Psaumes

Introduction au chapitre

PSALM XVII. (DILIGAM TE DOMINE.)

David's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies.

Psaumes 17:1

Ver. 1. This title is almost wholly taken from the book of Kings, except Unto the end for; instead of which we read, And David spoke, &c. (H.) which are the words of the inspired writer; so that Ferrand is very rash in rejecting both these titles. David wrote this psalm after he had subdued the Moabites, &c. C.

--- He was inspired to write it (W.) twice, with some variations, (Bert.) 74

in number, (Aberbanel) or many more, if we believe Kennicott, who lays them to the charge of transcribers, perhaps, (H.) with greater reason. C. --- We cannot doubt but this psalm regards David. But there are some passages which refer to Jesus Christ and his Church more directly; and in general, David must here be considered as only (Bert.) the figure of the Messias, and of the just in his Church. W. --- James Paine has endeavoured to prove, with great ingenuity, that the whole must be explained of Jesus Christ, and that the name of Saul stands for "the grave;" as the points which are of modern date, only need to be changed. Thus the sufferings of our Saviour, and the punishment of the Jews in the last siege of Jerusalem are described; and thus it is clear that S. Paul (Rom. xv. 9.) has cited this ps. in it proper sense. Bert. --- See v. 10. 41.

--- SS. Jerom and Aug. explain it of the victories of David, of the Messias, and of his Church. C. --- Saul may be particularly mentioned, because he was the most powerful. W.

Psaumes 17:2

Ver. 2. I will love thee, as a mother does her son. He that loves has fulfilled the law. This word is omitted 2 K. xxii. 2. C. --- Strength. Ibid. --- Rock. H. --- The Sept. have inserted some alterations in the Psalms, giving the sense of the Hebrew. W. --- Others attribute the variations to David, or to the mistake of transcribers. H.

Psaumes 17:3

Ver. 3. Firmament. Heb. "rock and my citadel, and my deliverer. My God, ( or strong one) my rock." S. Jer. "my strong one." The two words which are rendered "my rock," are salhi and metsudathi. H. --- David frequently retired to such places for safety. The idea was beautiful and striking. Such multiplicity of titles shews the gratitude (C.) and affection which David felt. C. ---

Here are nine, and we may add the three metaphorical Heb. terms, "rock, citadel, and buckler."

Can we refuse to love One from whom we have received so many favours? ---

And in, &c. These words are most probably cited by S. Paul, (Heb. ii. 13.) though they occur also in Isai. viii. 18. ---

Protector. Heb. "buckler." Bert. --- Horn. This title is given to Jesus Christ, Luke i. 69. It is an allusion to beasts which attack their opponents with their horns (Theod. Deut. xxxiii. 17.) being an emblem of strength (W.) and glory. C.

--- And my, &c. (2 K.) he lifted me up and is my refuge; my Saviour, thou wilt deliver me from iniquity. Heb. "violence."

Psaumes 17:4

Ver. 4. Praising. Heb. "praised;" and (2 K.) the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. H. --- Chal.

agrees here with the Sept. and Vulg. which seems more natural. C. --- The sense is the same.

Bert.

Psaumes 17:5

Ver. 5. Sorrows...iniquity. Heb. "cables...Belial." By these figurative expressions, David declares to what dangers he had been exposed. They seem to be more applicable to our Saviour's agony. Bert. --- The wicked were constantly laying snares for both. We have the same idea enforced in the next verse. H. --- The words are put into the mouth of fallen man, in the mass for Septuagesima. W.

Psaumes 17:7

Ver. 7. Called. All these words are in the future, 2 K. and Heb. H. --- But as they relate to an event that was past, they seem to be as well expressed here as they are in Duport's Greek Psalms.

Bert. --- Both are true; as David had prayed, and would continue to pray, for God's protection; otherwise he would have deserved to lose it. We must always pray, and never faint. H. ---

Temple, "from my heart;" (S. Aug.) from the tabernacle at Gabaaon, (Lyran) or from heaven.

