Commentary on the Holy Bible

' Verse 9. Lowir parU of the eor/A.] They ajre ai^inted, in the just judgmept of God> to* destnic- - tion; they shall be slain and buried in the earth, and shall be seen no more. Some understand the passage as.leieiTing to the punishment of heU; which many supposed to be in the centre of the earth, -So the old Psalter^ — Thai sail entir in till lagherpine of hell. Laghv ox Ungher^ lower, undermost;

Verse 1 0. They shaU fdU hy the 9word\ They shall he poured out hy the hand of the sword, Hcb. That is, their lifers bleed shall be -shed either in war, or -by the hand of justice.

They shall be a portion for fosies.] They shall be left unhuried, and the jackals shiill feed upon their dead bodies. Or, being all cut off by utter destructieir, their inheritance shall be left for the wild heasts, Tbst which was their portion shall diortly be the portion of the wild beasts of the forest.. If he here refers to the destruction of the Babylonians, the predietion has been literally fulfilled. Where ancient Babylon stood, as far as it can' be ascertained, is new the hold of dangerous reptiles and ferocious heasts. The jackal, or chokal, is a Tery ravenous beast, and fond of human flesh. It devours dead bodies, steals infants out oi the lap of their mothers, deroars alive the sick who are left by the side of the Ganges, "vad even in the streets of' Calcutta has been known to eat persons who were in a state of intoidca^ tion. Wi^RO^s Customs.

Verse 11. But the king shall rejoice] David' shsll comie to the kingdom according to the promise of God. Or, if it refer to the captivity, the blood rdya/ shall be preserved in and by Zerubhabel till ' the Af exiioA come, who shall be David!8 -spiritual soceessor in the kingdom fijr ever;

Huit sweareth hy him\ *It was customary to swear hy the life of the king. The Egyptians swore hy the life of Pharaoh; and Joseph conforms to this custom, is may be seen in the. book of Genesis, ehap. xlii. 16, 16. See also 1 Sam. i. S6, ahd xvii. 65, and Judith id, 7. But here it may refer to God: He is Tea Kino, and swearing hy his name signifies binding themselves by his authority, acknowledging, his supremacy, and devoting themselves to his glory and service alone.

The Chaldee has: "And the King shall rejoice inSx I'D'na bemeymar Eloha, in the Word of God;" or, in the Word God; Meymar, Word, being taken here substantially, as in many other places, by the Targnmist.

The mouth of them thai speak lies] The mouth of those who acknowledge lying vanities, that worship false gods, shall be Stopped. AH false religiotis shall be destroyed by the prevalenee of the truth. For he.

Christ, shall reign till all. his enemies are put under his feet. **Thy kingdom come^ and hell^s o*erpower; and to thy sceptre all subdue." Amen and Amen.

The contents are, —

I. David's ardent desire to be in the assembly of the saints, ver. 1. And the reasons on which this desire was founded, ver. S, 3, 4, 6.

n. That though absent from Grod's ordinances, yet he forgot Aot his Maker, ver. 6, 7, 8.

I. 1. In the first part he states his confidence *ia God, as the foundation of his desires, oontemplations, meditations, invocations, and consolations: '* 0 God, thou art my God," ver. 1.

3. Then he expresses his fervent desire and ardent affection. 1. << Earfy will I seek thee;*' Thbb, not other things. 9. "My soul thirsteth for ihee,^ ko. There is no doubt that he wanted many things in this barren thirsty land; but of tlus he does not complaint but of his want of God in the sanctuary..

And so he expresses himself in the following verse: He was about to see the power and glory of God in the sanctuary, as he had formerly done. He gives the reason of this: ** Because thy loVing-kindness is better than life," ver. 3. To see thy goodness in the use of thy oidinances, I count far beyond all the blessings of - Ufe; and could I again be admitted there, these effects would folFow^; —

8. The satisfilction he should reeeive from these; " My mouth shall be satisfted 'as with marrow and fat* nese,*' &c., ver.- 6.

II. Though David is now in the wildemess, he does not forget his duty.

1. Even there he mmembered God upon his bedt and meditated, &e., ver. 6.

3. '' My soul foOoweth hifed after thee," Ac., ver. 8/ It is evident, therefore, that even here^'IDavid was not without comfort; for, 1. He meditateSi and remembers what God had done for him. S. He remembers that he had been his help; and therefore he rejoices. 3. He still adheres to him, and follows bard after him for help still.

yVitf psalmist prays

V To ilia enfmits, ruin: " Tliose who ifi^ after my flOiJt they ahull go (aotne) into ihe lower parta of ihe ekrlh,^^ the grave or helL

Others should ** fall by the sword," lie unburiedi and Ire devoured by wild bi^atts.

« Whose limbs, HTiburred on the naked shore. Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore^" Pope*

2. To himself t honour and a crown: ^^ But the kin^ (B&vid) shaU rejoke ifi God/* The reaflOD

1. " Every one ihat sw^ds by him,''* that ift, who worships and fear* Gc>d» an oaih bemg put by syn€cdQche for the whole worship of God. See the notes.

S* **The mouth of them that speak lies," utter blanphemies, curses, and perjuries, or pray and confess to str»«gc gods, "shall be slopped f* they abaJl be ashamed and eonfoLmded, and an end be put to their iniquity by a sudden and violent death. The m<mih of GQd^s people ahaU gl&rf; but the wwuih of ihe i^icktd ohall be sfoppedr and be sUent in th« dust.

7%e psalmist pratfi for pres^rmtitm from the wickedi 1,3; tohmn he de^crihes^ 5-^; jthmps their punish' mcnif 7, 8; end the effect that this should have on the godl^, 9, 10- c IT. annum life iTom fear 01 the enemy. P™"""' r 2 Hide me from the secret coun- ©el of' Uic wicked; from the iniurreetion of the workers of iniquity:

3 * Who wiiet their tongue like a sword, ^ and bend their boms to shoot their arrows^ men bitter words:

The title^ To ihe chief Musitiaut or cotiquerort A Psalm of David, The St/riac says, " composed by Bavid when warned by Gad the prophet, who said, Stay not iu Masrol^, because Saul seelis thy life.'* f3ome think it was composed by David when he was persecuted by Saul; or during the rebellion of Absalom. But Caimet thinks it is a complaint of the cap* tives in Babylon.

Verse 1. Near my voice] The psalmist feared for his life, and the lives of his fellow -captives; and he iought help of Gad. He prayed^ and he lifted tip his poke; and thus showed his earnestness*

Verse 3. Hide m§ from the seerei cotiTisel] They plotted his destruction, and then formed tnsurrecti&ns jm order to accomplbh it.

Workers of iniquity] Those who made sin their labour t the it daily employment; it was their occupation and trade. It is supposed that by this title the Babylonians are intended. See Ps*. vi, 3 ^ xiv, 4; XXX n. 12; liii. 4; lit. 2,

Verse S* Who toket their tongue like a sword] I'hey devise the ^vil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, mjurioas, and defamatory words; as the soldier n^hsis his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies.

Their arrows — Airier words] Their de&matory 'dyings are here repreiented as deadly as pmoncd grnms; for to such is the allusion here made/ 4??

5 ^ Tliey cncotuagc themselves in an evil ^ mailer r they commune* of laying snares privily; ^ihcy say, Who shall sec them?

6 They search out iniquities; ' they accomplish ''a diligent search: both the inward thought of.f^vcry one of them, and the heart w deep..

Verse 4. That they may sho^t m secret] They lurkf that they may take their aim the moie surely> and not mias tbetr nnark.

Verse 5, They cmnmuns of laying snares] They lay snares lo entrap those whom ihey cannot slay kj open attack or privsle amhush.

Verse 6. They search o^t inigmtiet; they accomplish a ddigent search] The word B^Dn chaphash, which h^ used three times ^' as a noun and a verb, in this semen CO ^ signiUes to stnp off the clothes., "They investigate iniquities; they perfectly investigate an investigation.'* Most energetically translated by the old Pxalier: C()ai fan^akh \33itkthjit00i0 1 tl)ai fattier tatt^Altaiiti in fan^ahtng* To ransaci dignifies to search every corner, to examine things port by part» to turn over every leaf, to leave no hole or crmniyf unexplored, fiut the word invest igafe tiilly expresses the meaning of the term, as it conies either frota m, taken privatively, and vesHref to clothe^ stripping tfu man hare^ that be may he exposed to all shames and V the more easily wounded; or from the wotd inrestiga^ which may be derived from in, interisivef and vesttgium, the footstep or track of man or beast. A metaphor from hunting the stag; as the xht^ or mark ofA^^fi^i^ is diligently sought out* in order lo find whither £ft is gone, and whether he is old or youngs for huntsmen can determine the age by the slot. Tw^erriZ/r, in liis

7 ' But God stall shoot at them

9 * Ajjd ail men shall fear, and shall ^ declare

treatise on fftiuting^ gives rulos ki fgrm thia judgment. To this Ihe nc^ct verse seema to refer.

Verse 1* 5tii 0«i(f ^hait ^hoH at them with an ar- Hfw] They endeaVour to iraee mc oul, ih^t thay may shoot nte; but God will sh&ot ai them, Thk, if the Ps&Im refer to the times of Dafid^ seenui to \m prophetic of S^uPs death. The arshers pre«aed upon him, and sorely woundetl tutu whK their arrows. 1 Sam. x^xxL 3*

Verse 8. Their 6wn ttmgue to fall upon tkemtefvea] Ail the p]oitmg»^ counsela, and curses, they have forme<l against me, shall ^^ome upon thcmaelv^«

Vera* U. And all men shall fear] They endea-?omced to hvie thetr natsehief j hut God shaU so puniah them that all ahaV '^^ ^^t and shall acknowledge m their chastiiement the just judgnfent of God. The wickedf in consequence^ shtdi fear^ and,

Verw Ifl. The righteous 4hall be glad] They shall see that God does net abandon his followers to the malice of bad men* The rod of the wicked may came %tUo ihe heritage of the just; but there it shall not rest. Cornel thinks thai this is a prediction of the desttuction of the Chaldeans, in consequence of which the Jewish people became highly respected hy alt the aurrounding nations. But it may be applied more gene^ raiiy to the enmity of the wicked agaiost the righteona, and how God counter w^nrks their devices, and rindi* cates and sypporis his own followers.

