We have now before us one of the choicest parts of the Old Testament, wherein there is so much of Christ and his gospel, as well as of God and his law, that it has been called the summary of both Testaments. The history of Israel; which we were long upon, instructed us in the knowledge of God. The book of Job gave us profitable disputations, concerning God and his providence. But this book brings us into the sanctuary, draws us off from converse with men, with the philosophers or disputers of this world, and directs us into communion with God. It is called, the Psalms, in Hebrew Tehillim, which properly signifies Psalms of praise, because many of them are such; but Psalms is a more general word, meaning all poetical compositions, fitted to be sung. St. Peter styles it, The book of Psalms. It is a collection of Psalms, of all the Psalms that were divinely inspired, composed at several times, on several occasions, and here put together, without any dependence on each other. Thus they were preserved from being scattered and lost, and kept in readiness for the service of the church. One of these is expressly said to be the prayer of Moses. That some of them were penned by Asaph, is intimated, 2Chron 29:30, where they are said to praise the Lord, in the words of David and Asaph, who is there called a seer or prophet. And some of the Psalms seem to have been penned long after, at the time of the captivity in Babylon. But the far greater part were wrote by David, who was raised up for establishing the ordinance of singing Psalms in the church of God, as Moses and Aaron were for settling the ordinance of sacrifice. Theirs indeed is superseded, but this will remain, 'till it be swallowed up in the songs of eternity. There is little in the book of Psalms of the ceremonial law. But the moral law is all along magnified, and made honourable. And Christ the foundation, corner and top - stone of all religion, is here clearly spoken of; both his sufferings, with the glory that should follow, and the, kingdom he would set up in the world.
This psalm was put first as a preface to all the rest, as a powerful persuasive to the serious study of the whole book, and of the rest of the holy scripture, taken from that blessedness which attends upon the study and practice of it. It shews us, the holiness and happiness of a good man, ver. 1 - 3 The sinfulness and misery of a wicked man, ver. 4, 5. The ground and reason of both, ver. 6.
| 1 | Blessed - The Hebrew words are very emphatical: O the blessedness of that man! Counsel - That doth not lead his life according to their counsel, or manner of living. Standeth - Which notes a more settled abode in it. Way - In their manner of conversation. Seat - Which notes a constant and resolved perseverance in their wicked courses. Scornful - Of those who make a mock of sin, and scoff at goodness and goodmen. Divers observe a gradation in this verse; the following clause still exceeding the former, for standing is more than walking, and sitting more than standing; and sinners in scripture use, are worse than the ungodly, and the scornful are the worst of sinners. |
| 2 | Day and night - Not seldom and slightly, but diligently, and constantly. |
| 3 | Whither - His happiness is not short and transitory, but, like those trees which are continually green and flourishing. |
| 4 | Ungodly - Their condition is far different. Chaff - They are restless and unquiet: their seeming felicity, hath no firm foundation, but quickly vanishes and flees away as chaff before the wind. |
| 5 | Not stand - Not endure the trial. Judgment - In the great and general judgment of the world. |
| 6 | Knoweth - He approves, loves, and delights in them, and therefore will recompence them. Perish - All their designs and courses shall come to nothing, and they shall perish with them. |
There is nothing in this psalm which is not applicable to Christ, but some things which are not all applicable to David. Threatenings denounced against the adversaries of Christ's kingdom, ver. 1 - 6. Promises made to Christ, ver. 7 - 9. Counsel given to all, to submit to him, ver. 10 - 12.
| 1 | Heathen - Who did so against David, 2Sam 5:6,17 1Chron 14:8, and against Christ, Luke 18:32 Acts 4:25, &c. |
| 2 | The kings - Herod, and Pilate and others with or after them. Earth - So called in way of contempt and to shew their madness in opposing the God of heaven. Set - The word denotes the combination of their counsels and forces. Anointed - Against the king whom God hath chosen and exalted. |
| 3 | And cast - The same thing expressed with more emphasis. Let us not only break off their yoke and the cords by which it is fastened upon us, but let us cast them far away. |
| 4 | Sitteth - As the king of the whole world. Heavens - As an evidence both of God's clear and certain knowledge of all things that are done below, and of his sovereign and irresistible power. Laugh - Shall despise them and all their crafty devices. |
| 6 | Yet - Notwithstanding all their artifices and combinations. My king - Who ruleth in my stead, and according to my will, and for my glory. Zion - Over my church and people. Zion strictly taken, was an hill on the north part of Jerusalem, where there was a strong fort, called the city of David, but in a more large sense it is put for the city of Jerusalem, for the temple of Jerusalem, built upon the hill of Moriah, which was either a part of mount Sion, or adjoining to it; for the church of the Jews, and for the Christian church. |
| 7 |
The decree - The will and appointment of God concerning this.
My sin - Which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet
much more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this
title both in the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is
expressly appropriated by the holy ghost, who is the best interpreter
of his own words, Acts 13:33 Heb 1:5.
This day - This may be understood either,
|
| 8 | Earth - Not only the Jewish nation, but the whole world. |
| 9 | Them - Those that will not quietly submit to thee, shall be crushed and destroyed by thee. This was in part fulfilled, when the Jews who persisted in unbelief, were destroyed by the Romans power: And in the destruction of the Pagan power, when the Christian religion came to be established. But it will not be compleatly fulfilled, 'till all opposing power and principality be put down. |
| 10 | Now - While you have time for repentance and submission. |
| 11 | Fear - With an awful sense of his great and glorious majesty. Rejoice - Do not esteem his yoke your dishonour and grievance; but rejoice in this inestimable grace and benefit. Trembling - This is added to warn them of taking heed that they do not turn this grace of God into wantonness. |
| 12 | Kiss - In token of your subjection and adoration; whereof this was a sign among the eastern nations. The son - The son of God. Ye perish - Be taken out of the way by death or destruction. Wrath - The least degree of his anger is terrible. |
David complains to God of his enemies, ver. 1, 2. Comforts himself in God, and the experience of his goodness, ver. 3 - 6. Triumphs in the salvation of God, ver. 7, 8 A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
| 2 | My soul - Of me: the soul being commonly put for the person. In God - God hath utterly forsaken him. Selah - This word is no where used but in this poetical book, and in the song of Habakkuk. Probably it was a musical note, directing the singer either to lift up his voice, to make a pause, or to lengthen the tune. But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable passage; which gives occasion to think that it served also to quicken the attention of the singer and hearer. |
| 3 | A shield - My defence. My glory - Thou hast formerly given, and wilt farther give occasion of glorying in thy power and favour. Lifter up - Thou wilt restore me to my former power and dignity. |
| 4 | His hill - Out of heaven, so called, Psal 15:1. |
| 5 | Slept - Securely, casting all my cares upon God. Awaked - After a sweet and undisturbed sleep. |
| 7 | Cheek bone - Which implies contempt and reproach. Teeth - Their strength and the instruments of their cruelty. He compares them to wild beasts. |
David prays, reproves the wicked, and testifies the happiness of the righteous, ver. 1 - 3. Exhorts them to consider and serve God, ver. 4 - 5. Declares his own experience of the grace of God, ver. 6 - 8. To the chief musician on Neginoth, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Chief musician - The director of the musick of the temple. Neginoth - Or, on stringed instruments, as this word is translated, Hab 3:19.
| 1 | O God - The witness and defender of my righteous cause. |
| 2 | My glory - By his glory probably he means that honour which God had conferred upon him. Vanity - Wickedness. Lying - Those calumnies which they raised against him, to make him odious to all the people. |
| 3 | Godly - Me, whom, though you traduce as an hypocrite, God hath pronounced to he a man after his own heart, 1Sam 13:14. For himself - In his stead, or to be his vicegerent, as all kings are, and especially the kings of God's own people. |
| 4 | In awe - Be afraid, if not of me, yet of God, who hath engaged in my cause. Sin not - By prosecuting your rebellion against God's authority. On your bed - Calmly consider these things in the silent night, when you are at leisure from distracting business. Be still - Compose your tumultuous minds. |
| 5 | Offer - Unto God, that he may be reconciled to you. Righteousness - Righteous sacrifices; which requires that the persons offering them be righteous and do righteous things, and offer them with an honest mind, with faith and true repentance. Without which, he intimates, that all their sacrifices were of no esteem with God, and would be wholly unprofitable to them. |
| 6 | Many - Of my followers, who are weary of waiting upon God. Who - Who will put an end to our troubles, and give us tranquility. Lift up - Upon me and my friends. Give us an assurance of thy love, and evidence it by thy powerful assistance. |
| 7 | Thou hast - Whatsoever thou shalt do with me for the future, I have at present unspeakable satisfaction in the testimonies of thy love to my soul; more than worldly persons have in the time of a plentiful harvest. |
| 8 | In peace - In tranquility of mind, resting securely upon God's promises. |
David beseeches God to hear his prayer, ver. 1 - 3. Assures himself of God's justice against his enemies, ver. 4 - 6. Declares his resolution: to serve God, ver. 7. Prays for himself and the people of God, and against his enemies, ver. 8 - 12. To the chief musician upon Nehiloth, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Nehiloth - This is no where else used in scripture. It is thought to signify a wind - instrument, as Neginoth signified stringed instruments.
| 1 | Meditation - My prayer accompanied with deep thoughts and fervent affections of soul. |
| 3 | Morning - Every morning. As soon as I wake, I am still with thee, as he saith, Psal 139:18. The first thing that I do is to pray to thee. |
| 4 | Surely - Thou dost not approve of, nor delight in them, or in their prayers. Dwelt - Have any fellowship with thee. |
| 7 | Come - With holy boldness and confidence. Mercy - Trusting only in thy great mercy. Fear - With an holy dread and reverence of thy majesty. Towards - Looking towards it, when I cannot come to it. |
| 8 | Righteousness - In thy righteous laws. Because - That I may give them no occasion of slandering me, or religion for my sake. The way - The way wherein thou wouldst have to one walk. Plain - That I may clearly discern it, and readily walk in it. |
| 9 | Throat - Wide opened ready to devour all that come within their reach. A metaphor from wild beasts gaping for the prey. |
| 10 | Destroy - Condemn and punish them. Cast - Out of thy land, and from among thy people. |
Title of the psalm. Upon Sheminith - Or, upon the eighth. It is thought to be the loftiest note, as Alamoth is the lowest; but this is only conjecture; the Jews themselves have no certain knowledge of their own ancient musick.
| 2 | Bones - My inmost parts. |
| 5 | In death - Among the dead. Remembrance - He speaks of the remembrance or celebration of God's grace in the land of the living, to the edification of God's church, and the propagation of true religion among men; which is not done in the other life. |
| 6 | With my tears - It well becomes the greatest spirits to be tender, and to relent under the tokens of God's displeasure. David who could face Goliath himself, melts into tears at the remembrance of sin, and under the apprehension of Divine wrath, and it is no diminution to his character. |
| 8 | Hath heard - By the workings of God's grace upon his heart, he knew his prayer was accepted. His tears had a voice, in the ears of the God of mercy. Silent tears are no speechless ones. Our tears are cries to God. |
| 10 | Ashamed - Of their vain confidence. Return - Repent of their sins and return to their obedience. |
Title of the psalm. Shiggaion - This seems to be the name of a kind of song, or instrument, which then was well known, but now is only matter of conjecture. Words - The false report raised by him. Cush - Probably some eminent commander or courtier under Saul.