Chal. Euseb. C. --- Earnest prayer is the best remedy against temptations and affliction. God will not fail to hear those who are sincere, as he did the prophet.

W.

Psaumes 17:8

Ver. 8. With them is not in Heb. Lo, illi refers to God. Furor fuit ei. Mont. --- "He was wroth."

Prot. Yet he displayed his power on the mountains, as if he had been displeased with them, or with the enemies (v. 4.) whom he would thus strike with awe. H. --- These expressions are not to be taken in a gross literal sense.

C. --- God shewed himself as earnest in the protection of David, (H.) as if he had been in a rage; (C.) or as if the elements had all conspired to defend him.

Theod.

--- This most pompous description (C.) alludes to the wonders wrought at Sinai, and the terrors which would happen at the death and resurrection of Christ, and at his last coming. Some moderns think that the overthrow of the Babylonians, and other enemies of God's people, are also denoted. The sinner, touched by divine grace, implores mercy, and feels the remorse of conscience, the ropes or sorrows of hell, and a dread of God's just judgments hanging over him.

Bert. --- These cause the most haughty and obstinate to tremble. W.

Psaumes 17:9

Ver. 9. By it. This relates to the clouds, thunder, and lightning. Muis. --- God's wrath is compared with smoke, fire, a dark night, or mist. W.

Psaumes 17:10

Ver. 10. Feet. A violent storm of rain. Hence the Pagans borrowed: Jupiter et læto descendit plurimus imbri. Virg. Ec. 7.

--- The prophets Isai. (xxix. 6.) and Nahum (i. 3.) speak in the same lofty strains; (C.) and shall any one despise the language of Scripture? Nothing can exceed its sublimity. Heb. is rather more expressive, (v. 9.) "a fire devoured;"

(v. 11.) "on a cherub, and flew; he flew most swiftly;" like and eagle. Bert. ---

Heb. vida. H.

Psaumes 17:11

Ver. 11. Winds. God mounts his chariot, as it were, (Ezec. i. 4. &c.) to come speedily to David's assistance. Æscylus, and other pagan authors, seem to have imitated his description. Euseb.

præp. evan. xiii. 13. --- The Fathers explain the former verse of Christ's incarnation, or of his second coming; and this of his ascension. S. Athan. &c.

--- They may also (H.) intimate that God is ready to pardon as well as to punish.

W. --- Plato (Phædro) represents the Deity on "a winged chariot, directing and taking care of all things." H.

Psaumes 17:12

Ver. 12. Pavilion. Job xxii. 14. and xxvi. 9. The Jews had this idea of God's throne, of which we behold only the less brilliant side, as the Egyptians did that of the cloud. Ex. xiv. 19. The poets represent Jupiter surrounded with clouds and darkness. Hesiod. op. 125 and 255. Iliad Ο. --- Air.

The parallel passage, (2 K.) seems more accurate. Dropping waters out of the clouds of the heavens. Heb. "waters bound up in darksome clouds." C. --- God is incomprehensible in himself, and his counsels are inscrutable. W.

Psaumes 17:13

Ver. 13. Clouds. 2 K. The coals (Heb. "flames") of fire were kindled. Two words, habaw haberu, his clouds removed, (H.) omitted in this passage, are here supplied, as the former word is found in Syr. and Arab. But then hail and coals of fire seem improper for "they kindled into coals of fire;" and in the next verse they are redundant; being therefore omitted in 2 K. xxii. in the best editions of the Sept. and in the old Italic of Blanchini. Capel supposes they have been inserted from the preceding verse, which is rendered more probably by the Heb. MS. 5. Kennicott Dis. 1.

--- They have been inserted in some editions of Sept. from the Heb. of Theodotion, (C.) or Symmachus. Montf. --- This unusual third hemistic occurs in a smaller type in Brettinger's (Ken.) and Grabe's Sept. but they indicate thereby that it was not in the Alex. MS. as it is not in that of the Vatican. If it were in its proper place, we should read at least grandinem, &c. This magnificent description of a thunder-storm (H.) may allude to that which routed the Philistines. 2

K. v. 24. Is. xxviii. 21. C. --- The lightning seemed to dispel the gloom. Theod.

Flamin. ---

Though man is overpowered with God's majesty, yet he is instructed how to act by those whom God has commissioned to teach. W.