AitALVsia or the Sixty- focitTe Ps.ilm.

I. The psalmlat, iti danger, commends his emuse to God, ver 1, 2.

n, Conrtplaini of Kla enenues^ who are described by their inward devices, and outward conduct} ver. 3—6.

m. He foretells their rain, and the coosequencest Ter. 7-10.

%. Then in specbU that hm life may be safe: "Hide me from the secret counsel," &c.t ver. Si

He describes his enemies^ generally:—

1. They were wieked men,

2. They were workers of iniquity.

3. They workcid secret counsels against him.

4. They acted according to their coansels.

10 PThe nghteouB shall P""^"'"- be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in

n. Afler this general characteri he parliculariy describes their villany.

1. They were calumniitors; no sword sharper than their tbngue, no arrow swifter than their luccuBalfont.

They wete dUigent and active to wound his credit; and the evil of their conduct Was aggravated by tmo circumatances: 1. It was in secret; ^. It was agnitist the iHTt&ceni and upright.' *' They whet their sword; and bfend their bow, to shoot their arrows,'* &c.

2. Tkey were Qhstimite and confirmed in mischief:^

1, " They enoourage themselves in an evil thing.** ft. *' They comninne," lay their heads together how to lay snares, ^c.

3. They are impudent and tdheistic&l: **Th^y $ay, Who shall see them V

4; They are indefatigable — they are carried on with an earnest desire 16 do mischief; ihey invent all crafty ways to cirenrovent the righteous.

5. All this they do subilif^ erafldy i " Both the inward thought and heart of them is deep f^ It is not etisy to find out their snarea.

1. Their puniskmerU waa to be hasty, sharp, deadly, and very just. 1. " God shall shoot at them with an srrow; suddenly ahall they be wounded." 2, Most just. For they shall ** make their own tongues fall upon themselves. " By the ir I ojigues d id jthey mischief ^ by their tongues shall they falL

3. The enefU shall be double.^ 1. In genered^ to of/ 1 9. In particular^ to the righteous.

2. All men ** shall see and declare the work of ihe liord, and consider it as his doing."

The effect it shall have on the righteous. They shall acknowledge God*s justice; and fanher, —

1. They shail be glad in the Lord — w. the jndg^ ments he has shown. >

S. They shall trust in him — that he will al#tfi protect ajsd deliver them.

3. They shall ghr^ — make their boast in God, and tell to all the wonders which in his justice and hit mercy he has wronght for themi.

Gpd is praised f&r the fidjilment (ff his promises, and for his mercy in forgimng sins, 1-3. He is praised for the wonders that he works in nature, which ail manhnd must acknoioledge^ 4-8; for the fertHizmg showers which hn tends upon the earth, and the abmdmice thereby pn^duced both for men and citilet 0-13.

2 O thou that hearest prayer,

^ unto thee shall all flesh come. 3 ^ Iniquities ^ prevail against nae: as for

The tUley " To the chief Musician or conqaeror, a- Psalm and Song of David." Sathe Hebrew; and,. in effect, the Chaldee, JEthiqpiCj and bei^t copies of the Septuagint. The Arabic has, " A Psalni'of David concerning the transmigration of the people."

The Vulgate is singular: " A Psalm of David. A hymn of Jeremiah and Ezekiel for the people of thetransmigration, when they began to go out," from Babylon, understood. This title is of no authority ■; it neither accords ^itlK the subject of the Psalm, nor with the trtUk of history/, Calmet has very properly remarked that Jeremiah and Ezekiel were never found together, to compos^ this Psalm, neither hefore^ at, nor after, the captivity. It should therefore be utterly rejected. In the Complutensian edition Hqggai is added to Jeremiah and Ezekielj all with equal propriety.

It is supposed to have been ¥hitten after a great drought, when God had sent a plentiful rain on the land. I rather think that t^ere was n% direct drought or rain in the prophet^s view, but a celebration of Ithe' praises of God for his giving rain and fruits seasons, and filling men*s mouths with food, and their hearts with gladness. There ib a particular providence manifested in the quantity of rain that falls upon the earthy which can neither be too much admired nor praised.

Verse 1. Praise waiteth for the^] Praise is silent or dumb for thee. Thou alone art worthy of praise; all other perfections are. lost in thine;' and he who considers thee- aright can have no other subject of adoration.

Unto thee shall the vow be performed^ AU offerings and s^rifices should be made to.thee..AH human spirits are under obligation to live to and serve thee. All Jews and Christians, by circumcision and baptism, belong to thee; and they are all bound to p^. the vow of thefr respective covenants to thee alone; und 4he spirit of this vow is, to love thee with all their powers, and to serve thee with a perfect heart and willing mind, all the days of their life.

Verse 2. Unto thee shall all Jlesh come,] All human beings should pray to God; and from him alone the sufficient portion of human spirits is to be. derived. It is supposed to be a prediction of the calling of the Gentiles to the faith of the Gospel of Christ. A minister, immensely corpulent y began his. address to God in the pulpit with these words: ' " O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all ffesh come!" and most unluckily laid a strong emphasis on all flcsh. The coincidence was ominous; and I need not say, the

4 ^ Blessed is the man whom thou fl^choosest, and causest to approach %into thee^ that he may dwell in thy courts: ^ we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

5 By terrible things in righteousness 'wilt

people were not edified, for the efifect was lodicroiii. I mention this fact, which fell under my own notice, to warn those wha minister. in righteousness to avoid ez- '^pressionsovhich may be capable, Irora a similar ctrcnnistance, of a ludicrous application. I hav« known many ' good men who, to their no small grief, have been en^ cumbered with a preternatural load, of muscles; an evil to be deprecated^ and deplored.

Verse 3..Iniquities prevail against me] lliis is no just rendering of tlie original, ^O n3i njlj; nsn dibrejf avonoth gaberu menni; '* Iniquitous words have prevailed against me," or, ** The words of iniquity are strong against me." All kinds of calumnies, lies, and slanders have -been propagated, to Aake my confidence, and imin my credit.. -, ■ -

Our transgressions, thotC shalt purge them ateay,] Whatsoever oflfences we have committed against thee, then wilt pardon; 0*i9^;n tecapperenr^ thou wilt make aUmemenIt for Jthem, when with hearty repentance and..tme faith we turn unto thecv This v^rse iias been abused-to favour Antinomianlicentieusness. The true, and correct translation of the forfiaer clause will prevent this.

. The old Scottish Version of this verse, in their sin^ - t>^PMi!f9w,.iHi most execrable:^-

" Iniquities, I must confess, - Prevail against me do:. And as for our trans-gres-si-ons. Them purge away wilt thou,"

O David,, if thou art capable of hearing soeh abominable doggerel substituted for^the nervous words tho« didst compose^ by the inspiration Of the Hojly Ghost, what must thou feel, if chagrin can affect the lahaKitanU of heaven!

Verse 4.- Messed is the man whcmi thru choosest] This is spoken in reference to the priests^ who wert chosen of God to minister at the tabernacle; and who were permitted to approach, draw ntghr to the Divine Majesty by the various offierings und sacrifices, whick ' they presented.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy hovse] Though we are not priests, and have not the groft felicity to minister before thee in holy things; yet ws can worship at thy temple, feel the outpouring of thy Spirit,, and be made happy with the blessings which thou dispensest there to thy true worshippers.

Verse 5. By terrible things in righteousness] The Vulgate ioioB this danse to the preceding verse: *'Thy holy tem^e is wonderful in righteousness: thou wilt hear us, O God of our salvation." ^:But the psalmisi

thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of * all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar oflF upon the sea:.

6 Which ]by liis strength setteth fast the mountains; * being girded yfi\h power:

7 ^ Which stilleth the noise of the iseas, the Doise of their waves, "^and the tumult of the

8 They aUo that dwell in the uttermost pails are afraid at thy tokens: thou^ makest the outgoings of the pioming and evening ° to rejoice.

«M|^. o Deut. xi. 12. P Or, afier thim hadat made it to duin may refer to those wonderful displays of Grod^s ptoyi- 4ei^ in the change of seasons, and fertilization of the earth; and, consequently, In the sustenance of aU animal beings.

The confidence of all the ends of iht earih\ Thou art the hope of thy people scattered through difiTerent fiarts of- the world, and through the isles of the sea. This passage is alsa understood of the vocation of the Gentiles. -

.Verse 6. -Setteth ftut the numnUiihs\ Jt is by thy ^strength they hare been raised, and by thy power they are girded about or preserved. He represents ■ the monntains as being formed ind pitched into their proper l^aoes by the mighty hand of God; and shows that they are preserved from splitting, falling down, or mouldering away, as it were, by a girdle by which they are surrounded. The image is very fine. They ^ere hooped about by the Divine pbwer.

Verse 7. Stilleth the nqise of the seas\ Thou art Severeign over all the operations of sea and land. Earthquakes are under thy control: so are the flux and reflox of the sea; and all storms and tempests by which the great deep is agitated. Even the headsCr&ng multitude is under thy control; for thou stillest the madness of the people.

