Commentary on the Holy Bible

The title is: i<To the.chW Musician u)>on Shbr 8hannim,*A Psalm of David.'* See this title explained on Psalm xlv.

..The PsaJoi is supposed, to have been written during the captmtif, and to- have been the work,of koma Levite Divinely inspired. It is a very fine oomposition^ equal to most in the Psalter. Several portions of it seem^ to have ^ reference to' oiir- Lord j- to his advent, passion, Resurrection, the vocatibii of * the Geptilee, the establishooeni of the Christian Ohuroh,' and the reinro^tibn of the J'ews..The nmth verse is quoted by St. John, chap. ii. t7. ' The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew, chap, xkvii, 34, 48; by St. Mark, -chap. xv. 23; by St*. John, eht^. xpL 39; and applied to the sufferings of our Lord,, in the tresEtment he received from the Jaws. St. Payl quotes the twenty^econd as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews, and the punishment they were to receive. He quotes the twenty-third verse' in the same way. * See- the marginal references. Those portiote which the writers of the. New Testament. apply to our Lore], we may apply idso; of others we shbufd be careful,.. "

Verse 1. The- waters are come in ^nto my soul,'\ I am in the deepest distress. Hie waters have bro^Le^

4 They that ^hate' me without a cause; are more ihati the hairs of miiie. head: they that wpuld destroy me, hfiing mine enemies wrong* fully, ate mighty: tb^ I restored thai which I toek not away.

their dik^ and are just ready to sweep me away! Save me, Lord!. In such oircumstances I can have* iTo. other help... '

In the^r^^ second, thirds fourteenth, snd: fifteenth, verses, tlie pralmist, speaking in.the person of the captives in BabyloB» compares- their captivity to an aiyJfS cf. watere, breal^ing all hounds, jmd. ready toi swallow them up; to' a. deep mire, in which there wa» ne solid bottom, a^ no standing i and to a pit, m which they were thont.to Se' inclosed for ever. This is strongly, igaratrve, and rei7, ezpretaive.: ' y.ei^se 3. Jaiz» ukary of my. crying]^ X pathetio deacsription of the state of the poor' captives for abent seventy years., '.,:'./

Verse 4. Then I restored that which ^ I took not away.] 1 thinks with Calmet, that this is a sort of proverbial expression, like such as these, "Those who suffered the wrong, ^y the costs.'* rairant reges, plectuafnr AchivL."Kings sin, and thh people are ptoniahed.** "The ftthers have eaten ' sour grapes, and the* children's teeth are set on edge." Our fsti|eTS have grievously sinned' against the Lord, and wo their posterity suffer for it: See. on verse' 13. Some have applied it to our Lord.' T restored, j)y mf sufi^ring and death, that imag;^, of G^od and the filvine favour, which l took not awayy *37

^ 'O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my ^ sins are not hid from thee.

6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my 5ake, Q God "bf Israel. ^.

'7 Because, for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

8 ''I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9 ^For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up: » and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10 "^ When 1 wept, and- chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

Ill made sackcloth also my garment; ^ and I became a proverb to them.

12 They that sit in the gate speak ftj me; and ^ I was the song of the S dn^

Id But as for me, my prayer.if unto O Lord, 'tn an acceptable time: O G« the multitude of thy mercy hear me, i truth of thy salvation,.

14 Deliver me out df the mire, and h hot sink: ■ let me be delivered from then hate me, and out of *the deep watersi

17 And * hide not thy face from thy sei for I fun in trouble: ^ hear, me speedily.

. That; is, In - my human nature I expiated; the crime that human beings had cbmmitted.against God, But sach applications are very gratuitous.

■ Verse 5. Thou knowest my' foolishness] Though we have been brodght Into captivity in consequence dt the crimes of our fkthers,. yet we have guilt enough of our own to. merit a cootinnatioii of our miseries. How can such word^ as are in this veise l>e attributed to our bleased Xiord, however they may be twisted or turned f.. ^

Verse 6. J9e asHamed for my sake] T|ie sins of the Jew^ were a great sturpbling-block in the way of the conversion of the Gentiles. They had been the peculiar people of the Lord. *' How,'* say ihe Gentiles, '''cap a pure and holy Being love such people-?** They wfere now punished for their crimes. " How," say tlie Gentiles,.-" can' God deal so hardly with those whom he profbsses'to level" The pious among^the isaptives hit keenly, because this reproach seemed to f^ upoi>, their gracious atad meroifiil God.

Verse 7, For i6y Sake I have borne reproach] The Gentiles have said, ** Why such an obstinate attachment to the vforship of a Being who treats you so rigorotidy, and who interests ncA himself in your comfort and deliiterancet" And in thJese cutting reproaches some of t)fe ^ungodly. Jews took a pv^: *' 1 ai)a an alien to my' mother's children,"

Verse 9. 7!he zeal of thine house hath eaten me up] The strong desire to promote thy glory has ^sorb^ all others. All the desires, of my body and soul are. wrapped up in this. Thjs verse is very properly applied to our Lord, John ii. 17,. who vjent about doing good; and gave yp his life, not only fpr ^e redemption of man, but to " magniiy the law, and ma)ce it 'honourable."

