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1 To the chiefe musician vpon Shoshannim, A Psalme of Dauid. Saue mee, O God, for the waters are come in vnto my soule.
2 I sinke in deepe mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deepe waters, where the flouds ouerflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying, my throate is dried: mine eyes faile while I waite for my God.
4 They that hate mee without a cause, are moe then the haires of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mineenemies wrongfully, are mightie: then I restored that which I tooke not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishnesse; and my sinnes are not hidde from thee.
6 Let not them that waite on thee, O Lord God of hostes, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seeke thee, beconfounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I haue borne reproch: shame hath couered my face.
8 I am become a stranger vnto my brethren, and an aliant vnto my mothers children.
9 For the zeale of thine house hath eaten mee vp; and the reproches of them that reproched thee, are fallen vpon me.
10 When I wept, and chastened my soule with fasting, that was to my reproch.
11 I made sackecloth also my garment: & I became a prouerbe to them.
12 They that sit in the gate, speake against mee; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for mee, my prayer is vnto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercie heareme, in the trueth of thy saluation.
14 Deliuer me out of the mire, and let me not sinke: let me bee deliuered from them that hate me, and out of thedeepe waters.
15 Let not the water flood ouerflow me, neither let the deepe swallow mee vp, and let not the pit shut her mouth vponme.
16 Heare me, O Lord, for thy louing kindnesse is good: turne vnto mee according to the multitude of thy tendermercies.
17 And hide not thy face from thy seruant, for I am in trouble: heare me speedily.
18 Draw nigh vnto my soule, and redeeme it: deliuer me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast knowen my reproch and my shame and my dishonor: mine aduersaries are all before thee.
20 Reproch hath broken my heart, and I am full of heauines: and I looked for some to take pitie, but there was none;and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gaue mee also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gaue mee vineger to drinke.
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should haue bene for their welfare, let it become atrap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and make their loines continually to shake.
24 Powre out thine indignation vpon them, and let thy wrathfull anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whō thou hast smitten, and they talke to the griefe of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Adde iniquitie vnto their iniquitie: and let them not come into thy righteousnesse.
28 Let them bee blotted out of the booke of the liuing, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poore, and sorowfull: let thy saluation (O God) set me vp on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnifie him with thankesgiuing.
31 This also shall please the Lord better then an oxe or bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall liue that seeke good.
33 For the Lord heareth the poore, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heauen and earth praise him, the seas, and euery thing that moueth therein.
35 For God will saue Sion, and will build the cities of Iudah, that they may dwell there, and haue it in possession.
36 The seede also of his seruants shall inherit it: and they that loue his name shall dwell therein.
David complains of great distress. (1-12) And begs for succour. (13-21) He declares the judgments of God. (22-29) He concludes with joy and praise. (30-36)
1-12 We should frequently consider the person of the Sufferer here spoken of, and ask why, as well as what he suffered, that, meditating thereon, we may be more humbled for sin, and more convinced of our danger, so that we may feel more gratitude and love, constraining us to live to His glory who died for our salvation. Hence we learn, when in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may not be soured with discontent, or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words far more fully apply to Christ. In a world where unrighteousness reigns so much, we must not wonder if we meet with those that are our enemies wrongfully. Let us take care that we never do wrong; then if we receive wrong, we may the better bear it. By the satisfaction Christ made to God for our sin by his blood, he restored that which he took not away, he paid our debt, suffered for our offences. Even when we can plead Not guilty, as to men's unjust accusations, yet before God we must acknowledge ourselves to deserve all that is brought upon us. All our sins take rise from our foolishness. They are all done in God's sight. David complains of the unkindness of friends and relations. This was fulfilled in Christ, whose brethren did not believe on him, and who was forsaken by his disciples. Christ made satisfaction for us, not only by putting off the honours due to God, but by submitting to the greatest dishonours that could be done to any man. We need not be discouraged if our zeal for the truths, precepts, and worship of God, should provoke some, and cause others to mock our godly sorrow and deadness to the world.
13-21 Whatever deep waters of affliction or temptation we sink into, whatever floods of trouble or ungodly men seem ready to overwhelm us, let us persevere in prayer to our Lord to save us. The tokens of God's favour to us are enough to keep our spirits from sinking in the deepest outward troubles. If we think well of God, and continue to do so under the greatest hardships, we need not fear but he will do well for us. And if at any time we are called on to suffer reproach and shame, for Christ's sake, this may be our comfort, that he knows it. It bears hard on one that knows the worth of a good name, to be oppressed with a bad one; but when we consider what a favour it is to be accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus, we shall see that there is no reason why it should be heart-breaking to us. The sufferings of Christ were here particularly foretold, which proves the Scripture to be the word of God; and how exactly these predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which proves him to be the true Messiah. The vinegar and the gall given to him, were a faint emblem of that bitter cup which he drank up, that we might drink the cup of salvation. We cannot expect too little from men, miserable comforters are they all; nor can we expect too much from the God of all comfort and consolation.
22-29 These are prophecies of the destruction of Christ's persecutors. Verses #22,23|, are applied to the judgments of God upon the unbelieving Jews, in #Ro 11:9,10|. When the supports of life and delights of sense, through the corruption of our nature, are made the food and fuel of sin, then our table is a snare. Their sin was, that they would not see, but shut their eyes against the light, loving darkness rather; their punishment was, that they should not see, but should be given up to their own hearts' lusts which hardened them. Those who reject God's great salvation proffered to them, may justly fear that his indignation will be poured out upon them. If men will sin, the Lord will reckon for it. But those that have multiplied to sin, may yet find mercy, through the righteousness of the Mediator. God shuts not out any from that righteousness; the gospel excludes none who do not, by unbelief, shut themselves out. But those who are proud and self-willed, so that they will not come in to God's righteousness, shall have their doom accordingly; they themselves decide it. Let those not expect any benefit thereby, who are not glad to be beholden to it. It is better to be poor and sorrowful, with the blessing of the Lord, than rich and jovial, and under his curse. This may be applied to Christ. He was, when on earth, a man of sorrows that had not where to lay his head; but God exalted him. Let us call upon the Lord, and though poor and sorrowful, guilty and defiled, his salvation will set us up on high.
30-36 The psalmist concludes the psalm with holy joy and praise, which he began with complaints of his grief. It is a great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises are more pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices. The humble shall look to him, and be glad; those that seek him through Christ shall live and be comforted. God will do great things for the gospel church, in which let all who wish well to it rejoice. A seed shall serve him on earth, and his servants shall inherit his heavenly kingdom. Those that love his name shall dwell before him for ever. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Arise, thou great Restorer of the ancient places to dwell in, and turn away ungodliness from thy people.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.