David here lets us know, 1. How he was discouraged in his duty by the
fear of man: Princes persecuted him. They looked upon him as a traitor
and an enemy to the government, and under that notion sought his life,
and bade him go serve other gods, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. It has been the
common lot of the best men to be persecuted; and the case is the worse
if princes be the persecutors, for they have not only the sword in
their hand, and therefore can do the more hurt, but they have the law
on their side, and can do it with reputation and a colour of justice.
It is sad that the power which magistrates have from God, and should
use for him, should ever be employed against him. But marvel not at the
matter, Eccl. v. 8. It was a comfort to David that when princes
persecuted him he could truly say it was without cause, he never gave
them any provocation. 2. How he was kept to his duty, notwithstanding,
by the fear of God: "They would make me stand in awe of them and their
word, and do as they bid me; but my heart stands in awe of thy word,
and I am resolved to please God, and keep in with him, whoever is
displeased and falls out with me." Every gracious soul stands in awe of
the word of God, of the authority of its precepts and the terror of its
threatenings; and to those that do so nothing appears, in the power and
wrath of man, at all formidable. We ought to obey God rather than men,
and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the
frowns of all the world, Luke xii. 4, 5. The heart that stands in awe
of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from
persecution.