Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 69 – Psalm 70
PSAL. LXIX.
A Pſalm of David] Quando rebellabat Sheba, ſaith the Syriack, made upon occaſion of Sheba's rebellion preſently after Abſoloms. Hence he cries out as one almoſt over-whelmed,
Verſ. 1. Save mee O God] Thou who delighteſt to ſave ſuch as are forſaken of their hopes. The Fathers generally take this Pſalm to be prophetical touching the paſſions of Chriſt, and his praying then to the Father. David had his troubles which gave occaſion to the penning of this Pſalm, but thoſe were all but as a picture and prelude of Chriſts farre greater ſorrows. Spiritus autem ſanctus manifeſtè ſe prodit in hoc Pſalmo.
For the waters are come in unto my ſoul] Ever after Noahs flood (that diſmal deſtruction) great and grievous afflictions were ſet forth by the ruſhing in of waters, and overwhelming therewith. Gods wrath was poured upon Chriſt as a mighty torrent of waters, and therefore this expreſſion applied to him hath a ſpecial Emphaſis; his ſoul was heavy even to the death. Fluctus fluctum trudebat, One deep called upon another, &c. O the ſoul of ſufferings which his ſoul then ſuffered!
Verſ. 2. I ſink in deep mire] Heb. In the mire of depth, or gulf, as Babylon was afterwards called, Iſa. 44.27. Here he ſtuck, and under water, and ſo muſt periſh, if he had not preſent help.
Verſ. 3. I am weary of my crying] As a drowning man, whiles he can be heard, cryeth for help.
My throat is dryed] Or, parched, raucitate laborant fanc….
Mine eyes fail] With much weeping, and long looking. This is a peece of the curſe, Levit. 26.16. Chriſt became a curſe for us, Gal. 3.13.
Verſ. 4. They that hate mee without a cauſe, &c.] Chriſt, beſides his inward fears and griefs cauſed by the ſenſe of his Fathers wrath for our ſins, was ſet againſt and aſſaulted both by men and Devils (in that three hours darkneſs eſpecially) with utmoſt might and malice.
Then I reſtered that which I took not away] Quod non rap…i reddebam. D… was dealt with as a felon or falſe-dealer. Chriſt alſo was crucified for ſaying that he was the Son of God, Job. 19.7. though he held it no robbery to be equall with God, Phil. 2.6. The Martyrs likewiſe were loaden with many … and falſe criminations, that they might ſeem to ſuffer not as Martyrs, but as Malefactours.
Verſ. 5. O God, thou knoweſt my fooliſhneſe] …. Thou knoweſt mine innocency, and how true I am of … f… ly and thoſe foul faults, wherewith they falſely …
Verſ. 6. Let not them be aſhamed for my ſake] Give mee not up to paſſions of diſhonour, to opprobrious practices, whereby religion might be reproached, or good people reviled and abuſed, much leſſe ſtaggered, and ſet at a ſtand by my ſufferings.
Verſ. 7. Becauſe for thy ſake I have born repreach] Whatever mine enemies pretend, they ſtrike at thee Lord, through my ſides; and for thy ſake alone it is that I am ſo beſpattled, that I am even aſhamed to look any one in the face. The moſt innocent may, upon the fulneſſe of an aſperſion, be put out of countenance.
Verſ. 8. I am become a ſtranger to my Brethren] No otherwiſe than as if I were a Ma…zer (ſo the Hebrews call a Baſtard) that is, a ſtrange blet to the family. Chriſt came to his own, but they received him not; yea his own brethren beleeved not on him, Job. 7. This, when the Turks read in our Goſpel, they wonder, and the Jews therefore ſlander his miracles, for not ſo manifeſt as we conceive.
Verſ. 9. For the zeal of thine houſe hath eaten mee up] Non amat qui non zelat. Davids love to God (much leſſe the Lord Chriſts) would not ſuffer him to bear with Gods diſhonour, and the contempt of his ordinances. And this was it that procured him ſo much ill will, and ſuch a generall alienation from neareſt friends and allyes.