Yorse 19. They that sit in the gate] At the gates were the courts for public justice; there were complaints lodged, and causes h^ard. No doubt many

Vjexatioiis complaints were - made against the captives; and false accusations,* through whfel grievously suffered-; so that, literally, theywien ** obliged to restore that which they, had not away.^ Spe ver. 4. ~. ■ ''

•' • 7Vk« song of the drunkards.] These poor mil peoide were ^posed to all sorts of indignities. 1 the conduct is base, the exultation over a fallen i». frequent. How miserable was. this lot!, Fo: by friends, scorned by enemies, insulted by infi the scoff of libertines, apd the' song of drun besides hard travail of body, miserably- Iddge fed; wit!) the burning crown of all, a deep ]< guilt "upon the conscience. To such.a life sny was preferable, •. * ' *

Verse 13. My prayer is unto ihee, O Lordi acceptable time] This seems to refer to (He end captivity i which Jeren^dh had said should 'last • years, Jer. xxv. 11, 12: "The^ whole hmd ah a desolation, and an astonishment; and these i shiill serve thd king of Babylon, seventy years, it shall come to pass, when ^vcnty years "nxe i plish^d, that } will punish the king of Babylonj The coticlusion of thi^ period was the accepts of which the psalmist speaks.. 'iVmr, they' santly pn^ for the fulfilment of the- promise te Jeremiah: and to hear them, would Jbe the of God's salvation; it would show^ the pnm be true, t^cause the salvation — the deliverqnc^ granted..

Verse 16. Thy loving-kindness \b good] Th< *lDn chesed signifies exuberance of kindness; ai word D^on*) rachamim, which we translate tends cies, signifies such affection as mothers beat tc young i and in God, there is 3i rohj » multitude j c tfinder mercies towards the children of men!

Verse 18. Deliver me because'.of mine qM Probidbly Uiey now began te think that the redei

19"*rhpu hast known * my reproach, and my shame,' I and my dishonour: inine adversaries are all before thee.. ^

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am ftdl of heaviness: and I ^ looked /or 5oi?t6 ^ to take pity, but there tM»' none p and for * comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat;.^and.'ia my thirst they gave, tne vinegar to drink.

22 • Let their table become a snare tefbre thenr: bxA t)iat^which should have hem for their welfare, /e^ U beafme a trap.

23 ^ Let their eyes be darkened, that t^y see not; and make dieir loins c6ntinually to shake.." ' - '*

24 'Pour out;;ihine indignation upon. them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of tfaenl.

of theaia captiyes wasjiot aor ImQpMiBle jthiog; thai it was n^t fait off;. and therefinre they had gxeiih^ beeanae they foaod their time waJB but ahott.

Verse 19. Thau hast known tnyreprwieh] This is one of" the moet forcible appeals to. mercy and eompmriipn that was eter made. 'The^anguage of these two Tdrses is inimitable; tfnd the sentiment cannot))e mended. I can deyisie no comment that'^i^oold' ncrt lessen their effect:

Terse dl. Tkey ^ave me also gall for my meat] Ereeahhe food, necessary t6 pijeserve us in their rfa^ vcpy,' was frequently mingled with what rendered it unpteasaiiit and disgusting, though not absolutely.tmwMesome. And vinegar, sour Small wine8,.was girenus for our boTerage. This is applied i6 <m Lnrd,- Matt. xzTii4 34, where the treifer isrequested to consult the notes. -^ ■. •

Verse)S3, Z^t their table becorke a snare] Theexeorations here and in the following yeifses Should heYead b ihefiUure tense, because they are predieHve; and not in the imperative mood, as if they were the offspring ot th6 psalmist's resentment: *' Tbeir. table shall- become a Snare; — ^tbeir eyes shaia be darkened; — thou WILT pour out thine indignation upon them; — thy wrathful anger shall take hold of them; — ^^ir habitation SHALL be desolate j — ^a^d none aball dwell' in their tents."

The psalmist prophesies thatv the ^vfl8 which they had infiictpd oa the Israelites should be visited on themseWes; that as they had made them >dl, drink, labour, and suffer, so God should in his judgment treat thern'^ ^

Verse. 87. Add iniquity unto their tm^uity] (U^nJn O^yy hp tenah avon al avontam;. give iniquity, tluLt is, the^ captives in Bqbylon.

25 ^ Let ' their hal)itation be desolate; and ^ let none dwell in their' tents.

26 For ^ihey pmHficute ^.him whom thou hast sitaitteh; and they talk to the grief pf " those whom thou hast wounded.

. 27 '• Add p iniquity unto their iniquity: ^ and let them not come into thy righteousness.

28 Let them ' be bloued out of the book of.the Uving, "and not be written with the righte6us.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful.: let thy salvation,. O God, set me. up on high.

30 ^I will praise' the name of God wilh-j^ SQAg, and will magnify him with thank^ving/

31 ^ TTiis also shall please the. Loed better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

32^^ The ^himible shall see this, and h^ glad: and 'your heart shall live that seel^ God. '

the reward of it, upo^ or for their iniquity. Or, tfas origittal signifies perverseness, treat their perve(^ ness with peroerseness: aot, in thy judgments, as < edly tow^s them a»' they dealt crookedly towards thee.. They sfiall ge^ in the way of punishment; what they have dealt -out in the way of oppression.

Verse 98. Let them he blotted out] They shall he blotted outfrom the land of the living. They shall he * cut off from life, which they have forfeited by their cruelty and oppression. The psalmist is speaking of retributive justice; and in this sense all these piissagea are to be understood.

And not be written with the rightemu,^ They shall iiaTO no title to that long ^e which God has f romiBed to his followers.

Verse '20< / htn, poor tmd sorrowful] Literally, I am laid low; and fiUl of pain or grief Kence tKe prayer, ** Let thy salvation, 0 God, set me pn high!*^ My oppression has l^d me low; thy salvation shall make me high!