| 2 | Lest - Mine enemy. Tear - Out of my body. |
| 3 | Hands - Which Cush and others falsely lay to my charge. Iniquity - In my actions. |
| 4 | Deliver - When it was in my power to destroy him, as 1Sam 24:2 - 6. |
| 6 | Lift up - Glorify thyself, and shew thyself to be above them. Commanded - To execute that righteous sentence, which thou hast commanded, appointed, and declared by thy prophet Samuel. |
| 7 | Compass - They will come from all parts to worship thee, and offer to thee praises and sacrifices. High - To thy tribunal, to sit there and judge my cause. An allusion to earthly tribunals, which generally are set up on high above the people. |
| 9 | O - Put a stop to their wicked practices. |
| 11 | Every day - Even then, when his providence seems to favour them, and they are most secure and confident. |
| 12 | He will - God will hasten, and speedily execute his judgments upon him. |
| 13 | Him - For the wicked. Ordaineth - Designs or fits for this very use. Of all sinners, persecutors are set up as the fairest marks of Divine wrath. They set God at defiance but cannot set themselves out of the reach of his judgments. |
| 14 | Travelleth - This metaphor denotes his deep design, and vigorous endeavours for doing mischief, and his restlessness and pain 'till he have accomplished it. |
David extols the majesty, power, and providence of God, ver. 1, 2. And his loving - kindness to mankind, ver. 3 - 5. In giving him dominion over this lower world, ver. 6 - 9. To the chief musician upon Gittith, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Gittith - This also is supposed to be the name of a tune, or instrument.
| 1 | In - Not only in Israel, but among all nations. Which shews that this psalm speaks of the Messiah, and the times of the New Testament. Heavens - Where thy throne of glory is established, where the blessed angels celebrate thy praises, where Christ sitteth at thy right hand in glorious majesty, from whence he poureth down excellent gifts upon babes. |
| 2 | Babes - Weak and foolish, and contemptible persons, who are frequently called babes or children. Such are very unfit to grapple with an enemy: and therefore when such persons conquer the most powerful and malicious enemies, it must needs confound them, and advance the glory of God: as indeed it did, when such mean persons as the apostles, and disciples of Christ, maintained and propagated the gospel, in spite of all the wit, power, and rage of their enemies. Ordained - Perfectly or firmly settled strength; that is, the praise of his strength or power, Mat 21:16, it is rendered praise. Still - Silence and confound them. Avenger - The devil, and all who are his vassals and espouse his quarrel. |
| 3 | The moon - Either the sun is included under this general title: or he omitted it, because he made this psalm by night. Ordained - Placed in that excellent and unalterable order, and directed to their several motions. |
| 4 | What is man - How mean and inconsiderable a thing is man, if compared with thy glorious majesty. Man - Heb. infirm, or miserable man. By which it is apparent that he speaks of man, not according to the state of his creation, but as fallen into a state of sin and misery, and mortality. Mindful - Carest for him, and conferest such high favours upon him. The son - Heb. the son of Adam, that great apostate from God, the sinful son of a sinful father, his son by likeness of disposition and manners, no less than by procreation. All which tends to magnify the following mercy. Visitest - Not in anger, as that word is sometimes used, but with thy grace and mercy. |
| 5 | For - Thou hast in Christ mercifully restored man to his primitive estate, wherein he was but one remove below the angels; from which he was fallen by sin. Crowned - Man, fallen and lost man: who is actually restored to glory and dominion in Christ his head and representative, who received this crown and dominion for man's good, and in his stead; which he will in due time communicate to his members. And so the two expositions of this place concerning mankind and concerning Christ, may be reconciled. For he speaks of that honourable estate conferred first upon Christ, and then by his hands upon mankind. But the words more literally rendered are, Thou madest him a little less than God. And hence some have inferred, that man in his original state was the highest of all creatures. |
Title of the psalm. Muth - labben - This also seems to be a title of some tune, or instrument: of which we may be content to be ignorant, as the Jewish doctors are.
| 3 | Turned back - Put to flight. |
| 7 | But - Though cities and people may perish, yet the Lord abides for ever. Which is sufficient for the terror of his enemies, and the comfort of his church. |
| 10 | Thy name - Thy infinite power and wisdom, and faithfulness and goodness. The name of God is frequently put for God. Put their trust - The experience of thy faithfulness to thy people in all ages, is a just ground for their confidence. |
| 11 | Zion - Whose special and gracious presence is there. People - To the heathen nations. |
| 12 | Blood - The bloodshed of his innocent and holy ones: which though he may not seem to regard for a season, yet he will certainly call the authors of it to a severe account. Them - The humble, as it follows, or the oppressed, ver.9, that trust in him, and seek to him, ver.10, whom he seemed to have forgotten. |
| 14 | Gates - In the great assemblies. These gates he elegantly opposes to the former. Of - Of the people who live or meet together in Zion. For cities are as it were mothers to their people, and the people are commonly called their daughters. So the names of the daughters of Egypt, Jer 46:11, and of Edom, Lam 4:21,22, and of Tyre, Psal 45:12, are put for the people of those places. |
| 16 | Higgaion - This is either a musical term, or a note of attention, intimating that the matter deserves deep meditation, or consideration, as the word signifies. |
| 17 | Forget - That do not regard God, nor his precepts, nor his threatenings and judgments. |
David complains of and describes the wicked, ver. 1 - 15. Prays to God to appear against them, and rejoices in the prospect of it, ver. 12 - 18.
| 3 | Boasteth - He glorieth in his very sins which are his shame, and especially in the satisfaction of his desires. |
| 4 | Countenance - So called, because though pride be properly seated in the heart, yet it is manifest in the countenance. |
| 5 | Judgments - Thy threatenings denounced against, and punishments inflicted upon sinners. Are far - He doth not regard or fear them: yea he despises them, being confident that he can blow them away with a breath. This is a gesture of contempt or disdain, both in scripture, and other authors. |
| 7 | Tongue - Under his fair and plausible speeches, mischief is hid and covered. Vanity - Or, injury, the vexation or oppression of other men. |
| 8 | Sitteth - Not within the villages, but in the ways bordering upon them, or leading to them, as robbers use to do. Are set - Heb. Are hid. He watches and looks out of his lurking - place. He alludes still to the practices of robbers. |
| 10 | Croucheth - Like a lion (for he continues the same metaphor) which lies close upon the ground, partly that he may not be discovered, and partly that he may more suddenly and surely lay hold on his prey. |
| 13 | Contemn - Why dost thou by giving them impunity, suffer and occasion them to despise thee? |
| 14 | Requite - Heb. to give (to restore or pay the mischief which they have done to others) with thy hand, by thy own extraordinary providence, because the oppressed were destitute of all other succours. Fatherless - Of such as have no friend or helper, one kind of them being put for all. |
| 15 | Seek - Search for it, and punish these wicked atheists. 'Till - No such wickedness be left in the world, or at least in the church. |
| 16 | Is king - To whom it belongs to protect his subjects. Therefore his peoples case is never desperate, seeing he ever lives to help them. The heathen - The Canaanites; whom God, as king of the world, expelled, and gave their land to his people. By which great example he confirms his faith and hope for the future. His land - Out of Canaan, which God calls his land, because he gave it to them, and fixed his presence and dwelling in it. |
| 17 | Prepare - By thy grace and good spirit, that they may so pray as thou wilt hear. |
| 18 | To judge - To give sentence for them, and against their enemies. The man - Earthly and mortal men, who yet presume to contend with thee their maker. |
David encourages himself in God, against the attempts of his enemies, ver. 1 - 3. Asserts the dominion and providence of God, ver. 4 - 7 To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 1 | Ye - Mine enemies. |
| 2 | For lo - David having directed his speech to his enemies, now turns it to God, and pours out before him his complaints. Ready - They lay designs for my destruction and make all things ready to execute them. |
| 3 | Foundations - Piety, justice, fidelity, and mercy, which are the pillars or foundations of a state or kingdom. What - The condition of all righteous men will be desperate. |
| 4 | Temple - In heaven; which is mentioned as an evidence of his glorious majesty, of his sovereign power and dominion over all men and things, and of his accurate inspection into all men and their actions. Throne - Where he sits to examine all causes, and to give righteous sentence according to every man's works. Try - He throughly discerns all men, their most inward and secret actions: and therefore he sees and will reward my innocency, notwithstanding all the calumnies of mine enemies; and withal he sees all their secret designs, and will discover and defeat them. |
| 5 | Trieth - He chastens even righteous persons, yet still he loves them, and therefore will in due time deliver them. But as for the wicked, God hates them, and will severely punish them. |
| 6 | Rain - Send them plentifully, swiftly, and suddenly, as rain commonly falls from heaven. Snares - Grievous plagues or judgments, which are called snares, because wicked men are often surprized with them when they least expect them. And because they cannot escape them, or get out of them; but are held fast and destroyed by them. Horrible tempests - Dreadful judgments so called, in allusion to the destruction of Sodom by these means. But this he seems to speak not so much of present calamities, as of eternal punishments. This - Is their portion, and as it were the meat and drink appointed them by God. |
David begs help of God, having no man whom he could trust, ver. 1, 2. Describes the wicked and assures himself, that God would punish them, and preserve the just, ver. 3 - 8. To the chief musician upon Sheminith, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Sheminith - The same title is prefixed to Psalm 6:1.
| 4 | Prevail - By raising and spreading evil reports concerning him. Our own - At our own disposal to speak what we please, who can control or restrain us? |
| 5 | Puffeth - From him that despises him, and hopes to destroy him with a puff of breath. |
| 6 | Pure - Without the least mixture of falsehood; and therefore shall infallibly be fulfilled. |
| 7 | Thou shalt keep them - Thy words or promises: these thou wilt observe and keep, both now, and from this generation for ever. |
| 8 | Walk - They fill all places, and go about boldly and securely. |
David complains to God, ver. 1, 2. Prays for help, ver. 3, 4. Rejoices in hope, ver. 5, 6. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 2 | How long - Shall I be in such perplexities, not knowing what course to take? |
| 3 | Lighten - Revive and comfort, and deliver me from the darkness of death, which is ready to come upon me. |
| 6 | I will sing - It is a common thing for David and other prophets to speak of future deliverances as if they were already come, that so they may signify both the infallible certainty of the thing, and their firm assurance thereof. |
The atheism and corruption of mankind, ver. 1 - 3. An expostulation with sinners, ver. 4 - 6. A prayer for the salvation of God, ver. 7. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 1 | The fool - The wicked man. Good - That is, actions really good or pleasing to God. |
| 2 | Looked - God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men. Upon - Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, ver.4,5. |
| 3 | Gone - From God, and from the rule which he hath given them. Filthy - Loathsome and abominable to God. |
| 4 | Bread - With as little remorse, and with as much greediness. Call not - They are guilty not only of gross injustice towards men, but also of horrid impiety and contempt of God. |
| 5 | There - Upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panick fear. For - God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have cause to tremble. |
| 6 | Because - This was the ground of their contempt, that he lived by faith in God's promise and providence. |
| 7 | O that - These words immediately concern the deliverance of Israel out of that sinful state, in which they now were; which having described, he concludes, with a prayer to God to help them out of Zion, where the ark then was, but principally they design the spiritual redemption and salvation of all God's Israel by the Messiah. The captivity - His captive people. The children of Jacob, as Aaron is named for his sons, 1Chron 12:27. |
The scope of this short, but excellent psalm, is to shew us the way to heaven. Here is a question proposed, ver. 1. The answer to it, ver. 2 - 5. A psalm of David.