Verse 8. Are afraid at thy tokens] Thunder and lightning, storms and tempests, eclipses and meteors,' tornadoes, and earthquakes, are proofs to all who '^well even in 'the remotest parts of the earth, that ttiere is a Supreme B^ing who is wondexful and terrible in his acts. By these things an eternal power and Godhead become manifest even to the most barbarous. From this verse to the end of the Psalm there is a series of tlie finest poetic imagery in the world. ^.,

The outgoings of the mornings 4^.] The rising andsetting sun, the morning and evening twilight, the invariable succession of day and night, are all ordained l)y thee, and contribute to the happiness and continu<- anc^ of man and beast. Or, All that fear thee praise thee in the momingtwhen they go to their work,;^nd

it: thou greatly enrichest it ' with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abun dantly: ■ thou settlest the furrows thereof: ^ thou makest it soft with showers: thou bkssest the springing thereof. •

1 1 Thou crowned ^ the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

12 They drop iipon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills ^rejoice on every side.

13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; ^ tlie valleys also are covered over with com; they shout for joy, they also sing.

in ^e evening, when they return home, for thy great goodiiess manifested in the continuance of their strength, and the success of their labour.

Verse 0. Thou visitest the earth] God is represented as going throughthe whole globe, and,examining the wants of every part, and direcHng the clouds how and where to deposit their fertilizing showers, and the rivers where ta dtreot their beneficial courses..

.7V^« rifver of Qod\ Some think the Jordan n^ meant; and the visiting and watering refer to laio after %. long drought. But the clouds may be thua denominated, which properly are the origin of rivers, » Thou preparest them com] Or, Thou wilt prepare them corn, beciose *' thou hast provided for it.** Then -hast made. all necessary provision for the fertilization of the earth. Thou -hast endued the ^ound with a vegetative power. Rains, dews, and the genial heal of the sun enable it. to put forth that power in providing grass for cattle, and com for the servipe of man. * ^

Verse 10. Thotl waterest the ridges] In seed-time thou sendest that measure of Vain that is necessary, in order to prepare: the earth for the ploUgh; and thent when the ridges are thrown inlo furrows^ thou makest them soft with showers, so^as to prepare them for the expansion of the seed« and the vegetatlqn and dev elopement of the embryo plant.. ^*

'thou blessest the springing thereof] Literally, Thou wilt bless its germinations — its springing buds. Thou watchest over the young sprouts; and it is by thy tender, wise, and provident care that the ear is formed; and by thy bountiful goodness that mature grains fill the ear; and that one produces thirty, sixty ^ or a hundred or a thousand fold.

Verse 11. Thou croumest the year] A full and plentiful harvt^t is the crown. o( the year; and this springs from the unmerited goodness of God. This isf the diadem of the earth. n")OJ% ittarta. Thou encirclest, as with a diadem. A most elegant expression, to show the progress of the sun through the twelve signs of the zodiac, producing the seasons, and giving a sufilciency of light and heat alternately to all places on the sur- face of the globe, by its Dorth and south declination (amounting to 23° 28' at the solstices) on each side of the equator. A more beautiful image could not have been chosim; and the very aplpearance of the space termed lAim- zodiac on a celestial globe, shows with what propriety the idea of a circU oi.diadem was conceived by this inimitable poet.

Thy paths drop fatness,] fSiJ^D magaUycha^ "thy orbits.'' The various planets, which all' have th^ir revolutions within the zodiacal space, are represented as contributing their part to the general fructification of the year. Or perhaps the solar revolution through the twelve signs, dividing the year into twelve parts.or months, may be here intended; the rains of November and February, the frosts and snows of December and January, being as necessary for the fructification of the soil, as the gentle showers of spring, the warmth' of summer, and the heat and drought of autumn. The earth's diurnal rotation on its axis, its annual revolution in its orbit, and the. moon's course in accompanying the earth, are all wheels or o¥bits of God, which drop fatness, or produce fertility in tiie earth.-

Verse 12. The pastures of the wilderness] EtenL the places which are not cultivated haye their suffix ciency of moisture, so as to render thfem proper places, of pasturage for cattle. The teites toildemess and desert, in the Sacred Writings, mean, in general, places not inhabited and uncultivated, though abounding with timber, bushes, and herbage.

The litUe hills rejoice] Litftndly, The hills gird iher^elves with exultation,. The metaphor appears to be taken from the frisking of lambs, bounding of kids, and dancing of shepherds and. ^epherdessea, in the joy-inspiring simimer season.

Verse 13. The pattures i&e clothed with flocks] Cattle are seen m every, plain,, avenue, and vista, feeding abundantly; and the valleys are clothed, and wave with the richest harvests; and transports of joy are heard every where in the cheerful songs of the peasantry, the.singing of the birds, the.neighing of the horse, the lowing of the ox, and the bleating of tjbA -sheep. Claudian uses the same image:-^

Shout for joy, they also sing.] They are not loud and unmeaning^ sounds, they are both music and har-.mony in their different notes; all together form one great concert, and the bounty of God is the subje<n which they 9II celebrate. What an inimitable desctiption! And yet the nervous Hebrew is not half expressed, even by the amended translation and paraphrase above.

This is whoHy a poem of thanksgiving; and teaches us how, and for what, we are to praise God. 1. -For spiritual; 2. For temporal blessihgs;.and, 3. This publicly; in Zion-^— in his Church,

It has two general parts: —. ^

I. Praise to God for his blessings to his followers,

U. His common benefits to all mankind, ver. 6-13,

I. fie sets forth God's grace to his followen,'of which he reckons several particulars: —

1. He has established a public ministry among them', ana an atoning sacrifice,

S. He directs and hears their prayers; and to him, by sacrifice, prayer, and praise, may all homan beings come.

3. Though evil tongues may^ prevail against them for a time, yet He will deliver -them.

.4. The transgressions committed against him he will accept an atonement for, and pardon, Ter. 1-4. See the notes.

5. All that, truly worship him in his ordiaan^ shall be made partakers of spiritual blessedness: " We shall be satisfied with' the goodness of thy house,'* ver. 4,

6. He works pqwerfuUy and terribly, i>ut lighteonsly,, in behalf of his followers, ag^st their enemies: ** By lerrible things in righteousness," ver. 5. 1. He €mswers them when they pall. 2. By terrible things, — as in Egypt, the wilderness, &q, 3. And the -motive to it is, his justice or righteousness^ kj which he punishes his enemies, and gives iWibntton to his people.

'All.this he concludes with a double eulogy of CM:, r / •

I. Showing what he is peculiarly to his people.; " 0 God of our salvation."

9, What he is to all; ** the confidence of all the ends of the earth," for he snstuns 1^, be they where they may..

II. He descends from his peculiar promdencoi-^ihte care he takes of^ and (he benefits he bestows oar, his Church, — to his general providence, his ordering tad sustaining the whole world; which ^e amplifies i-^

1. *< By his strength he setteth fast the moanCams,? &c., which is true literally: but, tropologicalfyi it may mean kingdoms and states.

3. He stilleth the noise of the sea, — and of the waves, — fof to them he sets bounds: **And the tumult of the people." He stills devils, lyrfaits,^.armies, seditions, dec.

3. He does this so, that even those who are in tfie uttermost parts of the 'sea are afraid at his token*. They see from the phenomena of nature how powoiful add fearful God is.

4..The suuy moon, planets, and stars are^trnder bis guidance. Day aqd night are ordered by him: "ThOU makest the outgoings of the* morning and evening to rejoice." v.

5. The earth and its inhabitants are his peculiar care: "Thou visitest the earth," *c., ver. 9*-lK

In all which the prophet shows GodV mercy, 1. In the rain, « 2. In the rivers, 3. In the growif^ of the com, 4. In providing grass for cattle, 5. In providing store in the summer and autumn, 6. His clouds drop fatness upon the earth, and all natare rejpices. The meaning of all is, Man may plough, sow, dig, manure, prune, watch, fence, &c.; but it is^jrod that gives the increase.

For ato account of the imagery here employed, see the notes. The Psalm is grand bejTond description, and can never be sufficiently admired.

T%e psalmist exhorts aU to praiio God for the wonders he has wrought, 1-4; eaBs en Israel to consider his tnighty acts in behalf of their fathers, 5-7; his goodness in their own hqhalf 8-1 S; he resolves to pay his vows to God, and qff^ his promised sacrifices, 13-16; caUs on all to hear what God had done for his soul, 15-20.

3 Say unto God, How *» terrible art thou in thy works! ^through the greatness of thypower shall tliiiie enemies • submit ^ themselves unto thee..

4 ' All the earth shall worship thee; and ^ shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

There 'i« nothing partioular in the title of. the Psalm. It is not ^rtbated to David either hylYie' Hebrew, Chaldse, Syriae, Septuagint, Vulgate, or JEthiopic. The Arabic alone prefixes the name of David: The Vvigttte, Septuagint, JEthiopic, and ilro^ic, call it a psalm 1^ the resurrection: but for thi^ there is no auihorityJ By many of the ancients it is supposed to be' a celebration of the.restoration from. the Bab^nish eaptiYity. - Others think it commemorates the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, their introduction into the Promised Land, and the establishment of tiie worship of God in Jerusalem.

Verse 1. Make ajoyfxd hoise'\ Sing^iloud to God, aU ye lands — all ye people who, from different parts of tlie Babylonish empire, are now en return to your own land. <

Verse 9. ^The honour of his nanui] Let his glorious and merciful acts be the suhject^i yoxxt songs. -

Verse 3. How terrible art thOtt] Consider the plagne» with which he afflicted Egypt before he brooght your fathers from their captivity^ which ob^ liged all his enemies to submit.

l%ine enemies submit themselves] literally, lieunto thee. This was remarkably the case with Pharaoh and the Egyptians. They promised again and again to let the peCple go, when the hand of the Lord was upon them: and they as frequently- falsified their word.