Verse 31. An x>£ ot bullock that ha^h horns l^nd hoofs,] Oxen offered in sacrifice hkd their horns and hoofB jgilded; and the psalmist might mention these parts of the victim more particularly* because they were more conspicuous. Others think that/ti/Z-^otm animals are intended, those that had perfect horns, in opposition to calves or steers, I think the first the p;«« ferable sense; for the horns, &c., of consecrated ani* -nmls aie thus ornamented in the east to the present day,

Verse 33: The humble shall see i!ti\B, zn^ he glad] Those who are low, pressed do\Mi by misfortuiie or cruelty, shall see thiii and take courage; expecting^ that thou wilt lift them up also'; and thus th^ heart gf. those who seek the Lord shall be revived.

33 For the Lord, heareth the poor, -and defipiseth not ^ his pri^oaen.

34 'Let the heaven and earth praise him, the iieas, * and eyery thing that ^ moveth therein.

35 *" For God will save Zion, and will bufld

Yene 33. For ihM Lord hsartih iks f9or\ jorTTM ebyenim, of the h^gars. He perhaps refem here to the case of the captives, many of whom were reduced to the most abject state, so as to be, obliged to beg Inread j^m their heathen oppressors.

.His pruoners.J The oaptiTes, shtit op by his judglaents in Chal^ea, without any ci?il liberty, like o^- prits in a prison.

Verse 34. Let the heav^ and earth praise him] Tl)e> psalmist has the fnUesi confidence that God will tnm their capti¥ity, and therefore calls upon all creatores to magnify him for his mercy.

Verse 36. Ood v^ save Zion] This fii^es the PsaJnoi to the time of the captivity. There was no Zion belonging to the Jews m the time of Saul, when those euppose the PsahnHo be writt^^n who make David the fiutfaoj; for David, after he. came to the throne, Woft ^ stronghold of Zion from the Jebnsites. 9 Sam. V. 7; I Chron. xi; 5.

Win hiild the cities ofJuddk] This reftrs to the return from the captivity, wheo' all the destroyed cities al|oiild be rebuilt, and. the Jews repossess their forfi^ited A..^;.: — Some apply this to the Tedea^piioQ 6£ tha t race; and suppose that Zion is the type.of.tha Church inta which th« Qentites wtee to ha called.' What evangelists and apostles. apply to our Ix)rd, w^ safety may. What others see so eWly }u ihis Psahn relative to Gospel matters, I caiu»6t disc^ocn.

There are three parts in this Psalm >^

I. The psalmistV ffoysr, and the reasons tof itt, ver. 1-9 1;

«I am come into deep waters,^ " I am weaiy of my crying.'* " My fhroai is dried" with oalHng on thee. *' Mine eyes &il while I wait fi>r my God." Wheo he considered his enemies, he foniid recoil Ut cry. They werei

the citiea of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

36 ^ The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

. 3. Shows that he suffers lor God's cause,.

4. He was zedUms for the Divine- worship.

Oh which account ho was a subject of reproach:—

1. To the AtgA^— those who sat in tl|e gate.-

9. To the low and lase: ^ I was the song of ^ dnmkarda.". \

He renews his petxtiqn, and presses o» God to hear him: — '. *,

3. Because he was God's servant, and would not desert his Master...,.

Ir Thisy were se&mers, and God knew it: ** They ajre all before theoi" ver. 19. *

9. Heproach had 'almost hroken his heart,.

n. Proj^ticdaelaratien.ofGo4RsJudgmenU0grisM. 4kem: —. 1. Their ".tal^ should be a snare ^ tton," vei^tS; ^i.. They should be girea up to Judfeial ibsidnastt

' S: They should be enfiebted in thtit liW^.*'^lfaka their Joins shake,** ver. 93. -

4. God's *Vwrath should bo poured out apoaAiflai,**. yet 943.-. '5. Tlieix c&mUry should be w^ted, ver^ 96w.. a. Tkfij should have the punishment dm to tMr

ni. His pr^psim of thonks. HuFtng qpokon cf his own doudijtioD, that he was poor and eorrowfulf he BOW hfoaka oujt into praise t-*r-

The effect of his deliverance would be dau^.•-r-

And for this he gives the following reasons."^-r-

3. They shall have peace and security:. «* That ihey may dwell there». and have it in ' -

/of speedy 4elweranoe.

the hypocrite, shall have nalfaiiig of GoUV approbation heie, and' shall be.exekdeifrom hpi heavenly Idngdem for ever.

The fmOmiit frays for tpetd^ ddm^ ptays ogainMt those.Miha saii^iXhi4^9,\3i and fir the

4 Lei aU those 4hat ae&k thee. lit. annum rejoice and be glad in thee: and ^" ^ let such -as love, thy salvation say coptmually, Let God bc'roagoified.

^' 2 * Letlhem be aAhamed and confounded that seek a&er my 90uL let them lie turned backward^ and. pat. to coafnaiioohi

3 « Let them he turned back &r a reward of

. ' itfOtES ON?SALM UCi* • "The firlein ihef Hebrew is, To ih» chief ffimaani: A IWm o/* DoW, /o ^1^ <o rem^^rance. Theie aeena littlcL sense inlhie'title^*^ It seema to intimate that the Psalm was written as a msinorial Ihat Dayid hitfl heen in sore afflictioo, aadLthlut CM had deUywed him.. - So tlie Vulgate,^ Septuqgint, JEihiepiCf aad Aniie. It ia: almost worti ftr Wttd;the same with thejhe Uut vfrae* ^.Pkalm sU to the noteao^ whioh ihe reader is.teferred.

