Psalms 59

:i3i O Lord, who art superior to all, canst easily disarm them, and leave them a desire, without any power, to do me mischief. To the chief Musician. Al-taschith. Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the House to kill him. The title sufficiently informs us of the occasion of this Psalm, wherein David expresses what his thoughts and affections were, when Saul sent officers to watch his house all night; and to slay him when he came out of his doors in the morning: as you may read 1 Sam. xix. 11 — 18. He represents his danger; beseeches God’s protection; describes tho wickedness of his enemies, and their diligence to destroy him; commends himself to God; expresses his confidence in him; and at last 1 gratefully acknowledges God’s goodness, who, by" the; kindness of his wife, preserved him from this danger. Which was so great, and the deliverance from it so remarkable, that ho would have it commemorated in this Psalm: which is* therefore called Michtam; (see Psal. xvi.) and was sent to the master of music in the tabernacle, to be sung as the two former, which have the name Al-taschith. (See PsaL lvii.) paganish people to the scorn and derision of those who see how they are defeated, (1 Sam. xix. 15.) Ver. D. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee:for God is my defence.] For what is the strength of Saul to thee f on whom I will wait with the same diligence, that they watch for mc: knowing that I am safer under God’s protection, than if my house were an impregnable tower.

Psalms 59:1

JLJeLIVER me from mine enemies^ my God; defend me from them that rise up against me. O’God, who hast hitherto graciously preserved me, (see 1 Sam. xix. 10.) take me now into thy protection, and deliver mc from this great danger: thou seest the number and the power of my enemies, who are risen up to destroy me; be thou my defence, I beseech thee; and bring me into some place of safety^ where they may not be able to reach me.

Psalms 59:2

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. Rescue me from the malice of men, whose business and constant employment it is to do wickedly: save me from the cruelty of those, whom nothing but my blood will satisfy.

Psalms 59:3

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.~. For, lo, a strong guard hath beset my house, and lies in wait to apprehend me, and take away my life: though I have committed no offence against them, either great or less, as thou, O Lord, from whom nothing can be. hid, very well knowest.

Psalms 59:4

They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Unprovoked by me (I dare again repeat it, so great is my innocence) they very busily run to and fro, and with all diligence dispose (heir wntch in every place to hinder my escape: O that thou wouldest therefore seasonably interpose for my succour, and consider the danger of my condition!

Psalms 59:5

Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. What is all their power and force to thine? who art the sovereign Lord of the world, and commandest all the hosts in heaven and earth; and hast made also a gracious covenant with thy people, to protect and defend them: appear now for my relief, and punish all those wicked men who call themselves thy people, but are as barbarous and cruel,- as false and perfidious, as the heathen: do not spare them, therefore, nor shew any favour to such as violate all the laws of justice and charity, and keep no faith with their neighbours. Ver.- 6. They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. J After I had escaped the fury of Saul in the day, he renews his attempts in the evening; and sends armed men to apprehend me: (1 Sam. xix. 10, 11.) some of which lie about my house, ready, like a growling dog, to seize upon me; and others (should they miss mc there) go round about the city to waylay me in every corner. Ver. 7: Behold, they belch out with their mouth:• swords are in their lips; for who, say they, doth hear?] Behold, how full their hearts are of malice! which bursts out at their mouth: they openly threaten to kill mc: (X Sam. xix. 15.) for who, say they, shall call them to any account for it, when they have despatched me?

Psalms 59:7

Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let tliem be as cut in pieces. Or if they have any strength remaining, let their courage fail them when they would attempt any thing against me; let them* be dissipated like waters which slide away: when Saul bends his mind to do me any harm, let him miss his aim; like him that shoots a broken arrow out of his bow.

Psalms 59:8

As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away; like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. Or be like a snail, that appears with a threatening look when it puts forth its horns; but the farther it goes, the more it wastes and spends itself: whatsoever designs he.and" his followers may have to destroy -me, let them all miscarry and prove like an abortive child, which dies in the womb, and never sees the light of this world. But thou, O Lord, shall laugh at them; thoushalt have all the heathen in derision,] Thou, O Lord, art not in their thoughts, who wilt so disappoint them in their designs, as to make them very ridiculous: thou wilt expose all theso

Psalms 59:9

Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his p)rath. O ye unrighteous judges; who, instead of preserving the people, devour and eat them up: God shall hurry you away suddenly, as in a furious tempest; which, before your flesh-pots can feel the thorns, carries them all away, both the green thorns and the dry.

Psalms 59:10

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. Which just judgment of God, when innocent people, whom; yon have oppressed, shall behold, it will fill them with joy; yea, they shall triumph over these wicked men, like a great conqueror; who, returning with an absolute and complete victory from the slaughter of his enemies, dips Tiis feet in their blood, as he passes over their carcasses. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.] He who hath given mc so many demonstrations of his love, will not now desert me; but make way for my timely escape, notwithstanding all their diligence to apprehend mc: let them observe me as closely as they can, God will let me behold their disappointment.

Psalms 59:11

So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. And the most vulgar people, who observe little, seeing so remarkable a vengeance, shall confess and say, Surely it is best to be just and pious: surely there is a supreme Judge, whatsoever profane men imagine, who takes notice of all that is done upon earth, and punishes or rewards men according to their desires. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bHng them down, O Lord oar shield.] Not that I desire they should all be slain at one stroke, which, though a terrible vengeance, might soon slip out of my countrymen’s mind; whoscprofit I desire, more than my own private revenge: and therefore wish rather thou wouldest employ thy power, O Lord our protector, first to depose them from their honour and high place; and having laid them low, and made them contemptible, then to disperse them here and there, and make them wander up and dpwn as vagabonds; that they may remain every whero public spectacles of thy just displeasure.

Psalms 59:12

For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for cursing and lying which they speak. The falsehoods and calumnies which their mouths continually utter deserve this vengeance; which shall certainly come upon them; for, though they may thrive by this means for the present, yet at last these very artifices shall prove their ruin: especially since they are so arrogant and audacious, as to dare to forswear themselves, and to confirm their forgeries with oaths and horrid execrations.

Psalms 59:13

Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob nnto the ends of the earth. Selah. - Let such vile wretches as these, who incense thy just displeasure against them after this manner, be utterly consumed: let them waste away by degrees in their dispersions, till there be none of them found: that they may be convinced there is a supreme Being, and most righteous Judge, who governs all things, and controls even kings themselves, not only among us, but throughout the world.

Psalms 59:14

And at evening let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them therefore watch me now, as narrowly as they please; (ver. 7.) lying near my house, like a dog, ready to seize upon mc; or hunting about the city every where to apprehend me.

Psalms 59:16

Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied. They shall be punished in their kind, and go up and down the city and country hereafter, upon another design: wandering, like a hungry dog, from door to door, to get something to eat; and forced to pass whole nights in complaints for want of satisfaction. 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.] AVhilst I (whom they thought to have devoured) am praising thy power, as I intend to do continually; I will get up early, to give theo the highest praises for thy lncrjjy (as 1 did that morning when I had escaped the hands of those that watched for mo), because thou didst so mightily defend inland tako me into thy gracious protection; when I was in such a strait, that without thy miraculous mercy I must have perished.

Psalms 59:17

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. It is but just that I should praise thee (who didst inspire me with strength and courage) with the same diligence that I prayed to thee, against the power of Saul, (ver. 9.) For, whosoever was the instrument, it was God that brought me to a place of safety; that God, who hath been most merciful to me, and tied me unto him by innumerable benefits.