Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 57

1. BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me , for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these Calamities be over past.

The Repetition implies both the greatness of his Danger, and the fervency of his Spirit in this Request, and withal that his whole Trust and Hope was in God's mercy.

(i. e.) Of the Protection; to which alone I trust, and not to the shadow of this dark Cave, in which I now hide my self.

Or the time of these Cala[illegible: 1+ letters]ities, which, I know, will shortly have an End.

Marginal references: Psal. 61. 4. & 73. 28.

2. I will cry unto God most high: unto God that performeth all things for me .

Heb. that performeth (or perfecteth or finisheth, as this Word is rendred, Psal. 138. 8. (i. e.) Will certainly perform or finish) for or towards, or Concerning me. He doth not express what he performeth, or perfecteth, or fulfilleth, but leaveth it to be understood, as being easie to be understood; He performeth, or perfecteth, to wit, all that he hath promised, engageth himself to perform, what he hath begun to do, or what is yet to be performed; it being usual in the Hebrew Language to understand a Verbal Noun after the Verb. He implies that God i[illegible: 1+ letters] not like Men, who make large Promises, but either through Inability or Carelessness, or Unfaithfulness do not perform them, but will certainly be as good as his Word.

Marginal references: Psal. 138. 8.

3. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up ; Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Either, 1. His Angels, as Dan. 3. 28. Or, 2. His help, Or, 3. His hand; which is understood after this Verb, 2 Sam. 6. 6. by Comp. 1 Chron. 13. 9. where it is expressed, Or rather, 4. His Mercy and his Truth, as it here follows where also this Verb is repeated, before those Words.

(i. e.) From that shameful Destruction which they Design to bring upon me. Or rather, as it is rendred, in the Margent of our Bible, and by many others, and as it is in the Hebrew; He hath reproached, (i. e. He will certainly put to Shame or Reproach) him that would swallow me up, by disappointing his Expectation, and delivering me from his Rage. i. e.) Shall discover them by their proper Fruits, to wit, by affording his Gracious help, in pursuance of his Promises.

Marginal references: Or, he Reproacheth him that would swallow me up.; Psal. 40. 11. & 43. 3. & 61. 7.

4. My soul is among lions , I lye leven among them that are set on fire n, even the sons of men , whose teeth are spears and arrows , and their tongue a sharp sword.

I Live in the midst of a Generation of fierce and Bloody men; which both in Scripture and other Authors, are oft called Lyons. [illegible: 1+ letters] I have my abode and Conversation.

Which Particle is easily borrowed out of the foregoing Clause.

Whereby he explains what he meant by Lyons, and tells us they were Beasts in the shape of Men.

Which may be considered; Either, 1. As Instruments of Destruction, as they are in Lyons. Or rather, 2. As Instruments of Speech, as they are in Men; for it here follows by way of Explication, as the manner is, and their Tongue. And both seem to signifie their wicked and pernicious Calumnies, of which he every where Complains, and particularly in the History, to which this Psalm seems to Relate, 1 Sam. 24. 10. and by which they designed to promote his Destruction.

(i. e.) They grievously wound my Name, and are devised to do me Mischief.

m To wit, of or from Hell, as is fully expressed, Iam. 3. 6. who are meer Fire-brands and Incendiaries, that are continually breathing out their Wrath and Threatnings, and incensing Saul against me.

Marginal references: Psal. 35: 17. & 58. 6.; Psal. 55. 21.

5. Be thou exalted , O God above the heavens : let thy glory be above all the earth .

Glorifie thy Power, and Goodness, and Justice, and Faithfulness by my Deliverance, all which are exposed to Censure and Reproach, whilst thou sufferest ungodly Wretches to oppress and Triumph over the Innocent and Righteous, that put their trust in thee.

(i. e.) Higher than the Heavens, or to the highest degree possible: Or above all the false Gods, which are supposed to reside in Heaven.

(i. e.) Above all Men upon Earth, some whereof do now Audaciously lift up themselves against thee, and above thee. Or, though (as the Hebrew Particle is commonly rendred, and it is no New thing, to have the same Word or Particle diversly taken in the same Verse, as hath been formerly shewed) the whole Earth; not onely amongst thine own People, but so that even the Heathens, shall be forced to acknowledge and admire thy Glorious deeds:

Marginal references: Psal. 7. 6. & 148. 13.

6. They have prepared a net for my steps, my soul is bowed down : they have digged a pit before me , into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves , Selah.

Or, was bowed down: I was even ready to fall and Perish. O[illegible: 1+ letters], mine Heart was oppressed and almost overwhelmed.

Heb. Before my Face: not in my sight, for that would have been in in Vain, Prov. 1. 17. but in my Way, where they thought I would go.

This was fulfilled in Saul, who by pursuing fell into his Hands, 1 Sam. 24. 3.

Marginal references: Psal. 7. 16. & 9. 15.

7. My heart is sixed , O God, my heart is sixed: I will sing and give praise.

Or, established, in a full assurance of thy merciful Help. It was ready to sink with Fear, or bowed down, v. 6. but now I have through thy Grace, Conquered my Fears, and am fixed in a stedfast Belief of thy Promises. Or, is prepared, to wit, to sing and give Praise, as it follows.

Marginal references: Psal. 108. 1. &c.; Or, Prepared.

8. Awake up my glory , awake psaltery and harp: I my self will awake early .

Either, 1. My Soul; Or rather, 2. My Tongue, the Instrument of Singing, which he was now about to do, v. 7. 9.

I will Rouse up and imploy all the Powers of my Soul and Body, to set forth Gods Praises.

I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people : I will sing unto thee among the nations.

In the great Congregations, amongst the Israelites of all Tribes, who are called by this Name, Deut. 33. 19. and amongst Heathens, as I shall have occasion, as he often had.

10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens , and they truth unto clouds.

(i. e.) Is most Evident, and greatly Exalted.

Marginal references: Psal. 36. 5. & 71. 19. & 89. 2. & 108. 4.