Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 18
PSAL. XVIII.
TO the chief Muſician] Some render it Adtriumphandum; and well they may; for this is old Davids foreign, or triumphant ſong after ſo many victories and deliverances; and it is twice recorded in Scripture, with very little variation (See 2 Sam. 22.) for the great worth and weightineſſe of the matter; that wee may the more obſerve it, and bee the better verſed in it. This here recorded ſeemeth to bee the Review of it, and thence thoſe ſmall additions and alterations that are found here and there, but not of any great moment.
A Pſalm of David] Who having now gotten ſome breathing while from his troubles, gave not himſelf to Idleneſſe, or worldly pleaſures (as the Romans uſed to do after that they had once ridden in triumph) but calling to mind Gods great mercies towards him, compoſed this ſweet Pſalmodie to his glory.
The Servant of the Lord] So hee ſtiled himſelf before, Pſal. 36. when hee firſt entred upon the Kingdome; and now here again, when being to lay it down together with his life, hee breatheth out his holy ſoul to God in this divine ditty.
Sic ubi fata vocant, &c.
This hee did after that as a faithfull ſervant of the Lord hee had done all the wills of God, Act. 13.22, had ſerved out his full time, Verſe 36. and dwelt in Gods houſe to length of dayes, Pſal. 23.6.
Who ſpake unto the Lord the words of this ſong] God lets out his mercies to us for this rent of our praiſes; and is content wee have the benefit of them, ſo hee may have the glory. The Hebrews give this Note here; Every man for whom there is wrought a miracle of mercy, and hee thereupon uttereth a ſong, hath his ſins forgiven him. This is better yet than that of the Papiſts who promiſe pardon of ſin to thoſe that ſhall hear two Maſſes a day. Wee, who have received ſo many mercies, ſhould compaſs God about with ſongs of deliverances, and not only ſervire Deo, ſed & adulari, as Tertullian hath it.
From the hand of all his enemies] Heb, From the Palm, of other enemies as leſs conſiderable, but from the hand (or clutch-fiſt) of Saul.
And from the hand of Saul] his greateſt enemy, and of longeſt continuance. So Chriſt is ſaid to ſave his people from their ſins, by a ſpecialty, Mat. 1.21. becauſe theſe do us the moſt miſchief.
Verſ. 1. I will love thee, O Lord my ſtrength] Heb. I will love thee dearly and entirely, Ex intimis viſceribus, from the very heart root, from the bottom of my bowels; with like intention of affection, as a tender-hearted Mother doth her deareſt Babe, that is her own bowels, her ſelf of the ſecond edition. Neither did David herein ſuper-erogate; for God requireth to be loved with all the heart, minde, ſoul, ſtrength, Modus ſig ſi… modo. Be…as one that is beſt worthy; good without meaſure, that hath loved us without meaſure, and therefore is without meaſure by us to be beloved. Not that we are bound to love God in quantum eſt diligibilis, ſo much as he is lovely, or love-worthy; for ſo God only can love himſelf; but, Nihil ſupra, aequè, aut contra, Nothing muſt we love above God, or ſo much as God, much leſs againſt God: we muſt be able to ſay affectionately with David, Pſal. 73.25, 26. Whom have I in heaven but thee? there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. And as Bernard, Amo te Domine, plus quam mea, meos, me, I love thee Lord, more than my goods, my friends, my ſelf. A Chriſtian begins with loving God for himſelf, but he ends in loving himſelf, and all other, both perſons, and things, in and for God. His friend he loveth in the Lord, his foes for the Lord: but God he loveth abſolutely, and for himſelf, affecting not only an union with him, but even an unity, his heart being turned, as it were, into a very lump of love, as was Maries, Luke 7.47. Hiſtories tell of a certain Woman that came to Veſpaſian the Emperour, profeſſing that ſhe was in love with him; he commanded that a liberal reward ſhould be given her for the ſame; and when his Steward asked him under what Item he ſhould put that gift in his Book of Account, Veſpaſiano adamato, ſaid the Emperour, Item, To her that loved Veſpaſian. God, ſaith the Apoſtle, is not unrighteous, to forget your labour of love, &c. Heb. 6. I love them that love me, ſaith Chriſt, Prov. 8. and his love is not like the Winter Sun, which hath light, but not heat, &c. he is the ſtrength of his people, their Rock, Fortreſs, &c.
