Psalms 59

Psalms 59:8-17

them, v. 2. Treacherous, they lay in wait; and mighty, employed violence, as well as cunning, to compaft their delights; uniting against him, unable to refift, v. 3. eager in their pursuit, they ran to seize him, v. 4. At evening they compelled his busily, and, disappointed of their prey, like a hungry dog howled for vexation, and greedily went about the city, in hopes of discovering or overtaking him, v. 6. breathing out threatenings, and belching forth blasphemies, as if God could not, or would not hear them, v. 7. Note, They who lift up their tongues in flunder and blasphemy, may say, ‘I oft, God careth not for it, but will find to their confusion, that there is not a word in their tongue but is heard, recorded, and will be produced against them in the day of judgment.

2. He prays importunately for help, and with confidence that he shall be heard. Deliver me from mine money, O my God: my God, and therefore thou wilt never leave nor forsake me. Defend me, for I am weak; awoke for me, for the storm is high; unkelt thou love, I perish. Behold my memory, v. 3, 4. I have given them no provocation: their vicissitudes, v. 5. though Israelites, become worse than the brethren, and such wilful and obstinate transgresives, that judgment without mercy was their just defect. Note, (1.) A gracious confidence of an interest in God enables the soul in prayer to approach with boldness a throne of grace. (2.) None can destroy those whom God defends. (3.) Though no innocence will protect us from the malignity of the wicked, it will be a comfortable support to us under their superfluous. (4.) Before God we cannot plead we are faultless, yet when unjustly separated of arms, we may carry our righteous cause to him, and appeal for redress. (5.) Sinners will be visited of God; and if not before, in a judgment-day at least the just will be vindicated, and the guilty perish without mercy or hope.

3. But “thou, O LORD, shall laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee; for “God is my defence. 10. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me ‘see my desire upon mine’ for enemies. 11. Stay them not, left my people forger: Easter them by thy power; and bring them down, O LORD our shield. 12. For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride: and for curing and lying which they speak. 13. Confume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth. Selah. 14. And at evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. 15. Let them ‘wander up and down for meat, and I grudge if they be not finished. 16. But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for ‘God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

David having committed his ease to God in prayer, here waits in hope.

1. He is confident God will disappoint his enemies, will mock at their impotent devices, v. 8. and protect him from their malice. Because of his strength, either of his enemy, who was against him, or of God, who was for him, will I wait upon thee; and then when God’s mercy prevented him, and his defence covered him, he must be safe, and expect to see the vengeance due to his cruel foes, v. 9, 10. Note, (1.) God not only performs his people when they cry, but prevents them with his mercy from dangers they cannot foresee. (2.) When we can say in prayer, My merciful God, and my defence, we may well take courage, all is safe, if God is our friend.

2. He prays they may be punished; not utterly destroyed, but left as standing monuments of God’s care over his people, and displeasure against their persecutors. Stay them not utterly, least my people forget, as they would be apt to do, if no memorial remained of the visitation, but scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield, reduce them from their abated heights of power, and make them little and unresectable, that they may live standing evidences of the Divine visitation. Most justly had their malice, flunder, pride, curling, and lying provoked their punishment, v. 12. therefore he wished to see God glorified in their ruin, that they may not be, not consomned in honour and prosperity as before, but be reduced to the most abject want and wretchedness, that as they had, v. 7. thrilled for his blood, they might, as hungry dogs, pine for want of bread, v. 14, 15. and feel by their sufferings, that though they forgot or despised him, there was a ruler in Jacob, a universal king, whose righteous government never suffered iniquity with impunity, v. 13. If this psalm be applied to the Method, as it well may, the present than of the Jewish people will appear strongly marked in these verses, a people despicable, Vol. I.

rapacious, scattered on the face of the earth, and every where appearing as the monuments of Divine wrath, for their rejection of the sin of David. Note, (1.) They are in a state of terrible danger, against whom the prayers of God’s suffering people ascend. (2.) The tongue deified with flander, cursing, and lyes, will burn shortly with fire unquenchable. (3.) God will make the sinner know: he rules, by the suffixing he inflicts, and often cause his punishment to bear the marks of his provocation.

3. Songs of praise shall be the tribute of his mercies. God’s power and grace, so opportunely displayed in the day of his trouble, he will for ever exalt: earle will he rise for the delightful task, and loud shall his voice be heard, proclaiming the swelling gratitude of his heart, v. 16. The God of his strength, his mercy, and defence, shall be the subject of his never-ending praise. Note, (1.) A grateful heart delights in proclaiming his obligations. (2.) Every thanksgiving we offer, bespeak: new mercies. (3.) The saints of God who had present help, may comfortably conclude it shall be the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.