Psaumes 17:15

Ver. 15. Arrows. Thunderbolts. Tela reponuntur manibus fabricata Cyclopum.

Metam. Hesiod Theog. 708.

Psaumes 17:16

Ver. 16. Discovered. The earthquakes were so great, that such dreadful effects might have been expected. These phenomena sometimes make the sea retire, and new islands appear. Pliny i. 84.

and xxxi. 5. &c. --- The Jews supposed that the sea was the common source of all fountains, and that the earth was founded on it. Ps. xxiii. 2. Eccle. i. 7. C.

Psaumes 17:17

Ver. 17. Sent his angel, &c. --- Waters, which often represent multitudes, (Apoc.

xvii. 15. C.) and afflictions. W. --- David seemed in danger of perishing. C.

Psaumes 17:18

Ver. 18. For me. He may allude to the giant Jesbibenob, or to Saul, who surrounded him on all sides; (1 K. xxiii. 26. and 2 K. xxi. 15. C.) and, in general, to all his temporal or spiritual adversaries. W.

Psaumes 17:19

Ver. 19. Affliction, when my friends joined Absalom. Theod. --- In the rest of this psalm, the prophet chiefly uses words in the obvious sense, yet mystically speaks of Christ, and of the faithful. W.

Psaumes 17:20

Ver. 20. Place, where I was not hemmed in by my enemies. H. --- Saved me, by repentance, out of his infinite mercy, (Euseb. S. Athan.) without any deserts. W.

Psaumes 17:21

Ver. 21. Will reward. S. Jerom, "hath rewarded," (C.) yet the edition of 1533

reads retribuet. H.

--- Justice, with respect to my enemies, whom I have not injured; (C.) or my sincere desire to serve God. Theod.

Psaumes 17:23

Ver. 23. Judgments. Commands, or treatment both of the just and of the wicked.

Psaumes 17:24

Ver. 24. Him, by his grace. W. --- Iniquity, and be careful not to relapse. Others explain it in the past time. I have not shed the blood of my enemy when I could have done it. 1 K. xxiv. 6. 14. C.

--- Fui immaculatus. S. Jer. H. It seems most probable that David composed this before his fall, as Aberbanel, one of the most learned of the Jews, asserts.

If he be only a figure of Jesus Christ, we may easily conceive how the latter might speak thus of his innocence, and declare his abhorrence of all sin, though he was made a sin- offering, having undertaken to expiate the iniquities of mankind. Bert.

Psaumes 17:25

Ver. 25. And. He repeateth, (v. 21.) that God will render to every one as he deserves. W. ---

Matt. xvi. That all sins are equal is the error of the Stoics. H.

Psaumes 17:27

Ver. 27. Perverted. No version can properly express this idea. God turns away from those who abandon him, treating every one according to his works. If we do not advance in piety, it is a sign that God perceives something amiss in us.

Bert. --- He cannot but abhor duplicity, and resist the wicked. Lev. xxvi. 23. 40.

Prov. iii. 34. He will make the craft of men turn against themselves, as he evinced in the case of Laban, Joseph's brethren, Pharao, and Saul. Sinners complain of him without reason, Ezec. xviii. 25. C. --- Some improperly use this text to shew, that people will adopt the manners of those with whom they associate, (H.) though it means that God will treat the good liberally, and the wicked with severity. Lev. xxvi. 23. 24. Amama.

Psaumes 17:28

Ver. 28. Proud, as thou hast already done. C. ---

Insignem attenuat Deus,

Obscura promens. Horat.

Psaumes 17:29

Ver. 29. Lamp, giving me hopes of redress, and of the Messias. C.

