John Gill Commentary Psalms 59:5

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 59:5

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 59:5

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah" — Psalms 59:5 (ASV)

You therefore, O Lord God of hosts
Of the armies in heaven, the angels, and of all the inhabitants of the earth; who are all under him, and at his dispose, and can do among them and with them whatsoever he pleases;

the God of Israel ;
of the people of Israel, literally understood; and mystically of all the elect of God, Jews and Gentiles. The former epithet is expressive of his power, this of his grace and goodness in a covenant way; and both encouraged the psalmist to address him on the following account:

awake to visit all the Heathen :
either the wicked Israelites that rose up against David, and sought to take away his life, who behaved like Heathens towards him, and were accounted as such by him; and the petition is, that God would arise and punish them, everyone of them, according to their deserts: or else the Gentiles, properly so called, whom he desires the Lord would visit, either in a way of grace, by sending the Gospel to them, and taking out of them a people for his name, as he did, (Acts 15:14) ; foreseeing, by a spirit of prophecy, that the Jews would be rejected for their ill usage of the Messiah; (See Gill on Psalms 59:1), title: or in a way of punishment for their idolatry and impiety; and particularly the antichristian states and powers, called the Heathen, and Gentiles, and nations of the earth, (Psalms 10:16) (Revelation 11:2Revelation 11:18) ; may be here meant; whom God will visit for their idolatry, blasphemy, and bloodshed;

be not merciful to any wicked transgressors ;
that are perfidiously and abominably wicked, as Judas Iscariot, the Romish antichrist. The Targum renders it, "princes of a lie"; that speak lies in hypocrisy, and are given up to believe a lie, as the followers of antichrist. God is merciful to wicked men and to transgressors, but not to wicked transgressors; apostates may be meant, such as deal perfidiously and treacherously, as the word F15 used signifies; who sin wilfully and knowingly, after they have received the knowledge of the truth; sin against light and evidence, and obstinately and wickedly persist therein: who sin the sin against the Holy Ghost, the sin unto death, which is not to be prayed for, (1 John 4:16) ; or otherwise this may seem to be contrary to the command and example of Christ, (Matthew 5:44) (Luke 23:34) .

Selah; on this word, (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).


FOOTNOTES:

  • F15: (ydgb) "perfide agentibus", Junius & Tremellius.