Verse 4;.4^ the earth] The whole land shall worship thee. There shall no more an idol be found among the -tribes of Israel, i This was literally true. After the Babylonish captivity the Israelites never relapsed info idolatry.

6 '^ He turned the sea into dry ^g^. cjr. 3484. land: ^ they went through the Darii i-t • flood on foot: there did we re- cir. annum*

.7.. He ruleth by his power for ever; "his eyes behold«the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

8 0 bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

9 Which " l^oldeth our soul in life, and "suf fereth not oiir feet to be moved. • * '

Verse 6. Come and see the works of Go4] Let every man lay God's wonderful * dealmgs with us to heart; and' compare oujr deliverance from Babylon <io that of our fathers from. Egypt.

Verse 6. He turned th/t -iea into dry land] This was a plain miracle: no l|uman art or contrivance coold do this, ^veh fn the bed t>f.the waters thbt did rejoite in him. Wc have not le;^. cause to pradae aiid be thankful.

Verse 7. He ruleth by his power] His omnipotence is employed to support his followers, and cast down his enemies. •

His eyes beHold the nations] He sees what they purpose, what they intend to do; and what they will do, if'he restrain them not. * - ^

Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.] They shall not succeed in their 4iesigns: they have their own aggrandizemeift in view, but thou wUt. disappoint and cast them down.

Selah.] Mark this. It is true. Verse S. O bless our God] Who have so much cause. as you toeing praises to the Lord? Hear what he.has dona for you:

Verse 9. Which holdeth our soul in life] Literally, ' "he who placeth odr'soul D'TID bachaiyim, in lives.?' \ We are preserved alive, have health of body, and feel the life of €rod in Our hearts..> i And suffereth not her feet t& be moved.] Keeps us I steadfast in his testunonies. We have our life, our liberty, and our religion. O, what hath the. Ykatd \ wrought for us!. " Make, therefore, the voice" of his i praise to be heard." -Let God and man know you are [thankful.. ^

J Verse 10. For thou, O Gbd, hast proved us] This! is -a metaphor isksn from melting and refining metals; 4^7

11 'Thou brou^^st us into the net; thou laiddift HfidiQO Mfoa fur loins. W ^ T|i0ii hast -caused men to ride over our heads; ♦ wi ^*rent through fire and through, water: but thou broughtest us out into a " wealthy place.

13 " I will go into thy house with bumtoflferings; "^ I will pay thee my vows,

14 'Which iny lips have * uttered, and my moiith hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

15 1 will offer unto thee b^rnt sacrifices of y fallings, with the incense of rams; L will

afflictions and trials of varioas kinds are represented as jk furnace where ore is mehed, and z cruciHg where it is refined. Arid this metaphor is used especially to represent cases where there i§ doubt concerning the purity of the metal, the quantity of alloy, or even the nature or kind of metal subjected to the trial. So God is said to try the Israelites that he might know what was in them; and whether they would kepp his testimonies: and then, according to the-is^ue, his conduet towards them would aj^pear to be founded on reason and justice.

Verse IJt. Thou broughtest Uf into the net] This refers well to the case of the Israelites, whepi in their departure from Egypt, pitrsned by the Egyptians, having the Red Sea before them, and no method of escape, ^^^ Pharaoh said,^*^ The wilderness hath shot them in> — fhey are entangled;** comparing their state to that of iBL wild beast jn a net.

Affliction upon our loins.] Perhaps this aUndes to that sharp pain in the back and loins which is generally felt on the apprehension of sudden and destructive danger.

Verse 12. Thou hast caused, men to ride over our heads] Thou hast permitted us to fall under the dominion of our enemies; who haTQ tieated us as broken infantry are, when the car^y dashes among' their disordered ranks, treading all binder the horses' feet.

We went thrdughfire and through water] Through afflictions of the most torturing and overwhelming nature. To represent such, the metaphors of fire and water are often used in Scripture. The old Psalter considers these trials as a proof of the uprightness pf

those who were tried — Wt pd0ftib tl)UCgl) ftre aitb loattt: that is, thurgh wa and wele, as a man that letes noght his waye for hete na for kald, for dry na for wette; oitb tl)Ott out lehe itjBf fra tribulacyon inttll iiolhig (cooling> that is, in tiU endles riste, that we hope to hafe after this travejl. »

Wealthy place. J Well watted j^lace, to wit, the larfd of Judea.

Verse' 1 3. / vcUl go into thy house with burnt' offerings] • Now that thou hast restored us to our own land, and established us in it, we will establish thy 488.

17 I cried unto hinci with my mouth, and he was extolled with ray tongue.

18 *If I regard iniquity in my heait, the Lord will nbt hear tne:

1 9 But verily God ^ hath heard me; he hitth attended lo. the roice of my. prayer.

20 Blessed he God, Which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his. mercy from me.

/ wiU pay thee my vows] We often vowed^ if thoa wouldst deliver us from our bondage,, to worship had serve thee aUfne: now- ihou hast heard our prayen, tad hast delivered us; therefore will we fulfil our engagements-to thee. The old Psalter gives this a pions

turn: — H 0eAl pelHe^ill tl)e mp Uioue^* that is, the vowes of louyng (praiBfing) the; whilk vowes my lipes divisid sayand, that I am noght, and thou arte all: and I hafe nede of the, noght thou of me. This is a right

Veise 14. When I was in- trouble.]. This is gaseraUy the time when good resolutions are formed, tad Vows made;.but how often -are these forgotteii wheli afflictlba and calamity are removed!

Verse 15. I uhU offer, 4r.] Thou shalt have the beet of the herd and of the fold;,the lame and the blind shsll never be given to thee for sacrifioe..

The incense of rams] The fine 'effluvia arising from the burning of the pure fat;

Verse L6. Come and hear, all ye that fear God\ While in captivity, the psalmist had sought the.-Iind with frequent prayer for his own personal aalvfttion, and for the deliverance of the pedplej and Qod faleased him, heard his prayer, an^ turned the captivity.. Now that he is returned in safety, he is determined to perform-his vows to the. Lord; and calk on all them that fear their Makeri who -have any religious reverence for him, to attend to his acoottnt of the Lord^a giaeioat dealings with him. He proposes to tell them his ^- ritual experience, what he needed, what he eame^y prayed for, and what Ood has done for him. Thus he intended to teach them by example, more powerfoi always dian precept, however weighty in itself, and impressively delivered.

Verse 17. / cried unto him with my mouth] My prayer was fervent; he heard and answered; and my tongue celebrated his mercies; and he as gracioosly received my thanksgjiving, m he compassionately heardmy prayer. ' Verse 18L If I regard iniquity in my h§art\ ** If

7%e psdbmit grays for the

I hare aeen (M'X*i rat/Ai) iniquity in asy heart,^* if I have known it was there, and encouraged it; if I pre^

He calls on tham again, ver. 5, to consider God*8

Unded to be what I was no/; if I laved iniquity ^ while works, specially in deliyering hia people: 1. At the

I professed to prwf and be sorry for my sin; the Lord, ^JIM Adonaif my Prop, Stay, and Supporter, would n6t haT^ heard, and I should have been left without Ae/p or svftporL

Verse 19. Verily God hath heard me] A sure proof that my prayer was upright, and my heart honest, before him.

Verse.20. Blessed be Ood] I.therefore praise God, who has not tamed aside my prayer, and who has not withheld his mercy from me. Thiis he told them what God had done fui his soul.

Analysis of the Sixtt-sixth Psalm.

There %xejive jntrts in this Psalm:^-

111. A protestation and vow for himself, that he would serve the Ldrdf ver. 13-15.

rV. A decldrationof God's goodness to him, which be invites all to come and hear, ver. 16—19.

1. The invitation to praise God affectionately and heartily.

1. ^ Make a joyful son^.'* 2. '^Sing the honour of His name^.^ 3. *'• Make his praise glorious." 4. '* Say onto God,'' &c^ Where he prescribes the form in which Goid shall be praised.

He calls all men to consider his works, and the double effect: — 1. On God's enemies, S. On his peopU.

Red Sea, 2. In passing Jordsn on foot, ver. 6.

He calls them to hekotd Ood*s power and providence. 1. His power in ruling. 2. His providence in beholding, and, 3. Hi* justice in puniahing the rebellious, ver. 7.

n. He again invites them to praise God for some special mercy, withoat which they would have be^n destroyed, ver. 8. 1. He kept them alive. 2. Suffered not their feet to sl^, ver. 9. S. Ke tried, that he might purify, them.

He illustrates, this trial by five similes taken, — 1. - From silver. 2. From a net, 3. From a hurden laid on the loins. 4. From bondage and slavery-^— men rode Over us.' 5. From fire and water; useful «ervants, but cruel masters, ver. 10-18.

But the issue of all these trials was good: — they were brought through all, and profited by each,

HI. For this- he gives thanks, and purposes to pay his vows.

2. He would there present his offerings, ver. 14.

3. These should be of the best kind, ver. 15.

IV^ He declares God's goodness, and invites all thai fear God to hear what he has got to say. ^ot of what he was to offer to God, but of what God had done for him^ ■

1. He cried to God, and he heard him.

2. He took care to avoid- iniquity, that his prayers might not be cast out: ** For God hoareth not sinners."

y. He closes the Psalm. with a doxology, blessing God that, not through his merit, but his own mercy ^ he had heard and answered him. He attributes nothing to himself, but all merey to his God, ver. 20.

