PSALM 11 This Psalm seems to have been composed by David when he was persecuted by Saul, and forced to flee from place to place for safety. David encourageth himself in God, Psalms 11:1, against the wicked designs of his enemies, Psalms 11:2,3. The providence and justice of God, Psalms 11:4, to the righteous and wicked, Psalms 11:5-7. In the Lord, i.e. in his faithfulness, who hath promised, and will, I doubt not, give me the kingdom. How say ye? either,
1. Ye my friends; who through diffidence and despondency advised him to this course. Or,
2. Ye my enemies; who said it scoffingly and insultingly. How say ye ? With what face or reason can you say thus to him, who hath the Lord God Almighty for his refuge? To my soul, i.e. to me, as Psalms 6:4, Psalms 7:2. Flee as a bird, suddenly and swiftly, and to some remote place, where thou mayst be out of Saul's reach. Feed not thyself with vain hopes of the kingdom, but consult for thy own safety, which thou canst not do without taking the wings of a dove, or some other bird, that thou mayst flee away out of the land, and be at rest, as thou sayest, Psalms 55:6. Or, Flee away, O thou bird, thou little silly bird, lest the royal eagle seize upon thee. To your mountain, i.e. to some of your mountains in Judah, and there hide thyself. But this was David's common practice; and therefore there was no need that any should advise him to it, or that he should reprove them for that advice. Or, from (which prefix is oft wanting, and to be understood, as Joshua 10:13 2 Samuel 23:24) your mountain i.e. from the mountain or mountainous country of Judah, as it is called, Joshua 20:7; the mountain being frequently put for a mountainous country, as Numbers 13:29, Numbers 23:7 Joshua 9:1, Joshua 10:6,40, and oft elsewhere. Or, from your mountains, in which thou and thy companions use to hide yourselves. Flee into some foreign land, where you may be safe. For this was the design of David's enemies, as he complains, 1 Samuel 26:19; and afterward, when David was under sore temptations, it was his practice once or twice.