Psaumes 17:30

Ver. 30. Temptation. David was almost continually assailed by enemies. C. ---

Sept. peieatesion, signifies "a place of pirates;" denoting what crafty foes he had to encounter, (Bert.) or "a place or time to learn the military exercise," a warfare. Job vii. 1. But gedud, (H.) means "a troop,"

designed to make incursions, as those under Jephte and David. Heb. "In thee I will run armed;"

(S. Jer.) or, "at the head of my troops." C. --- "I will break, (Pagnin) or, run through an army."

Mont. --- No fortification can hold out. H. --- He alludes particularly to the wall of the Jebusites, which Joab first mounted, though extremely high. 2 K. v. 6. C.

--- With God's help, every difficulty may be surmounted. W. --- Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, as our Saviour admonishes.

Psaumes 17:31

Ver. 31. As for, might be omitted. H. --- The conduct of God towards men is irreproachable. He will treat all according to their deserts, and will fulfil his promises of protecting the just. Euseb.

--- Heb. "He is the strong God...his words are pure as gold...He is the shield,"

&c. Bert.

Psaumes 17:32

Ver. 32. Our God. Will any one then hinder Him from doing as He has said? H.

--- Heb. "Who is the rock but our God?" Bert. --- God is often styled a rock, tsur. Yet S. Jerom and Pagnin render it "strong," or "the strong one." H. ---

There is only one Lord and Saviour of all. W.

Psaumes 17:33

Ver. 33. Blameless. Whatever good is in me, comes from his grace, v. 21. 24. H.

--- God has prevented me from killing Saul and Nabal; He has rescued me from the abyss into which I had fallen. C.

Psaumes 17:44

Ver. 44. Harts. Prot. "hinds." H. --- The Hebrews generally prefer to specify the female. Harts are remarkably swift, and this quality was greatly esteemed in a warrior. Asael is praised for it; (2

K. ii. 18.) and Homer styles his hero "the swift-footed Achilles." C. --- As harts trample serpents under their feet, says Theodoret, so I treat my enemies. ---

High. Heb. "my high places," where I have so often baffled the efforts of my persecutors. H.

Psaumes 17:35

Ver. 35. And thou. Chal. gives the same sense. "He strengthens," &c. C. --- Heb.

"and a brazen bow is broken by my arms." Mont. --- Prot. "a bow of steel."

Perhaps not knowing that the ancients had the art of making brass answer the same purposes. See Proclus, Hesiod, &c. H. ---

They made all sorts of weapons of it. Job (xx. 24.) seems even to insinuate that it was harder than iron. Our brass is too brittle. To break a bow, often means to obtain a victory. 1 K. ii. 4. Jer.

xlix. 5. C. --- David gained many over a lion or a bear, over Goliath, &c. W.

Psaumes 17:36

Cette note du XIXᵉ siècle emploie un langage polémique ; lisez-la à la lumière de la note en haut de ce panneau.

Ver. 36. Of thy. The latter word is omitted in some copies of the Sept. while others change it into

"my." But the Heb. is agreeable to the Vulg. C. --- End. Thou hast preserved me by salutary correction. S. Aug. H. --- Heb. "thy goodness shall multiply me"

with children. Sym.

conformably to 2 K. xxii. has, "my obedience shall lift me up." C. --- The Heb.

may, however, admit the sense of the Vulg. --- And thy, &c. is a paraphrase of the former sentiment, or it is borrowed from Theodotion. Bert. --- Grabe marks from unto the end, &c. as omitted in Heb. H.

--- Luther and the Dutch translate, "When thou humblest me, then thou exaltest me," to shew the salutary effects of suffering. But there is nothing of the kind in the original. Amama.

Psaumes 17:37

Ver. 37. Weakened, or tired. Chal. H. --- I am now free from danger. All my enterprizes have succeeded. 2 K. viii. 6. and 1 Par. xviii. 13. See Prov. iv. 12. C.

Psaumes 17:38

Ver. 38. I will. Bellarmine would supply " I said I will;" and thus all is connected.

But these future victories relate more to Jesus Christ. Bert. --- David also continued making fresh conquests, (H.) and so entirely subdued his enemies all around, that they were not able to make head, even against his successor.

Psaumes 17:40

Ver. 40. Against. me. No prince was ever more courageous than David, as the single combat with Goliath evinces. We know not that he ever lost a battle. He refers all the glory to God. C.

