Psalms 57

BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me The Repetition implies both the greatness of his Danger, and the fervency of his Spirit in this Request, and withal that his whole Trust and Hope was in God's mercy., for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings (i. e.) Of the Protection; to which alone I trust, and not to the shadow of this dark Cave, in which I now hide my self. will I make my refuge, until these Calamities Or the time of these Cala... ities, which, I know, will shortly have an End. be over past.

I will cry unto God most high: unto God that performeth all things for me Heb. that performeth (or perfecteth or finisheth, as this Word is rendred, Psal. 138. 8. (i. e.) Will certainly perform or finish) for or towards, or Concerning me. He does not express what he performeth, or perfecteth, or fulfilleth, but leaveth it to be understood, as being easie to be understood; He performeth, or perfecteth, to wit, all that he has promised, engageth himself to perform, what he has begun to do, or what is yet to be performed; it being usual in the Hebrew Language to understand a Verbal Noun after the Verb. He implies that God i... not like Men, who make large Promises, but either through Inability or Carelessness, or Unfaithfulness do not perform them, but will certainly be as good as his Word..

He shall send Either, 1. His Angels, as Dan. 3. 28. Or, 2. His help, Or, 3. His hand; which is understood after this Verb, 2 Sam. 6. 6. by Comp. 1 Chron. 13. 9. where it is expressed, Or rather, 4. His Mercy and his Truth, as it here follows where also this Verb is repeated, before those Words. from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up (i. e.) From that shameful Destruction which they Design to bring upon me. Or rather, as it is rendred, in the Margent of our Bible, and by many others, and as it is in the Hebrew; He has reproached, (i. e. He will certainly put to Shame or Reproach) him that would swallow me up, by disappointing his Expectation, and delivering me from his Rage. i. e.) Shall discover them by their proper Fruits, to wit, by affording his Gracious help, in pursuance of his Promises.; Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

My soul is among lions I Live in the midst of a Generation of fierce and Bloody men; which both in Scripture and other Authors, are oft called Lyons.... I have my abode and Conversation., I lye leven among Which Particle is easily borrowed out of the foregoing Clause. them that are set on fire n, even the sons of men Whereby he explains what he meant by Lyons, and tells us they were Beasts in the shape of Men., whose teeth Which may be considered; Either, 1. As Instruments of Destruction, as they are in Lyons. Or rather, 2. As Instruments of Speech, as they are in Men; for it here follows by way of Explication, as the manner is, and their Tongue. And both seem to signifie their wicked and pernicious Calumnies, of which he every where Complains, and particularly in the History, to which this Psalm seems to Relate, 1 Sam. 24. 10. and by which they designed to promote his Destruction. are spears and arrows (i. e.) They grievously wound my Name, and are devised to do me Mischief., and their tongue a sharp sword. m To wit, of or from Hell, as is fully expressed, Iam. 3. 6. who are mere Fire-brands and Incendiaries, that are continually breathing out their Wrath and Threatnings, and incensing Saul against me.

Be thou exalted Glorifie thy Power, and Goodness, and Justice, and Faithfulness by my Deliverance, all which are exposed to Censure and Reproach, whilst thou sufferest ungodly Wretches to oppress and Triumph over the Innocent and Righteous, that put their trust in thee., O God above the heavens (i. e.) Higher than the Heavens, or to the highest degree possible: Or above all the false Gods, which are supposed to reside in Heaven.: let thy glory be above all the earth (i. e.) Above all Men upon Earth, some whereof do now Audaciously lift up themselves against thee, and above thee. Or, though (as the Hebrew Particle is commonly rendred, and it is no New thing, to have the same Word or Particle diversly taken in the same Verse, as has been formerly showed) the whole Earth; not only amongst thine own People, but so that even the Heathens, shall be forced to acknowledge and admire thy Glorious deeds:.

They have prepared a net for my steps, my soul is bowed down Or, was bowed down: I was even ready to fall and Perish. O..., mine Heart was oppressed and almost overwhelmed.: they have digged a pit before me Heb. Before my Face: not in my sight, for that would have been in in Vain, Prov. 1. 17. but in my Way, where they thought I would go., into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves This was fulfilled in Saul, who by pursuing fell into his Hands, 1 Sam. 24. 3., Selah.

My heart is sixed Or, established, in a full assurance of thy merciful Help. It was ready to sink with Fear, or bowed down, v. 6. but now I have through thy Grace, Conquered my Fears, and am fixed in a stedfast Belief of thy Promises. Or, is prepared, to wit, to sing and give Praise, as it follows., O God, my heart is sixed: I will sing and give praise.

Awake up my glory Either, 1. My Soul; Or rather, 2. My Tongue, the Instrument of Singing, which he was now about to do, v. 7. 9., awake psaltery and harp: I my self will awake early I will Rouse up and imploy all the Powers of my Soul and Body, to set forth Gods Praises..

I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people In the great Congregations, amongst the Israelites of all Tribes, who are called by this Name, Deut. 33. 19. and amongst Heathens, as I shall have occasion, as he often had.: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens (i. e.) Is most Evident, and greatly Exalted., and they truth unto clouds.

Be thou exalted, O God above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth e.