Verſ. 2. The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortreſs, &c.] i.e. He is all in all for my preſervation. Ten words ſay the Hebrews, he here heapeth up in reference to Ten ſignal Victories; or rather becauſe his thankful heart was ſo enlarged, that hee could never ſatisfie himſelf in ſaying what God had been to him, and done for him: and hence this congeries, or heap of holy expreſſions; and all to ſhew that God is a Rock of refuge, a firm Fortreſs, a recepracle of reſt, a ſanctuary of ſafety to all his Saints in time of trouble. David had had his ſhare, and had been put to his ſhifts; glad to hide himſelf, as he could, in rocks, and ſtrong-holds that ſheltered him from the ſtorm. To theſe he alludeth, when he calls God his Rock, Fortreſs, &c.
And my deliverer] Rocks, and Strong-holds do not always deliver (witneſs the Shechemites, Jebuſites, Arimaſphes), but God always doth.
And the Horn of my Salvation] Qui veluti cornu petit & conficit hoſtes meos, ſaith Vatablus, who goareth and diſpatcheth mine enemies. A Metaphor either from horned Beaſts, or elſe (as ſome will have it) from the ancient cuſtom of wearing horns of Iron upon their Helmet, for a Creſt, or Military ornament: …whereupon the raiſed Horn was a ſign of Victory, and the Horn beaten down a ſign of being overcome.
Verſ. 3. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praiſed] Or, is the proper object of praiſes, becauſe he is good, and doth good, Pſal. 119.68. David vows to praiſe him,
1 By loving him entirely.
2 By truſting in him ſtedfaſtly, verſ. ….
3. By calling upon him continually, here, and Pſal. 116.2, 3. which Pſalm is very like to this (in the beginning eſpecially) both for matter and method.
So ſhall I be ſaved, &c.] He had often proved the power of Prayer, ſpecially when he came ready prepared to praiſe God for the return of Prayer; and thence he is bold to promiſe himſelf all good.
Verſ. 4. The ſorrows of death compaſſed mee] Or, the pangs, pains, throws as of a travelling woman, theſe invironed mee, or came thick and threefold upon mee, perventebant uſ que ad foreign even to my face, (as the Rabbines deſcant upon the word) or flew upon me; deſperate and deadly dangers aſſailed mee. The worſt of an evill eſcaped,Medraſh. Tillin. Aphaphuni pro …naphaphuni. is to bee thankfully acknowledged, and higheſt ſtraines of eloquence therein to bee uſed, ſo that pride bee avoided, and the praiſe of God only aimed at.
And the floods of ungodly men] Heb. of Belial, that is, of Belialiſts, acted and agitated by the Devill; theſe came tumbling upon him like many and mighty waters, Fluct us flustum trudit. Torrentes Belial terrebant me.
Verſ. 5. The ſorrows] Or, throws or cords, ſuch as wherewith they bind malefactors led forth to execution.
The ſnares of death prevented mee] David knew how to make the moſt of a mercy; hee means, I was almoſt ſurprized, and all hope of help ſeemed to bee prevented; if help ſhould come, it would come too late.
Verſ. 6. In my diſtreſſe I called upon the Lord] This was Davids anchora ſacra; prayer hee knew could never come too late, nor God want a way to deliver his diſtreſſed. The time of affliction, is the time of ſupplication; and mans extremity is Gods opportunity.
And cryed unto my God] Hee grew more and more earneſt; wee muſt pray and not faint, Luk. 18.1. but riſe in our ſutes.
Out of his Temple] i.e. Heaven, where of the Temple was a type, as being the place of Gods ſpeciall preſence, and of tranſcendent holineſſe.
Verſ. 7. Then the earth ſhook and trembled, &c.] Upon Davids prayer all this befell; like as Act. 4. the houſe ſhook wherein they were praying; and the thundering Legion procured thunder and rain; and ſo did Samuel by his prayers, 1 Sam. 12. But this terrible tempeſt here deſcribed is to be taken rather allegorically than hiſtorically. The Prophet in moſt lofty and lively tearmes and expreſſions (farre above the ſtrain of the moſt ſublime either Poets or Oratours) deſcribeth Gods powerfull preſence and concurrence in Davids conqueſts.
