David's prayer] PSALM XVII. A Prayer of David. PSALMS. [for deliverance. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings; 9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. 10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD; from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. 15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (R) EXPOSITION. speaker, David is excluded from this as well as from the latter part of the psalm. One thing seems here intimated, which we have not before remarked, that the priests under the law, when they offered the sacrifice of an individual, named the offerer before the Lord; a circumstance that beautifully points to the intercession of the Saviour. (See Rev. viii. 3, 4.) those paths which lead to everlasting bliss, "Those paths that to his presence bear, PSALM XVII. (R) A Prayer of David against his enemies.-From the description of his enemies The latter part of the psalm being ex- here given, there can be little doubt but pressly applied to the resurrection of Christ Saul and his followers were intended; and by the apostles themselves, as above re- their charge against David was no less marked, can apply to others only as in- than treason-that he aspired to the crown terested in and virtually raised with him and sought the life of Saul; which was "to newness of life," and introduced into not only false, but exactly the reverse of NOTES. PSALM XVII. Ver.1. Hear the right, O Lord- Ver.9. My deadly enemies-Heb. "My enemies against the soul," i. e. my soul's enemies, or the enemies of my life. Ver. 10. Enclosed in their own fat-Or, “They have closed up their mouth with fat." Dr. Hammond. Nee Job XV. 27. Ver.1. Bowing dosen to the ground-Or, “ Bend 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and [to God my cry came before him, even into his was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness that was be fore him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. his 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and EXPOSITION-Psalm XVII. Continued. the truth. (1 Sam. xxiv.) The psalmist, ing for him "in secret places." From therefore, confident in the justice of his cause, appeals to the Almighty for his decision. His "heart condemus him not, and he has confidence towards God," who is the witness as well as judge of his integrity. He had been tried, and lived in the expectation of farther trials: but he attributes his preservation to the word of God. "By the word of thy lips I have kept (me) from the paths of the destroyer The description here given of David's enemies, (as already hinted) naturally leads us to look to Saul and his party as laying snares for him, as sportsmen were accustomed to do for game in the forests, or for wild beasts in the woods. Saul himself resembled "a lion greedy of his prey," who had been lurking and watch these men, these "mortals of this trausitory world," (as Ainsworth and Horne render it, he prays to be delivered; and in confidence that he shall be so, he con cludes with declaring, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy like ness;" an expression that may be referred either to the immortality of the soul, or the resurrection of the body. Dr. Watts includes both, and paraphrases the verse in three beautiful stanzas, which we should be glad to transcribe, but can only refer to. Some commentators apply this psalm, as well as the preceding, to Christ himself. who, though he assumed in his death "the form of a slave," arose in all the glories of the Divinity. NOTES. PSALM XVIII. Ver. 1. I wil! lore-The original implies tenderness; " with bowels of compassion." Ver. 2. My strength-Heb. "rock," but a different word from that in the preceding line. Ver. 3. I will call.-This being a l'saim of thankgiving, Bishop Horne thinks the verbs should be rendered in the preter tense: so Dr. Kennicolt. Butas the Heb. is future, we rather think with Mr. Scott, that the future was used purposely, to express “the feelings of David's heart, while stuggling with his difficulties," he then said, "I will love," &c. Ver. 4. The sorrows.-So the word is used for the pains of childbirth and of death; see Acts ii. 24; but the same word (with a slight variation in the points) is used also for cords, ropes, and the toils of the fowler (made of cord) to ensnare his game, &c. Ver. 5. The sorrows (or cords) of hell-Heb. Sheol. See Note on ver. 4. Sheol and Hades, according to Archbishop Usher, when spoken of the body, signify the grave; when of the soul, they .efer to the state in which the soul is without the body, whether in Paradise or Hell, prop rly so called." Ver. 8. Smoke out of his nostrils-Ainsworth, "Smoke ascended in his anger." for manifold] PSALMS. [mercies, scattered them; and he shot out light- the cleanness of my hands hath he renings, and discomfited them. 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils, 16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to PSALM XVIII. compensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. (S) 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. EXPOSITION. (S) Ver. 1-24. To the chief musician: a Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.The title of this psalm is literally transcribed from 2 Sam. xxii. 1., where the psalm itself follows, nearly as in this place, except that the first verse is now introduced, with some verbal corrections in the following verses. The variations between the two copies (says Mr. Scott, the commentator) seem to have been principally poetical improvements of the style, as few of them materially alter the sense, and several evidently render the composition more elegant. Indeed, the whole psalm seems one of the most finished poetical compositions extant in any language." The first verse of the psalm just referred to, is noticed by the critics as peculiarly emphatic. With all the yearnings of affection, I will love thee," is the paraphrase of Bishop Horne; and we may remark, that we can never too forcibly express our attachment to the Author of our mercies, while we are careful to keep our language unalloyed: our expressions can never be too strong, while they are pure and chaste: but we sometimes meet with a familiarity or puerility of address in Christians to the Most High, which can only be excused by the simplicity of their piety, and uncouscious ignorance. But David reverenced the God he loved; and accumulates the strongest terms he could recollect to express his obligations to his deliverer: the rock on whom all his hopes were built; the fortress to which he looked alone for safety, and the horn of his salvation." The psalmist now looks back upon