Psalms 59:1 «To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. » Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. _Al-taschith_] Destroy not, preserve me from this ambush. See Psalms 57:1, title. _ When... [ Continue Reading ]
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. Ver. 2. _Deliver me from the workers of iniquity_] Saul's assassins and bloodhounds, hired to despatch me.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _The mighty are gathered aqainst me_] The seven sons of Saul, say the Rabbis, who were afterwards hanged, 2 Samuel 21:1,9, with a company of cut-throats attending... [ Continue Reading ]
They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: awake to help me, and behold. Ver. 4. _They run and prepare themselves_] At Saul's command, never inquiring into the cause, right or wrong; but taking his will for warrant good enough. _ Awake to help me_] Heb. to meet me, _sc._ in mercy, _Ut occ... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Awake to visit all the heathen_] These pagan Israelites, who might have some heathens also among them, Saul's slaughtermen, men fleshed in blood. _ B... [ Continue Reading ]
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Ver. 6. _They return at evening_] _sc._ To mine house at Gibeah of Saul, hoping to find me then at home again; as if, like the hunted hare, I must needs return to my old form. _ They make a noise like a dog_] When c... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear? Ver. 7. _Behold, they belch out with their mouth_] Calling me traitor wherever they come, and seeking to double murder him, viz. by detraction, and by deadly practice. As a fountain casteth out wate... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Ver. 8. _But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them_] _q.d._ Thou not only hearest, but jeerest, at their madness, and wilt bring all their purposes to nought with little ado; and, as it were, playing and sporting. See P... [ Continue Reading ]
[Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defence. Ver. 9. _Because of his strength will I wait on thee_] The stronger Saul is the more will I adhere to thee. Or thus, His strength will I reserve to thee; that is, I will turn him over to thee, who act far stronger, to take an... [ Continue Reading ]
The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies. Ver. 10. _The God of my mercy shall prevent me_] Or, God will prevent me with his mercy, _sc._ before I ask or think; howsoever, in the opportunity of time he will not fail me. _ God shall let me see, &c._] S... [ Continue Reading ]
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. Ver. 11. _Slay them not, lest my people forget_] _Marcet sine adversario virtus,_ the natural heat decayeth if it have not wherewith to wrestle. Carthage was not to be destroyed, that Rome might... [ Continue Reading ]
[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. Ver. 12. _For the sin of their mouth, &c._] The Arabians have this proverb, Take heed lest thy tongue cut thy throat. Many a man's mouth is a purgatory to... [ Continue Reading ]
Consume [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. Ver. 13. _Consume them in wrath, &c._] But by degrees, as Psalms 59:11, slowly, but surely and severely; that they may feel themselves wasted. There may b... [ Continue Reading ]
And at evening let them return; [and] let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Ver. 14. _And at evening let them return, &c._] Let these backsliders in heart be filled with their own ways; run about for hunger, as before they did for malice, Psalms 59:6. Here the prophet minde... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied. Ver. 15. _Let them wander up and down for meat_] _Sicut mendici de ostio ad ostium faciunt,_ as beggars do from door to door, saith Kimchi. _ And grudge if they be not satisfied_] Murmur against God and men, howling against... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _In the morning_] That time wherein they thought to have surprised me, 1 Samuel 19:11, but thou hast secured me. See Isaiah 65:14 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God [is] my defence, [and] the God of my mercy. Ver. 17. _O my strength_] All David's strength was derivative; in himself he was weak as water.... [ Continue Reading ]