And the reproaches of them that reproached thee] Wicked men eftſoons ſet their mouths againſt Heaven, and fall ſoul upon God himſelf. This, David (and the ſon of David) could not endure, nec aliter amare didicit, as Baſit once anſwered thoſe that blamed him for appearing ſo farre for his friend,Chryſoft. lib… 2. d] ſacerdot… to his own great danger.
Verſ. 10. When I went and chaſtened my ſoul with faſting] That I might thereby beat down my body, and tame that rebel fleſh of mine,
That was to my reproach] They ſaid I did it in hypocriſie, and deſign. So they dealt by the Baptiſt that crucifix of mortification, Luk. 7.33.
Verſ. 11. I made ſack-cloath alſo my garment] A faſhion at ſolemn faſts among the Eaſterlings; as if they thought the courſeſt cloathing too good for them; and but for ſhame would have gone ſtark naked.
I became a proverb to them] Dicterium, They would ſay with mocking Michal, How glorious was the King of Iſrael to day, as one of the vain fellows! 2 Sam. 6.20.
Verſ. 12. They that ſit in the gate] Men of Authority and Dignity, who ſhould have ſhewed more grace and gravity. The Saints are ſure of enemies of all ſorts. David was traduced at publick and private meetings: ſeriis, & ludicris, ſobriis, & ebriis.
And I was the Song of the Drunkards] Heb. Of the drinkers of ſtrong drink the Ale-ſtakes made Ballads on their Ale-bench, de maeie mea & miſeria. Theſe Varlets tear and toſs my Name, as Curs do Carrion.
Verſ. 13. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord] So Saint Paul, Being defamed, ſaith he, we pray. Chriſt in like caſe committed himſelf to God in well-doing, 1 Pet. 2.
In an acceptable time] Or, there will be an acceptable time.
F…ebile principiums melior fortuna ſequeter.
Verſ. 14. Deliver me out of the mixe] i. e. De civitate Gehennae, ſaith the Hebrew Scholiaſt, out of that deadly danger whereof he had complained,Val. Max. Chriſt. 41. verſ. 2. Alphonſus King of Arcag… by a gracious condeſcenſion helped a laden Aſſe out of the mire with his own hand, and is renowned for it in Hiſtory. God helpeth his out full oft, and little notice is taken of it.
Verſ. 15. Let not the water-floud over-flow me] See verſ. 1.
…] Leave me not helpleſs, and hopeleſs.
Vi…ere … facias qui moriturus eram.
Verſ. 16. Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving kindneſs is good] It is not like the … that lighteth, but hearteth not it is like the Summer-Sun, that doth both.
Verſ. 17. And …ids not thy face from thy Servant] Who am devoted to thy fear, and do therefore implore and expect thy favour.
For I am in trouble] And ſo, a fit object of thy pity.
Verſ. 18. Draw nigh unto my ſoul] Who ſeemeſt to be afarre off: ſo the fleſh ſuggeſteth when help is any whit deferred.
Becauſe of mine enemies] Who elſe will exceſſively inſult.
Verſ. 19. Thou haſt known my reproach] That is enough for David, that God taketh Cognizance of the injuries and indignities caſt upon him: for he will ſurely right him.
Verſ. 20. Reproach hath broken mine heart, &c.] He knew his own innocency, and yet it much grieved him to be ſo defamed; for he knew that a good man ſhould be as much as might be not only without fault, but without ſuſpicion of a fault; as Auguſt us Caeſar was wont to ſay of his houſe. Howſoever it is happy that a true Chriſtian hath always his cordial by him, 2 Cor. 1.12. Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, &c.
And I looked for ſome to take pity] Heb. To lament with me, or to ſhake the head over me, as Mourners uſe to do, to run to my comfort, and to condole with me. Davids friends failed him in this office alſo. But that was not all,
Verſ. 21. They gave me alſo gall for my meat] Venenum vel ſicutam; and ſo ſhewed themſelves miſerable comforters.
And in my thirſt they gave me vineger to drink] This befel David in Figure, but Chriſt in the Letter, Mat. 27.34. It were happy if the Vineger given him, might melt our adamantine hearts into godly ſorrow.
