mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 54.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lv" n="lv" next="Ps.lvi" prev="Ps.liv" progress="40.29%" title="Chapter LIV">
<h2 id="Ps.lv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lv-p0.2">PSALM LIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lv-p1">The key of this psalm hangs at the door, for the
title tells us upon what occasion it was penned—when the
inhabitants of Ziph, men of Judah (types of Judas the traitor),
betrayed David to Saul, by informing him where he was and putting
him in a way how to seize him. This they did twice (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19 Bible:1Sam.26.1" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|0|0;|1Sam|26|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:19,26:1">1 Sam. xxiii. 19; xxvi. 1</scripRef>), and
it is upon record to their everlasting infamy. The psalm is sweet;
the former part of it, perhaps, was meditated when he was in his
distress and put into writing when the danger was over, with the
addition of the last two verses, which express his thankfulness for
the deliverance, which yet might be written in faith, even when he
was in the midst of his fright. Here, I. He complains to God of the
malice of his enemies, and prays for help against them, <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.55.1-Ps.55.3" parsed="|Ps|55|1|55|3" passage="Ps 55:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. He comforts himself
with an assurance of the divine favour and protection, and that, in
due time, his enemies should be confounded and be delivered,
<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.55.4-Ps.55.7" parsed="|Ps|55|4|55|7" passage="Ps 55:4-7">ver. 4-7</scripRef>. What time we are
in distress we may comfortably sing this psalm.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54" parsed="|Ps|54|0|0|0" passage="Ps 54" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.1-Ps.54.3" parsed="|Ps|54|1|54|3" passage="Ps 54:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.54.1-Ps.54.3">
<h4 id="Ps.lv-p1.6">Complaints.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lv-p1.7">
<p id="Ps.lv-p2">To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil. <i>A psalm</i> of
David, when<br/>
the Ziphim came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with
us?</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lv-p3">1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by
thy strength.   2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words
of my mouth.   3 For strangers are risen up against me, and
oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them.
Selah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p4">We may observe here, 1. The great distress
that David was now in, which the title gives an account of. The
Ziphim came of their own accord, and informed Saul where David was,
with a promise to deliver him into his hand. One would have thought
that when David had retired into the country he would not be
pursued, into a desert country he would not be discovered, and into
his own country he would not be betrayed; and yet it seems he was.
Never let a good man expect to be safe an easy till he comes to
heaven. How treacherous, how officious, were these Ziphim! It is
well that God is faithful, for men are not to be trusted, <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.7.5" parsed="|Mic|7|5|0|0" passage="Mic 7:5">Mic. vii. 5</scripRef>. 2. His prayer to God for
succour and deliverance, <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.1-Ps.54.2" parsed="|Ps|54|1|54|2" passage="Ps 54:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1,
2</scripRef>. He appeals to God's strength, by which he was able to
help him, and to his name, by which he was engaged to help him, and
begs he would save him from his enemies and judge him, that is,
plead his cause and judge for him. David has no other plea to
depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than
God's strength, and those he makes his refuge and confidence. This
would be the effectual answer of his prayers (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.2" parsed="|Ps|54|2|0|0" passage="Ps 54:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), which even in his flight, when
he had not opportunity for solemn address to God, he was ever and
anon lifting up to heaven: <i>Hear my prayer,</i> which comes from
my heart, and <i>give ear to the words of my mouth.</i> 3. His
plea, which is taken from the character of his enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.3" parsed="|Ps|54|3|0|0" passage="Ps 54:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. (1.) They are
<i>strangers;</i> such were the Ziphites, unworthy the name of
Israelites. "They have used me more basely and barbarously than the
Philistines themselves would have done." The worst treatment may be
expected from those who, having broken through the bonds of
relation and alliance, make themselves strangers. (2.) They are
<i>oppressors;</i> such was Saul, who, as a king, should have used
his power for the protection of all his good subjects, but abused
it for their destruction. Nothing is so grievous as oppression in
<i>the seat of judgment,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.16" parsed="|Eccl|3|16|0|0" passage="Ec 3:16">Eccl. iii.
16</scripRef>. Paul's greatest perils were by his <i>own
countrymen</i> and by <i>false brethren</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.11.26" parsed="|2Cor|11|26|0|0" passage="2Co 11:26">2 Cor. xi. 26</scripRef>), and so were David's. (3.)
They were very formidable and threatening; they not only hated him
and wished him ill, but they rose up against him in a body, joining
their power to do him a mischief. (4.) They were very spiteful and
malicious: <i>They seek after my soul;</i> they hunt for the
precious life; no less will satisfy them. We may, in faith, pray
that God would not by his providence give success, lest it should
look like giving countenance, to such cruel bloody men. (5.) They
were very profane and atheistical, and, for this reason, he thought
God was concerned in honour to appear against them: <i>They have
not set God before them,</i> that is, they have quite cast off the
thoughts of God; they do not consider that his eye is upon them,
that, in fighting against his people, they fight against him, nor
have they any dread of the certain fatal consequences of such an
unequal engagement. Note, From those who do not set God before them
no good is to be expected; nay, what wickedness will not such men
be guilty of? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or
covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God?
