He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
Ver. 19. He shall deliver thee] Heb. Snatch thee away, or pull thee out, as a brand out of the fire, or as a prey out of the teeth of a wild beast. Thus God snatched Lot out of Sodom, David out of many waters, Paul out of the mouth of the lion, Jonah out of the belly of hell, &c. As birds flying, so will I defend Jerusalem, Isaiah 31:5. A metaphor from the eagle and other birds, which when they fly highest set a watchful eye upon the nest, to rescue their young ones in case of danger.
In six troubles] Or straits, such as enemies or other evils put men to. Israel at the Red Sea, for instance, where they were sorely distressed, encircled with troubles, neither was there any way of escape, unless they could have gone up to heaven, which because they could not, heaven came down to them and delivered them.
Yea, in seven] A certain number for an uncertain. Boundless deliverances will God grant to his people, even as oft as they shall need deliverance; enemies oft plough upon their backs, and God as often cuts their traces, Psalms 129:3,4. As Cato was two and thirty times accused, and two and thirty times cleared and absolved; so shall it be with the saints; and this not only at the end of the world, as Gregory and others interpret this text (as if by six and seven allusion were made to God's creating the world in six days, and resting on the seventh; and so must his servants labour here under afflictions, and rest in heaven), but in this life present, where many are the troubles of the righteous (millions, some render it), but the Lord delivereth them out of all, Psalms 34:19; yea, in them all, as this text hath it, by his supporting grace, and those divine comforts, which, as blown bladders, bear them aloft all waters.
There shall no evil touch thee] sc. Tactu qualitativo, with a deadly touch. God chargeth afflictions as David did his captains concerning Absalom, Handle the young man gently for my sake. Touch not mine anointed, &c. Either touch them not at all, or not to hurt them. Troubles may touch the saints, but evils must not, 1 Corinthians 10:14 .