Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord,
concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.
Here, accused of traitorous conspiracy against his sovereign by king Saul, or by Cush one of his courtiers, David, (1.) Appeals to God, concerning his innocency of that crime, ver. 3-5. (2.) He supplicates, that God, as governor of the world, and King of Israel, would protect him from danger, plead his cause and give judgment for him, ver. 1, 2, 6, 9. (3.) In the exercise of faith, he depends on God, to protect and deliver him, and to avenge the injuries he had sustained upon his implacable adversaries, ver. 10, 16. (4.) He resolves to ascribe the glory of all his deliverances to God alone, ver. 17.
While I sing, let me contemplate the spotless innocency, the finished righteousness of my Redeemer, together with the injurious usage he received from his brethren of mankind and the fearful ruin which hath befallen, or awaits his incorrigible foes. Let me carefully approve myself in his sight who searcheth my heart, and trieth my reins, and who must quickly be my final judge. Let me implore the just vengeance of heaven, against my spiritual enemies. And not unto me, but to his name be the glory and praise of all my protection and deliverance.
1 O Lord my God, in thee do I
my confidence repose:
Save and deliver me from all
my persecuting foes;
2 Lest that the enemy my soul
should, like a lion, tear,
In pieces rending it, while there
is no deliverer.
3 O Lord my God, if it be so
that I committed this;
If it be so that in my hands
iniquity there is:
4 If I rewarded ill to him
that was at peace with me;
(Yea, ev'n the man that without cause
my foe was I did free;)
5 Then let the foe pursue and take
my soul, and my life thrust
Down to the earth, and let him lay
mine honour in the dust.
6 Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,
for my foes raging be;
And, to the judgment which thou hast
commanded, wake for me.
7 So shall th' assembly of thy folk
about encompass thee:
Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return
unto thy place on high.
8 The Lord he shall the people judge:
my judge, Jehovah, be,
After my righteousness, and mine
integrity in me.
9 O let the wicked's malice end;
but stablish stedfastly
The righteous: for the righteous God
the hearts and reins doth try.
10 In God, who saves th' upright in heart,
is my defence and stay.
11 God just men judgeth, God is wroth
with ill men ev'ry day.
12 If he do not return again,
then he his sword will whet;
His bow he hath already bent,
and hath it ready set:
13 He also hath for him prepar'd
the instruments of death;
Against the persecutors he
his shafts ordained hath.
14 Behold, he with iniquity
doth travail, as in birth;
A mischief he conceived hath,
and falsehood shall bring forth.
15 He made a pit and digg'd it deep,
another there to take;
But he is fall'n into the ditch
which he himself did make.
16 Upon his own head his mischief
shall be returned home;
His vi'lent dealing also down
on his own pate shall come.
17 According to his righteousness
the Lord I'll magnify;
And will sing praise unto the name
of God that is most high.
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