The psalmist prays for the enlargement of God^s kingdom, 1,2; calls upon all nations to serve him^ because ke judges and governs righteously, 3-5; promises prosperity to the faithful and obedient, 6, 7.

face to shine ^ upon us. Selah. 2 That ^ thy way may be known

The titli here is the same with that of- Psalm iv., where see the notes. It is supposed to have been written at the return from the Babylonish captivity, and to foretell the conversion of the Gentiles to the Christian -religion. The prayer for their salvation is very energetio.

Vetse 1. God be merciful unto us] Show the Jewish people thy mercy, bless them in their bodiea and soula

3 • Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the peopfc praise

and give a full evidence of thy approbation. This is nearly the same fonn of blessing as that used Num. vi. 25, where see the notes.

Verse 2. That thy way may bf known] That thy will, thy gracious designs towards -the children of men, thy way of reconciling them to thyself, of justifying the ungodly, and sanctifying the unholy, may be known to aJl the nations upon earth! God's way is God^s religion; what he walks m before men; and in

^?f 4 O let the nations be glad and s I ng for j oy: for *" t li o n s hall judge the people righteously, and « go vem __ the nations upon earth. Sclah, 6 Let ihft people praise thee, O God; let all the people praUe ihee*

which mea musi wM before hxm» A man'a religioii is hi* U'ay af wonihipping^ God, and gomg to heaven. Th«! whole Gospel is ciiUed fAw way, Actii xix. 9.

T/iy sating health] '\np\W y€shuath9chQ^ " thy saifaiiuB»-* Th© great work which is performed in God '9 ^^f^ ^0 destroying rhe power^ [lardoning the guilti cloanaing from tlia inr(i€tioiTi of oil sin;. and filhng the soul with holineas^ with the niitid that wait in Christ Let o^ naiwns^—ih^ whole Gentile woild, know that watf^ and this sqI ration!

Verse 3, Let the prftple pmtse thee] When thii is done, the peopi^ — the Gentiles, wiU praise thee; ail will give thanks to God for bia unspeakable glfl.

Verse 4. <Slad amf ^tig for joy] They «hall be made happy in thy salvation. Even iheir political stale sh;ill be greatly mehornted; for God will be acknowledged the anpreme Judge; fheir Imos shall be founded on hit word; and the DaticAa of the eanti shall be gm^erTwd aooording to Judgmentf justice, «nd eijuiiy.

Selah.] This ia true. There are innomemhle fsets to con Arm it. All the nations who have received the GoBpel of Chriat have been benefited poltHcaU^j as well as xpifituidty^ by U,

Vers^e 5* Ltt the pe&ph praise M**] Seeing the abundance of ttie blesaings whieh the. Gentiles were to rfkoeive, he caUa a^ain and again upon them to magnify God for such mercies.

Verse 6„ The egHA yield her if^creagf] As the ground wt» carded for the ain of man, and the curse was to be r^mGved by Jesus Christy the fertihty of ih© ground should be iolluenced by the preaching of the Gospel^- for aa the people's minds would become %n* hghtened by the truth ^ tbey wunld^ in corieequenee, lM>eonie capable of making the moat heneficiat dU* eoveriei in arU and sciences; and there ahould be an eapecial blaasing on ttie toil of the pioua husbandman, Wheuever true religion prevailaf every thing partakes of it» beneficent influence.

Verae 7* God shail bless us] He shall ever be speaking good to us, and ever showering" down good things upon us.

The last clause of the si^th ver\e «booM bo Joined to the seventh^ aa it ia in aeveraJ of the Vtrstons^ and should be in all. Many of the fathers, and several cammt^tafm's, hare thought that there ia a reference to the Hidy Trinity in the triple repetition of the word God: '^ God, our God, shall bless ua; God shall bless ua f ^ thus paraphraaed in 6he old Psalter: *^ Blis us God ilie Fader: and our God the sone t and blia e * TTien shaT! the earth yield her increase; and God, enen our own God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us, and *all the end« of the earth shall fear him.

be ascertained. It acema to be aimply a prophecy concerning the calling of tht GentQes, the preaching of the apoMle«, and the diFusion and infLuaaee of Chriatiatiity in the world. It ia a fine piece of devolicm; and it would be nearly impossible to read or repeat it with a cold and unafleeted heart.

Anal vats or tu% Siktt-skvektii Psalm-

Thia Paalm may be divided into three parts:' — I* A general prayer^ ver. 1. And the r^astm of it, ver. 5J»

IIL The effects that wete to follow, ver. B, 7.

1. The first part, a prayer for merry: "God M mereiftil to us!^' for Goffs mercy is the fountain of all our blessings,

2. Then bi^ss tts thi'ongh that mercy with ^mp^rai and spiritual good*

3. " Cause his face to shine.'* Give oa a sense of thy approhaiion.

4. Let theae blessings be extended fo aii men. For this reason i I. ** That thy way," thy wiil, word^ woTahip, &c,, ^* nlay be knovpn itpon earth*" 3» "Thy sav bg health,'* the redempiion by Christ, " to all nations.**

11. Then shall God be honoured; one will readily flow from the other; for meffcy brings kn&wtedge of God and his goodness; and Lhif ktiowledge briMgv pruise. This verse ia emphatic:-^

1. In reapcet of the object; "Thee," not strange gods,

3. Thia should be done fiequentlyy an exam^e of which we have in this Psalm.

4. It ahonld be done cherrf^Uy^ with a g-laiJ heart; not words mereJy, hut aff*:cUmis of praise.

For this also he gives a reason which is twofold i^

i. His equity in judging \ " Thou shait jadge thi people righteously J*

9. His wisdmn in governing* Thou shalt lead them^ on in ianchem^ thy government ahall be full of wt^e teaching: " Wisdom and knowledge shall l»e the sts^ biliiy of his times."

HI. The effects of his blesshig, and oor prawe.

1. "The earth shall yield her incieaj^e \''^ the ptf*p^e shall be mtdtipUed; the hnn*etts shall be ^mple, and the Chtireh ahall oiyerfiow with converts*

2. God shall Mess this increa.*e; for, with mi t this.

temporal blessinga may become a curae. He doubles ua and ruukipli us God the H^i Gast; that swa drede! ibis that it may not be foT|^otten. •

him God, all the end is of ertk; for he wil com mo I 3. The la3t and finest effect is, that God shall b^* to detne rigbiwysly that unrighiwyaly waa demedp I worshipped over all the earth: " AJ\ the ends of ib<f He that kan drede him, he ceases ought lo lufe him/*! earth ahall fear hii«." Amen. The A'ar of God is When or by whtm this Psalm was written cannot J frequently iBed to e^tpress the whole of bis worships

7^ palmist caih Ufum God tg sriie^ Mess his people ^ and scatter his enemies ^ I -3; e^h&rls thrm to praise hm% f<^ hu p^e^tness^ tendrmess, compassion, and jtidgmefits^ 4-6; describes the grandeur of hts march wkm h€ went fifrt/x m the redemptwn of his petypie, 7» 8; how he dispensed his btesstngSj % Ift; u*hat A* wi^ sttii ctmtinue t& do in their ^halj\ 11-13; the effects produced by (he manifestation of God*i majesty ^ 14— 18; he is prmsed for kts goodness ^ 19^ 20; for his judgments^ 21^22; he tells m what manner the IhviTie worship was eondueied^ 24-27; how God is to Be honmiredy 28-31; all are inviicd to swg his prmises^ and ^xtoi hts greatnesSf 32—35*

2 " As smoke is driven away, so drivfe them away: ^ as wai melteih before the fire, so let the wicked perish in the presence of God*

3 Bui • let Uie righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yea, let them ^ exceedingly rejoice- '

In the iUle of this Pscdm there h nnihing particular to be remarked* Ii is probable th^t this Psalm,, or iv p&n of it at lenst, might tiEt^e been composed by Moses, to be recited when the leraetiies jomneyed. See Nmm. II. 35; and that David, on the same model, con'^ fiirueted this Psalm- It might have be*»n sunf also in the ceremony of tranfl|fbrting the ark from Klrjath-jearuiu to Jerusalem; or from the house of Obed-edom to the tabernacle erected at Sion.

I know not how to' undertake a comment on this psalm ■ H is tlie m*sl difficult in the whole Psalter; and I canitot help adopting the opinioii of Simon De Mms: Iff koc Paalmo tot ferme scopiili, tot labyrinihi* quot versus, quut verba* I»Jon iinnierito crux ingenionitn^ et interpretum opprobrjuni dici potest* ** In this psalm there are as many precipicea and lahyrinthii as there are verses or words. It may not be Improperly termed ^ the loriare of critics, and the repToach of commentators.^* Tc attempt any thing new on it i^^utd be dangerous; and to say what has been so often said wQutd be unsatisfactory. I am tmJy afraid to fall over one of those precipices ^ or be endlessly entangled md lost in one of these lahyrtnihs. There are customs here referr«^ to which I do not fully understand; there are words whoMi meaning I cannot, to my own satisfaction ^ ascertain: and alluaions which are to me incxplieable* Yet of the composition itself I have the highest opinion: it is sublime beyond all aomparison; it is c^W itrilcted with an art truly admirable; it possesses all the diimity of the sacred language; none but David could have oompi^sed it; and, at this lapse of time, it would require no small bAuence of the Spirit that waa apon him, to give its true interpretation. I shall subjoin a few note«t chiefly philological \ and beg leave to refer the reader to those who have vrntten profugel^ and

5 ^ A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, i^ God in his holy habitation*.

6 ^ God settelh the solitary "• in famyiea; • he bringeUi out thos<* which are bound with chains: but " the rebellious dwell in a dry land,

laboritmsly on this Itublime Psalm t particularly Venema^ Calmsi^ Dr* Chandler f and the ivriters in the Cntici Sacri*

Verse 1. Let God anlfJ-.This was sung when the Levites took up thei ark upon their shcmldera; see Num. X. 35^ 36, asd the notes there.