| 1 | Who - Who shall so dwell in thy church here, as to dwell with thee for ever in heaven? |
| 2 | Uprightly - Loving, and serving God, and loving his neighbour not in word only, but in truth; and this constantly. Worketh - Makes it his business to do justly, to give to every one his due, first to God, and then to men. Speaketh - His words and professions to God and men, agree with the thoughts and purposes of his heart. |
| 3 | He - He that doth not speak evil of his neighbour. Neighbour - That is, any man. Nor taketh - Into his mouth, doth not raise it, neither spread or propagate it; or believe it without sufficient reason. |
| 4 | Vile - An ungodly man. Honoureth - He highly esteems and loves them, though they be mean as to their worldly condition, and though they may differ from him in some opinions or practices of lesser moment. Sweareth - A promissory oath. Hurt - To his own damage. As if a man solemnly swear, that he will sell him such an estate at a price below the full worth; or that, he will give a poor man such a sum of money, which afterwards he finds inconvenient to him. Changeth not - His purpose, but continues firm and resolved to perform his promise. |
| 5 | To usury - In such a manner as is contrary to God's law: of which see otherwise, Exod 22:25 Levit 25:36,37, &c. Reward - Or, a bribe for him who hath a bad cause. Moved - He shall abide with God here, and when he dies be for ever with the Lord. |
David professes his trust in God, his adherence to him and love of his people, ver. 1 - 3. His satisfaction in God, ver. 4 - 7. He speaks in the person of Christ, of Gods presence with him, of his resurrection and the glory that should follow, ver. 8 - 11. Michtam of David.
Title of the psalm. Michtam - This seems to be a title belonging to the musick or the song, which, with the rest, is now lost and unknown. As David was both a member, and an eminent type, of Christ, he speaks of himself sometimes in the one and sometimes in the other capacity: and therefore having spoken of himself as a member of Christ, in the former part of the psalm, he proceeds to consider himself as a type of Christ, and being inspired by the holy Ghost: towards the close he speaks such things, as though they might be accommodated to himself in a very imperfect sense, yet could not properly, belong to any but to Christ, to whom therefore they are justly appropriated in the New Testament.
| 2 | To thee - Thou dost not need me or my service, nor art capable of any advantage from it. |
| 3 | But - I bear a singular respect and love to all saints, for thy sake, whose friends and servants they are, and whose image they bear. This more properly agrees to David, than to Christ, whose goodness was principally designed for, and imparted to sinners. |
| 4 | Sorrows - Having shewed his affection to the servants of the true God, he now declares what an abhorrency he has for those that worship idols. Offerings - In which the Gentiles used sometimes to drink part of the blood of their sacrifices. Names - Of those other gods mentioned before. |
| 5 | The Lord - I rejoice in God as my portion, and desire no better, no other felicity. Cup - The portion which is put into my cup, as the ancient manner was in feasts, where each had his portion of meat, and of wine allotted to him. Lot - My inheritance divided to me by lot, as the custom then was. |
| 6 | Lines - My portion, which was measured with lines. Are fallen - In a land flowing with milk and honey, and above all, blessed with the presence and knowledge of God. |
| 7 | The Lord - Hath inspired that wisdom into me, by which I have chosen the Lord for my portion, and am so fully satisfied with him. Reins - My inward thoughts and affections, being inspired and moved by the holy spirit. Instruct - Direct me how to please God, and put my whole trust in him. Night - Even when others are asleep, my mind is working upon God, and improving the silence and solitude of holy meditations. |
| 8 | I have set - I have always presented him to my mind, as my witness and judge, as my patron and protector. Hitherto David seems to have spoken with respect to himself, but now he is transported by the spirit of prophecy, and carried above himself, to speak as a type of Christ, in whom this and the following verses were truly accomplished. Christ as man did always set his father's will and glory before him. Right - hand - To strengthen, protect, assist, and comfort me: as this assistance of God was necessary to Christ as man. Moved - Though the archers shoot grievously at me, and both men and devils seek my destruction, and God sets himself against me as an enemy, yet I am assured he will deliver me out of all my distresses. |
| 9 | My glory - My tongue, which is a man's glory and privilege, above all other living creatures. Rejoiceth - Declares my inward joy. For this word signifies not so much eternal joy, as the outward demonstrations of it. My flesh - My body shall quietly rest in the grave. Shall rest - in confident assurance of its incorruption there, and of its resurrection to an immortal life: the flesh or body is in itself, but a dead lump of clay; yet hope is here ascribed to it figuratively, as it is to the brute creatures, Rom 8:19. |
| 10 | Hell - In the state of the dead. Holy one - Me thy holy son, whom thou hast sanctified and sent into the world. It is peculiar to Christ, to be called the holy one of God. To see - To be corrupted or putrefied in the grave, as the bodies of others are. |
| 11 | Life - Thou wilt raise me from the grave, and conduct me to the place and state of everlasting felicity. Presence - In that heavenly paradise, where thou art gloriously present, where thou dost clearly and fully discover the light of thy countenance; whereas in this life thou hidest thy face and shewest us only thy back - parts. Right - hand - Which he mentions as a place of the greatest honour, the place where the saints are placed at the last day, and where Christ himself is said to sit, Psal 110:1. Pleasures - All our joys are empty and defective: But in heaven there is fulness of joy. Our pleasures here are transient and momentary; but those at God's right hand are pleasures for evermore. For they are the pleasures of immortal souls, in the enjoyment of an eternal God. |
David appealing to God for his integrity, begs for defence against his enemies, ver. 1 - 9. Describes their wickedness, ver. 10 - 12. Prays for deliverance from them, and rests in hope, ver. 13 - 15. A prayer of David.
| 1 | The right - Regard my righteous cause. |
| 2 | Sentence - Judgment on my behalf. Come - From thy tribunal. |
| 3 | Proved - Or, searched or tried it, by many temptations and afflictions. Night - When mens minds being freed from the distraction of business, and from the society of men, they act more vigorously and freely, according to their several inclinations. Tried - As gold - smiths do metals. Nothing - Nothing of unrighteousness. Purposed - I have resolved, upon deliberation, as the word implies. Mouth - I am so far from practising against Saul's life, as they charge me, that I will not wrong him so much as in a word. |
| 4 | Concerning - Observing the works of the men of this age, how wicked they are, I was resolved to take more care in ordering my own actions. By - By the help of thy blessed word. Paths - The customs and practices. Destroyer - Or, of the violent man: such as Saul, and his courtiers and soldiers. |
| 7 | By - By thy great power. |
| 10 | They - They live in splendor and prosperity. |
| 11 | Steps - In all our ways. We go from place to place, to rocks, and caves, and woods; but wheresoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us. Eyes - They keep their eyes fixed upon us. Bowing - Couching down upon the earth, that they may watch the fittest opportunity to surprize us. |
| 13 | Sword - Thy instrument to execute vengeance upon thine enemies. Do not punish me with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men. |
| 14 | Thy hand - Wherewith thou dost correct me. World - Who set their hearts upon this world, and neither have, nor desire any other portion. Belly - Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Job 20:20. Prov 20:30. Treasure - With extraordinary wealth and glory. Children - When many of thy faithful servants are barren, these are blessed with a numerous posterity. |
| 15 | I will - I do not place my portion in earthly treasures, but in beholding God's face, in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which is enjoyed in part in this life, but not fully. Satisfied - The time is coming, wherein I shall be abundantly satisfied with beholding thy face. Awake - When I arise from he dead. Likeness - With the image of God stamped upon my glorified soul. |
David triumphs in God, ver. 1 - 3. Praises God for his past deliverances, ver. 4 - 19. Takes the comfort of his integrity, which God had thereby cleared up, ver. 20 - 28. Gives God the glory of all his victories, ver. 29 - 42. Express his hope of what God would do farther, ver. 43 - 50. This psalm with some few and small variations, is written, 2Sam 22:1 - 51. It was composed by David towards the end of his life, upon the occasion here mentioned. To the chief musician, A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song, in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and he said:
Title of the psalm. Servant - Who esteems it a greater honour to be thy servant, than to be king of Israel. Saul - After the death of Saul, and the conquest of all his succeeding enemies, and his own firm establishment in his kingdom.
