Psalms 54:1 «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? » Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Maschil] Instructing us, saith one, to draw near to God, as dangers draw nearer to us.
When the Ziphims] Which signifieth flourishing, Erant autem Ziphaei ex stirpe Caleb 1 Chronicles 2:42. ut et Nabal, sed degeneres; they might have flourishing estates, but they had withered souls; else they would never have sought twice ever to have betrayed good David into the hand of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:19; 1 Samuel 26:1 .
Came and said to Saul] If a ruler hearken to lies all his servants are wicked, Proverbs 29:12; See Trapp on " Pro 29:12 "
Doth not David hide himself with us?] viz. In the wood and wilderness near unto our city? But what if he did, should they therefore discover him, and so pull the vengeance of God upon themselves and their city? George Eagles (alias Trudgeover the world) hid himself in a grain field, was exposed by Ralph Lurdain for money, and burnt at Chelmsford; where afterwards the same Lurdain was hanged for stealing a horse; and confessed it was just in God upon him, for betraying that innocent man. (Acts & Mon.)
Ver. 1. Save me, O God, by thy name] i.e. By thyself, and especially by thy goodness, whereby thou art nominatissimus in ecclesia, well known in thy Church, as a main piece of thy name, Exodus 34:6,7 .