Yeise 4. Let God be magnified.} Let hia'|^ory« nerey, and kindness, contiDually appeaxin tk^ menase of his own work In the souls of his followers I.

ofe^om, F am a poor man, and a beggar-^an qfiided beggar.; a sense of my pQTerty causes me to heg. ^ Thou aft my help] 1 know thou hast enough,, and to spare; and therefere I eeme to thee,

Th4 eomenfts ef this. Psalm anr the Mowing:t—

I. The prayer of DaTid Ibt^ himself, that he may be freed ftom hie enemies, Ter. r, repeated Ter. 6.

II. For the, speedy overthrow of the wicked^

Thi prophet, %n cor^enee, prbys fir God's favour^ 1-5; recounts God's kmdt^ss to him from youth to old agti e-9; shoe^s what, his advkrsaries ffot against Mm, and prays for their confwnon,^ 10-13; promise^ fidelity, and defermines to be adihgerU ^acher-of righteousness even «ji oid agc» 14-10;, takes encourag€' meni in Gad's mercy, and foresees the elusion of aU his adversa^

Di&vidis/Regis trust: let me never be put to

2 ** Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: ® incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

3 ^Be •ihou my strong habitatiipn, whereunto I may continually resort: thou bast given 'commandment to save me'( f or irtiou art my rock and^my ifortress.

4 » Deliver me, O my Gpd, out of the hand of the wickedj out of the hand of the unright^^ ecus and cruel man. ^, 5 For thou art ^ my. hope, O. Lord God: thou art piy trust from* nriy youtfi..

^ ^ By thee have I b^en holden up from tbe womb': thou art he that took; me -out* of rxxf mother's bowels: my. praise shall be continually of thee,..

8 Let 'my inouth be filled ^' with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

9 ' ^ Cast mc not off in the. time of old.age; forsake me not when my streh|;th fi^l^th. '.

10 Forinine enemies speak ligainst me; and. they that ■ lay wait for my soul ^ take counsel, together, - *.'..'

1 1 Saying, GX)dha:&for8aken him:. persecute and take him; for there is none ta deliver Aim,

12 ^i^O-Gbd, be hot far from me: O my God, *i make haste for my hel{).

13 ' Let them be cenfbunded and constAoed that are adversaries to my soul; let then^ be^ coyensd with reproach and' dishonour that seek my burt. " J ' ^

14 Biit i/will hope -continually, and. will y^t pwsa thee more and morc^

There is no.Xt^e to this PikbIih ekltor iirtlie Aftmo 4ir Chtddee^ and th^ reilsoii im, it was written as % part dftlie preceding Psalm, as appears by about\lti;en/yseven of KenmcotVs aad D^Rdui's MSS. The Vnlgate, SeptudgirU^ Jj^thiojtict and Arabic, have, ''A Psalm of DaTid-fojr the aQoa.-tff. jonadab, and -the first of those who were led captive^V. For the first, second, and ilurd yerses, see the notes on their paraHels, Psa. xxxi. 1-3.

Thim hast given eammmidment to. si^ -me} Thob hast determined my escape, and hast ordofd thy angels to guard me. See Psa. xci. 11, 19.

Y^rse 4. Out of the hand of the mcl«d\ '^^iMhly his annatorsJ son Aisalorm called here J^ttn rkshd^H^ wicKKO, because he had violated all laws, human and Divin?.

The unrighteous and cruel man,] Probably Ahithophel who was the iniquitous counsellor of a wicked and rebellious son.

Verse 5. My -trust from my youth,] When I was bom into the world^^ thou didst receive me, and thpn tookest me under thy especiaf eaie. ■ '^ My praise jAo// be continually of thee. *^ Rather,* I hope always' made thee my boast. ^'.. ■ '

Verse 7. lamjisa wonder unto many] • I am HdlOD kemopheth, •* as a portent," or " tjrpe:" I am a typu^al person," and many of the things that happen to me are to be considered in reference to him of whom I am a type. But he may mean, I am a continual prvfdigy, My low estate, my slaying this lion and the bear, con- 44« qneringr the Phik8tine,"e8c^iiig the iiiry of 'Saof, «dA' being raised to the throne of IsiaeK are ill 86 nufily, wanders of thji 'providence, and effects of thj powir andhgnose:

' VersflL'^. Ca$t nfe rio^ off^in the time of pld -e^.The seminal might be translated and paraphrased tlws: •^ Thou wilt not cast me off till the time. of oM age; •and aeeoidipg to the failure of my flesb» thpn wilt not fp)rsake. me.'*- My.expectation.of rest and faappineMf wiU not be deferred till Xhe time that I sbhlj bft pi agedjoan^. TfairatrikOot withdraw thy prestace^frsfti XM a^ my flesh decays, and. as my oatiunal 'stieagth* abates; but, on the contrary, as my outward ihan de** cays, my inwaidman'shaM be reneiqpd day by day. It was in David's dd age t&at the rsbelikm of Ahsalom 'tookpIiM)6<

\f^ 1 1. Qod hath forsaken him] /" God, wlio hatf-been his speoial help all through life, arid who has guarded' him so. that no hand could be raised successfully against him, has now oast him off; there fore-^we shall eaAily prevail agadnst him. His present adversity showi that God is no longer his friend." Thus ineii judge. " Secular prosperity is a proof of God's favcAvr: axiversity^is a proof pf his dispieasuie.'' But this is net God's way, except in especial judg;ments, &c. 'be never manilests his pleasure ov displeusure. by secular ^ good or ill.' ■. ■ ■ ■

Verse 13. Let them he confounded] They ^^^be ' confounded: these are prophetic denunciations. ^

Verse 14. I will hope- continually] I shall expect deliverance afler deliverance, and blessing after bless« ing; and, in consequence, I will praise thee more and more. As thy blessings fJiound, so shall my praise

Dftvidis, RegiB thy righleousness ana thy'salva- cir. ftimum tton all the day; for ^ 1 know hot

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord Goiw I will make mention of thy righteousness, evdn cf tiune only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have 1 declared thy wondrous works.