| 1 | Love - Most affectionately, and with my whole soul; as the Hebrew word signifies. |
| 2 | Rock - To which I flee for refuge, as the Israelites did to their rocks. Horn - It is a metaphor from those beasts whose strength lies in their horns. |
| 4 | Death - Dangerous and deadly troubles. Floods - Their multitude, and strength, and violent assaults, breaking in upon me like a flood. |
| 5 | Sorrows - Which brought me to the brink of the grave. Death - Had almost taken hold of me, before I was aware. |
| 6 | Temple - Out of his heavenly habitation. |
| 7 | Then - Then God appeared on my behalf in a glorious manner, to the terror and confusion of all mine enemies, which is here compared to an earthquake. |
| 8 | There went, &c. - All these seem to be figurative expressions, denoting the greatness of his anger. |
| 9 | Bowed - By producing thick and dark clouds, whereby the heavens seem to come down to the earth. Came - Not by change of place, but by the manifestation of his presence and power on my behalf. |
| 10 | Cherub - Or, upon the cherubim, upon the angels, who are also called God's chariots, Psal 68:17, upon which he is said to sit and ride. All which is not to be understood grossly, but only to denote God's using the ministry of angels, in raising such storms and tempests. Fly - As swiftly as the wind. |
| 11 | Darkness - He covered himself with dark clouds. Waters - Watery vapours. |
| 12 | At - His glorious and powerful appearance. Passed - Or, passed away, vanished, being dissolved into showers. |
| 14 | Arrows - Lightnings. Them - Mine enemies. |
| 15 | Discovered - By mighty earthquakes, which overturned the earth, and made its lower parts visible. |
| 18 | Prevented - They had almost surprized me. |
| 19 | Brought - Out of my straits and difficulties, into a state of freedom and comfort. So he ascribes all his mercies to God's good pleasure, as the first spring of them. |
| 20 | Righteousness - Just cause. The innocency of my actions towards Saul, from whose blood I kept my hands pure. |
| 22 | Judgments - I diligently studied and considered them. |
| 24 | Iniquity - From that sin which I was most inclined or tempted to. |
| 25 | Upright - Thou metest to every one the same measure, which he meteth out to others; and therefore thou wilt perform mercy and truth, to those who are merciful and true to others. |
| 26 | Pure - Free from the least mixture or appearance of unrighteousness, or unfaithfulness. Froward - Thou wilt cross him and walk contrary to him. |
| 28 | Lightest - Given me safety, and comfort, and glory, and posterity also. |
| 29 | Troop - Broken through the armed troops of mine enemies. Wall - I have scaled the walls of their strongest cites. |
| 30 | Perfect - His providence, though it may sometimes be dark, yet is always wise and just, and unblameable. Tried - The truth of God's promises is approved by innumerable experiences. |
| 31 | Who - Our Lord is the only God, and therefore there is none, that can hinder him from accomplishing his own work. |
| 32 | Perfect - Perfectly plain and smooth, and clear from impediments. |
| 33 | High - places - Confirms me in that high estate into which he hath advanced me. |
| 35 | Salvation - Thy protection, which hath been to me like a shield. Held - Kept me from, falling into those mischiefs, which mine enemies designed. Gentleness - Thy clemency, whereby thou hast pardoned my sins; thy grace and benignity. |
| 36 | Slipt - As they are apt to do in narrow and uneven ways. |
| 43 | People - From contentions, and seditions, under Saul, and Ishbosheth, and Absalom. Heathens - Of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Syrians, and others. Not known - Even barbarous and remote nations. |
| 44 | Hear - As soon as they understand my will and pleasure, they shall instantly comply with it. |
| 45 | Close places - Out of their strong holds, where they shall lurk for fear of me. |
| 46 | The Lord - He and he only is the true living God. |
| 48 | Violent man - From Saul: whom for honour's sake he forbears to mention. |
| 49 | Heathen - David is here transported beyond himself, and speaks this in special relation to Christ who was to be his seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, and by whom alone this was done. And therefore this is justly applied to him, and to his calling of the Gentiles, Rom 15:9. |
| 50 | His king - To the king whom God himself chose and anointed, and to all his posterity; and especially to the Messiah, who is called David's seed, Acts 13:23 Rom 1:3. |
The book of the creatures shews us the power and Godhead of the Creator, ver. 1 - 6. The book of the scriptures shews us his will; the excellency thereof, ver. 7 - 11. A prayer against sin, ver. 12, 14. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 1 | The heavens - They are as a legible book, wherein he that runs may read it. The glory - His eternal power and Godhead, his infinite wisdom and goodness. Firmament - Or, the expansion, all the vast space extended from the earth to the highest heavens, with all its goodly furniture. |
| 2 | Day - Every day and night repeats these demonstrations of God's glory. Uttereth - Or, poureth forth, constantly and abundantly, as a fountain doth water; So this Hebrew word signifies. Knowledge - Gives us a clear knowledge or discovery of God their author. |
| 3 | Heard - Or, understood; there are divers nations in the world, which have several languages, so that one cannot discourse with, or be understood by another, but the heavens are such an universal teacher, that they can speak to all people, and be clearly understood by all. |
| 4 | Line - Their lines, the singular number being put for the plural. And this expression is very proper, because the heavens do not teach men audibly, or by speaking to their ears, but visibly by propounding things to their eyes, which is done in lines or writings. Gone - Is spread abroad. Earth - So as to be seen and read, by all the inhabitants of the earth. Words - Their magnificent structure, their exquisite order, and most regular course, by which they declare their author, no less than men discover their minds by their words. Sun - Which being the most illustrious and useful of all the heavenly bodies, is here particularly mentioned. |
| 5 | Bridegroom - Gloriously adorned with light as with a beautiful garment, and smiling upon the world with a pleasant countenance. Chamber - In which he is poetically supposed to have rested all night, and thence to break forth as it were on a sudden. Strong man - Conscious and confident of his own strength. |
| 6 | The ends - His course is constant from east to west, and thence to the east again. So that there is no part of the earth which doth not one time or other feel the benefit of his light and heat. |
| 7 | The law - The doctrine delivered to his church, whether by Moses, or by other prophets. Having discoursed hitherto of the glory of God shining forth in, the visible heavens, he now proceeds to another demonstration of God's glory, which he compares with and prefers before the former. Perfect - Completely discovering both the nature and will of God, and the whole duty of man, what he is to believe and practice, and whatsoever is necessary to his present and eternal happiness. Whereas the creation, although it did declare so much of God, as left all men without excuse, yet did not fully manifest the will of God, nor bring men to eternal salvation. Converting - From sin to God, from whom all men are naturally revolted. Testimony - His law, so called because it is a witness between God and man, what God requires of man, and what upon the performance of that condition, he will do for man. Sure - Heb. faithful or true, which is most necessary in a witness: it will not mislead any man, but will infallibly bring him to happiness. Simple - Even persons of the lowest capacities. |
| 8 | Right - Both in themselves, and in their effect, as guiding men in the ready way to eternal happiness. Rejoicing - By the discoveries of God's love to sinful men, in offers and promises of mercy. Commandment - All his commands. Pure - Without the least mixture of error. The eyes - Of the mind, with a compleat manifestation of God's will and man's duty: both which, the works of nature, and all the writings of men discover but darkly and imperfectly. |
| 9 | The fear - The law and word of God, because it is both the object and the rule, and the cause of holy fear. Clean - Sincere, not adulterated with any mixture. Constant and unchangeable, the same for substance in all ages. Judgments - God's laws are frequently called his judgments, because they are the declarations of his righteous will, and as it were his judicial sentence by which he expects that men should govern themselves, and by which he will judge them at the last day. |
| 12 | Who - Thy law, O Lord, is holy and just and good. But I fall infinitely short of it. Cleanse - Both by justification, through the blood of thy son; and by sanctification thro' thy holy spirit. Though the first may seem to be principally intended, because he speaks of his past sins. Secret - From the guilt of such sins as were secret either, from others; such as none knows but God and my own conscience: or, from myself; such as I never observed, or did not discern the evil of. Pardon my unknown sins, of which I never repented particularly, as I should have done. |
| 13 | Presumptuous - From known and evident sins, such as are committed against knowledge, against the checks of conscience, and the motions of God's spirit. Dominion - If I be at any time tempted to such sins, Lord let them not prevail over me, and if I do fall into them, let me speedily rise again. |
| 14 | Let - Having prayed that God would keep him from sinful actions, he now prays that God would govern, and sanctify his words and thoughts: and this was necessary to preserve him from presumptuous sins, which have their first rise in the thoughts. Redeemer - This expression seems to be added emphatically, and with special respect to Christ, to whom alone this word Goel can properly belong. |
A prayer for the king, ver. 1 - 4. The king and the people rejoice in God, and pray for his help, ver. 5 - 9. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 1 | God of Jacob - God had made a covenant with Jacob and his posterity. |
| 2 | Sanctuary - From the tabernacle in Zion, where the ark then was; toward which the Israelites directed their prayers. |
| 5 | Rejoice - Hereby they shew their confidence in God, and their assurance of the victory. Name - To the honour of God. Set up - In way of triumph. |
| 6 | Now - We are already sure of victory by the consideration of God's power and faithfulness and love to David, and to his people. They speak as one person, because they were unanimous in this prayer. Saveth - Will certainly save. Strength - This shews how God will hear him, even by saving him with a strong hand. |
| 7 | Remember - Trust in it. |
| 8 | Brought down - From their horses and chariots, to which they trusted. Stand - Stand firmly, and keep the field. |
| 9 | Let the king - God, the supreme monarch, the king of kings, and in a peculiar manner the king of Israel. |
A thanksgiving for blessings received, ver. 1 - 6. An expression of confidence in God, ver. 7 - 13. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Of David - The subject of this psalm is the same with the former, both being made for the peoples use, concerning the king. Only the prayers there used, are here turned into praises, for the blessings received in answer to their prayers. And as David was an illustrious type of Christ, so in many of these expressions he looks beyond himself to Christ, in whom they are properly, and fully accomplished.
| 3 | Prevent - Crowning him with manifold blessings, both more and sooner than he expected. With - With excellent blessings. |
| 4 | For ever - Thou gavest him a long life and reign here, and after that didst translate him to live with thee for ever. But this was more eminently fulfilled in Christ, who asked of his father, life, or to be saved from death, Heb 5:7, though with submission to his will: but his father, though he saw it necessary to take away his temporal life, yet instantly gave him another, far more noble, even the perfect possession of an everlasting life both in his soul and body, at his right hand. |
| 5 | Glory - His fame or renown. Salvation - By reason of those great and glorious deliverances which thou hast wrought both for him, and by him. |
| 6 | Countenance - Smiling upon him, by thy grace and favour. |
| 9 | Oven - Like wood, which when it is cast in there, is quickly consumed. |
| 10 | Fruit - Their children. God will take away both root and branch, the parents and all that wicked race. |
| 11 | Thee - Against God, not directly, but by consequence, because it was against David, whom God had anointed, and against the Lord's people, whose injuries God takes as done to himself. |
| 13 | Exalted - By thy own power, or by the manifestation thereof. |
It is confessed that David was a type of Christ, and that many passages of the Psalms, though literally understood of David, yet had a further and mystical reference to Christ. But there are some other passages, which were directly, and immediately intended for, and are properly to be understood of the Messiah; though withal there may be some respect and allusion to the state of the penman himself. And this seems to be the state of this psalm, which is understood of the Messiah, by the Hebrew doctors themselves, and by Christ himself and by his apostles. And there are many passages in it, which were literally accomplished in him, and cannot be understood of any other. In this psalm David speaks of the humiliation of Christ, ver. 1 - 21. Of the exaltation of Christ, ver. 22 - 31. To the chief musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Shahar - This was the title of some musical instrument, name, or song, which was usually sung in the morning.