The foundations alſo of the hills] That is, ſo vehement was the Earthquake, that it ſhook, as it were the roots of the Mountains, which lye deep within the ground, 2 Sam. 22.8. theſe hills are called the foundation of Heaven, as Job 26.11. the pillars of Heaven; becauſe the tops of high Mountains ſeem to touch the clouds, and the Heavens ſeem to lean upon them; and becauſe the Earth is in the centre of the World, about the which the Heavens do continually turn.
Becauſe he was wroth] Or, burn did his noſe. So
Verſ. 8. There went up a ſmoak out of his noſtrills] As angry men breath vehemently, and ſeem to ſpit fire by their bluſtering ſpeeches and menaces, ſo here foreign omnia, qua tamen foreign ſunt intelligenda.
Verſ. 7. Hee bowed the Heavens] i.e. velociter venit, ſaith R. David, hee came ſpeedily to deſtroy mine enemies.
And darkneſſe was under his feet] Hee came inviſible.
Verſ. 10. And he rode upon a Cherub] Which word hath affinity with Rechub a Charret; Hereby is noted Gods ſwiftneſſe in comming to ſuccour David. He waits to bee gracious; and when it is a fit ſeaſon hee comes leaping and skipping over the Mountaines of Bether or diviſion, all lets, and impediments; Gabriel came to Daniel with wearineſſe of flight, chap. 9.21.
Hee did flie upon the wings of the Wind] For, by the Miniſtry of Angells, God raiſeth and ſtilleth the winds.
Verſ. 11.Vatab. Hee made darkneſſe his ſecret place] As a King, that being angry, withdraweth himſelf from his ſubjects, and will not bee ſeen of them. Vel quia decret a Dei veniunt inviſibiliter, ſaid R. David.
Verſ. 12. At the brightneſſe that was before him, &c.] i.e. at his bright preſence, his thick clouds (wherein hee was inveloped) paſſed, or did cleave as it were in ſunder; whence came hailſtones mixed with coales of fire, or lightnings out of the cloudes which God maketh at once aery ſeas, and aery furnaces; fetching fire out of the midſt of water, and hard ſtones out of the midſt of thin vapours.
Verſ. 13. The Lord alſo thundred in the Heavens] Quaſi pro claſſico, & a…ſpicio praeli…ineund….
Verſ. 14. Yea hee ſent out his arrowes, &c.] Tandem permiſc entur omnia grandine flammis & fulminibus tanquam telis & ſagittis Dei adverſus hoſtes pugnantis. After the vaunt-curriers, verſ. 12. the great Ordinance, verſ. 13. the battel begins, and all is on an hurry.
Verſ. 15. Then the Chanels of waters were ſeen] The force of this terrible Tempeſt is further ſet forth by the effect of it, a dreadful concuſſion of the univerſe; not without an alluſion to the drying up of the red Sea, and of Jordan before Iſrael; which deliverances ſtood for Archetypes, or chief patterns to all Poſterity.
Verſ. 16. He ſent from above, he took me] He reſcued me as by an hand reacht me from Heaven. Deus foreign; or, he ſent his Angels to ſecure me.
He drew me out of many waters] As he had once done Moſes, Exod. 2.10. who there-hence alſo had his name. Muſaeus, for the ſame cauſe, calleth him foreign Water-ſprung.
Verſ. 17. He delivered me from my ſtrong enemy] Saul; this he oft inſtanceth, rolling it as Suger under his tongue, and turning aſide often to look upon it, as Sampſon did to ſee his dead Lion; fetching Hony out of it.
For they were too ſtrong for me] And then Gods help was moſt ſeaſonable, when David found himſelf over-matcht.
Verſ. 18. They prevented me, &c.] They took me on the ſudden, and unprovided. The Children of this World are wiſer, &c.
But the Lord was my ſtay] Or, my ſtaff, whereon I ſo leaned as that if he had failed me, I had been all along.
Verſ. 19. He bronght me forth alſo, &c.] He freed me out of all ſtraights, and ſtated me in a moſt happy condition.
He delivered, becauſe he delighted in me] All was of free grace and favour, not of any merit. And this he purpoſely premiſeth as a caution to the enſuing profeſſion of his innocency.
Verſ. 20. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteouſneſs] viz. The righteouſneſs of my Cauſe; and my freedom from ſuch crimes of diſloyalty, and ambition, wherewith mine enemies charged me, as if prickt on by my pride I ſought the Kingdom. As alſo, according to mine honeſt deſire and endeavour in all things elſe, …o keep a good Conſcience, voyd of offence toward God, and men. This, though Gods own work, and a debt moſt due to him, yet he is pleaſed graciouſly to reward.