18 * Now also " when 1 am old and greybeaded, O God, foirsake menot; uiitil I have showed ^ ihy strength unto tMs gfineration, one/ -thy power to. every one tliat iq to eome. '

20 ■ T^Ott, which hast showed ^ ^ f^' ^ me great and sore troubles, • shalt Davidis, Regis quicken me agam, and shalt bnng cir. annmn me up again 6om the depths of ^'

%% I wiU also-praise thee ^ with ^ the. psaltery, ^everi thy truth, O my God: unfo thee wiiri sing with the harp, O thou * Holy One of Israd.

23 My Ups shajl greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee-; ancT^my souU which thou hast redeemed.

24 ' My tongue also shall talk of thy: righteousness all the day jon^: for » tjiey.are cpnfoimdeid, for they are brought- utitd shame, that seek my hurt.

Yene 15. I Jmow not tHe ^numbws] 1 dbst be^ continuallx in the spirit of gratitude, praise, and obedience; for thy btetafbgB to me are innumerable.'.

/ wUl make mention itfthy righiequsnes$] I 'WilT.efmtiiiiiaUy record and celebrate ti^e- oelj of thy m^cy mnd goodness. They are without number, (Yetsd'l6,) MoA^ of these alone will I spei^.. ' \etB»ll,.Thouhiu.t taught mi from my youth] I hare had- th^ f<)r my continual ihsChicter: ^nd fhou didsi begin: to teach me 'thy fear and love from my t^odexert infancy. Those are well UQght whom Gc^ instructs; and when he teaches, ihete is no delay in leavtiing. •

~ Verse 18. Old and grey-headed] In the nkdh verse ha mentiooed. the eircumstanee of old agei here he repeats it, with the addition of hoary-headedniss, wUcli, humanly 4q>eaking, was calciiligaed to make a deeper impression jn his 'faronr. -llioQgh ill these things are weU known to God, and he needs not our information, yet he is pleased to sa^, ** Come now, and let us retf' son together.*' And when his children ple>id and reason with him, they ^re acting precisely aa 4ie i^as commanded.

Verse 19. Thy righteomness—ia very high] y\p biSo ad nuircmt— ris upto the eicalted placeV r^achc^ 'up to heaven. The mercy of pod fillg.all space toi^ place. It crowns in the heayens what i^ governed upon i^arth.

Who hast done great things] Vi)h'\} gedoloth. Thbu hast worked miracles^ and displayed the greatest acts of power.

Who is Uke unto thee!]^ "po J 'D mt comocAtf. God is alone, — who can resemble him? - He is eternal. He can have none before, and there oan be none after; (pr in the in6nite unity of his trinity he is that eternal, unlimited, impartible, incomprehensible, &nd uncom- pounded ineffable Being, whose essence is'hiddeh from all ereated intelligence, and whose counsels cannot J[>e fathomed by any creature that even his own hand (im form. Who is^lkk ukto the* J will exdite tfi6 wonder, apazement^ praise,, and adoration of angetejand men to -all eternity. ' '

Verse.30. Thou, whtcK hasV showed me great and sore trbubVes\ Muttiplied straits and.difficulties.^ And thou hast only, showed them, ' Hadst tbou 'permitted them to have fdU^ upon me with all their own energy and • natural cohs^uences, th^^wouM have destroyed me. As it was, 1 was qearly buried tmder tH^m.

Shalt quicken me again] Shalt revive me-7-put new Ufe in me. This ha^ been applied to the passion of our Xior^, and his resurreotion; for it is'added. Thou

Shalt bring me up again from the depths of Ihe 'earth.]. "Death shall ubi ^)rey upon my body i thy Holy Qne'c^ 8e& n6 corruption. \As applicable to David, it might, mean his being almost dverwj»^med with nflSictions i and his deliyeranee was like a life from the' dead.,

Verse 2 1.' Thou shalt increase my greatness] Tkea wilt restore me to^ my throne and kingdom; and it i^all -be doiie- in such a way that all shall see it was the hand of God; and 1 shall have the more honour on the acconnt..

Covr^fort me on every side.] I shajl have friends in aU qnatterd; 'and iker tribes on all sides will supportme:

Verse- d!». ixoiU also praufe thee with the pisaltery] Saj ^S33 hiehli nebel^ with the instrument nebel. Unto thee will I sing with the harp; "^333 bechinnor, with the kiinnor. Both were stringed it^ruments, and the principal used in the Jewish worship; and Whh which, or. any thing like them, in Divine "worship, we, as Chrisr tians, have nothing to do.

Verse 2^. My lip* fhcUl greatly rejoice — and my souT\ My Vtps shall use words expressive of my so^s happiness and gratitude. Thou hast redeemed me; and thou shalt have the eternal praise.

wusness tf GojiJB frttquenlly tned ia tjus Tfealm* and in other places, to signify his jneticei judgments,. &itlifulness, truih, mercy^ &c. The^B are few^woi^ds of msre ffenerttl import in the Bible.