| 1 | My God - Who art my friend and father, though now thou frownest upon me. The repetition denotes, the depth of his distress, which made him cry so earnestly. Forsaken - Withdrawn the light of thy countenance, the supports and comforts of thy spirit, and filled me with the terrors of thy wrath: this was in part verified in David, but much more fully in Christ. Roaring - My out - cries forced from me, by my miseries. |
| 3 | But thou art - Just and true in all thy ways, this he adds to strengthen his faith, and to enforce his prayers, and prevail with God for the honour of his holy name, to hear and help him. Inhabitest - Whom thy people are perpetually praising. |
| 6 | A worm - Neglected and despised. People - Not only of the great men, but also of the common people. Which doth not so truly agree to David as to Christ. |
| 7 | Shoot out - They gape with their mouths, in mockery. This and the next verse are applied to Christ, Matt 27:39,43. |
| 12 | Bulls - Wicked and violent, and potent enemies; for such are so called, Ezek 39:18 Amos 4:1. Of Bashan - As the cattle there bred were, and therefore fierce and furious. |
| 14 | Water - My spirits are spent and gone like water which once spilt can never be recovered; my very flesh is melted within me, and I am become as weak as water. Bones - I am as unable to help myself, and as full of torment, as if all my bones were disjointed. Wax - Melted, through fear and overwhelming grief. |
| 15 | Dried - I have in a manner no more moisture left in me, than is in a dry potsherd. Cleaveth - Through excessive thirst and drought. Death - Thy providence, delivering me into the power of mine enemies, and by thy terrors in my soul. |
| 16 | Dogs - So he calls his enemies for their insatiable greediness, and implacable fierceness against him. Pierced - These words cannot with any probability be applied to David, but were properly and literally verified in Christ. |
| 17 | May tell - By my being stretched out upon the cross. |
| 18 | They part - This also cannot be applied to David, but was literally fulfilled in Christ, Matt 27:35 John 19:24. |
| 20 | Darling - Heb. my only one; his soul, which he so calls, because it was left alone and destitute of friends and helpers. |
| 21 | Heard - Answered and delivered me. |
| 22 | Declare - When thou hast delivered me. Thy name - that power and faithfulness and goodness, which thou hast manifested on my behalf. Congregations - The same whom he calls the congregation, and the seed of Jacob and Israel: which also does not so fitly agree to David, who never gives this title to any, but such as were near a - kin to him, as it does to Christ, who extends this name to all his disciples, Matt 12:48,49, and to whom this very text is applied, Heb 2:11,12. |
| 24 | Abhorred - He did not turn away his face from it, as men do from things which they abhor. From him - For ever: tho' he did so for a time. |
| 25 | Great congregation - In the universal church, of Jews and Gentiles. |
| 26 | Satisfied - This is doubtless to be understood, of those spiritual blessings, that grace and peace, and comfort, which all believing souls have in the sense of God's love, the pardon of their sins, and the influences of God's spirit. Seek him - That seek his favour. Your heart - He speaks of the same persons still, though there be a change from the third to the second person, as is usual in these poetical books. For ever - Your comfort shall not be short and transitory, as worldly comforts are, but everlasting. |
| 27 | The world - All nations from one end of the world to the other. So this is an evident prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, and a clear proof, that this psalm immediately speaks of Christ; to whom alone, this and divers other passages of it, belong. Remember - They shall remember their former wickedness with grief and shame, and fear; particularly in worshiping dead and impotent idols. They shall remember their great and manifold obligation to God, which they had quite forgotten, his patience in sparing them so long, in the midst of all their impieties, and in giving his son for them: they shall remember the gracious words and glorious works of Christ, what he did, and suffered for them; which possibly divers of them had been eye and ear - witnesses of. The Lord - Into the only true God, and unto Jesus Christ, to whom this name of Jehovah is often ascribed in scripture. |
| 28 | For - This is added as a reason, why the Gentiles should be converted, because God is not only God and the Lord of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles, and of all nations. |
| 29 | Fat - Kings and princes, and the great men of the world. Shall eat - Shall feed upon the bread of life, Christ and all his benefits. Worship - This is added to shew what kind of eating he spoke of. Go down - That is, all mankind, for none can escape death. |
| 30 | A seed - Christ shall not want a seed or posterity, for though the Jewish nation will generally reject him, the Gentiles shall come in their stead. A generation - That believing seed shall be reputed both by God and men, The generation, or people of the Lord, as the Jews formerly were. |
| 31 | They - The seed last mentioned. Come - From Judea and Jerusalem (from whence the gospel was first to go forth) to the Gentile world, to the several parts whereof the apostles went upon this errand. His - God's righteousness: his wonderful grace and mercy unto mankind, in giving them Christ and the gospel; for righteousness is often put for mercy or kindness. Unto - Unto succeeding generations. Whereby David gives us a key to understand this psalm, and teaches us that he speaks not here of himself, but of things which were to be done in after - ages, even of the spreading of the gospel among the Gentiles, in the time of the New Testament. That he - They shall declare that this is the work of God, and not of man. |
David extolls the goodness of God as his shepherd, and expresses his confidence in him, ver. 1 - 6. A psalm of David.
| 2 | Lie down - To repose myself at noon, as the manner was in those hot countries. Green - Where there is both delight and plenty of provisions. |
| 3 | Restoreth - Heb. He bringeth it back; from its errors and wandering. For - Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness. |
| 4 | Thy rod and thy staff - Two words denoting the same thing, and both designing God's pastoral care over him. |
| 5 | A table - Thou furnishest me with plenty of provisions and comforts. Oil - With aromatic ointments, which were then used at great feasts; thy comforts delight my soul. Runneth over - Thou hast given me a plentiful portions, signified by the cup, given to the guests by the master of the feast. |
This psalm is generally thought to have been composed by David, upon bringing the ark of God from the house of Obed - edom, into the tabernacle which David had built for it, 2Sam 6:12,17. Wherein he hath a farther prospect to the temple, which he earnestly desired and intended to build. Moreover because the tabernacle, and temple, and ark, were types of Christ, and of his church and of heaven. David extended his thoughts to them also, or at least the Holy Ghost designed to comprehend them under these typical expressions. He shews God's sovereignty over the world, ver. 1, 2. Who shall receive his blessing, ver. 3 - 6. An exhortation to receive Christ, ver. 7 - 10. A psalm of David.
| 2 | Seas - The whole collection of waters, as well as the sea and the rivers running into it, as that great abyss of waters which is contained in the bowels of the earth. |
| 3 | The hill - Zion or Moriah, the place of God's sanctuary and special presence. Having asserted God's dominion over all mankind, he now proposes an important question, by whom God will be served, and his blessing enjoyed? Stand - To minister before him. Standing is the posture of ministers or servants. Who shall serve God, with God's acceptation. Holy place - In the place which he hath sanctified for his service. |
| 4 | He - Whose actions and conversation are holy and unblameable. Pure heart - Careful to approve itself to God, as well as to men; ordering a man's very thoughts and affections according to God's word. Vanity - Who doth not value or desire the vain things of this life, such as honours, riches, pleasures; but makes God his portion. |
| 5 | The blessing - Grace and glory, and all other good things. |
| 6 | The generation - The true progeny which God regards. Face - His grace and favour, which is often called God's face. |
| 7 | Lift up - He speaks here of the gates and doors of the temple, which by faith and the spirit of prophecy, he beheld as already built, whose doors he calls Everlasting, not so much because they were made of strong and durable materials, as in opposition to those of the tabernacle, which were removed from place to place. These gates he bids lift up their heads, or tops, by allusion to those gates which have a portcullis, which may be let down or taken up. And as the temple was a type of Christ, and of his church, and of heaven itself; so this place may also contain a representation, either of Christ's entrance into his church, or into the hearts of his faithful people, who are here commanded to set open their hearts and souls for his reception: or of his ascension into heaven, where the saints or angels are poetically introduced as preparing the way, and opening the heavenly gates to receive their Lord and king, returning to his royal habitation with triumph and glory. The king - The Messiah, the king of Israel, and of his church, called the King, or Lord of glory, 1Cor 2:8 James 2:1, both for that glory which is inherent in him, and that which is purchased by him for his members. |
| 8 | The Lord - He is no ordinary person, no other than Jehovah, who hath given so many proofs of his almightiness, who hath subdued all his enemies, and is now returned in triumph. |
| 9 | Lift up - The same verse is repeated again, to awaken the dulness of mankind, who are so hardly brought to a serious preparation for such solemnities; and to signify the great importance of the matter, contained under these expressions. |
| 10 | Of hosts - Under whose command are all the hosts of heaven and earth, angels and men, and all other creatures. |
David distrest, takes refuge in God, ver. 1 - 7. Shews the goodness of God to them that fear him, ver. 8 - 15. Prays for help against his enemies, and for the church, ver. 16 - 22. A psalm of David.
| 2 | Ashamed - Disappointed of my hope. |
| 3 | Cause - Without any provocation of mine. |
| 4 | Teach - Teach me my duty, and cause me to keep close to it, notwithstanding all temptations. |
| 8 | Upright - Holy and true, in all his declarations and offers of mercy to sinners. Therefore - He will not be wanting to such poor sinners as I am, but will guide them into the way of life and peace. |
| 9 | The meek - Such as meekly submit themselves to God, and are desirous to be directed and governed by him. Judgment - In the paths of judgment, in the right way. |
| 10 | Paths - All the dealings of God with them, yea even those that are afflictive, are done in kindness and faithfulness to them. |
| 11 | For - Or, though (as this particle is often rendered) it be great. Possibly he speaks of his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba. Great - Or, much or manifold. For the Hebrew word signifies both great and much. |
| 12 | Chuse - Which God appointeth. |
| 13 | At ease - Heb. in Good; in the possession and enjoyment of the true good. The land - Canaan; which was given as an earnest of the whole Covenant of Grace, and all its promises. |
| 14 | The secret - His love and favour, which is called his secret, Job 29:4 Prov 3:32, because it is known to none but him that enjoyeth it. Will shew - He will make them clearly to understand it, both its duties and its blessings; neither of which ungodly men rightly understand. |
| 15 | Pluck - He will deliver me out of all my troubles. |
| 20 | Soul - My life. |
| 22 | Israel - If thou wilt not help me, yet spare thy people who suffer for my sake, and in my sufferings. |
David professes his integrity, ver. 1 - 8. Deprecates the doom of the wicked, ver. 9, 10. Casts himself upon the mercy of God, ver. 11, 12. A psalm of David.
| 1 | Trusted - I have committed my cause and affairs to thee. |
| 3 | For - I dare appeal to thee, because thou knowest I have a deep sense of thy loving - kindness, by which I have been led to love and obey thee. |
| 4 | Sat - Continued with them. I have been so far from an imitation of their wicked courses, that I have avoided their company. Vain - With false and deceitful persons. Go in - Into their company. |
| 6 | Compass - Approach to thine altar with my sacrifices: which I could not do with any comfort, if I were conscious of those crimes, whereof mine enemies accuse me. |
| 8 | House - Thy sanctuary and worship. Honour - Thy glorious and gracious presence. |
| 9 | Gather not - Do not bind me up in the same bundle, or put me into the same accursed condition with them. |
| 12 | Standeth - I stand upon a sure and solid foundation, being under the protection of God's promise, and his almighty and watchful providence. Congregations - I will not only privately, but in the assemblies of thy people celebrate thy praise. |
David declares his confidence in God, ver. 1 - 3. His desire to be in the house of God, ver. 4 - 6. He prays for light and salvation, ver. 7 - 12. And exhorts others to wait upon God, ver. 13, 14. A psalm of David.
| 2 | Light - My counsellor in all my difficulties, and my comforter and deliverer in all my distresses. Strength - The supporter and preserver of my life. |
| 3 | In this - That God is my light. |
| 4 | Dwell. &c. - Have opportunity of constant attendance upon God. To behold - That there I may delight myself, in the contemplation of thy amiable and glorious majesty, and of thy infinite wisdom, holiness, justice, truth, and mercy. |
| 5 | The secret - In his tabernacle, into which mine enemies cannot come. He alludes to the ancient custom of offenders, who used to flee to the tabernacle or altar. Rock - A place high and inaccessible. |
| 9 | Away - From thy face or presence, or from the place of thy worship. |
| 11 | Because of - That I may neither fall into their hands by my folly, nor give them any occasion of triumphing over me. |
| 13 | The living - David was thus earnestly desirous of this mercy in this life, not because he placed his portion in these things; but because the truth and glory of God, were highly concerned in making good the promise of the kingdom to him. |
A prayer for help, ver. 1 - 3. The doom of the wicked, ver. 4, 5. A thanksgiving, closed with prayer, ver. 6 - 9. A psalm of David.