Verſ. 21. For I have kept the ways of the Lord] For the main, and for the moſt part, though not without ſome particular ſtumblings and ſtartings aſide, againſt my general reſolution, and the tendency of mine heart.
And have not wickedly departed from my God] By an utter defection; I have not been transformed into Sins Image, by projecting ſin, by falling into it with full conſent, and by lying under the power of it. Non ex ſuperbia ſed errore, ſaith R. David here; not of preſumption have I offended, or with an high hand, but of infirmity, and with reluctancy; riſing up again by repentance, and renewing my Covenant.
Verſ. 22. For all his Judgements were before mee] Mine obedience (in deſire and indeavour at leaſt) was univerſall, extending to the compaſs of the whole Law; and this is a ſure ſign of ſincerity: Hence in the next words,
Verſ. 23. I was alſo upright before him] This he had becauſe he kept Gods Commandements, as Verſ. 22. had reſpect to them all, Pſal. 119.6. both to the Magnalia, and minutula legis, which he kept as the apple of his eye, Prov. 7.2. even all Gods Wills, Act. 13.22. and was therefore approved in Chriſt, as Apelles, Rom. 16.10. and paſſed for an Iſraelite indeed, in whom was no guile, as Nathaniel, Joh. 1.47.
And I kept my ſelf from mine iniquity] i.e. from my peccatum in delic…is, my darling ſin, whereto I am either by Nature or Cuſtom moſt inclined and addicted. From the iniquity of my heart and ſecret thoughts, which no man can charge me with, ſaith Aben-Ezra; from that ſin of diſloyalty,R. David. which Saul and his Courtiers falſly charge me with, Say others.
Verſ. 24. Therefore hath the Lord recompenſed me] See on verſ. 20. Reward and Mercy are joyned together in the Second Commandement; and Pſal. 62.12. it is a mercy in God to reward a man according to his work.
According to the cleaneneſs of my hands in his eye ſight] i.e. which he hath beheld in me;Qua illo judice praeditus dum. Vatab. though mine enemies were of another judgement.
Ver. 25 With the mercifull, &c.] Hypotheſin hic ad theſin transfert; it is as if the ſhould ſay, I and mine enemies are a pattern of thy Truth and Juſtice, that thou wilt do good to thoſe that are good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for ſuch as turn aſide unto their crooked paths, thou Lord ſhalt lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, Pſal. 125.4, 5.
Verſ. 26. With the pure, &c.] Cum candido candide agere ſoles. The pure ſhall have all that heart can with.
And with the froward thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf froward] Or, thou wilt wraſtle, viz. with ſuch croſs peices, as proudly and perverſly erre from thy precepts; as it were on purpoſe to thwart thee, or to try Maſteries with thee. Againſt ſuch ſtubborn perſons God threatneth not eight degrees (which are the higheſt Notes in Muſick, and degrees in qualities, as the Philoſopher diſtinguiſheth them) but twenty and eight degrees of wrath, Levit. 26.18, 21, 24, 28. Exiget ab …is rationem minutiſſimorum, ſaith R. Obad. Gaon upon this Text; he will reckon with them for their leaſt offences, and not bate them an Ace of their due puniſhment. He will pay them home in their own coyn, over-ſhoot them in their own Bow, fill them with their own ways, be as croſs as they are, for the hearts of them; yet ſtill in a way of Juſtice, though he break the necks of them in wraſtling, and ſend them packing to their place in Hell. Ainſworth rendreth it, With the froward thou wilt ſhew thy ſelf wry. It is a Similitude taken from Wraſtlers, and noteth a writhing of ones ſelf againſt an adverſary. Compare herewith Deut. 32.5. They are a perverſe and crooked Generation (the ſame two words that are here in this Text) the latter importeth, that they wriggled and writhed after the manner of Wra…lers that wave up and down▪ and wind the other way, when one thinks to have them here or there. But all will not ſerve their turn to ſave them from puniſhment. God will be ſure to meet with them, his Word will lay hold on them, and their ſin ſhall finde them out.
Verſ. 27. For thou wilt ſave the afflicted people] Even the ſame whom before he had called Merciful, or godly, upright, pure, here are the Afflicted, and ſeem by God to be neglected; but he will ſave them aſſuredly though he bear long with them, Luk. 18.7.
