Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 56

1. BE merciful unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up : he fighting daily oppresseth me.

(i. e.) Men, weak and miserable Men, as the Word signifies, whom thou canst Crush in an instant; Saul and his Courtiers, who have driven me hither; and now Achish and the Philistins, who have oft sought my Ruin, which now they have opportunity to Effect.

Like wild and Ravenous Beasts, rather then Men. Heb. hath swallowed me up. The thing is begun, and in a manner done, if thou dost not miraculously prevent it.

2. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me , O thou most High .

Heb. my Observers, that narrowly look to all my Paths, and Watch for my Haltings, and for an Opportunity to destroy me.

They trust to their great Numbers; wherein they know themselves to be much Superior to me.

Who from thine high place beholdest all their Plots, and canst most easily disturb and blast them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

3. What time I am afraid I will trust in thee .

When I have the geatest Cause of Fear, I will relye upon thy Providence, and Promise for my Deliverance.

4. In God I will praise his word , in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

The Sence is, Either, 1. I will praise or boast in the Lords word, or the Lord for his Word. Or, 2. With or by the Lord (i. e. By his Favour or Help) I will praise his Word. Or rather, 3. This, as I humbly conceive: There are many things to be praised and celebrated in God, his Power, and Wisdom, &c. but amongst all and above all, I shall at this time praise him for his Word, which he hath magnified above all his N[illegible: 1+ letters]ne, as is said, Psal. 138. 2. even for his Promises of Protection and Deliverance, made to his People in all their Exegencies, and particularly and especially, for that Promise of the Kingdom made to me; for which I will now Praise him, because I am as sure of its Accomplishment, as if I had it already in mine Hand.

Infirm and mortal Men, altogether unable to oppose thy infinite Majesty, called Flesh by way of Contempt, as Psal. 78. 39. Isa. 31. 3. Ier. 17. 5.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 10, 11.; [illegible: 1 word] 118. 6.; [illegible: 1 word] 13. 6.

5. Every day they wrest my words : all their thoughts are against me for evil .

They misconstrue and pervert my most innocent Expressions, and turn them into Matter of Calumny, wherewith they may incense Saul against me. Or, They perplex my Affairs.

It is their whole study to do me Mischief.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] Words [illegible: 1 word] Sorrow.

6. They gather themselves together , they hide themselves , they mark my steps when they wait for my soul .

After they have severally imployed their Thoughts against me, they meet together to Compare their Thoughts, and to put them in Execution.

They lurk secretly; Either, that they may Prie into all my most private Actions; Or, that they may surprize me with Mischief unawares Compare Psal. 10. 8. Prov. 1. 11.

(i. e.) All my goings and doings, that they may find some occasion to Reproach, or Entangle and so destroy me.

Or, Life, To wit, to take it away from me.

7. Shall they escape by iniquity ? in thine anger cast down thy people , O God.

Shall they secure themselves by such injurious and m[illegible: 1+ letters]litious Practises, whereby they do not onely vex me, but provoke and Despise thee? Shall they have Success instead of the Punishments which thou hast threatned, and they have deserved? God forbid. But the Words may be Read without an Interrogation, By their iniquity they hope to Escape; Or, they do Escape, at present: But Lord do not suffer them thus to escape.

This is opposed to their present Exaltation and Triumphs over poor David, and to their Hopes and Confidence of Safety and Success.

(i. e.) These People, of whom I am speaking, To wit, my Malitious and wicked Enemies, as well those Followers of Saul, as these Philistins amongst whom I now am.

8. Thou tellest my wandrings , put thou my tears into thy bottle : are they not [illegible: 1 word] thy book y?

Here I have been hunted from place to place, and am now driven hither.

Regard and Remember, and Pity them. But why do I pray to God to do that which I am well assured, he is of himself inclined to do, and hath already done?

Marginal references: Mal. 3. 16.

9. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back : this I know, for God is for me.

When I have no other Arms or Force, which is my present Case, my Prayers shall be sufficient to overthrow mine Enemies.

10. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word .

What I have already engaged to do, v. 4. that I do again and again Promise to do, and I cannot sufficiently praise thy Goodness in making Promises, and thy Faithfulness in keeping them.

Marginal references: Vers. 4.

12. Thy vows are upon me , O God: I will render praises unto thee.

As I have prayed to thee, and am assured that thou wilst deliver me, so in Confidence thereof I have made Vows to express my Gratitude to thee, and I acknowledge my self obliged, and do resolve to perform them.

Marginal references: Psal. 61. 8.

13. For thou hast delivered my soul from death : wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling , that I may walk before God in the light of the living ?

Which my Enemies designed, and my extream Dangers threatned.

I am Confident that thou wilt deliver, because of thy Promises, and my former Experience.

(i. e.) That I may please and serve, and Glorifie thee, as this Phrase implies, Gen. 5. 24. Comp. with Heb. 11. 5. as also, Gen. 6. 9. and 17. 1, 1 Sam. 2. 30. which is the great End for which I desire Life.

Either, 1. In Heaven. Or rather, 2. In this Life, which is here opposed to the Death last mentioned, as it is, Iob 33. 30. which is called Light, Iob 3. 20. as Death is called Darkness, Iob 10. 21, 22. and o[illegible: 1+ letters]t elsewhere, and which is expressed, by beholding the Light, and the Sun, E[illegible: 1+ letters]eles. 11. 7.

Marginal references: Psal. 116. 8, 9.; Job. 33. 30.