Psalms 57

to hinder the accomplishment of what the Lord designs for me. Vcr. 12. Thy voids are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. Nor will I ever be unmindful of the pro-. mises I have made to thee, O God; to whom, when I was in distress, I vowed the most grateful acknowledgments, if thou wouldest deliver me: though I am not able to requite thy kindness, yet I will not cease to magnify and extol it with my highest praises. To the chief Musician. Al-taschith. Michtam of David, zvhen he fled from Said in the Cave. This Psalm, the title informs us, was penned upon the like occasion with the former. For after several other wanderings, (besides those he speaks of in the foregoing Psalm, ver. 8.) or removes from place to place, mentioned 1 Sam. xxiii. you find David in the strong hold of En-gedi, (ver. 29.) where there was a cave among the rocks, (xxiv. 2,3.) in which David and his men lurked and hid themselves for fear of Saul. Who, in his pursuit of them, came to ease himself in this very place where Ihey skulked; and thereby presented David with as fair 1 an opportunity, as could be desired, to kill him. Which he might have done without any noise, if his piety and religious resolution to do nothing that was sinful, no, not • -to gain a kingdom, but (trusting to the faithful promise he speaks of, Psal. lvi. 4. 10.) to wait wholly upon God, to prefer him when and as he pleased to the throne, had * not hindered him. For some of his men, observing the advantage, would fain have despatched him, if David had not forbidden the person who was ready to strike the blow, saying, Al-taschith, thou shalt not destroy him; or, destroy him not. So some expound that word, which we find in the title of the Psalm; though others (observing the same word to be in the title of the two following Psalms, and of the seventy-fifth, which belongeth not to this matter) judge it more probable that Al-taschith was the beginning of some song, according to which this Psalm was to be sung. To which, notwithstanding, in my opinion, it may be replied, that those three Psalms which follow after this had that title prefixed, only to shew that they were to be sung like this. ■ In which David commemorates God’s great mercy in mollifying the heart of Saul, at that time, by the kindness and piety which ho expressed towards him: remembering, in the first place, what kind of thoughts he had when he was in the cave, and saw himself in manifest danger of being taken by Saul’s forces: and then blessing God vol, m. for the sudden change which was made in his condition, by Saul’s falling into his hand, to do what he pleased, with him, by the demonstration he gave him, that he had no traitorous thoughts in his heart; but bare still a due reverence to him, notwithstanding the ill usage he received from him. It is called Michtam, for the same reason that the former was, because of the singular favour which God shewed him in this deliverance; more precious to him than any jewel, and that deserved an everlasting remembrance, (See Psal.‘xvi.)

Psalms 57:1

JtSE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my sotd trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. O God, the ruler and governor of all the world, I most earnestly beseech thee to be merciful and gracious to me; O take some pity upon me, who rely solely on thy mercy, having no confidence in these fortresses, or secret places, where I hide myself; but trusting merely to thy almighty protection, on which I will still depend, as I have done hitherto, for defence and preservation, till this danger be past, which is now impendent over me, and threatens to destroy me.

Psalms 57:2

I will enj unto God most High; unto God that performeth all things for me. There is none superior, or equal, to him, unto whom I will continually commend myself; unto that mighty God, who will finish, I hope, what he hath begun to do for me.

Psalms 57:3

He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swalloiv me up. Selaji. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. There are greater armies in heaven, than those that here surround me; which, rather than I shall perish, he will send for my deliverance; he will expose him to shame and reproach, that gapes like a ravenous beast to devour me: I doubt not of it; for, besides his infinite mercy, I have his promise for my security; in the performance of which, he will visibly declare his fidelity.

Psalms 57:4

My soul is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongues a sharp sword. And now there is a fit opportunity, when my life is in extreme danger; for here I lie close, and dare not stir, being encompassed with enemies picked out on purpose to destroy me, (1 Sam. xxiv. 2.) who are as fierce and cruel as lions, and enraged against me so furiously, that they are continually incensing Saul to pursue me; tearing my good name (as they hope to do ine) in pieces, and giving the most deadly wound to my reputation, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9.)

Psalms 57:5

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. Confute them, O God, the most righteous judge of men’s actions and intentions; and by delivering me from this imminent danger, raise to thyself the highest praises: and spread the fame of thy glorious power, gopdness, wisdom, and truth, throughout all the earth.

Psalms 57:6

TJiey have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed doivn: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. And how ready art thou to hear the prayers of thy faithful servant! For, after all their projects and devices to entrap me, whjen

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may zvalk before God in the light of the living?. For thou hast so remarkably rescued me from death (to thy goodness I ascribe it, not to my policy) when I was in the power of the Philistines, that I ought not to doubt of thy continued preservation of me, from the snares my enemies lay to entrap me, or from the open violence they use to overthrow me: thou wilt support me still to praise thee, and to perform further service to thee here in this world, as I intend to do most sincerely.