But will bring down high looks] In Samuel it is, Thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou maiſt bring them down, 2 Sam. 22.28. q.d. Gods eyes are upon them all the while that he ſpareth them, to watch for a fit ſeaſon to ruine them.
Verſ. 28. For thou wilt light my Candle] Or, Thou haſt lighted my Candle (that is, thou haſt bettered my condition) which ſeemed to be put out in obſcurity. The wicked mans is, Job 18 6. & 21.17. Prov. 13.9.
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkneſs] He hath, and yet ſtill will turn my grief into joy, as Heſt. 8.19. and mean while direct and comfort me in mine Afflictions; as a Candle is a great comfort in the dark, though it doth not make Day where it comes, as the Sun doth.
Verſ. 29. For by thee have I run thorow a Troop] Though but a little man, yet by Gods help heatchieved great matters, did great exploits. Homo tricubitalis (ſaith a Father concerning Paul) Et coelum aſcendit: ſo here. Some render it, Currebam accinctus, Bucholc.I ran well appointed; and they interpret it of his Victory over Goliah, whom he ran upon and cut off his head, after that he had hurled at him with as good a force; Perinde ac ſi fundae ſustunicis non lapillum, ſed Deum ipſumin…uiſſet ac implicuiſſet, ſaith one; as if he had got not a ſtone, but God himſelf into the bought of his ſling.
And by my God have I leapt over a wall] That is, I have ſtormed a walled Town, or Fort, with very little ado; being no leſs valiant and venturous than Alexander the Great was among the Indians; but upon farre better grounds, becauſe in the ſtrength of God,2 Sam. 3. as at the Fort of Zion.
Verſ. 30. As for God, his way is perfect] All his Diſpenſations toward his Children, his actions, and directions, his providences, and promiſes are moſt truſty and true; having neither vice, vanity, inſincerity, nor deceit in them.
The Word of the Lord is tried] This is a famous ſentence, and was much in the mouthes of Gods people, See Prov. 30.5. with the Note there.
Verſ. 31. For who is God ſave the Lord] Fictitios Deos & vanas ſpes proſternit, ſaith Vatablus; Here he ſtriketh down to the ground all falſe gods, and all vain hopes. Contemno minutulos iſtos Deosmodo Jovem mihi propitium habeam, ſaid an Heathen. David might much better ſay, I care not for thoſe petty Deities, ſo I may have Jehovah to favour me.
Verſ. 32. It is God that girdeth mee with ſtrength] It is a Metaphor, ſaith Vataeblus, either from a Souldiers belt which buckleth his armour cloſe to him, and maketh him more ſteddy; or elſe from the reines themſelves, in which the Scripture ſometimes placeth ſtrength and vigour. God did all for David; and hath here the glory of all his valour and victories.
And maketh my way perfect] i.e. Compleateth and proſpereth all my deſigns and enterpriſes. For want hereof many attempt much, but effect little or nothing. Antiochus King of Syria was called Magnus for undertaking much, and performing little. Guicciard…n ſaith of Charles the eighth, in his expedition to Naples, that he came into the field like thunder and lightning, but went out like a ſnuffe; more than a man at firſt, and leſſe than a woman at laſt.
Verſ. 33. Hee maketh my feet like Hindes feet] Heb. Hee matcheth my feet, like Hindes feet; that is, not only ſwift, if I have occaſion by flight to provide for my ſelf, or to purſue mine enemies flying before mee; but alſo ſteddy if I come into any dangerous places. Aſahel was ſwift of foot as a wild Roe, 2 Sam. 2.18. Joſephus faith of him, that hee contended with horſes in running. Saul and Jonathan are ſaid to be ſwifter than Eagles, 2 Sam. 1.23. Achilles was foreign, ſaith Homer, The Hind, when purſued by the woolf, runs moſt ſwiftly; witneſſe the Poet,
Quem tu, cervus uti vallis in altera
Viſum parte lupum, graminis immemor,Horat. lib. 1. Od. 1… lib. 1. Od. 23.
ſublimi fugies mollis anhelitu.
Vit as hinnuleo me ſimilis, Chloe, &c.
And gain,
But they that wait upon the Lord have a promiſe that they ſhall not only nin as Hindes, but mount up as Eagles; they ſhall run and not bee weary, and they ſhall walk and not faint, Iſa. 40.31.
Hee ſetteth mee upon my high places] Where, having by flight or fight eſcaped,Securus poſt quam Eva… a illis. R. David I am ſecured; yea hee hath advanced me, and brought me to this high honour.
