Psalms 54

To the chief Musician on Neginoth. Maschil. A Psalm of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth •’not David hide himself with us? This Psalm, the title tells us, was composed, when (not long after the. butchery of Doeg) the Ziphites; a false people, void of humanity, and that sought nothing but how to raise themselves, though by another’s ruin, endeavoured to ingratiate themselves with Saul, by discovering to him where David lurked in their neighbour- • hood: (1 Sam. xxiii. 14. 19.) and undertook to guide the king to the very place, and assist the forces he should send,to take him, (ver. 20, &c.) By which means David was brought into such a’ great strait, (ver. 26.) that if Saul had not been diverted by a sudden invasion which the Philistines made, he could not have escaped him. In this distress he made his address to God by prayer,, in the words of the three first verses of this Psalm. But / on a sudden (hearing, I suppose, how Saul himself was alarmed with the news of an invasion) he breaks out (ver. 4, 5.) into admiration of God’s goodness. And when the danger was quite over, added, I suppose, the two last verses; wherein he expresses with what joy he took a view, from the mountain where he lay hid, of Saul’s forces as they retreated. Which was a thing so memo- Table, that, when he came to the kingdom, he delivered the* whole to the master of music in the tabernacle, to be, sung, as the fourth Psalm, to the tune of Maschil. righteous cause against those that are too strong for mo, and wrongfully seek to destroy me.

Psalms 54:1

*3 AVE me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. O God, whose name imports that thou art the supreme judge, and therefore the defender and protector of all injured and oppressed persons, I humbly implore thy aid in this great distress; beseeching thee, who can easily do it, to deliver me from my enemies, and, by thy almighty power, vindicate my innocence; and maintain my

Psalms 54:2

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. Deny me not this request, O God, I most earnestly entroat thee; but grant the petitions of thy poor servant, who hath nothing but his prayers to oppose to all those forces that surround him.

Psalms 54:3

For strangers are risen up against me, and oj> pressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. And they are conducted by barbarous people, whom I have no way disobliged, for I never had any thing to do with them; and yet they have undertaken to deliver me into the hand of Saul, and those formidable enemies that are come to seek my life; (1 Sam. xxiii. 20.) having no regard to God at all; but only studying, right or wrong, to gain the favour of their prince.

Psalms 54:4

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. O the wonderful goodness of God! who in this deplorable condition sends me, in a strange and unexpected manner, most seasonable relief! Behold, how he takes my part, the Lord preserves my life: for, alas! the small forces I have with me, are unable to secure it; and can by no means support me against those numerous enemies that thought to destroy me.

Psalms 54:5

He shall rewardevil unto my enemies: cut them off in thy truth. And as for those spies that undertook to find out all my hiding places, (1 Sam. xxiii. 22, 23.) he shall. bring the mischief they intended to me.upon themselves: take a just vengeance on them, and execute thy threatenings, O Lord, against such treacherous persons.

Psalms 54:6

I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good. In the mean time I will not be sparing in expressing my thankfulness for what thou hast done already, but make thee my grateful acknowledgments both in word and deed. First, I will offer thee liberal sacrifices; and then I will accompany them with my praises of thy wisdom, power, and goodness, O Lord; which is the most pleasing sacrifice, I know, unto thee, and the most delightful employment.. Ver. 7- For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye liath seen his desire upon mine enemies.] Who, t>y his special providence, am marvellously delivered out of that distress wherein I was, and all the dangers which it threatened: for my eyes now dare look upon those enemies in their retreat, from whom I lately fled for fear. (1 Sam. xxiii. 26—28.)