_David in prayer fleeing unto God, complaineth of his dangerous
case.—He encourageth himself to praise God._
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled
from Saul in the cave.
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusted
in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until
_these_ calamities be overpast.
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth _all things_
for me.
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.
My soul _is_ among lions: _and_ I lie _even among_ them that are set
on fire, _even_ the sons of men, whose teeth _are_ spears and arrows,
and their tongue a sharp sword.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; _let_ thy glory _be_ above
all the earth.
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.
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give
praise.
Awake up, my glory; awake psaltery and harp; I _myself_ will awake
early.
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people; I will sing unto thee
among the nations:
For thy mercy _is_ great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the
clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, _let_ thy glory _be_ above
all the earth.
This Psalm is a prayer; in which David again complains concerning
Saul, and those around him; on account of whose plots and snares, he
was compelled to flee into a cave. It is nearly of the same purport as
the Psalm preceding.
_We_ ought to make use of this Psalm also against tyrants, and against
sycophants, and certain powerful ones, about the palaces of kings and
princes; who persecute us on account of the word and name of God, and
persecute our doctrine also; interpreting every thing that we do in
the worst sense; and traducing and hating all that fear God.
And David here paints forth the cruelty of these characters; “Their
teeth (says he) are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp
sword.” Thanks be to God therefore, that he does not forsake his
people, but makes their enemies fall into the pit which they
themselves have made; so that they are utterly subverted and taken in
their own craftiness!