Psaumes 17:41

Ver. 41. Upon me. An expression often used to denote a fight. Jos. iii. 12. &c. C.

--- God strengthens his servants, and weakens their enemies. W.

Psaumes 17:42

Ver. 42. Lord. This must be understood of Absalom, who offered sacrifices, (2

K. xv. 12. Bert.) or of Saul, who, receiving no answer, consulted a witch. The Philistines also brought their gods with them, so that they were taken and burnt; (2 K. v. 21.) and the other pagans, finding no aid in their idols, might in time of danger, invoke the Lord. C. --- This is "the testimony of a soul naturally Christian," as Tertullian (Apol. xvii.) speaks, to have recourse to the great and only God, in the utmost distress. H. --- Deus ut subveniat oratur; ipsa veritas, cogente naturâ...erumpit.

Lac. Inst. ii. 1.

Psaumes 17:43

Ver. 43. Streets. Thus he treated the Ammonites, &c. 2 K. viii. 2. and xii. 31. C.

--- Jesus Christ will rule over his enemies with a rod of iron. Bert.

Psaumes 17:44

Ver. 44. Gentiles. Here he begins to predict the glory of the Messias, though what he says may be applied to himself. David's own people began to revolt, under Absalom and Seba; after he had subdued the most powerful nations around, 2 K. xx. 1. The chosen people rejected Christ, (C.) while the nations were converted. The reprobation of the former was prefigured by those rebels.

W.

Psaumes 17:46

Ver. 46. Faded, ( inveterati sunt) "are grown old." H. --- The Jews had been long the objects of God's favours: yet they fell away. Thus we often see priests outdone in piety by simple laics.

Bert. --- David continues in the comparison of a tree which bears no fruit; (C.) thus lying, as it were, and frustrating the just expectations of the owner.

Subjects do the like, when they revolt; (Isai. xxx. 9.) and thus deserve the title of strange. Prot. "the strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places;" (S. Jer.) "shall flow away, and be contracted in their straits;"

while I shall be at large, v. 37. The last verb gachregu, (H.) occurs no where else. It may signify

"shall be withered," or burnt, from carar. C.

Psaumes 17:47

Ver. 47. Liveth. This is my consolation, though it must fill the obstinate sinner with dismay. H.

--- In a sort of transport, David wishes all happiness to his great benefactor. He may also speak of Christ's resurrection. C. --- My God. Heb. "rock:" a title frequently applied to God, in acknowledgment of his stability and protection.

Bert.

Psaumes 17:48

Ver. 48. Avengest, or "grantest me revenges," (H.) and the victory; inflicting a just punishment on the wicked. David was too well informed to delight in sentiments of revenge. 3 K. iii. 11. Jesus Christ takes vengeance on his enemies, but this id done without passion. The love of justice is his only motive. David approves of this conduct. C. --- Enraged enemies. Vulg.

iracundis. H. ---

Sept. have thus explained aph, "wrath;" others join it with the following verse,

"But (C.) or yea,"

(H.) etiam. The former version is, however, very accurate. Bert.

Psaumes 17:50

Ver. 50. Nations. S. Paul (Rom. xv. 9.) adduces this to prove the vocation of the Gentiles. C. ---

We cannot doubt but the great things announced in the psalm pertain to Christ. Bert. --- We see the completion of this prophecy, as there is no Christian nation which does not use the psalms of David to praise God. Theod.

&c. --- This practice is very common (Pref. W.) in all places here either Jews or Christians are found.

Psaumes 17:51

Ver. 51. Great. This in intimated by the plural salutes, "salvations;" as David had experienced innumerable favours. H. --- He speaks of himself in the third person, to lead our minds to the Messias, in whom this was more gloriously accomplished. The greater honour of this chief family of Israel, consisted in giving birth to so great a personage, in whom all are blessed. C.

Isai. xi. 1. Ezec. xxxiv. 23. --- For ever. The true Church will never perish; (H.) God still protecting it, as he did David, v. 48. W.