Thii/ are car/^unded] The counael of Ahkhophal is confounded, and turned to foolishness; aad h^ was so asnamed that h» went and hanged himsell A« to the Tain -and wicked Absalom, he met with the^fate that he had meditatisd against hSa ^er."^ Thoiji^ not yet done, David seiM ali these tfiinga as aatoally aceomplished; ^for he 4iad got a. Divine assopeaoce thai God would kving them te.pai^.

- AniLTsia OP the SKvwm^mar Psai^m.

The parts of this JPsalii^ generalijTi are these two:-^ -I. A firayer that God would help and'detiver- him, which he urges by many arguments, Ver. 1-Sl.

n. His vouf of thanksgwif^ ver. 93 to the end.

To induce the Lerd to -hearj he uses many arg^. mentSf drawn,—

1. From bis juuice and equity: ** Deliver me in thy rllthteousness."' - '..■-.'•

He idescjribes hiseafsmies;—.

4. H6 resumes his prayer, and predicts his eoemies' downfall: << 0 my God, he not far firem ae; make haete for my help.".

4, He pleadtf fronr his past' ea^pfriince of Godls serey tohim. -

FlpdiB. all theae cdmliieiatloBa he feels gmlttode, and praises Godk. - ^

I.' Thy rigjhteoQfljneas.isv]^ high; Theve is imthing like-rr.

Of all thM he had full ani satis&etoiy proof.

Imel:" not 6idy with mehel and Jbimor^-^^astrallieti of mntiic then usedtT— ^.. ^ -

9. But with his lifs and soul; heart and memtk going fogethecc..3^ Wiih^fei^^iM; speaking of Gdd% goedMas l#

Ikand pra^e to- Qod for Skdamcnt 1; presiniu SelanMs work, 9 theesBtentrofhU^demj^fUonjB^lllksn

19-17. Godis bhfised far hU 'potper ami goodaim •mdike psakmst praye ihai.^he whole earthmay he jmed)eiihkis glory, 1^-^99,;,

^^SMmon is to administer PSAIJtl IiXXII.

the ajfmrs ef the kingdom.

dr. ^xmum ness untb the king s s<m.

vwith righteousness, ibd thy poor with judg^

3 ^ The mouptaiiis shall bring peace to die peopferand the little hills,, by righteousness,

The tUU rxtSird^Hshelomokt w^ translate, A Psalm for Solomon. The ChaUee aa^ ** By die iiaJMi of SokMnon, ^spoken l^rop^etieaUy,".- The <8yrta^, ^A Ptelm of DsTtd, <wheii iie li^ conaliftHaj 8ohKDoii knig.^.. Ail the other Venitms attiib«ie it to Solommi himaelf. But in the eonclusion oC the Psklm ir appears to be attribstad io X>mi{. ^ The prayers of David the son of Jeaae are ehded.^ It is moat pto^ bably a Paahn of Da^iA,. composed in- bis-last days, when he had set this beloved aoo-on the thronsof the kingdom. ""Theny^'ac^a-Ca^nel, *^ tranaported with joy and gratitnde, he addressed, tfaii Fsalm 'to GM, iat yhich he prays him to poof out liis blesain^ on' the yooi^ idng, and. upon the'people. He then, wfa{ifi^ np IB a Xhtine entlittSiajHn, aaeenda to Jl higher sdijeei; ssd siogs the glory of -the Messiah, and the.nsgqifi- Qsrtce of-kis reign; Henee it is that we mSy see in thia Psaimi^ great number of expieeRoiii?wfaieh ea|iSQC lebte.to SokMDon, unleas iii a hyperboliosi snd-(Sgarativs sense; but, applied to Christ, they are literally and ngoronsly exact. ^^ • ^

Verse 1. Give ^ king thf judgment] LetSolonm leeeiVe tM^fimo^ as the civil uid eedesiasticat oode by which he is to govern the kingdom.

And thy righteousness utUo the^ kmg^s soft-] JRight-^ ermsness may signify equity. Let him not only rule according to the strict letter of thy law, that being the base on which all his decisiona shall be founded; but let }nm rule also according to fsquityi thst rigorous Justice may never become oppressive. ^ Solomon ja called here' tk^ king, because now set upon the' Jewiah throne; sod he ^ called the llnng\s son, to •sigsify his right to that throne on which he now aat.

Verse 2> Ife shall judge thy ppqple with righteoasnoss] Witk justice and mercy mixed, or according to equity.,

And thy poor with judgment.] Every: one according to the law ^-wldch ihou.hast appointed; but with especial tenderness to the poor atid afflicted.

Verse 3. The mountains shall bring poace] Perhaps mountains and hills are here tdiep in their figurative sense, to signify princes and petty governors;;and it II a' prediction that. all governors. of provinces and ma^strates should administer equal J98tiQe in their several departments and jurisdictions; so that universal peace should be preserved, an(]t the peojple be every, where prosperous; for DlW shalom signifies both peace apd prosperity, for without the former the latter never existed.

.5 They «luill feco: thee ^ ad long as the sun aud moon endure; throughout- all generations.

6 '. He shall come down ' like rain upon the mxmii gnoB: hs shef^ers that water Ae eatth. ••.