| 2 | Towards - Towards the holy of holies, because there the ark was; from whence God gave oracular answers to his people. |
| 3 | Draw not - Do not drag me; as thou dost these, to execution and destruction. |
| 5 | Regard not - The providential works of God towards his people. |
| 7 | I am helped - He speaks of it as past, because God assured him by his spirit, that he had heard and accepted his prayers. |
It is probable David wrote this psalm, during a storm of thunder, lightning, and rain; as that he wrote the eighth in a moon - shining night, and the nineteenth in a sun - shining morning. He calls on the great to give glory to God, ver. 1, 2. Observes his power in thunder and lightning, Ver. 3 - 9. His dominion over the world and care over the church, ver. 10, 11. A psalm of David.
| 1 | Ye - Ye potentates and rulers of the earth. Glory - By an humble and thankful acknowledgment of it. |
| 2 | Give, &c. - The honour which he deserves: own him as the Almighty, and the only true God. Holiness - Or, in his holy and beautiful house. |
| 3 | The waters - Above in the clouds, which are called waters, Gen 1:7 Psal 18:11. The Divine power displays itself in those high places, which are far above the reach of all earthly potentates. Many - Upon the clouds, in which there are vast treasures of water, and upon which God is said to sit or ride, Psal 18:10,11 104:3. |
| 5 | Lebanon - A place famous for strong and lofty cedars. |
| 6 | Them - The cedars; which being broken by the thunder, the parts of them are suddenly and violently hurled hither and thither. Sirion - An high mountain beyond Jordan joining to Lebanon. Lebanon and Sirion are said to skip or leap, both here, and Psal 114:4, by a poetical hyperbole. |
| 7 | The flames - The lightnings. |
| 8 | Kadesh - An eminent wilderness, vast and terrible, and well known to the Israelites, and wherein possibly they had seen, and observed some such effects of thunder. |
| 9 | To calve - Through the terror it causes, which hastens the birth. He names the hinds, because they bring forth their young with difficulty, Job 39:1,2. Discovereth - Heb. maketh bare, of its trees, which it breaks or strips of their leaves. Glory - Having shewed the terrible effects of God's power in other places, he now shews the blessed privilege of God's people, that are praising God in his temple, when the rest of the world are trembling under the tokens of his displeasure. |
| 10 | The flood - The most violent waters, which sometimes fall from the clouds upon the earth. These are fitly mentioned, as being many times the companions of great thunders. And this may be alleged as another reason, why God's people praised him in his temple, because as he sends terrible tempests and thunders, so he also restrains and over - rules them. Sitteth - He doth sit, and will sit as king for ever, sending such tempests when it pleaseth him. |
He praises God for delivering him, and exhorts others to praise him, ver. 1 - 5. Recollects his former security, and his prayer when in trouble, ver. 6 - 10. And stirs himself up to thankfulness, ver. 11, 12. A Psalm and song, at the dedication of the house of David.
Title of the psalm. Song - A psalm to be sung with the voice to an instrument. David - At the dedication of David's house, which was built, 2Sam 5:11, and doubtless was dedicated, as God had commanded.
| 5 | Cometh - Speedily and in due season. |
| 7 | Mountain - My kingdom: kingdoms are usually called mountains in prophetical writings. |
| 9 | Profit - What wilt thou gain by it? The dust - Shall they that are dead celebrate thy goodness in the land of the living? Or, shall my dust praise thee? |
| 11 | Sackcloth - Given me occasion to put off that sackcloth, which they used to wear in times of mourning, Esth 4:1 Psal 35:13 Isa 32:11 Joel 1:13. Girded - With joy, as with a garment, surrounding me on every side. |
| 12 | My glory - My tongue. |
David professes his confidence in God, intermixing prayer to him, ver. 1 - 8. Complains to God and prays for deliverance, ver. 9 - 18. Concludes with giving glory to God, and encouraging others to trust him, ver. 19 - 24. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 1 | Ashamed - Of my confidence in thy promise. Deliver me - According to thy faithfulness and goodness. |
| 5 | My spirit - My soul or life; to preserve it from the malice of mine enemies. For - Thou hast delivered me formerly, and therefore I commit myself to thee for the future. O Lord, &c. - Who hast shewed thyself so, in making good thy promise. |
| 6 | Vanities - Idols, which are often called Vanities, as Deut 32:21. Or, curious arts, and all sorts of divinations. |
| 7 | Known - Loved me, and cared for me. |
| 8 | Room - Made way for me to escape, when I was encompassed by them. |
| 9 | Grief - With continual weeping. |
| 10 | Iniquity - For the punishment of mine iniquity. Consumed - The juice and marrow of them bring almost dried up with grief. |
| 11 | A fear - They were afraid to give me any countenance or assistance. Fled - To prevent their own danger and ruin. |
| 12 | A broken vessel - Which is irreparable, and useless, and therefore despised by all. |
| 13 | Fear - Just cause of fear. |
| 15 | My times - All the affairs and events of my life, are wholly in thy power. |
| 19 | Laid up - His favour is not always manifested, to them, but it is laid up for them in his treasure, whence it shall be drawn forth when they need it, and he sees it fit. Before - Publickly and in the view of the world. |
| 20 |
The secret - Or, as in the secret of thy presence: either,
|
| 21 | City - In Keilah: where God wonderfully preserved me. |
| 22 | Haste - When my passion took away my consideration, and weakened my faith. Cut off - Cast out of thy sight, and out of the care of thy gracious providence. |
The happiness of them whose sins are forgiven, ver. 1, 2. The necessity of confessing our sins, and of prayer, ver. 3 - 6. God's promise to them that trust in him, ver. 7 - 10. An exhortation to rejoice in God, ver. 11. A psalm of David, Maschil.
Title of the psalm. Maschil - Or, an instructor. This psalm is fitly so called, because it was composed for the information of the church, in that most important doctrine, the way to true blessedness.
| 2 | Imputeth - Whom God doth not charge with the guilt of his sins, but graciously pardons and accepts him in Christ. No guile - Who freely confesses all his sins, and turns from sin to God with all his heart. |
| 3 | Silence - From a full and open confession of my sins. Old - My spirit failed, and the strength of my body decayed. Roaring - Because of the continual horrors of my conscience, and sense of God's wrath. |
| 4 | Hand - Thy afflicting hand. My moisture - Was dried up. |
| 5 | The iniquity - The guilt of my sin. |
| 6 | For this - Upon the encouragement of my example. Found - In an acceptable and seasonable time, while God continues to offer grace and mercy. Waters - In the time of great calamities. Not come - So as to overwhelm him. |
| 8 | I will - This and the next verse seems to be the words of God, whom David brings in as returning this answer to his prayers. Mine eye - So Christ did St. Peter, when he turned and looked upon him. |
| 9 | Will not - Unless they be forced to it by a bit or bridle. And so all the ancient translators understand it. |
| 10 | Sorrows - This is an argument to enforce the foregoing admonition. |
The Psalmist exhorts the righteous to praise God, for his truth, justice and goodness, ver. 1 - 5, For creating the world, ver. 6 - 9. For his providence in governing it, ver. 10 - 17. For his peculiar favour to his people, encouraging them to trust in him, ver. 18 - 22.
| 2 | Harp, &c. - These instruments were used in the publick worship of God in the tabernacle. |
| 3 | A new song - Renewed or continued from day to day. |
| 4 | The word - All God's counsels and commands are wise, and just, and good. His works - All his works of providence agree with his word, and are the accomplishment of his promises or threatenings. |
| 5 | Goodness - He not only doth no man wrong, but he is kind and merciful to all men. |
| 6 | The word - God made this admirable structure of the heavens, and all its glorious stars; not with great pains and time, but with one single word. Host - The angels: or the stars. |
| 7 | Store - houses - Either in the clouds, or in the bowels of the earth. |
| 10 | The Lord - Thus he passes from the work of creation, to the works of providence, and from the instances of his power, in senseless and irrational creatures, to his power in over - ruling the thoughts and wills, and actions of men, whether single or united. |
| 11 | The Counsel - All his purposes and designs are always successful. |
| 13 | All men - Although he hath a relation to Israel, yet he hath a general care over all mankind, all whose hearts and ways he observes. |
| 15 | Fashioneth - Having said that God sees and observes all men, he now adds, that he rules and governs them; yea, even the hearts which are most unmanageable, he disposes and inclines according to the counsel of his will. Alike - Or, equally, one as well as another: whether they be Jews or Gentiles, princes or peasants; all are alike subject to his jurisdiction. Their works - Both outward and inward, all the workings of their minds and actions, and all their endeavours and actions. |
| 16 | No king - He instances in these, as the most uncontrollable persons in the world, and most confident of themselves. By which he strongly proves his general proposition, of God's powerful providence over all men. By an host - But only by God's providence, who disposes of victory and success, as he pleases, and that frequently to the weakest side. |
| 17 | An horse - Though he be strong and fit for battle, or for flight, if need requires. And so this is put for all warlike provisions. Vain things - Heb. a lie; because it promises that help and safety which it cannot give. |
| 18 | The eye - Whosoever therefore would have safety, must expect it only from the watchful eye, and almighty hand of God. That fear - These are the chief objects of his care and favour. Hope - That place their hope and trust, and happiness, not in any creature, but only in God, and in his mercy and blessings. |
David praises God for his goodness to himself and others, ver. 1 - 7. Encourages the righteous to trust in him, ver. 8 - 10. Exhorts them to fear God and depart from evil, ver. 11 - 14. God's favour to the righteous and displeasure at the wicked, ver. 15 - 22 A psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech: who drove him away, and he departed.