the sorrows and dangers from which he had been at different times rescued. He had been in imminent danger of his life. "The sorrows," or rather toils (i. e. snares) of death had been thrown around him; but "the horn of his salvation" tore them to pieces. "The floods of Belial," or of wickedness, had been cast after him, as it were, to overwhelm him. (See Rev. xii. 15.) But he fled to the rock that was higher than himself, and there he found a refuge. The psalmist then goes on to describe the deliverance wrought for him in allusion to the awful tempests at mount Sinai, meaning thereby to intimate that, in some instance at least, his rescue from death and destruction had been attended with a simi lar display of the divine power and majesty, and he ascribes the cause of it to the divine bounty: "He delivered me, because he delighted in me." Nor is this contradicted by the words following: for though his character and conduct, especially in respect of zeal and uprightness, may not be the cause of his deliverance, it may be the NOTES. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. 28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, [deliverance. and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. 46 The LORD liveth; and blessed EXPOSITION. measure of it. Thus, under the new dispensation, salvation, as to its cause, is of grace alone, (Ephes. ii. 8.) yet will the rewards of grace be distributed to every man according to his works." (Matt. xvi. 27.) It does not, therefore, appear to us necessary to exclude David's personal experience from this psalm: at the same time we have no objection to its application, in a secondary view, to the Messiah: and, indeed, St. Peter seems to allude to the 4th verse, when he speaks of his resurrection from the dead, (Acts ii. 24.) and to him, certainly, some of the expressions apply more literally and fully, for "he knew no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Pet. ii. 22.) The last verse but oue is also quoted by St. Paul, in reference to the calling of the Gentiles. (Rom. xv. 9.) NOTES-Psalm Ver. 26. Shew thyself froward-Marg. "wrestle;" i.. contend. See Lev. xxvi. 27, 28. Ver. 28. My candle-Marg. "Lamp." On this verse, the Chaldee paraphrast thus enlarges: "Because thou shalt enlighten the lamp of Israel, which is put out in the captivity, for thou art the Author of the light of Israel; the Lord my God shall lead me out of darkness into light, and shall make me see the consolation of the age which shall come to the just.” Ver. 29. I have run (Marg. "broken") through a troop. Ver. 33. Like hinds' feet.-Agility was a great qualification with the ancient warriors. 2 Sam. i. 23; I Chron. xii. 8. So among the Greeks Achilles was called "swift-footed," &c. See Orient. Customs, No. 935. Ver. 34. Bon of steel-Ainsworth and Horsley, "Brass," or copper. See Note on Job xx. 24. XVIII. Con. Ver. 35. Thy gentleness hath made me great — Mar." With thy meekness thou hast multiplied me." Boothroyd, "Thy condesceusion maketh me great;" which we prefer, as meekness cannot be applied to Deity. Ver, 39, Subdued-Heb. " caused to bow." Ver. 40. The necks of mine enemies-See Josh. x. 24; Jer. xxvii. 12. Ver. 41. As soon, &c.-Heb. "At the hearing of the ear."The strangers-Heb. "The sons of the stranger." (So ver. 45.) Shall submit themselves-Marg. "Yield feigned obedience." Heb. "Lie unto me." Submission does not always imply conversion: "they shall fade away," &c. ver. 45. Ver. 48. Violent man-Heb. "Man of violence." Ver. 49. Give thanks - Marg. Contess." So Rom. xv. 9. (T) Ver. 25-50. The equity of divine previdence, and the merciful deliverance of those who trust in God.-These maxims evidently accord with those of our Lord in his sermon on the mount, (Matt. v. 3, &c.) "The merciful shall obtain mercy; the pure in heart shall see God." He will save the meek, the poor, and the distressed; but with the froward and perverse he will contend; and the high-spirited and proud he will bring down. The psalmist, however, expresses his confidence in God, who, as he had delivered, he trusted in him that he would still deliver: and in this part of the psalm some verses also occur which seem peculiarly appropriate to the Messiah. David might indeed say, when he became master of the surrounding nations, "Thou hast made me head of the heathen (nations); a people whom I have not known (that is, foreigners) shall submit themselves unto me:" but it appertains, in a far more exalted and extensive sense, to our divine Redeemer, to whom, as we have seen (Ps. ii. 8.) it was said, "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Christ being indeed the substance of the Old Testament as well as of the New, while we are warranted in believing that David, in most of his psalms, had respect to his own circumstances and experience, we are no less justified by apostolical authority in conceiving, that by the Spirit of inspiration be had frequent views of the future glory of his great antitype; and this is the more natural, as it appears the Hebrews always felt a peculiar interest in the fate of their posterity, and no one more than the patriarch David, who, at the same time that he looked to the coming of Messiah as the consummation of all his wishes in futurity, looked to him also as the medium of his personal salvation. The last verse, in which both appear included, is thus beautifully paraphrased by Bishop Horne: "Great deliverance giveth he unto his king," to king David, in saving him from Saul, and his other temporal encmies, and seating him on the earthly throne of Israel; to King Messiah, in rescuing him from death and the grave, and exalting him to an heavenly throne, as Head of the church: " and showeth mercy to his anointed;" i. e. outwardly, and in a figure, with oil (David); and to him who was anointed inwardly, and in truth, with the Holy Ghost and with power (Christ): "to David, and to his seed for evermore;' to the literal David, and to his royal progeny, "of whom, according to the flesh, Christ came;" and to Christ himself, the spiritual David, the beloved of God, with all those who through faith become his children, the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life. "To David and his royal seed Thy grace for ever shall extend; Thy love to saints, in Christ their head, Knows not a limit, nor an end." Watts. tion." The allusion is to a measuring line, by which inheritances were divided. But the LXX render it sound, and so it is quoted by the apostle, (Rom. x. 18.) implying the intelligible nature of that instruction which the works of nature everywhere give to man, as to the being and perfections of his Creator. |
