Verse 13
"Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah;
Behold my affliction which I suffer of them that hate me,
Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;
That I may show forth all thy praise.
In the gates of the daughter of Zion
I will rejoice in thy salvation."
This is an intensely personal petition from David, who in spite of great victories which God had given him, was nevertheless still a sufferer from the afflictions brought upon him by enemies who hated him. It is ever thus for the child of God. Whatever victories are won, there are always situations that call for the special blessing of heaven if the faithful are actually to receive the final and ultimate triumph of entering heaven itself.
"The gates of death." Our Lord mentioned these in Matthew 16:18. See our comment on that passage for opinions regarding what these gates are. Here they are contrasted with the gates of the daughter of Zion; and what a difference there is!
"The gates of death open for all men;the gates of Zion open only for the saved.
The gates of death open regardless of our will;
the gates of Zion open only by our choice.
The gates of death are dark with terror;
the gates of Zion are bright with hope and joy."[16]
Of course, the gates of the daughter of Zion here are a symbolical representation of the Lord's Church as in Hebrews 12:22.
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