Title of the psalm. When - A psalm made upon that occasion, though not at that time, when he counterfeited madness. Wherein whether he sinned or not, is matter of dispute; but this is undoubted, that his deliverance deserved this solemn acknowledgment. Abimelech - Called Achish, 1Sam 21:10. But Abimelech seems to have been the common name of the kings of the Philistines, Gen 20:2 26:1, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptians.
| 2 | Shall boast - Shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a master. The humble - The righteous. |
| 3 | Together - Not in place, for David was now banished from the place of God's publick worship, but in affection: let our souls meet, and let our praises meet in the ears of the all - hearing God. |
| 5 | Lightened - Comforted and encouraged. Ashamed - They were not disappointed of their hope. |
| 6 | This man - David. |
| 7 | The angel - The angels, the singular number being put for the plural. |
| 8 | O taste - Make trial, of it by your own experience of it. Good - Merciful and gracious. |
| 9 | Fear - Reverence, serve, and trust him: for fear is commonly put for all the parts of God's worship. |
| 12 | Life - A long and happy life, begun in this world and continued for ever in the next. Good - In which he may enjoy good, prosperity or happiness. |
| 13 | Evil - From all manner of evil speaking, from all injurious, false and deceitful speeches. |
| 14 | Depart - From all sin. Do good - Be ready to perform all good offices to all men. Seek - Study by all means possible to live peaceable with all men. Pursue it - Do not only embrace it gladly when it is offered, but follow hard after it, when it seems to flee away from thee. |
| 16 | The face - His anger, which discovers itself in the face. |
| 18 | Nigh - Ready to hear and succour them. To - Those whose spirits are truly humbled under the hand of God, and the sense of their sins, whose hearts are subdued, and made obedient to God's will and submissive to his providence. |
| 20 | Bones - All the parts and members of their bodies. |
David prays for deliverance from his enemies, and prophecies their destruction, ver. 1 - 10, Describes their wickedness, ver. 11 - 21. Foretells their confusion, the joy of the righteous, and his own thanksgiving, ver. 22 - 28. A psalm of David.
| 3 | Say - By thy spirit assuring me of it: and by thy providence effecting it. |
| 6 | Their way - By which they flee, being chased. |
| 7 | For - Out of mere malice. |
| 10 | My bones - My whole body, as well as my soul. |
| 13 | Returned - Although my fastings and prayers did them no good. |
| 15 | Gathered - They were so full of joy, that they could not contain it in their own breasts, but sought to communicate it to others. Abjects - Or, vile persons, either for the meanness of their condition, or for their wickedness. Knew not - While I had no suspicion of them. Tear me - My good name with calumnies, and reproaches and curses. |
| 16 | Mockers - They made themselves buffoons and jesters, and accustomed themselves to mock and deride David, that thereby they might gain admittance to the tables of great men, which was all they sought for. |
| 17 | Look on - Without affording me pity or help. Darling - My soul, Heb. my only one; which is now left alone and forsaken by my friends, and hath none to trust in but God. |
| 18 | I will - When I shall be restored to the liberty of the publick assemblies. |
| 20 | For - They breathe out nothing but threatenings and war; they use not open violence but subtile artifices, against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably. |
| 21 | Wide - To pour forth whole floods of scoffs and slanders. ha - An expression of joy and triumph. Our eye - What we have long desired and hoped for. |
| 22 | This - Thou also hast seen, all their plots and threats, and all my distresses and calamities. Keep not - Be not deaf, to my prayers. The same word signifies, both to be silent, and to be deaf. |
| 23 | Awake - To plead my cause against mine adversaries. |
The grievous state of the wicked, ver. 1 - 4. The goodness of God, ver. 5 - 9. David prays, in confidence of deliverance, ver. 10 - 12. To the chief musician, a psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.
| 1 | No fear - When I consider the manifold transgressions of ungodly men, I conclude within myself, that they have cast off all fear of the Divine majesty. |
| 2 | Flattereth - He deceiveth himself with vain persuasions, that God does not mind his sins, or will not punish them. Found - Punish, as the same phrase is used, Numb 32:23. |
| 3 | Left off - Once he had some degrees of wisdom, but now he is become an open apostate. |
| 4 | Deviseth - Freely, from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it. |
| 5 | Thy mercy - Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness. Heavens - Is infinite and incomprehensible. Faithfulness - The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men. The clouds - Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend. |
| 6 | Mountains - Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men. Judgments - The executions of thy counsels. Deep - Unsearchable, as the ocean. Man - The worst of men; yea, the brute - beasts have experience of thy care and kindness. |
| 7 | Loving - kindness - Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable. |
| 8 | Satisfied - Who trust in thee, as he now said. Fatness - With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven. The river - Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity. |
| 9 | Life - It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us. But - Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name. Light - In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face. Light - Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed. |
| 11 | The foot - Of my proud and insolent enemies. Come - So as to overthrow me. |
| 12 | There - He seems as it were to point at the place, as if it were already done. |
David exhorts to patience and confidence in God, ver. 1 - 8. Shews the different state of the righteous and the wicked, ver. 9 - 40. A psalm of David.
| 1 | Fret not - Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes. |
| 5 | Commit - All thy cares and business, and necessities, commend to God by fervent prayer. |
| 6 | Judgment - It shall be as visible to men, as the light of the sun, at noon - day. |
| 7 | Rest - Do not repine at his dealings, but quietly submit to his will, and wait for his help. |
| 8 | Fret not - Either against the sinner for his success; or against God. Do evil - If grief arise in thee, take care that it do not transport thee to sin. |
| 9 | The earth - This for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the church. |
| 10 | Not be - He shall be dead and gone. Diligently - Industriously seeking him. His place - His place and estate, and glory. |
| 11 | But - Those who patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries. Peace - Partly of outward peace and prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: but principally of inward peace, in the sense of God's favour and the assurance of endless happiness. |
| 13 | His day - The day appointed by God for his punishment or destruction. |
| 18 | Knoweth - Observes with care and affection. The days - All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering. For ever - To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better. |
| 20 | Fat - Which in an instant melts before the fire. |
| 23 | Established - So that he shall not fall into mischief. |
| 24 | Fall - Into trouble. |
| 25 | Forsaken - These temporal promises, were more express to the Jews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians. |
| 26 | Blessed - Not only with spiritual, but with temporal blessings. |
| 27 | Dwell - Thou shalt dwell in the land, and afterwards in heaven. |
| 30 | The mouth - Having shewed, God's singular care over the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them. Judgment - Of God's judgment, word or law. |
| 31 | Heart - His thoughts, meditations and affections are fixed upon it. Slide - Slide, or swerve, from the rule, from God's law. |
| 35 | Bay - tree - Which is continually green and flourishing even in winter. |
| 36 | Yet - He was gone in an instant. But - There was no monument or remainder of him left. |
| 37 | Peace - Though he may meet with troubles in his way, yet all shall end well. |
| 38 | Together - All without exception. |
David complains of God's displeasure and his own sin, ver. 1 - 5. Of his bodily sickness, ver. 6 - 10. Of the unkindness of his friends and the injuries of his enemies, ver. 11 - 20. Prays to God for help, ver. 21, 22. A psalm of David to bring to remembrance.
Title of the psalm. To bring, &c. - Either, to God, that by this humble and mournful prayer, he might prevail with God, to remember and pity him; or, to himself, that by reviewing this psalm afterwards, he might call to mind his former danger and misery, and God's wonderful mercy in delivering him; and that others also might remember what God had done to him.
| 2 | Arrows - Thy judgments outward and inward. |
| 3 | Sin - Which hath provoked thee to deal thus severely with me. |
| 4 | Iniquities - Or, the punishment of mine iniquities, as this word is frequently used. Are gone - Like deep waters wherewith I am overwhelmed. |
| 5 | Foolishness - Sin. |
| 7 | Disease - The disease might be some burning fever, breaking forth outwardly in carbuncles, or boils. It is true, this and the other expressions may be taken figuratively, but we should not forsake the literal sense of the words without necessity. |
| 12 | Deceit - They design mischief, but cover it with fair pretences. |
| 13 | Dumb - Was silent, to testify his humiliation for his sins, and his acceptation of the punishment which he had brought upon himself. |
| 16 | When - When I fall into any misery, they triumph in the accomplishment of their desires. |
| 17 | To halt - just falling into destruction. Before me - I am constantly sensible of thy just hand, and of my sins the cause of it. |
| 18 | Declare - To thee. |
| 19 | Strong - Are thriving and flourishing. |
David relates the struggle which had been in his breast, ver. 1 - 3. He meditates on man's frailty and mortality, ver. 4 - 6. He prays for pardon, deliverance from trouble, and respite from death, ver. 7 - 13. To the chief musician, even to Jeduthun, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Jeduthun - One of the three chief masters of the sacred musick, 1Chron 16:41, 42.
| 1 | I said - I fully resolved. Take heed - To order all my actions right, and particularly to govern my tongue. |
| 2 | Dumb - Two words put together, expressing the same thing, to aggravate or increase it. I held - I forbear to speak, what I justly might, lest I should break forth into some indecent expressions. Stirred - My silence did not assuage my grief, but increase it. |
| 4 | My end - Make me sensible of the shortness and uncertainly of life, and the near approach of death. |
| 5 | Before thee - If compared with thee, and with thy everlasting duration. |
| 6 | Vain shew - Heb. in a shadow or image; in an imaginary rather than a real life: in the pursuit of vain imaginations, in which there is nothing solid or satisfactory: man in and his life, and all his happiness in this world, are rather appearances and dreams, than truths and realities. Disquieted - Heb. They make a noise, bustling, or tumult, with unwearied industry seeking for riches, and troubling and vexing both themselves and others in the pursuit of them. |
| 7 | Mow Lord - Seeing this life and all its enjoyments are so vain and short. My hope - I will seek for happiness no where but in God. |
| 10 | Remove - Take off the judgment which thou hast inflicted upon me. I am - Help me before I am utterly lost. |
| 11 | Beauty - His comeliness and all his excellencies or felicities. Moth - As a moth consumeth a garment, to which God compares himself and his judgments, secretly and insensibly consuming a people, Isa 51:8. |
| 12 | A stranger - I am only in my journey or passage to my real home, which is in the other world. |
| 13 | No more - Among the living, or in this world. |
This psalm is a celebration of God's great goodness to him, and all his people. In it there are some passages which cannot belong to Christ, and some which do not properly belong to David, or to that time and state of the church, but only to Christ, and to the times of the New Testament. He praises God for delivering him out of deep distress, ver. 1 - 5. Thence takes occasion to speak of the work of our redemption by Christ, ver. 6 - 10. Prays for mercy and grace both for himself and for his brethren, ver. 11 - 17. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 2 | Pit - Desperate dangers and calamities. Rock - A place of strength and safety. Established - Kept me from falling into mischief. |
| 3 | And fear - Shall stand in awe of that God, whom they see to have so great power, either to save or to destroy. |
| 4 | The proud - Or, the mighty, the great and proud potentates of the world, to whom most men are apt to look and trust. Turn - From God, in whom alone they ought to trust. To lies - To lying vanities, such as worldly power and wisdom, and riches, and all other earthly things, or persons, in which men are prone to trust: which are called lies, because they promise more than they perform. |
| 5 | Many - This verse seems to be interposed as a wall of partition, between that which David speaks in his own person, and that which he speaks in the person of the Messiah, in the following verses. |
| 6 | Sacrifice - These and the following words, may in an improper sense belong to the time of David; when God might be said, not to desire or require legal sacrifices comparatively. Thou didst desire obedience rather than sacrifices, but in a proper sense, they belong only to the person and times of the Messiah, and so the sense is, God did not desire or require them, for the satisfaction of his own justice, and the expiation of mens sins, which could not possibly be done by the blood of bulls or goats, but only by the blood of Christ, which was typified by them, and which Christ came into the world to shed, in pursuance of his father's will, as it here follows, ver.7,8. So here is a prediction concerning the cessation of the legal sacrifice, and the substitution of a better instead of them. Opened - Heb. bored. I have devoted myself to thy perpetual service, and thou hast accepted of me as such, and signified so much by the boring of mine ears, according to the law and custom in that case, Exod 21:5,6. The seventy Jewish interpreters, whom the apostle follows, Heb 10:5, translate these words, a body hast thou prepared me. |
| 7 | Them - These words literally and truly belong to Christ, and the sense is this; seeing thou requirest a better sacrifice than those of the law, lo, I offer myself to come, and I will in due time come, into the world, as this phrase is explained in divers places of scripture, and particularly Heb 10:5, where this place is expressly applied to Christ. Volume - These two words, volume and book are used of any writing, and both express the same thing. Now this volume of the book is the law of Moses, which is commonly and emphatically called the book, and was made up in the form of a roll or volume, as the Hebrew books generally were. And so this place manifestly points to Christ, concerning whom much is said in the books of Moses. |
| 8 | I delight - This is eminently true, of Christ, and is here observed as an act of heroic obedience, that he not only resolved to do, but delighted in doing the will of God, or what God had commanded him, which was to die, and that a most shameful, and painful, and cursed death. My heart - I do not only understand it, but receive it with heartiest love, delighting both to meditate of it, and to yield obedience to it. |
| 9 | Righteousness - Thy faithfulness. Great congregation - In the most public and solemn assemblies: not only to the Jews, but also to all nations; to whom Christ preached by his apostles, as is observed Eph 2:17. Not refrained - From preaching it, even to the face of mine enemies. |
| 11 | With - hold not - David, having been transported by the spirit of God to the commemoration of the great mystery of the Messiah, he now seems to be led back by the same spirit, to the consideration of his own case. |
| 12 | Taken hold - Mens sins are figuratively said to take hold of them, as an officer takes hold of a man whom he arrests. To look - Unto God or men, with any comfort: I am ashamed and confounded. |
| 15 | Shame - Their sinful and shameful actions. |
David on a sick bed lays hold on God's promise and prays for mercy, ver. 1 - 4. Complains of the pride and malice of his enemies, ver. 5 - 9. Flees to God for succour, and praises him, ver. 10, 13. To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
| 3 | Make his bed - Give him ease and comfort, which sick men receive by the help of those who turn and stir up their bed, to make it soft and easy for them. |
| 4 | Heal - The soul is said to be healed, when it is pardoned and purged. For - For I acknowledge that I have sinned. |
| 6 | His heart - Even when he is with me, and pretends hearty affection, his heart is devising mischief against me. |
| 9 | Yea - These words were literally fulfilled in David, and yet the Holy Ghost looked farther in them, even to Christ and Judas, in whom they received a fuller accomplishment. Lift up - A phrase implying injury, joined with insolency and contempt; taken from an unruly horse, which kicks at him that owns and feeds him. |
| 10 | Requite - Punish them for their wicked practices; which being now a magistrate, he was obliged to do. |
| 11 | By this - Because hitherto thou hast supported me, and prolonged my days to the disappointment of their hopes. |
| 12 | Settest - Or, hast confirmed me in thy presence, under thine eye and special care: to minister unto thee, as a king over thy people. And in regard of his posterity, the kingdom was established for ever. |
| 13 | Amen - Signifies an hearty assent and approbation, and withal an earnest desire of the thing, to which it is annexed. And as the psalms are divided into five books, so each of them is closed with this word; the first here: the second, Psal 72:19, the third, Psal 89:52, the fourth, Psal 106:48, the last in the end of Psal 150:6, the doubling of the word shews the fervency of his spirit, in this work of praising God. |
The psalmist longs for the public service of God, ver. 1 - 4. Stirs himself up to trust in God, ver. 5 - 9. Reproached by his enemies, still hopes in him, ver. 10, 11. To the chief musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.
