgement.
Verſ. 14. From men which are thy hand] This, ſaith one, is Davids Letany, From thoſe men, &c. good Lord deliver me. Gods hand they are called, as before Gods Sword. Titus, Son of Veſpaſian, being extolled for deſtroying Jeruſalem, ſaid, I have only lent God my hand, but he hath done the work.
From men of the World] Heb.A mortuis, i. e. impiis qui ſunt mortui in vits eorum. R. Gion. From Mortals of this tranſitory world, qui ſunt mundani, mundum ſpirant & ſapiunt, the inhabitants of the earth, and of the ſea, as oppoſed to the Citizens of the New Jeruſalem, Rev. 12.12. ſuch as having incarnated their ſouls (as that Father ſpeaketh) are of the earth, ſpeak of the earth, and the earth heareth them, Job. 3.31. mind earthly things only, as if they were born for no other purpoſe. Terrigene fratres animam habentes triticeam, as thoſe Stallfed beaſts in the Goſpel.
Which have their portion in this life] And they love to have it ſo; ſaying with the Prodigal, Give me the Portion that belongeth to me. They crave it, and they have it, but with a vengeance. (Munera magna quidens miſit, ſed miſit in hamo) As the Iſraelites had Quails to choke them, and afterwards a King to vex them, a table to be a ſnare to them, &c. By the way obſerve, that wicked men have a right to earthly things (a man muſt needs have ſome right to his portion; what Ananias had was his own whilſt be had it, Acts 5.) and it is a rigour to ſay, they are Uſurpers. As when the King gives a Traitor his life, hee gives him meat and drink that may maintain his life; So is it here: neither ſhall wicked men be called to account at the laſt day for poſſeſſing what they had, but for abuſing that poſſeſſion. As for the Saints who are heirs of the world with faithful Abraham, and have a double portion, even all the bleſſings of Heaven and of Earth conferred upon them, though here they be held to ſtrait allowance, let them live upon reverſions, and conſider that they have right to all, and ſhall one day have rule of all, Rev. 3. Mendicato pane hic vivamus, annon hoc pulchrè ſarcitur? &c. What though we here were to live upon Alms, ſaith Luther, is there not a good amends made us, in that here we have Chriſt the bread of life in his Ordinances, and ſhall hereafter have the full fruition of him in Heaven? The whole Turkiſh Empire is nothing elſe but a cruſt caſt by our Father to his Doggs; and it is all they are likely to have, let them make them merry with it. Wilt not thou (ſaith another) bee content, unleſs God let down the veſſel to thee, as to Peter with all manner of Beaſts of the Earth, and Fowls of the Air, Acts 10.12. Muſt you needs have firſt and ſecond courſe? Difficile eſt ut praeſentibus bonis quis fruatur & futuris; ut hic ventrem illic mentem reficiat, ut de delici…s ad delicias tranſeat, ut in coelo & in terra glorioſus appareat, ſaith Hierom, It is a very hard thing to have Earth and Heaven too, &c. Gregory the Great trembled whenſoever he read thoſe words of Abraham to the rich Glutton (who thought this life to be his ſaginary or boares-frank) Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, Luke 16. Yee have lived in pleaſure upon earth, Jam. 5.5. no fit place for ſuch a purpoſe. God did not turn you out of one Paradiſe that you ſhould here provide your ſelves of another; earth is a place of baniſhment and bondage. Of the wickeds proſperity here, ſee Job 21.7, 8. with the Notes.
And whoſe belly thon filleſt with thy bid treaſures] That is, with Gold, and other precious things digged out of the earth, ſaith Aben-Ezra; Opimis rebus, ſaith Junius; with abundance of outward bleſſings and benefits, ſaith another; which are called Gods hidden treaſures, not becauſe they are not ſeen, but becauſe they are not ſo well perceived and uſed of the ungodly, as were meet; or becauſe the reaſon of their preſent plenty of all things is hidden from them, and yet it appears not but ſhall bee made manifeſt that theſe fatting ware are but fitting for the ſlaughter.
They are full of Children] which they ſend forth as a flock, Job 21.11. See the Note there. Or, their Children are full carne porcinâ, ſaith the Arabick here, or of wordly wealth, and mountaines of mony left them by thoſe faithfull drudges, their rich, but wretched Parents and progenitours, whoſe only care was to heap up hoards of wealth for their poſterity.
Verſ. 15. As for mee] I neither envy, nor covet theſe mens happineſſe, but partly have and partly hope for a farre better.
I will behold thy face in Righteouſneſſe] which none can do but the pure in heart, Mat. 5. and thoſe that keep cloſe to God in a conſtant communion, being juſtified and ſanctified perſons.
I ſhall be ſatisfied] Better than thoſe muck-worms and their Children are.
When I awake] ſc. Out of the duſt of death, at the Reſurrection.
With thy likeneſſe] With the viſible ſign of thy glory in Heaven, 1. Job. 3.2.