Psalms 57:2-6
Verse 2. I will cry unto God most high] He is the Most High; and therefore far above all my enemies, though the prince of the power of the air be at their head. Unto God, lael, unto the strong God, one against whom no human or diabolic might can prevail. David felt his own weakness, and he knew the strength of his adversaries; and therefore he views God under those attributes and characters which were suited to his state. This is a great secret in the Christian life; few pray to God wisely; though they may do it fervently. That performeth all things for me.] Who works for me; gomer, he who completes for me, and will bring all to a happy issue. Verse 3. He shall send from heaven, and save me] Were there no human agents or earthly means that he could employ, he would send his angels from heaven to rescue me from my enemies. Or, He will give his command from heaven that this may be done on earth. Selah] I think this word should be at the end of the verse. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.] Here mercy and truth are personified. They are the messengers that God will send from heaven to save me. His mercy ever inclines him to help and save the distressed. This he has promised to do; and his truth binds him to fulfil the promises or engagements his mercy has made, both to saints and sinners. Verse 4. My soul is among lions] bethoch lebaim. I agree with Dr. Kennicott that this should be translated, "My soul dwells in parched places," from laab, he thirsted. And thus the Chaldee seems to have understood the place, though it be not explicit. I lie even among them that are set on fire] I seem to be among coals. It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued: each of my enemies seems determined to have my life. Verse 5. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens] Let the glory of thy mercy and truth be seen in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath. Several of the fathers apply what is said above to the passion of our Lord, and what is said here to his resurrection. Verse 6. They have prepared a net for my steps] A gin or springe, such as huntsmen put in the places which they know the prey they seek frequents: such, also, as they place in passages in hedges, &c., through which the game creeps. They have digged a pit] Another method of catching game and wild beasts. They dig a pit, cover it over with weak sticks and turf. The beasts, not suspecting danger where none appears, in attempting to walk over it, fall through, and are taken. Saul digged a pit, laid snares for the life of David; and fell into one of them himself, particularly at the cave of En-gedi; for he entered into the very pit or cave where David and his men were hidden, and his life lay at the generosity of the very man whose life he was seeking! The rabbins tell a curious and instructive tale concerning this: "God sent a spider to weave her web at the mouth of the cave in which David and his men lay hid. When Saul saw the spider's web over the cave's mouth, he very naturally conjectured that it could neither be the haunt of men nor wild beasts; and therefore went in with confidence to repose." The spider here, a vile and contemptible animal, became the instrument in the hand of God of saving David's life and of confounding Saul in his policy and malice. This may be a fable; but it shows by what apparently insignificant means God, the universal ruler, can accomplish the greatest and most beneficent ends. Saul continued to dig pits to entrap David; and at last fell a prey to his own obstinacy. We have a proverb to the same effect: Harm watch, harm catch. The Greeks have one also: ητε κακηβουλητωβουλευσαντικακιστη, "An evil advice often becomes most ruinous to the adviser." The Romans have one to the same effect:- Neque enim lex justior ulla est Quam necis artificem arte perire sua. "There is no law more just than that which condemns a man to suffer death by the instrument which he has invented to take away the life of others."
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