Verse 4, E^iol him that ridelh upon (he heavens hy his name J AH ] " Extol him who sitteth on the throne of glory, in the ninth heaven; Yah is his name - and rejoice before him^^^^-Targum.

nD'^i^ baaratkoih^ whtob we render in 'the high heav^nsy is here of doubtful signification. As it CQmes from the root 31;,* arah^ to mingle, (hence crcb iho eveaing or twilight^ because it appears to be formed of an efual mixture of light and darkness / the iS^- tuagifU translate it ^utTf^wv, the ttejf, or setting of tho sots \ so d*ies the Vtdgate and others;) probably il may mean ihmglomny desert^ through which Qod, in t]ie chari0t of his glory, led the Israelites. If this interpreta* tion do not please, then let it be referred to the darkness in which God is said to dwell, through which the rot/s of his pmifer^ and love^ in the vai-ious dispensations of his power and mercy, shine forth for the comfort and instruction of mankind.

By his name Jah] TV YaK probably a contraction of the word mn' Vehm^ah; at least, so the ancient Versions understood it. Jt is used but in a few places in the stcre^d writings. It might be translated The Seif existent.

Verse 6, The solitary in families] nnn' ycchidim^ the single persons. Is not the meaning, God is ihti Author of marriage; and children, the legal fruit of it, are an inheritance from him?

TRerae 7. O God^ icA^n fhott wentext fjrth] TFiis and the followmg verse most manifestly rtrfer to the posB^e of the Ismelites throusrh 4^ wildertiesA* 431 ^

^B^clr'wS' *y people, when thou didst DHvidin, Regis majTcli thfough tlie wilderness;

yens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 'Thou, 0 God, didst "send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst * confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

10 Thy congregation hatli dwelt therein: ^ thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

1 1 The Lord gave the word: great was the "" company of those that published it.

Verse 9. Didst send a plentifvl rain] n\2'M DETJ geshem nedaioth, a shower of liberality,. I believe this to refer to the manna by which Gpd refreshed and preserved alive the weary and hungry Israelites.

Verse 10. Thy congregaiioti hath dwelt therein] ym chaiynthecha^ thy living creature; tol ^wa, SeptuagirU; animaliaj Vulgate; so all the Versions. Does not this refer to the quails that were broughuo the camp of the Israelites, and dwelt, joa it were, round abouiit 7 And was not this, with the manna and the refreshing rOck, that goodness which Ood had primdedfor the poorr— the needy Uraelites?

Verse 1 1. Great was the company of those thai published it.] 3") KDY niiisr3*:n hammebasseroth tsaba rah; ** Of the female preachers there was a great host.^' Such is the literal translation of this passage; the reader may make of it what he pleases. Some think it refers to the women who, with music, songs, and dances, celebrated the victories of the Israelites over their enemies. But the publication of good news, or of any joyful event, belonged to the wojnen. It was they who announced it to the people at large; and to this universal custom, which prevails to the present day, the psalmist alludes. See this established in the note on Isa. xl. 9.

Verse 12. Kings of armies did Jlee] Jabia And the kinsrs of the Canaanitcs, who united their forces to overwhelm the Israelites.

And she] Deborah the prophetess, a woman accustomed lo tarry at home, and take care of the family; she divided the spoils, and vanquished their kings.

Verse 13. Though ye have hen among the pots] The prophet is supposed here to address the tribes of Reuhm and Gad, who remained in their inheritances, oooupied with agricultural, maritime, and domestic afftnr.t, when the other tribes were obliged to go against Jahin^ and the other Canaanitish kings. Ye have been thus occupied, while your brethren sustained a desperate rampai«]rn; but while you are inglorious, they obtained the most splendid victory, and now dwell under those rich tents which they have taken from the enemy; co- 43S

13 3r Though ye have lien among the pota* * yet shall ye he €ls tlie wings of a doTe coTered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

14 • When tlie Almighty scattered kings ^ in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; a high hill as ihe hill qf Bashan.

1 6 * Why leap ye, ye high hills? ^ this is the hill tJhich God desirctli to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for. ever.

verings of the most beautiful colours, adorned with gok) and silver. The words j^iin Py'^ birakrak chanUSj native gold, so exceedingly and spcndidly yellow as to approach to greenness — from pT yarak, to be green; and the doubling of the last syllable denotes an excess in the denomination — excessively green — glistering green. The Targum gives us a curious paraphrase of this and the following verse: " If ye, O ye kings, slept among your halls, the congregation of Israel, which i» like a dove covered with the clouds of glory, divided the prey of the Egjrptians, purified silver, and cofien full of the finest gold. And when it stretched oui ito hands in payer over the sea, the Almighty cast dowft kingdoms; and for its sake cooled hell like snow^ and snatched it from the shadow Qf death. '^ Perfaapa the Romanists got some idea of purgatory here. For the sake of the righteous, the flames of hell are extinguished!

Verse 15. The hill of God is as the hUl of BasM&H] This and the following verse should be read thus: " Is Mount Bashan the craggy mount, Mount Baahao, the mount of God? Why envy ye, ye cfaggy moiinta t This is the mount of God in which he has deairad to dwell/* The Targum countenances this translation: Mount AfbriaA, the place where our fathers of old wOrsliipped God, is chosen to build on it the house of the sanctuary, arid Mount Sinai for the giving of the law. Mount Bashan, Mount Tabor, and Carmel are rejected; they are made as Mount Bashan.^*

Verse 16. Why leap ye, ye high hills f] **God said, Why leap ye, ye high hills? It is not pleading to roe to give my law upon high and towering hills. Behold, Mount Sinai is low; and the WORD of the Lord has desired to place on it the Divine majesty. Moreover, the Lord, dwells for ever in the heaven of heavens." —.Targum.

The psalmist is speaking particularly of the mountains of Judea, and those of Gilead; the former west occupied by the Canaanites, and the others by Og, ' king of Bashan, and Sihon, king of the AmtM-ites*; whom Moaes defeated.

Pavidis, lUgis twAiity thousand;^ 'even thousands eir. tannm ot angels: the JLoRD u among

'^^ them, as in Sinai, in the

IS ' Thou hast ascended on high, ^ thou hast led captivity captive:- ^ thou hast received gifts "^formen; yea, /or Uhe rebellious also, * that the Lord God might dwell among them.

49 Blessed 6e the Loftv>'^Ab daily loadeth iuiioith henejiUfy even the God of our salvation. S^iah.

2^ He that is our God wjthe God of satvation; and ^ unto God the Lobd belong the issues from death. '

21 But •God shall wound thre head of liis

Vene 17. The -chariots cf God are twenty^ thauiani] IMV ^oSk O^n^l ribbcfth^yim alpey shirum, <*(Wo myriads of thousand^ doubled/' • Do^ hot tbis mteiK mm^lj/ofty thoustmd? A myriad is 10,000; tw6 myriads, 20,000; these dooUed, 40,000.' Or thus^ 1Q^OOD'+ 10,000 + 20,000 = ^0,000. The Targimi aa]FS,' "The chariots of"God* are two mjrriads; two thousand angels draw them; the majesty of God rests ttpon' them m' holiness on Mount Sinai." But What does this meaiil W.e must die to know.

Verse 18. Thou hast ascended fin high] When the wk had* reached the top of Sion,. and was deposited in the place assigned for h, the singers joined m the fi>llowing choms. This seems to be an alhfsion to a military triumph. • The conqc^ror wis placed on a v«iy elevated chariot.

Led captivity xaptive] The conquered kings and* genenils were usually tied "behind the chariot of the conqueror-^— bound to it, bound together, and walked afkcr it^ to grace the triumph of the victor.

Thou hast received gifts for men] " And gave gifts ifAf# men f Eph. ir. 8.. At such times t^ conqueror threw money ambng thje crowd. Thou hast received gifts among men, blK3 baadamt ^^ SiAS, in humian nature; and God manifest in the flesh dwells anyopg mdrtals! Thanks he to Godf&t his unspeakable o\r*rl. By establishing his abode among the rebellious, the prophet may refer to the conquest of the land of Canaan, and the country Ijeyond Jordan.

Yea, (oT the rebellious also] Even to the rebellious. Tho^ who \^ere his enemies, who traduced his character and operations, and those who fought against him now submit to himi &nd share his munificence; for it is -the property of a hero to he generous.

* TVuit t)ie Lord God might (/}i/ff//.among.^th6nK] TV OTiSk yah Elohim, the self -existing God; see oi> rer. 4. The conqueror now coming to fix his abodfe invpng the conquered people to organize them under his^ laws, to' govern and dispense justice among them. ^ The ivhole of this is very proveily allied by St. Paul, of such a one as goeth on still Davidi*, Regis m his trespasses. 22 The liOiiD said, I will bring

* again frolh Bashan, I will bring my people again ' from the depths of ttie sea:

23 ■ That thy foot may be ^ dipped in the Mood of thine enemies, * and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

'.24 They have seen thy goings, O God} even the goings of my Gkxl, my King, in the «an.ctaary.

8S ^ The singers went before, the players onr.instruments /oZZot«;cd after; among them tccfB-tfie dainsels pla3ring with timbrels.

26 Bless ye God in the congregations, et^en

Eph. It. 5, to the r^siirrection and glory of Christ $ where the reader, is tBqnested to consult the note.