Verſ. 34. Hee teacheth mine hands to warre] David aſcribeth all his military skill and ſucceſſe to God, ſo did not other great Warriors, Alexander, Scipio, Fabius, &c. but ſacrificed to their own nets, and were ready to ſay as Seſoſtris King of Aegypt did, when hee had conquered any Country, hee was wont to ſet up pillars with theſe words ingraven upon them, This Country I got by mine own ſtrength and vallour.foreign Herodot. 1.…
So that a bow of ſteel, &c] Which is more flexible and ſtronger than a bow of Iron; whence is that. Job 20.24.
Verſ. 35. Thou haſt alſo given mee, &c.] i.e. Thou haſt preſerved and ſetled me. See the Note on Pſal. 5.12.
And thy gentleneſſe bath made mee great] Or, Thy meekneſſe hath multiplied mee, i.e. Thou haſt ſo farr ſtooped to my meanneſſe, as to advance mee to this heighth of honour. Or, by thy humbling mee, thou haſt magnified mee, according to 1 Pet. 5.6. & Prov. 15.33.
Verſ. 36. Thou haſt enlarged my ſteps under mee] Or, Thou haſt widened my paſſage, and made roomth for mee; when the wicked mans ſtrong paſſages are ſtreightened, Job 18.7. his paſe impeded.
And my feet did not ſlip] Heb. Mine anckles, or my heeles, Sep. my footſteps.
Verſ. 37. I have purſued mine enemies, and overtaken them, &c.] Of David we may ſay, as one did of Julius Caeſar, you may perceive him to have been an excellent ſouldier by his very language; for hee wrote with the ſame ſpirit hee fought.1.10 ad filiu… In eo tanta vis, id acumen, ea concitatio, (ſaith Quintilian concerning Caeſars Commentaries) ut illum eodem animo dixiſſe appareat quo bellavit.
Verſ. 38. I have wounded them that they were not able to riſe] Much leſſe to reſiſt. And herein hee was a type of Chriſt; all whoſe foes ſhall bee his footſtool, Pſal. 110.1.
Verſ. 39. Thou baſt girded mee with ſtrength, &c.] See verſ. 32. It is God that weakeneth or ſtrengtheneth either party, Ezek. 30.24. and rendreth their weapons vain or proſperous. Iſa. 54. ult. Jer. 50.9.
Thou haſt ſubdued under me, &c.] David aſcribeth all to God, and uſeth wonderfull variety of expreſſions in ſetting forth his benefits.
Verſ. 40. Thou haſt given mee the necks of mine enemies] ſc: to chop them off at my pleaſure; or to cut the throats.
Verſ. 41. They cryed] Through grief and impatiency, clamore incondito, as beaſts when in durance, fill the air with loud out-cryes.
Even unto the Lord] As nature prompteth men in an extremity to look up for help; but becauſe it is but the prayer of the fleſh for eaſe, and not of the Spirit for grace, and a good uſe of calamities, and not but in extreme deſpaire of help elſewhere, therefore God hears them not. In Samuel it is, They looked, but there was none to ſave them, q. d. If they could have made any other ſhift, God ſhould never have heard of them. Therefore Sero, inquit Nero.
Verſ. 42. Then did I beat them as ſmall as the duſt] When God once withdraws his protection and help from a people, it is an eaſie matter to tread them down and beat them in pieces, Lay hold upon him therefore as the Church did, and hang on. Say as Jer. 14.21. Do not abhorre us for thy names ſake; for as Bodin ſaid well of obtaining, ſo for retaining religion and civil rights, Non disputationibus, ſed rogationibus agendum, prayer is moſt prevalent. If once our ſhaddow depart, &c. woe bee unto them when I depart from them.
I did caſt them out, &c.] Evacuabameos, I dealt by them, as men do by the ſweepings of the houſe, or noyſome excrements. God ſometimes dungeth his Vineyard with the dead bodies of his enemies.
Verſ. 43. Thou haſt delivered mee from the ſtrivings of the people] viz. In the rebellions under Abſolom, and Sheba the ſon of Bichri. Theſe, like bubbles which Children blow up into the air, were ſoon blown out; and fell into the eyes of thoſe who with the blaſts of diſloyalty and ambition held up the ſame.