* But whA is the meanings of ** the little hills by righteousne^aa t'V Why^'it has Oo tneaning': aad-il has non^, becfMise it is jk false division of the verse. The ncirA'T\^t2 ditstdakahy in righteousness, at the end of terse 3, shoidd hsgin verse 4, and thetf the saose 'Win be plais. • *Ver. B: ^ The moaacains and the hills shsll Mo^^prospexity to the people.**. Ver.'4 r • ^ Ib righteooaness he -sbaU Jsdge. the iioor, of the people: he ahail.sare tfa^ cbUdren of the need]^ and ahall break in pieces the oiijfressor J'.

The ejfeets, mentibaed inth%f9urth terse, show that King Solomon should act according to the law (^ his CM; and that all offieera, magistrates, and govemora, should minist^ equal Justice through evcoy part of the kuML The Septuagini has the true division.:. AveiX«/drru ra «^ »^mpf ^ ^^. ^^% x^ •I'/StfvvM^ £v Sgiuxioffwjl Kpivsi rovT 4rciup(0U( rov^ Xaou, x. r. X. " 'pie jDonntaina shall foing peaee to thy people, and the Hilla: In jighteonaness shall he Judge the poor of thy peofde/' Ac. ' '

Verse 5. They t^ fear thee] lliere is so seme k^which this can.be apoken 'o(-8olojn4mj nor indeed of any other ipan:. it.belongs to Jesus' Christ, and to. hh& alone.. He ia the Jhrinoe of peace, whp ahkU be feared pt^^ reverepced **throngh all generations,' and as long aa. the aon and moon^ endure.**

Ver^e 6. He shall, come down like rainupon the mown grass] The word I J ^e^;, which we translate mown grass, more properiy meana pastured grass or pastured land; fbr the dew of the night' is intended to pestove the grass/which has been eaten in the ooSise of the Bay. This.Teryidea the Chaldee has seised, ' and renders the place thus: ^ He shall descend gently,.like rain upon the grass which'-has been eatien by the locust." "But there seems to be a reference 'to the thick night dews which in sununer fall on the pasturages, and become the means of restoring the gtaaa consumed in the day-time by the cisttle. This ia finely expiessed by the most accomplished of all.poets and agriculturistS'r-r—

£t quanUun longis carpent j^menta diebua, l^zigua t^tum gelidus rus noete reponet.

"Folr what the day devours, the nfghtly dew Shall to the mom by pearly drops renew."

Or to leave poetry, which alwaya aaya too muck or los little, the plain prose is:-i—

7 In bis ds^s sbaU the righteous flourish; ^s^d abundance of peace ' so long as the mops endureth..... -..

8 ^ He shall have dominion also from-s^a. to sea,, and froin the jnver unto the ends.of. th^ earth.. /.. ". • /

9 ] They that dwell in the wilderness sha^ bow before liim; " and his enemies shall lick the dust.. „ '^-..

10 » The kings oif Tarshish and of the isles

11 o Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. * ' *,

iS For he ^ sfaaD deliver the needy wbephi crieth; the poor also, and him that hath' no helper. '. -.

14 He 'shall redeem their tfoul firom deceit

** And as mach as the. flocks' curop in ^ long days.

So much -shall the cold d^ff restore in one sb^rt night.''-

A9 showerS'Htx^. water the titrth,} The inflaence of.the doctrine and Spirit of ^Stifist otf the son! of mian shall ht'dM gtaieful^ pi-rrfresking^ and as^flic/t^^, aathe nightly dews on^e clipped fieldsvand the-vernal showers on the -cultivated lapds. Without hia influence aU tillage is rain; Without him there.can neither be seed nor fruit.- ■ ^

Verse 7. In his days shatl the righteous flourish] There -was nothing but -peace -and prosperity all the days of. Solomon: foe, *' In his days Judah and Israel dwelt safely; every nnato nndeV his vine and under his fig-tree, froqi Dan even to Beersheba;*^ 1 Kings iT.*25.

So long as the moon endureth] ^. HT ^^2 IJT ad kfiH yareachy "Till there be no mor^ moon."

Verse 8. He shqil hone dominion aUo from sea to sea] The best comment on this^tas it refers to S^mon, may be found in 1- Kfogs iv.'fil, 34; •_" And Solomon reigped over all kingdoms; from the river onto tbe"^ land of the Philistines, and uflto the tK>rder of. Egypt; for he had doqiinion over, all on. this side the rirer, from Tiphsah even to 4*^1^ over all the kings on this side. the rivers an^ he had f eace On all sideiC round about him."

Solomon, it appears, reigned, over all the provinces from the river Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the frontiers of Egypt: The' Euphrates was on the east of Solomon^ dominions; the Philistines were westward, on the Mediterranean sea; and Egypt was on the south. Solomon had therefore, as-tribndtries, the kingdoms of Syria, Damascus, MoeA, ahd iimmon, which lay between ihe^Ei^rates and the^tfedi' terranean. Thtis he appears td have possessed iiH the land which God covenanted with Abraham to give to his postifritjF*'.* - -

Unto the ends of the eirth.] Or land, must meah the tract of country aldng the Mediterranean sea, which M-as the \boundary o} the land on that side: but, as the words m^y refer to Christ, every thing toay be taken in its utmost latitude and extent.

VersQ 9. They that dwell in the wilderness] TheD'^'V tsiyim, termed Ethiopians by the Vulgate, Septuagint, JSthiopic, and Arabic. The Syriac terms them the islands. But it is likely that those who dwell by the sea^coasts, and support themselves by navigation and fishing, are here intonded.