Verse 19. Bless^d'he the Lordy who daUy loaieth tai] With benefits is not in the text. Perhaps it wouTd bie better to translate the clause thns; " Blesped be Adonai, t>ur I'rop day by' day, who supports as^^ Or, " Blessed be this Lord, who supports ub day by day." Or as the Vulgate', Septudgint, and AYabic: " Blessed 1^ the Lord daily, our God who make» our journey prospeit^; eVeli th6 God of our salvation." The SyriaCf '* Blessed be the Lord daily, who hath chosen our inhentanee.*^ The Vord DOJ^ amas, which we translate to loadi signifies to hfti bear up^ support, or to hear a burden for another. Hence it Would not be going far from the ideal meaning to translate, "Blessed be the Lord day hy day, who bears our burdens for us-" Bni 'loadeth us with benefits is neither a translation not meaning. '

Veise 20.^ The is^s from death.] Thegoing qui or exodits firom death-'— from the li^id of "Egypt and house of bpndage. Or the exppession may meauj Life and death are in the hand ef God. '" He caa create^ and he destjjoy.*'

Verse 21. The hairy scaljfy 'yj^V '\Tnp kodkod sear* Boes this mean any thing like the Indian. sc&lping f Or does it refer to a crest on a helmet oi headcap t I suppose the latter.

Verse 28. From' thi depths of the sea] All this seems to speak of the defeat of the Egyptians, aiTdthe miraculous passage of the Red Sea..

Verse 2 3. That thy foot may be dipped in the blooi]. God willjnake such a slaughter among his enemies^ the Amofites, that thou shalt walk over their dead bodies; and beasts of prey shall feed upon them.

Verse 84. They have seen thy goings] These kings of the Ambrttes have seen thy terrible majfesty in their discomfiture, and the slaughter of their subjects.

Verse 85. 7%^ sing&s went before] This verse appears to be a description of the procession.

the Lord, of Israel., 27 There is ^ little Benjamin with their niler, the princes of

Judah * and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 Thy Godjiath • commanded thy strength: strengthen, 0 God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalent** shall kings bring presents unto thee.

30 Rebuke ® the company of spearmen,* the multitude oi the bulls,., with the calves of (he people^ till every one • jpubmit ^mself with pieces of silver: ' scatter thou the peoi^e.^Aa^ delight in war.

Verse 27. There ia little Benjamin]- This is. a dtescription of another part of the procesisioQ.

Verse 30. Rehuke th^ corhpany of spearmen]. HTI nip cKdiyath kaneh^ the wild beast of the reed — ^t^ie crocodile or hippopotamus^ i^% eoAA'&ax of Pharaoh and the Egyptians: thus all the Versions;.Oui translators hare mistaken the meaning; but they have pat the truesense in the m'qf-gin, \ ' ■. ' • Verse 31. Ethiopia shall soon ^tretch out her hands Unto Goil,] This verse had its literal fulfilment under Solomon, when 'Egypt formed an alliance with that king by hb marriage \^th Pharaoh's daughter; and when the queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But ps thid may be ■& prophetic declaration of the spread* of Christianity, it. was literally fulfilled after the resurrection, of our liord. There were Egyptians at Jerusalem on. the day of Pentecost, who, St. Hilary tells us, on their return to their own country proclaimed what t^y had seen, andbecame in that country the ambassadoi^ of Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch was one of the first among the Gentiles who received the Gospel. Thus /?n>ure^ or chief men came o%U of Egypty «nd Ethiopia streUked out her hand^ to God, The words thernselves refer to the sending anatuLSsadors, and making alliances. The Hebrew is very eniphatic: DTiSxS ri" •"VI.Bnj cash tarils yadaiv lelohim; Cush will cause her hands to run out to God. She ^ill, with great alacrity and delight, surrender her power and influence unto God. The Chaldee paraphrases well: " The sons of Cush wil) run, that they may spread out tlieir hands in prayer before God.'* *

Vefee 32. Sing unto God] AH the inhabitants of the earth are invited to sing unto God, to acknowledge him as their Oodj and give, him the praise due to his name.

Stretch out her hands unto «». annom

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

33 To him ^ that rideth upon the heaTens of heavensi; which were df.old; lo, ^ he doth ■ send out his voice, and tJiat a mighty voice.

34 '^Ascribe ye strength, unto. Gpd.: his excellency is over Israel, and,4iis ^strength is- in the *» clouds. - ^35 O God, P thou art terrible put of thy hdly places: the God of Israel is he that givetb strength. and powei; unlo^his peqple. Blessed be God.' - •

ni|(g^ the-heavens^ directing their course and ipfluenc^f he formed every orb, ascertained its motion, proportioned its soKd contents to the orbit in which it was to revolve, an4 the •tho^. bodiep which belong to the aanie system. > As sn able 4nd skilful rider manages \m horse, so does God the sun, moon, planets, «nd ail tha. hosts of heaven,...

HedoUi'send out his voice];, At his kjoard tf cemmand they run, abed, or reflect their light; and witb- QUt the smallest deviations cbey^ his wiU.

'Mighty voice.] ^He thunders in the heavens, and meft Urembla before him.

Tense 34. His strength is. in the clouds,}^ Tlii* tei)§rs to th6 bursting* rattling, and pounding of t^bunder and lightning; for ell -nations have observed ihat thki is an irresistible agent } and even the most enlightened have looked on it aa an especial maftiifestatioif of the power and sovereignty of God.

Verse 35. OGod,itiOU..9XtterribUoutof'thyMy placeSi] The sanctuary and heaven. Oat of the former he had often shone forth with consuming splendour $ 86e the case of Korah and his company: out of the latter he had often appeal^ in terrible jnsjestj in storms, thunder, lightning,. &c.

He that giveth strength and power unto his peopla.] Therefore that people must be invincible who* have thisstrohg and. irresistible God -for theiir snppoit. -

Blessed he' God.] He alone is worthy to be worshipped. Without him nothing is wise, nothing holy, nothing strong; and from.him, as the inextiauatibie Fountain, all good must be derived. His mercy- over his creatitres^ls equal to his majesty in the universe^ and as he has all good in his possession, so is he will* ing to.deael it out, to supply* the utmost necessities' of his creatures. Blessed be God! The;Ara^tc- adds, AUeluiahi

The -best analysis. I find of this Psalm is that by Bishop Nicolson. I shall give it at. large, begging the reader to refer particularfy* to those passages on which ( 88») •

^ preceding notes are written, as ita some of ihera the analysis. gives a different view of the iubjept. The old Psalter gives the whole Psalm a spiritual and tn^stical interpretation. And this is 'commonly the case in the commentaties of the fathers.

Analysis or the Sixty-eighth Psalm.

There are many eonjectores im to the occasion of the composing of this Psalm", but the most prohaUe is, thafit was composed hy J)mnd vrhen he brought up the ark of God, which was the type of the Church and symbol of God's preseDce,rto Jerusalem. '. After th& ark was sent home^ by the Philistines, h rested first in th^ ebecure hxlge ol Ammadab; it then for a time stayid with Obed-ecfom, neaSrly sixty years in both placea. It was David's care to provide a ^t room for it in the. head of thlg tribes, efen in bis oWn city; and td exprera his joy, and honour the solemnity, Dwid.led.the way, dancing with aU his. might in i linen ephod; and alt the house of hra^ followed. with shouts and instruments of music in a triumphant manner. Now, that. the' choir might not want iA^kxipvfhow to express their joyful affections, the aweel sing€ar of Israel made this. anthem, beginning the Verse bunself, as was commanded at the removal' of thp a^k. Nam. X. 35. The- Psalm ^las nx parts:—

U. The invitation to praise God, ver. *4.

YI. An exhortation Xo all nations to praise God, ver: ^1 to the. end.

I: **L^ God axise^' is either a prayer or acelamar lion; a prayet that he would, or ap acclamation that he does, show* his power and presenc^. Of which the consequence would be double:— r- '

I. -Towards his enemies, destruction; for he prays, " {jet his enemies be scattered;, let those that hate him fly before him."

He illustrsftes it by a twofold comparison:*r- '. (1) "As ^Btnoke (when it is at the highest) is driven away, so drure them away^"

(9) ''As wax. tnelteth befoie the fire, so let the wicked perish in the presence of God."

3. Towards good men, his secants; which i»goite' contrary to the other: "Let the righteous be^ad'; let them rejoice before God; yea,. let them exceedingly rcyoice." • Thus it happened; for when the orA: was taken by the Philistifies, the glory was departed from Israel, and there Was nothing but sadness and^ sorrdw: but with the return of the ark the glory returned and all was joy and gladness.

II. And so, by an apostrophe, he turns his speech to all good men^ and exhorts them to praise God.

1. "Sing unto God." Let it be done with your voicieT>uWicly.*

3. PsallUe: "Sing praises to his name," with instruments of music.

3. " Extol him." Show his way, as iha triumph. Thus, when our Saviour rode into Jerusalem they cut iowH branches, and strewed their garments iti* the way.

in. And so, David inters upon! his confirmationi producing his reasons why they shm^d praise God. '

I. Drawn from his majesty \ " He rideth upon the heavens;" that is, he rules in the heavens. •

3. From his essence: " By his nflUne Jah," the contraction' of Jehovah, / am. He gives essence io all things; therefore, ** rejoice before hfan."

'3. From his general providence and gobdnesa t^^ wuds hie Church.

(1) "He isthe fatheif of the iktheiless.'' 'Lo;ve8i cares, and provides an -inheritance- for tliem.

(8) " A judge of the widowa." He cares for his people when deeerted, and for whom no man caies, and- when exposed to injury. Such is God in his holy habitation; whoee presence is represent^ by this ark.

(3) "God setteth the solitary in families." He makes the barren woipan to keep house, and to be the joyful mother of children. As also the barren wimsb — di9 GentUe Church that had no husband^ to -bring forth children to God.

(4) He brings forth those which sre tx)imd' wilh chains; as Joseph, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul.