<i>Selah—Mark this.</i> Let us all be sure to set God before us at
all times; for, if we do not we are in danger of becoming
desperate.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lv-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.4-Ps.54.7" parsed="|Ps|54|4|54|7" passage="Ps 54:4-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.54.4-Ps.54.7">
<h4 id="Ps.lv-p4.8">Consolations.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lv-p5">4 Behold, God <i>is</i> mine helper: the Lord
<i>is</i> with them that uphold my soul.   5 He shall reward
evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.   6 I will
freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lv-p5.1">Lord</span>; for <i>it is</i> good.   7 For he
hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen <i>his
desire</i> upon mine enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p6">We have here the lively actings of David's
faith in his prayer, by which he was assured that the issue would
be comfortable, though the attempt upon him was formidable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p7">I. He was sure that he had God on his side,
that God took his part (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.4" parsed="|Ps|54|4|0|0" passage="Ps 54:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>); he speaks it with an air of triumph and exultation,
<i>Behold, God is my helper.</i> If we be for him, he is for us;
and, if he be for us, we shall have such help in him that we need
not fear any power engaged against us. Though men and devils aim to
be our destroyers, they shall not prevail while God is our helper:
<i>The Lord is with those that uphold my soul.</i> Compare
<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.7" parsed="|Ps|118|7|0|0" passage="Ps 118:7">Ps. cxviii. 7</scripRef>, "<i>The Lord
taketh my part with those that help me.</i> There are some that
uphold me, and God is one of them; he is the principal one; none of
them could help me if he did not help them." Every creature is that
to us (and no more) that God makes it to be. He means, "The Lord is
he that upholds my soul, and keeps me from tiring in my work and
sinking under my burdens." He that by his providence upholds all
things by his grace upholds the souls of his people. God, who will
in due time save his people, does, in the mean time, sustain them
and bear them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail
before him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p8">II. God taking part with him, he doubted
not but his enemies should both flee and fall before him (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.5" parsed="|Ps|54|5|0|0" passage="Ps 54:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): "<i>He shall reward evil
unto my enemies that observe me,</i> seeking an opportunity to do
me a mischief. The evil they designed against me the righteous God
will return upon their own heads." David would not render evil to
them, but he knew God would: <i>I as a deaf man heard not, for thou
wilt hear.</i> The enemies we forgive, if they repent not, God will
judge; and for this reason we must not avenge ourselves, because
God has said, <i>Vengeance is mine.</i> But he prays, <i>Cut them
off in thy truth.</i> This is not a prayer of malice, but a prayer
of faith; for it has an eye to the word of God, and only desires
the performance of that. There is truth in God's threatenings as
well as in his promises, and sinners that repent not will find it
so to their cost.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p9">III. He promises to give thanks to God for
all the experiences he had had of his goodness to him (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.6" parsed="|Ps|54|6|0|0" passage="Ps 54:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>I will sacrifice unto
thee.</i> Though sacrifices were expensive, yet, when God required
that his worshippers should in that way praise him, David would not
only offer them, but offer them freely and without grudging. All
our spiritual sacrifices must, in this sense, be
free-will-offerings; for God loves a cheerful giver. Yet he will
not only bring his sacrifice, which was but the shadow, the
ceremony; he will mind the substance: <i>I will praise thy
name.</i> A thankful heart, and the calves of our lips giving
thanks to his name, are the sacrifices God will accept: "<i>I will
praise thy name, for it is good.</i> Thy name is not only great but
good, and therefore to be praised. To praise thy name is not only
what we are bound to, but it is good, it is pleasant, it is
profitable; it is good for us (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.92.1" parsed="|Ps|92|1|0|0" passage="Ps 92:1">Ps.
xcii. 1</scripRef>); therefore <i>I will praise thy name.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lv-p10">IV. He speaks of his deliverance as a thing
done (<scripRef id="Ps.lv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.7" parsed="|Ps|54|7|0|0" passage="Ps 54:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): I will
praise thy name, and say, "<i>He has delivered me;</i> this shall
be my song then." That which he rejoices in is a complete
deliverance—<i>He has delivered me from all trouble;</i> and a
deliverance to his heart's content—<i>My eye has seen its desire
upon my enemies,</i> not seen them cut off and ruined, but forced
to retreat, tidings being brought to Saul that the Philistines were
upon him, <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.27-1Sam.23.28" parsed="|1Sam|23|27|23|28" passage="1Sa 23:27,28">1 Sam. xxiii. 27,
28</scripRef>. All David desired was to be himself safe; when he
saw Saul draw off his forces he saw his desire. <i>He has delivered
me from all trouble.</i> Either, 1. With this thought David
comforted himself when he was in distress: "<i>He has delivered me
from all trouble</i> hitherto, and many a time I have gained my
point, and seen my desire on my enemies; therefore he will deliver
me out of this trouble." We should thus, in our greatest straits,
encourage ourselves with our past experiences. Or, 2. With this
thought he magnified his present deliverance when the fright was
over, that it was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of
the completing of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as
yet many troubles before him, because, having God's promise for it,
he was as sure of it as if it had been done already. "He that has
begun to deliver me from all troubles, and will at length give me
to see my desire upon my enemies." This may perhaps point at
Christ, of whom David was a type; God would deliver him out of all
the troubles of his state of humiliation, and he was perfectly sure
of it; and all things are said to be put under his feet; for,
though we see not yet all things put under him, yet we are sure he
shall reign till all his enemies be made his footstool, and he
shall see his desire upon them. However, it is an encouragement to
all believers to make that use of their particular deliverances
which St. Paul does (like David here), <scripRef id="Ps.lv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.4.17-2Tim.4.18" parsed="|2Tim|4|17|4|18" passage="2Ti 4:17,18">2 Tim. iv. 17, 18</scripRef>, <i>He that delivered me
from the mouth of the lion shall deliver me from every evil work,
and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom.</i></p>
</div></div2>