John Trapp on Psalms 57:1

PSAL. LVII.

ALtaſchith] i. e. Deſtroy not; David being in an imminent danger of deſtruction in the Cave, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Sept. might ſend up this ſhort requeſt as it were in a fright, before he uttered this inſuing prayer. Altaſchith in ſuch an exigent might well be an effectual prayer; as was the Woman of Canaans, Lord help me, and the ſick mans, Ah Father; or theſe might now be his words (to Abiſhai, or ſome other of his Servants, whoſe fingers even itched to bee doing with Saul) as afterwards they were upon a like occaſion, 1 Sam. 26.9. Deſtroy not Saul. See thou do it not.

Michtam of David] See Pſal. 16. title.

When he fled from Saul in the Cave] 1 Sam. 24.1. Or, into the Cave for ſhelter; and where when he might have cut Sauls throat, he cut his Coat only, and was inwardly checked for it; nevertheleſs the Spirit came upon him, which was no ſmall comfort, as Aben-Ezra here obſerveth, and he ſaid.

Verſ. 1. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful] q. d. Now or never help at a dead lift. Bis pro more rogantium, ad corrober andum, ſaith Kimchi. Other Jew-Doctors give this reaſon of the repetition of his petition, Be merciful, &c. leſt either I fall into Sauls hands,Midr. Tilli. or Saul into mine; leſt deſire of revenge prick me on to kill him. Or, Have mercy on me, that I ſin not; or if I do ſin, that I may repent.

For my ſoul truſteth in thee] An excellent argument, ſo it comes from the ſoul, ſo it be heart-ſprung.

Yea in the ſhadow of thy wings, &c.] As the little Chicken in danger of the Kite hovereth, and covereth under the Hen.

Ʋntil theſe calamities be over-paſt] For long they will not continue; Nubecula eſt, ſite tranſibit, ſaid Athanaſins of the Arrian Perſecutions, which for preſent were very ſharp. So Maſter Jewel about the beginning of Queen Maries reign, perſwading many to patience, ſaid often, Hac non durabunt aetatem, this ſharp ſhower will ſoon over.