INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 57 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, ALTASCHITH, MICHTAM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM SAUL IN THE CAVE. Some think the words "Altaschith" are the beginning of a song, to the tune of which this was set, as Aben Ezra; others, that they are taken from Deuteronomy 9:26; they signifying "destr... [ Continue Reading ]
BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME, O GOD,.... Or "be gracious to me" k; which words are repeated by him. "Be merciful", or "gracious, unto me"; to show the greatness of his distress, the eagerness, vehemency, and importunity he used in prayer; his case requiring a speedy answer, and immediate relief; and that he... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL CRY UNTO GOD MOST HIGH,.... To remember him in his low estate, and who is higher than the highest, than Saul and his mighty men with him. This epithet David no doubt made use of, to encourage his faith in the Lord, who is above all, and can do all things; as follows; UNTO GOD THAT PERFORMETH... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SEND FROM HEAVEN, AND SAVE ME,.... His angel, as the Targum adds; or his angels, as Kimchi; who are ministering spirits, sent forth by him, to encamp about his people, and guard them, as they did Jacob when in fear of Esau, Genesis 32:1; or to deliver them out of trouble, as Peter when in p... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL [IS] AMONG LIONS,.... Not literally understood; though such there might be in the wildernesses where he sometimes was; but figuratively, men comparable to lions, for their stoutness, courage, strength, fierceness, and cruelty; meaning not his own men, as some think, who were fierce, and of k... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS,.... That is, show thyself to be God, that sittest in the heavens, and art higher than they, by saving me, and disappointing mine enemies; that I, and those that are with me, may magnify the Lord and exalt his name together. The Targum is, "be thou exalted... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE PREPARED A NET FOR MY STEPS,.... They laid snares for him, as the fowler does for the bird, in order to take him. It denotes the insidious ways used by Saul and his men to get David into their hands; so the Pharisees consulted together how they might entangle Christ in his talk, Matthew 22... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART IS FIXED, O GOD,.... Firm and sure, trusting in the Lord, believing that he should be saved by him out of his troubles; see Psalms 101:1. So, in a spiritual sense, a heart fixed and established, or that is firm and sure, is one that is assured of its salvation by Christ, rooted and grounde... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE UP, MY GLORY,.... Meaning his soul, whom Jacob calls his honour, Genesis 49:6; it being the most honourable, glorious, and excellent part of man; is the breath of God, of his immediate production; is a spirit incorporeal and immortal; is possessed of glorious powers and faculties; had the imag... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PRAISE THEE, O LORD, AMONG THE PEOPLE,.... Either among the people of Israel, as Aben Ezra, when each of the tribes meet together; and so it denotes the public manner in which he would praise God for his salvation: or among the Gentiles, as the following clause shows; I WILL SING UNTO THEE A... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY MERCY [IS] GREAT UNTO THE HEAVENS,.... Which denotes the exceeding greatness and largeness of it; as it is in the heart of God, who is plenteous in mercy; as it is expressed in the covenant of grace, where are stores of it; as it is shown forth in the choice of persons to eternal life; in th... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS,.... As Christ now is at the Father's right hand, and who is God over all, blessed for ever; [LET] THY GLORY [BE] ABOVE ALL THE EARTH; as it is above all the men on earth and angels in heaven. This is repeated from Psalms 57:5; Psalms 57:5, and shows the v... [ Continue Reading ]