Psalms 54:1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? » Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. _Maschil_] Instructing us, saith one, to draw near to God, as dangers draw nearer to... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. Ver. 2. _Hear my prayer, O God_] He runs to God by most earnest prayer, for our instance and instruction in like case; for we must prepare for the like trials, _nec de cruce disputandum est otiose et velut in umbra, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah._ Ver. 3. _For strangers are risen up against me_] He meaneth not foreigners, but home dwellers; Saul, Doeg, Ziphims, _Nothi et spurii,_ strangers to religion, reason, common humanity... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, God [is] mine helper: the Lord [is] with them that uphold my soul. Ver. 4. _Behold, God is mine helper_] And that mine enemies might have seen, had they set God before them. The Dutch have a proverb, Where God hath a mind to destroy a man, he first putteth out his eyes. _ The Lord is with t... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. Ver. 5. _He shall reward evil unto mine enemies_] Or, mine observers, that watch me a mischief. I shall escape out of trouble, and they shall come in my stead, Proverbs 11:8 . _ Cut them off in thy truth_] _i.e._ According as thou... [ Continue Reading ]
I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for [it is] good. Ver. 6. _I will freely sacrifice unto thee_] Or, liberally; not with an ill will and pinchingly. The Arabic rendereth it, _Laudabo te obediens._ Praise is the best sacrifice, and obedience is the best praise. _ I... [ Continue Reading ]
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen [his desire] upon mine enemies. Ver. 7. _For he hath delivered me_] _i.e._ He surely will. This is the language of faith; this is the triumph of trust. _ And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies_] This was not an evil eye... [ Continue Reading ]