In the Psalm, the inspired Composer displays the Divine Perfections in lofty Figures of Speech, suitable to Sacred Poesy, and in a relative endearing Way as manifested in his Preservation. He attributes such Titles to God, as are significant of the Benefits he received: Sometimes God discovers the crafty and cruel Designs that are formed against his People, his Eye saves them, and he is styled their Light: Sometimes he breaks the strength of their Enemies, his Hand and Power saves them, he is styled their Defence. Here the Psalmist, with exuberant Affections, multiplies the Divine Titles, The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my Shield, and ⟨p. 3⟩my high Tower, and my Refuge, and my Salvation: A Rock is a Natural, a Tower an Artificial Defence; both are used to express the safe Protection he found in God. He then sets forth the extremity of his Danger, to add a Lustre to the Name of his Preserver: The Waves of Death compassed me; the Floods of ungodly Men made me afraid: His ruin was imminent, and seemed to be inevitable: But in that distress, his fervent Prayer, his crying to God pierced the Heavens, God heard his Voice out of his Temple, and speedily in the best Season came for his deliverance. He was seen upon the Wings of the Wind; he rode upon a Cherub, (those swifter Spirits) and did fly. He describes the Terrors of his coming against his Enemies: The Lord thundered from the Heavens; he sent down his Arrows, and scattered them: his Lightning discomfited them. The Acts of Justice reversed, have the Ensign of Mercy on them: The drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, was the preserving of the Israelites. Briefly, He ascribes his deliverance to the Favour of God as the sole Mover, and the Power of God as the sole Worker of it. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. His free and compassionate ⟨p. 4⟩Love was primarily active, and drew forth his Power in its most noble Exercise for the Salvation of David. Such an ingenuous and grateful Sense the Psalmist had of the Divine Mercy: this gave the sweetest relish of his deliverance; this was his true triumph after the final conquest of his Enemies. Indeed his Enemies were unjust and cruel, and God vindicated the justice of his Cause against them: therefore he saith, The Lord rewarded me according to my Righteousness; according to the cleanness of my Hands hath he recompensed me.
In the Psalm, the inspir'd Composer displays the Divine Perfections in lofty Figures of Speech, suitable to Sacred Poesy, and in a relative endearing Way as manifested in his Preservation. He attributes such Titles to God, as are significant of the Benefits he received: Sometimes God discovers the crafty and cruel Designs that are form'd against his People, his Eye saves them, and he is stil'd their Light: Sometimes he breaks the strength of their Enemies, his Hand and Power saves them, he is stil'd their Defence. Here the Psalmist, with exuberant Affections, multiplies the Divine Titles, The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my Shield, and ⟨p. 3⟩my high Tower, and my Refuge, and my Salvation: A Rock is a Natural, a Tower an Artificial Defence; both are used to express the safe Protection he found in God. He then sets forth the extremity of his Danger, to add a Luster to the Name of his Preserver: The Waves of Death compassed me; the Floods of ungodly Men made me afraid: His ruin was imminent, and seem'd to be inevitable: But in that distress, his servent Prayer, his crying to God pierc'd the Heavens, God heard his Voice out of his Temple, and speedily in the best Season came for his deliverance. He was seen upon the Wings of the Wind; he rode upon a Cherub, (those swifter Spirits) and did fly. He describes the Terrors of his coming against his Enemies: The Lord thundred from the Heavens; he sent down his Arrows, and scattered them: his Lightning discomfited them. The Acts of Justice reverst, have the Ensign of Mercy on them: The drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, was the preserving of the Israelites. Briefly, He ascribes his deliverance to the Favour of God as the sole Mover, and the Power of God as the sole Worker of it. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. His free and compassionate ⟨p. 4⟩Love was primarily active, and drew forth his Power in its most noble Exercise for the Salvation of David. Such an ingenuous and grateful Sense the Psalmist had of the Divine Mercy: this gave the sweetest relish of his deliverance; this was his true triumph after the final conquest of his Enemies. Indeed his Enemies were unjust and cruel, and God vindicated the justice of his Cause against them: therefore he saith, The Lord rewarded me according to my Righteousness; according to the cleanness of my Hands hath he recompensed me.