Verſ. 22. Let their table become a ſnare before them] Let them care their bane, and drink their poyſon; whiles all their cates are ſauced with the Wrath of God; Quoniam hoc mod… cibarunt me, ſaith Kimchi, becauſe they have ſerved me on this ſort. By table, ſaith another Interpreter, we are to underſtand all means of comfort and refreſhing, both of body and ſoul, which turn to the ruine of the wicked, even an odour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16.
And that which ſhould have been, &c.] Tremellius rendreth it, Pro retributionibu… pro tendicula ipſis, for recompenſes, for a trap to them, Rom. 11.9. Others, Pacifica in rete! Others again, Et ubi pacem ſperant, illic impingunt, Where they hope for peace, let them fall.
Verſ. 23. Let their eyes be darkned] Let them be infatuated, and beſotted, that they may go hoodwinkt to Hell.
And make their loyns continually to ſhake] Ne fugiant, ſaith R. Obadiah Gaon, that they may not be able to fly, or otherwiſe to help themſelves: for in the loyns and reins of a man lieth his ſtrength, Deut. 33.11. The Syriack hath it, Lumbi eorum ſint curvi, viz. under their enemies burdens. See Rom. 11.10. bow down their backs.
Verſ. 24. Pour out thine indignation upon them] By Indignation, ſaith Baſil, we are to underſtand ſpeedy vengeance; by Wrath, durable. This is befaln the Nation of the Jews to the utmos;t, 1 Theſſ. 2. or to the end, as ſome render it.
Verſ. 25. Let their habitation be deſolate] Heb. Their Palaces, or Caſtles, ſo named of being fair, and high built, in row and order. It is here put not only for their Habitation, but for their Function. See Acts 1.20.
And let none dwell in their Tents] Lege & …, ſaith one, ſpeaking of the mine of Jeruſalem by the Romans, Dio in Adrian. … Enquir.under Velpaſian, and again … all Judea was left almoſt … upon pain of death to look toward their own Country. At the day … be found in Jeruſalem it ſelf an hundred houſholds of Jews. Behold … of God of the contempt of Chriſt, and his people.
Verſ. 26. For they perſcute … whom … ] Chriſt … of God, and afflicted, Iſa. 53.4. Him they perſecuted to the death, and abuſed, when he was at the greateſt under, with bitter taunts, and Satan … …caſmes; ſo the Pagans, and the Papiſt dealt … the dying; Martyrs and profane perſons, and …. Dogge that worried: and as when a Deer is ſhot, the … of the … their company: ſo here, Now if it could be ſaid of Mishridates, that … ſuch as maliciouſly perſecuted vertue forſaken of Fortune: much more may we think doth God abhor ſuch cruel Car…i…s ſpoken of. See Iſa. 47.6. Obad. 1. Zeeh. 1.15.
And they talk to the grief of thoſe whom thou haſt wounded] Narr… …exu… they frame diſcourſes to the grief of thy wounded ones, pouring into their wound… not Oyl, or Balſome, but vineger, or ſalt-water. Heb. Th… number, or cip… up the grief; that is, ſaith one, they ſtudy and deviſe new waye of torturing them, ſo that hee who would ſpeak of them all, muſt keep a remembrance of their number.
Verſ. 27. Adde iniquity unto their iniquity] Puniſh one ſin with another (by giving them up to a reprobate ſenſe, to an incureable hardneſs) and plague them ſoundly for their fin. The ſame Hebrew word ſignifieth both ſin and puniſhment theſe two are tied together with chains of Adamant.
And let them not come into thy righteouſneſs] i. e. Hold them not righteous, nor beſtow upon them thy crown of righteouſneſs.
Verſ. 28. Let them be blotted out, &c.] Wherein they were never indeed written among thoſe living in Jeruſalem, Iſa. 4.3. thoſe firſt-born whoſe names are written in Heaven, Heb. 12.23. but they accounted themſelves of that number, and were ſo eſteemed by others. This was a miſtake, and the Pſalmiſt prayeth God to make it appear ſo, No videantur in alhum tuorum velats quibus vgra vita … deſtinaſ…i.
Verſ. 29. But I am poer and ſorrowful] The Church is uſually ſo, and may ſing as here, Va…nignant, &c. but her comfort is; 1 That Chriſt ſaith unto her, as Rev. 2.9. I know thy ſorrow and poverty (but that is nothing) Thou art rich. 2 That her poverty is not penal, but Medicinal; Gods diſpenſation is ſit her for better riches: As a wiſe Phyſician purgeth a foul body till he bring it almoſt to skin and bone; But why? That having made it poor there may bee a ſpring of better bloud and ſpirits.