4. On the contrary: > " But the tebellioUe dwell in a dry land;" perish with want sind' hunger.

' lY. From his special providence' toward his peo|il0 Israeli which he introduces by an elpgant apostrophe s " G God,, when thou wentest forth before thy people*;''* thus amplified: —

1. Grod^s going before them, aiid marching &)6k^ with them in Egypt, in the- wilderness. These sigAs manifested his prince: " The eanh. shoQk, the heaven^ also dropped at the presence of God:' eveit Smai itself was moved -at the -pieeetee of God,- the God of Israel." ■. '

3. God's provision for them afler he gave them- the possession of the good land. He fed, sustained-them there, counted them *his inheritance, ahd gave thetli rain and fruitful seasons: "Thou, O God, didst send -a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine in-> heritance, when it- was weary. The eohgregatipli hath dw,elt therein: 'thou, 0 God, hast prepared/ of thy goodness for th^ poor." '

3. The victories he gave*them oter their ene^ues,. ver. 13, which he pi^faces by imitation of the ftong <^ the victory, sun^ usually by the' i^omep and damMle of those times, ver. 11: " T*he.Lord gave the word," that is, either the word q(war, or else the- song; and then " gieat ^wnjs the company of those that published it." As Miriam, Deborah, &c. And in these song* th^y sang, " Kings of arraies^did flee apace; and she that tarried -at home divided the spoil-" So great was the prey. '

4. The deliverance he sends ftom troubles, and the joy he gives afler them. "Though ye have Hen among the pots," that is, cast aside as some useless or broken pot, the offsconring - of ' all things; ''-yet shall ye be as the wings of a dore covered ^ith' silver, and her feathers with' yellow g(Ad.;** i. e, shining and glorious. The allusion seems to be takeil from some standard, whose portraiture and device was a dovesp overlaid. The Babylonian ensign was b^^ove. ]^ut see the note on this passage.

And this he farther declariee by another similitude: 4M

. *i Wbea the Almighty scattered kuigs in it:'' or for her, i, e., Jiis Church, it wus «0A»(e— ^Uttenng, glotiouB, to be aeea afac cff; *' it was white aa aaow in SAhnon,'' with which it ia generally coyeredl.

5. Prom 6od^ especial presence among Aem, whichf that he might make it more erident, David enters upon the commendation of the hill of Sion tp which the ark was at thia time iNrought, comparing it with other hills, especial^ with Bashan. That is a hill o( Qod; a high, plentiful, and fert^ hill. As if he had sai(f, So much I grant. Bat, " why leap ye, ▼e hjgh hills V' Why are ye ao prond \ Why do ye boast your vines, your fmita, your pastures, your cat^? Sion has the preremineivse of yon all in two respects: — ' 1. For Grod*8 continual habitalibn and common prer sence is there: *' This i^ the hill which God desireth fo dwell in;, yea, the Lord.will dwell in it for ever/'

are twenty thousand, even thoosands of angels:*" and

' these are for the defence oif Skm, his Chorch; " for

God is among them as in Sinai, in the holy plaoe;"

And yet he goes on to persuade- ns to praise God, I. For his strange and woqderful woriis. 3. Fo/ the performance of his prbmises. Among h\A great worl^ there was none so glorious as thef ascension of bur Saviour, of which the ark^s ascension to Jerusalem at thi^ time was a typ^.. '

. t*irsL 1. Before the ark David and thfei people oatd ^.acclamation:. ''.'fhou hast ascended oh high." Thou, O God{ who^ presence.is shadowed out by the ark, ha^. ascended firoim an okpcfue house to a kingly palacej iSion.

3. ** Thou hast led captivity ci^tive •" Ihose that led us captives being captives themself^ and now jed In triumph*...

3; /' Thou hast received gifts for. men;" spoils and gifts from the conquered longs; or who may become homagers uAto him, and redeem their peace..

4. '.; Yea, for the rebellious abo:" Formerly so, but now tributaries.

. 6. " That the Lord God raigh^ dweU among them;" might have a certain place to dwell. in; and the ark not be carried, as before, from pliceto place:

This is the. literal sense;.but the mystical refers to our Qayipur's ascension. St. iPaul says, Eph. iv. 8:

1. ** Thou hast ascended on. high:" when the riood carried him from earth to* heaven,

9. " Thou hast led captivity," those who. captured us,. " c^ive;" de^h, the devil, sin, the power of hell, thie curse of the law. *

6; " That the Lord God might dwell among them:" for to that end St. Paiil says these gifts were given, " to the work of the raimstry, to the edification of the Church, to the buOding up of the body of Christ." Eph. iv. 18, &c.

The two effects of ihis ascension then were, one tdwards his enemies, the other for his friends: " When thou aacendest i^> on high,"-—

1. ** Thou Mdest capthrity ci^itive:" thia waa^ihe ooniequence to his enemiea.

3. " Thou receivedst, and gavest gifts ^ Tlua ft»r his frienda. For which he sings, " Bleaasd be GoS;" for he comes over both again r —

1. The gifts to his friends: "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the' God of oar salvation." " He that is onr God in Uisi God of salvation; and unto God the Lord- belong the from dea^." He knows many ways to deliver in < itself, when there is no hope. -

3. The cenqnestof his enemas; ^-subh he i obstinate impenitent* ainners; ihose he Will destroy: " God shall wound the *head of hie enemies, a&d-'tlie hairy scalp of -such a one.as goeth ejn stilT iii his tres-

' ' Secondly; -His last 'argument is, Grod's)wrforRianee' of his promise! to aave them. When yon were m die wilderness; when you fought with 0^,,king of Bash&n; when at th6 Red Sea, I ddivered jwa. The -Lord aaithatill to his people: —

3. " rwiUbring my people agaitf from the deptha of the sea:" when there is no hope..

3. Aiid for thy enemies, they shall be destroyed hy a great efihsion. of blood:*" That thy. foot' n^y be dipped in thh Ubod of thine enemies, add the ti^gue of thy dogs in the same;" thoil shalt waste, and make a great slaughter.

4. And now ha descends to jiet befor^ onr'eyee-^ pomp and. show which was used - in the ascent *and bringing back of the arA, and ihe pro5eeding of! if.

I. The people wete present tp witness it: ^ITiey have seen thy goings, O God;. even the gi>inga of my God, my King,, in the sanctuary." - 3. The manner of the pomp r " Th^ singers went before, the players oif instruments followed afta*; among them were the damsels playing jvith tmibrela.*

3. In the pomp they were not silent; and that they bet not, he exhorts th^m: ^ Bless ye Go& in die congregations, even the Lord, fronv the Ibbntain of Ibrael," — Jacob's posterity.. '

4. And he gives in the catalogue of the tribes that were present, but these especially y — •

1. "There is litde Benjamin," Jaeob*k youngest son, or now the least, wasted with waiy **'with their ruler," the chief prince of their tribe.

3. " l^he^ princes of >Sebulun, and the princes of Naphtali;" the fhrthest tribes^ therefore the'neaoBSt*.

y. And in the midst of the pomp he makes a prayer which has three vows, befbre "which he prefixes jthe acknowiedgmeht that -all the power and strength; of Israel was from God: " Thy God hath cornmanded thy strength." He then prays, —

1., For the confirmation, establishment, and con* tinuanc^ of this Arength:^ " Strengthen, O God, that Which thou hast ^TOugHt for us;" and let thia.be evinced " by the kings and tributaries that ahall bring gifts. Because of thy temple at Jejusalem shall kings Shqg presents unto thee."

' '3.^ For the conquest add subduing of the- eniertiy, nntil they become tributaries, and do homage; '^Ro-

Tie psalmist describes

Ah mffiicted state.

bake, the eotopan j" of spearmen, the mAltitade of the buUs, with the cahres of the people;*' kings) princes, and their pbtent snbjecta; ^ till ^yery- one submit him- •elf with'-pieeas of silTer: seatter Unm the people that delight in war:" See the note.

3. For the increase of Clmt's kingdom, of which David was hot a type, hy ihe access of the GenUUs. ** Princes shall come out oi Egypt; Ethiopia shall soed streleh oot her handa'unto Gi^,^ These, hy a sjfnecdocht^ heing pot for all natioqs.

Y\. This excellent Psalm dra^ now towards a conelosion; and it is a resumption of ih^t wt^oh he principally intended; ^t is, th&t God be hlessed, honoored, praised.. He first ezharta, then shows the reasons for it. '..;•'

1. ^e ezborta alienations to perform this doty:. at finty the Jews, but now all aaiTC^aally:.**^ Sing ctnto

God, ye kingdoms of the e«rth; 0 sing, praises mito the Lord."

2: His reasons to induce them to do it.

The tnajesty oir God testified, —

1. By his works: *<To him that xideth upon the heaven of heai^ens, which were of old."

8. His power, in his thunder, in his word: ^* He doth send out his voice, and that a migbty voice."

3. His wise protection of and ptovidenee qrer be people: ** Ascribe ye strength nnfe God: hie ^[^ ceUenoy is over Israel, and his strength is in the ckmds.^.'

At His communication of himself to his 'Chjirob in' particular: l.'"0 God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places." 3. « The God of Israel is' he tluif giveth -strength and power nmo his people.^' 3. ^.Blessed be Ged." With this tfijAonema hf concludes.

Tke psabmst de$crib€f his qfiicted sUUft, and thewieMness of his adversaries, 1-«1; he declares the miseries thatskould come upon his enemies, 28^8; enfafyv* an his tffiicUd state, end espressesMs confidence m Oad, 29-34; pr'ophesies the restocaiifiH of the Jews U their ornm lend and temple, 35, 36.

ttf'^I sink in ^ deep noire, where there is rOl idanding: I'am come mto 'deep waters, wher^ the floods overflow me. ', '