Thou haſt made mee head of the Heathen] Philiſtines, Syrians, Anamonites, &c. This is moſt true of Chriſt. Head of his Church, which conſiſteth of all Nations, and moſt of theſe were unknown unto him as man; and by hearing of him, they were brought to ſubmit unto him, when the Apoſtles came and preached him amongſt them. Hence it followeth,
Verſ. 44. Aſſoon as they hear of mee] Heb. at the hearing of the ear; that is, by the preaching of the Goſpell they ſhall bee brought to yeeld the obedience of faith.
The ſtrangers ſhall ſubmit] Heb.Subjectio ſucoſa & Hypoc…itica. Falſly deny or diſſemble with mee; their ſubmiſſion is forced and feigned, they dare do no leſſe; they receive my yoke, but their hearts I have not. Chriſt hath many ſuch falſe-hearted ſubjects, fawning and faining profligate profeſſors, carnal Goſpellers, &.
Verſ. 45. The ſtrangers ſhall fade away] As do the dry leaves of Trees; their vigour and confidence ſhall periſh in a moment.
And bee afraid out of their cloſe places] Whence they ſhall come creeping to mee their conqueror, to ſeek favour. And this may very fitly alſo be applied to Chriſt and his ſubjects, who muſt bee driven unto him out of their cloſe places, or ſtarting holes of ſelf-confidences, ſelf-conceitedneſſe, &c. by the ſpirit of bondage, before they will unfeignedly ſubmit to Chriſts Government.
Verſ. 46. The Lord liveth] Or, Vivat Dominus, Let the Lord live. It is ſpoken, ſaith Calvin, after the manner of men, who uſe ſuch kind of acclamations to the Kings, whom they love and honour. The Wicked could wiſh God extinct, that ſo they might never come to an account before him; but the Saints cry out, Let the Lord live, let Chriſt reign, &c. Bleſſed bee God that Hoe is God, was a learned mans motto. Luthers was, Vivit, ſc. Chriſtus. Si non viveret, vellem me non unam horam vivere, &c. Chriſt is alive, otherwiſe I would not wiſh to live an hour. Another good man ſaith,Miconius. Chriſt liveth and raigneth, alioque totus totus deſperaſſem, otherwiſe I ſhould be utterly out of hope.
Let the God of my ſalvation bee exalted] Triumphali elogio ab omnibus celebratur, let him bee ſet up in all hearts and houſes,
Verſ. 47. It is God that avengeth mee] Heb. that giveth vengeances for mee, whence alſo hee is called the God of vengeances, Pſal. 94.1. and the God of recompences, Jer. 51.56.
And ſubdueth the people under me] It is the great work of God, to perſwade the hearts of ſo many millions to obey one man.
Verſ. 48. He delivereth me from mine enemies] This David hath never done with, but goeth over it again and again, as deſirous to do the Lord all the right that might be.
From the violent man] That is, from Saul, ſaith R. David, and him he mentioneth laſt, Quia erat principium omnis Davidicae gloriae, becauſe the fall of his houſe was the riſe of all Davids glory. The Chaldee hath it, From Gog, and his Armies.
Verſ. 49. Therefore I will give thanks, &c.] See how the Pſalmiſt in theſe three laſt Verſes endeth as he began.
Among the Heathen] This the Apoſtle applieth to Chriſt and his people, as a Prophecy of his Kingdom, and of the calling of the Gentiles, Rom. 15.9. I, that is, Chriſt, (but yet in the perſon of his faithful, and eſpecially his Miniſters) will praiſe thee, or confeſs unto thee, &c.
And ſing praiſes unto thy name] Which to have done abſurdum fuiſſet apud ſurdo…, would have been abſurd, had not thoſe Heathens had their ears opened.
Verſ. 50. Great deliverance giveth be to his King] In Samuel it is, He is the tower of Salvation for his King] This Tower is Meſſias, ſay the Jew-Doctors, Quieſt turris ſalutis. O that thoſe poor Creatures would once run to that ſtrong tower and be ſafe.
To David and to his ſeed for evermore] That is, to Chriſt (who was made of the Seed of David, according to the fleſh, Rom. 1.3. Act. 13.23.) and to all faithful Chriſtians who are called Chriſts Seed, Iſa. 53.10. and Pſal. 72.17. Filiabitur nomine ejus, the Name of Chriſt ſhall endure for ever, it ſhall be begotten as one Generation is begotten of another, there ſhall be a ſucceſſion of it to the Worlds end.