Title of the psalm. Sons of Korah - Who were an eminent order of singers in the house of God, 1Chron 6:33.
| 1 | Panteth - After the enjoyment of thee in thy sanctuary. |
| 2 | Thirsteth - Not after vain useless idols, but after the only true and living God. Appear - In the place of his special presence and publick worship. |
| 4 | Remember - My banishment from God's presence, and mine enemies triumphs. In me - I breathe out my sorrows and complaints to God within my own breast. The multitudes - Israelites, who went thither in great numbers. Holy - day - Or that kept the feast, the three solemn festival solemnities, which they kept holy unto the Lord. |
| 5 | For - Heb. for the salvations of his face, for those supports, deliverances and comforts which I doubt not I shall enjoy both in his presence and sanctuary, and from his presence, and the light of his countenance. |
| 6 | Therefore - Therefore that I may revive my drooping spirits. Remember - I will consider thy infinite mercy and power, and faithfulness. Mizar - From all the parts of the land, to which I shall be driven; whether from the parts beyond Jordan on the east: or mount Hermon, which was in the northern parts. |
| 7 | Deep - One affliction comes immediately after another, as if it were called for by the former. A metaphor taken from violent and successive showers of rain; which frequently come down from heaven, as it were at the noise, or call of God's water spouts. |
| 8 | Command - Will effectually confer upon me. Loving - kindness - His blessings, the effects of his loving - kindness. |
| 10 | As - As a sword, which cutteth the very bones, so painful are their reproaches. |
The psalmist appeals to God, ver. 1, 2. Prays to be restored to the public ordinances, and trusts in God, ver. 3 - 5.
| 1 | Nation - So he calls the company of his enemies for their great numbers. Man - Probably Achitophel or Absalom. |
| 3 | Send out - That is, actually discover them. Truth - Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or the true - light, the illumination of thy spirit, and the direction of thy gracious providence, whereby I may be led in the right way, to thy holy hill. Hill - Of Zion, the place of God's presence and worship. |
The church commemorates past mercies, ver. 1 - 8. Complains of present troubles, ver. 9 - 16. Professes her integrity, ver. 17 - 22. Prays for succour, ver. 23 - 26. To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
| 4 | My king - The whole people speak as one man, being united in one body. |
| 11 | Scattered - Those who were not slain are carried into captivity, and dispersed in several places. |
| 16 | Avenger - Who executeth both God's and his own vengeance upon me. |
| 17 | Yet - Although we cannot excuse ourselves from many other sins, yet through thy grace we have kept ourselves from apostacy and idolatry, notwithstanding all examples and provocations. |
| 18 | Turned - From thy worship to idols. |
| 19 | Broken us - By inflicting upon us one breach after another, thou hast at last brought us to this pass. The place - A place extremely desolate, such as dragons love, Isa 13:21,22, and therefore full of horror, and danger. Covered us - With deadly horrors and miseries. |
| 22 | Yea - Because we are constant in thy worship, which they abhor. |
| 25 | Our soul - Our persons. Our belly - We are not only thrown down to the earth, but we lie there like dead carcases. |
This psalm is an illustrious prophecy of the Messiah, and points at him only, as a bridegroom espousing the church to himself, and as a king ruling in it. And our Saviour probably alludes to this, where he compares the kingdom of heaven to a royal marriage. We have no reason to think, it has any reference to Solomon's marriage with Pharaoh's daughter. It is meant purely of Christ, and no other, and to him it is applied in the New Testament. After the preface, it speaks of the person and victories of the royal bridegroom, ver. 1 - 5. The righteousness of his government, ver. 6, 7. The splendor of his court, ver. 8, 9. Of the royal bride, the church, her consent gained, ver. 10, 11. The nuptials solemnized, ver. 12 - 15. The issue of this marriage, ver. 16, 17. To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil. A song of loves.
Title of the psalm. Shoshannim - Is supposed to mean, an instrument of six strings. This is a song of loves, of the holy love which is between Christ and his church.
| 1 | Enditing - Heb. boileth, or bubbleth up like water over the fire. This denotes that the workings of his heart, were fervent and vehement, kindled by God's grace, and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Made - Have composed. Pen - He was only the pen or instrument in uttering this song; it was the spirit of God, by whose hand this pen was guided. |
| 2 | Fairer - Than all other men: which is most true of Christ; but not of Solomon; whom many have excelled, in holiness and righteousness, which is the chief part of the beauty celebrated in this psalm. Grace - God hath plentifully poured into thy mind and tongue the gift of speaking wisely, eloquently, and acceptably. Therefore - And because God hath so eminently qualified thee for rule, therefore he hath blessed thee with an everlasting kingdom. |
| 3 | Thy sword - To smite thine enemies. And the sword is here put for all his arms, as it is in many other places. |
| 4 | And - Being thus magnificently girt and armed. Ride - March on speedily and successfully against thine enemies. The word - That is, the gospel: which is called the word of truth, Eph 1:13, and may no less truly be called the word of meekness, because it is not delivered with terror, as the law was at Sinai, but meekly and sweetly; and the word of righteousness, because it brings in everlasting righteousness, and strongly excites all men to the practice of righteousness and holiness. And so the gospel is compared, to an horse or chariot, upon which Christ is said to ride, when the gospel is preached, and carried about from place to place. Teach thee - Thou shalt do exploits, which shall be terrible to thine enemies. But the phrase, thy right hand shall teach thee, is not to be taken properly; the meaning is, his hand should shew him, discover and work before him. |
| 5 | Arrows - The same with the sword, and this is no other than his word, which is sharp and powerful, and pierceth the hearts of men. The kings - Of thine enemies. Fall - Prostrate at thy feet, after the manner of conquered persons. |
| 6 | O God - It is evident, that the speech is still continued to the same person whom he calls king, ver.1,11, and here God, to assure us that he doth not speak of Solomon, but a far greater king, who is not only a man, but the mighty God, Isa 9:6. A right scepter - Thou rulest with exact righteousness and equity. |
| 7 | Therefore - Therefore God hath exalted thee far above all men and angels, to a state of joy and endless glory at his right hand; which is fitly compared by the oil of gladness. Thy God - According to thy human nature, John 20:17, though in respect of thy Divine nature, thou art his fellow, Zech 13:7, and his equal, Phil 2:6, and one with him, John 10:30. Oil - So called, because it was a token of gladness, and used in feasts, and other solemn occasions of rejoicing. Fellows - Above all them who partake with thee in this unction: above all that ever were anointed for priests or prophets, or kings. |
| 8 | Myrrh - Wherewith they used to perfume their garments: this may denote those glorious and sweet smelling virtues, which, as they were treasured up in Christ's heart, so did they manifest themselves outwardly, and give forth a grateful smell, in the whole course of his life and actions. Palaces - The king is here supposed to reside in his ivory palaces, and his garments are so fragrant, that they not only perfume the whole palace in which he is; but the sweet favour is perceived by those that pass by them, all which is poetically said, and with allusion to Solomon's glorious garments and palaces. The heavenly mansions, may not unfitly be called ivory palaces, as elsewhere in the same figurative manner they are said to be adorned with gold and precious stones, from which mansions Christ came into the world, into which Christ went, and where he settled his abode after he went out of the world, and from whence he poured forth all the fragrant gifts and graces of his spirit, although there is no necessity to strain every particular circumstance in such poetical descriptions; for some expressions may be used, only as ornaments, as they are in parables; and it may suffice to know, that the excellencies of the king Christ are described by things which earthly potentates place their glory. Whereby - By the sweet smell of thy garments out of those ivory palaces, or the effusion of the gifts and graces of thy spirit from heaven; which as it is a great blessing to those who receive them, so doth it rejoice the heart of Christ, both as it is a demonstration of his own power and glory, and as it is the instrument of bringing souls to God. Made thee - Thou art made glad. |
| 9 | Among - Amo |