Psalms 56

BE merciful unto me, O God, for man (i. e.) Men, weak and miserable Men, as the Word signifies, whom thou canst Crush in an instant; Saul and his Courtiers, who have driven me hither; and now Achish and the Philistins, who have oft sought my Ruin, which now they have opportunity to Effect. would swallow me up Like wild and Ravenous Beasts, rather then Men. Heb. has swallowed me up. The thing is begun, and in a manner done, if thou dost not miraculously prevent it.: he fighting daily oppresseth me.

Mine enemies Heb. my Observers, that narrowly look to all my Paths, and Watch for my Haltings, and for an Opportunity to destroy me. would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me They trust to their great Numbers; wherein they know themselves to be much Superior to me., O thou most High Who from thine high place beholdest all their Plots, and canst most easily disturb and blast them..

What time I am afraid I will trust in thee When I have the geatest Cause of Fear, I will relye upon thy Providence, and Promise for my Deliverance..

In God I will praise his word The Sense is, Either, 1. I will praise or boast in the Lords word, or the Lord for his Word. Or, 2. With or by the Lord (i. e. By his Favour or Help) I will praise his Word. Or rather, 3. This, as I humbly conceive: There are many things to be praised and celebrated in God, his Power, and Wisdom, &c. but amongst all and above all, I shall at this time praise him for his Word, which he has magnified above all his N... ne, as is said, Psal. 138. 2. even for his Promises of Protection and Deliverance, made to his People in all their Exegencies, and particularly and especially, for that Promise of the Kingdom made to me; for which I will now Praise him, because I am as sure of its Accomplishment, as if I had it already in mine Hand., in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh Infirm and mortal Men, altogether unable to oppose thy infinite Majesty, called Flesh by way of Contempt, as Psal. 78. 39. Isa. 31. 3. Ier. 17. 5. can do unto me.

Every day they wrest my words They misconstrue and pervert my most innocent Expressions, and turn them into Matter of Calumny, wherewith they may incense Saul against me. Or, They perplex my Affairs.: all their thoughts are against me for evil It is their whole study to do me Mischief..

They gather themselves together After they have severally imployed their Thoughts against me, they meet together to Compare their Thoughts, and to put them in Execution., they hide themselves They lurk secretly; Either, that they may Prie into all my most private Actions; Or, that they may surprize me with Mischief unawares Compare Psal. 10. 8. Prov. 1. 11., they mark my steps (i. e.) All my goings and doings, that they may find some occasion to Reproach, or Entangle and so destroy me. when they wait for my soul Or, Life, To wit, to take it away from me..

Shall they escape by iniquity Shall they secure themselves by such injurious and m... litious Practises, whereby they do not only vex me, but provoke and Despise thee? Shall they have Success instead of the Punishments which thou hast threatned, and they have deserved? God forbid. But the Words may be Read without an Interrogation, By their iniquity they hope to Escape; Or, they do Escape, at present: But Lord do not suffer them thus to escape.? in thine anger cast down This is opposed to their present Exaltation and Triumphs over poor David, and to their Hopes and Confidence of Safety and Success. thy people (i. e.) These People, of whom I am speaking, To wit, my Malitious and wicked Enemies, as well those Followers of Saul, as these Philistins amongst whom I now am., O God.

Thou tellest my wandrings Here I have been hunted from place to place, and am now driven hither., put thou my tears into thy bottle Regard and Remember, and Pity them. But why do I pray to God to do that which I am well assured, he is of himself inclined to do, and has already done?: are they not thy book y?

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back When I have no other Arms or Force, which is my present Case, my Prayers shall be sufficient to overthrow mine Enemies.: this I know, for God is for me.

In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word What I have already engaged to do, v. 4. that I do again and again Promise to do, and I cannot sufficiently praise thy Goodness in making Promises, and thy Faithfulness in keeping them..

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Thy vows are upon me As I have prayed to thee, and am assured that thou wilst deliver me, so in Confidence thereof I have made Vows to express my Gratitude to thee, and I acknowledge my self obliged, and do resolve to perform them., O God: I will render praises unto thee.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death Which my Enemies designed, and my extream Dangers threatned.: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling I am Confident that thou wilt deliver, because of thy Promises, and my former Experience., that I may walk before God (i. e.) That I may please and serve, and Glorifie thee, as this Phrase implies, Gen. 5. 24. Comp. with Heb. 11. 5. as also, Gen. 6. 9. and 17. 1, 1 Sam. 2. 30. which is the great End for which I desire Life. in the light of the living Either, 1. In Heaven. Or rather, 2. In this Life, which is here opposed to the Death last mentioned, as it is, Iob 33. 30. which is called Light, Iob 3. 20. as Death is called Darkness, Iob 10. 21, 22. and o... t elsewhere, and which is expressed, by beholding the Light, and the Sun, E... eles. 11. 7.?