Verſ. 30. I will praiſe the Name of God] i. e. aquitum Deum. I will thankfully agnize, and recognize Gods great goodneſs to me in this deliverance, with mine uttermoſt zeal and skill.
Verſ. 31. This alſo ſhall pleaſe the Lord better, &c.] True thankfulneſs is epimum & optimum ſacrificium thoſe calves of our lips. Hoſ. 14.3 Heb. 12.1…. Theſe Calves or Bullocks (as in the Text) muſt 1 Have burnt and hoofts, bee young and tender, the very beſt of the beſt. 2 They muſt bee ſlain; our thanks muſt proceed from a mortified minde. 3 They muſt be sacrifiſed; where is required, 1 An Altar, our praiſes muſt be tendred in the mediation of Chriſt. 2. Fire, our hearts muſt be enflamed with zeal and ardency. 3 Our hands muſt be laid on the head of the Bullock; That is, we muſt in all humility confeſs our unworthineſs, &c. This will ſurely pleaſe the Lord better than an Oxe, or Bullock that hath …erns and h…of….
Verſ. 32. The humble ſhall ſee this and be glad] Davids great care was for others confirmation and comfort: much more Chriſts, witneſs that holy prayer of his, Joh. 17.
Your … ſhall live] Which before was all …. Pray that yet may joy. David did ſo often, Pſal. 6. &c.
Verſ. 33. For the Lord he … the poor] He is the poor mans King the wronged mans refuge; Trajan the Emperour is renouned for this,Aeli spart. that when he was mounted for a battel he alighted again to hear the complaint of a poor Woman that cried unto him for Juſtice; and our Edw. 6. for this, that he would appoint certain hours to ſit with the Maſter of the Requeſts,Engl. Eliſ. only to diſpatch the Cauſes of the poor. God is much more to be magnified.
Verſ. 34. Let the heaven and earth praiſe him] As they do in their kind: and have good cauſe ſo to do for their resſta…ration by Chriſt Rom.8.11.
Verſ. 35. … The Church univerſal.
And will build the Cities]] The pa…d… at Churches.
That they may dwell there] viz. The ſeed of his ſervants, verſ. 36.
… after them ſhall be incorporated into the Church, and … thing to all perpetuity.
PSAL. LXX.
A Pſalm of David] Made, likely, or rather made uſe of from Pſal. 40.14, 15, &c. when Shaba the Son of Bichri was up in rebellion after Abſoloms death, 2 Sam. 20.1, &c. See Pſal. 69. title.
To bring to remembrance] Worthy to be remembred, and followed as a pattern of prayer. Some make this Pſalm an Appendix to the former, as Pſal. 43. is to Pſal. 42. Others make it a part of the next Pſalm; which is therefore, ſay they, without a title.
Verſ. 1. Make haſte, O God, to deliver me] As a Father …ans without leggs when his childe is hazarded.
Verſ. 2. Let them be aſhamed] See Pſal. 40.14. & 35.26, 27.
Verſ. 3. Let them be turned back for a reward] Vel ficit per inſidias vel ſupplantationem, more Athletarum, a foreign, Let them be ſupplanted defeated,
That ſay, Aha, aha] Auguſtine rendreth it, Enge, Enge, that is, Well done; and giveth this Note upon it, Plus perſequitur lingua adulator is quàm manus interfectoris; The tongue of a Flatterer may miſchief a man more than the hand of a Murtherer. The Apoſtle, Heb. 11.37. ranketh their tempting and flattering promiſes among their bloudy deeds, their is ſing tongues, with their terrifying jaws.
Verſ. 4. Let all thoſe that ſeek thee, &c.] Piorum characteres, ſaith one, a godly, man caracterized, by his ſearch after God, his joy in him, his love to him, his praiſes of him.
Let God be magnefied] In illo quicquid ego: ille, non ego, ſaith Auguſtine.
Verſ. 5. But I am poor and needy] See Pſal. 69.29. with the Note.