His enemies ^hati lick the iust^^ Shall be so completely snhddeid^ that they shall be reduced to ths most ahject stat$ of vassalage, tiU. they shall beeoms proselytes to the Jewish faith. •

Verse 10. 'The kings qf Tarshish and of the ishs shall bring presents] * Though Solomon did not reign over Cilicia,' of which Tarsus was the capital, yet he might' receive gifts, not in the sense of' tribute; lor ntlJCl minchah, the word here used, signifies a gratis pkie tut friendly (goring. ^

. The kings ofJShehaand Seba] Both countries ci Arabia. ** fWn the former Oame the ^usen of Sheba,t6 hear the wisdjsiin of Solomon. And she brought exceed^ ing gresXjfresentt at gifts', but not m the^ way of trihute; for Solomon had no jurisdiction fn her country.. Awl certainly many sc^ereignSf to obtain hhi friendship, UfOh him vari9U8 presents of the <;iheicest produeo of theii respective eountri^s; ^nd no doubt (ie did with them as with the queen of Sheba, gave them gifts in retocti. Henoe the word'^lDVlit eshcar is used, which signifies ** a compensative present, made on account 6i benefits received.'* ' ■ ".

Veree 11. All kings shall fall down before] They' shall fevererfce him on accodot of his great wisdoar» riches, &c.. * "

All nations shall ierve him.] ^ -All the surrounding nations. * This and the preceding verses are full^ ex-^ plained" by I Kings x. -83^25: " Ring, Solomon ex^ eeeded all the kings of the earth for riches M for i^-isdom. And all the earth sougdt unto Solomon to hear his wi9- dom. And they brought every nian his pcesent, vessels of.silver, and vessels of gold, and ganh^nts, and armour, and spices, horses andmules, a rate year- hy year.*' If we take these expressions to meaq literally all the habitable globe, then they cannot be applied to. Solomon; but if we take them as they are most evidently used by the sacred writer, then they are literally-true. ' When all the earth shall be brought to receive the Gcspel of Qirist, then tliey may be applie^'^ to Ami.

Verse 12. He shall deliver the needy when he crieth] The. pobr and \he rich shall, in the administration of justice, be equally respected; and the ^rong shall not be permitted to oppress the weak.

Verse 1 4. From' deceit and violence] tfecaiise they are poor and uneducated, they are liable to he deceiTed; and because they are helpless, they are luible to

of the city shall flourish Uke grass of the ^arth.

18 T blessed he the Lord God, the God of Israel^ "-who only doeth wondrous things.. 19 And ^blessed &e his glorious name for evcu-: ^ and let the whole eahh be filled wiXh his glory;. Amen« and Amen.

^20 The prayecji ef David the son oi Jesse are ended. «

Oppression; bat Ms. equal jii3tic# ahall duly eonm4ef tb^ cases; and no maa shall iiafiear beqanae he is depeiff^f fchouglvthe.^/^ of 'the low may be against til?.

And JHVcious shM thiir Uood ^} If the blood or life of such a person. dhall have been spilt by the hand of violence, he shall seek it out,, and visit it on Ctie. tuiiderer, though he.M^xe the chief ii^ the- land., -He ohall not be. screened) though he weie of the blood rojal, if he have wilfully taken away the life p/'« man. Verse 15.' To him shaU.be given of the, gold of 5A«6a] The Arabians shall pay him tribute.

Pray ft also ^haif he't^^ide for him continufdly] In all conquered eountriea two things marked the jBub|eo« tioQ of the people: 1. Their mooey was. stamped with the name of the Qonqu^or. ^ They were obl^ed to. pay ibr him in their acts of publio Worshijp.

Daily shall he be praised.] He shall not act by4he conquered like conquerors in general: he shall treat them with benignity; and shall give them the same laws a^d privileges ^as his natural subjects, and therefore *' he shall be daily praised." AU shall speak well 6f him... • -..

yerse 16;- There shall be^ a handful ^com] The earth shall be. exceedingly fruitAd. Even a handfjil of com sown on the top. of a moontain shall grow 4ip strojDg aiiid vigorous; and it jBhall -be, in reference Xq, cropf JR other times y as the cedcA^ 6fSj£banon are to common trees m shrubs: sad as tjie earth will bnng forth in handfuTs, so the people shall be multiplied who are to consimiethis great. produce^ *

And they of the city shall flourish iikfi grass- of the eairih.\ There have been m^ny. puKzlipg cri^isms concerning this verse. What I have given I believ^e to,be the sense.

Verse 17. His name shall endure fot ever] Hitherto this has been literally fulfilled. Solomon is celebri^ted io the east and in the. west, in the -north and in the south; his writings still remain, and.are received, both by Jews and by Gentiles, as a revelation from God; and it is not likely that the>name of the author shall ever perish out- of the rc'cords of the world.

All nations shall caWhim blessed.]. Because of the extraordinary manner in which he was favoured by the Most High. I well know that adl these things are thought to belong properly to Jesus Christ; and, in' reference to him, they are all true, and ten thousand times more than these.. But I believe they are. all ^opeily ^>p]io;ible to*Solomon: add it i^ the business of t^e commentator to find cut the literal sense, and historical fact, and not se^k (or allegories and mysteries where there is no certain evidence of their presence. Where the. sacred wnters of the New Testament quote passages from the CHd, and apply them to our Loitl, we not onljr may ^Mti should foU6w then^. - Aud I am ready to grant there may bet many other passages equally applicable to him with these they have. ()u6ted, which are not thus applied. Indeed, HE is the^/sum and eui^tance of the wh'ble. Scripture. HE spoke 1>y his Spirit in the prophets; and himself was the subject of t^eir declarations. See> our ^Lord^s saying, •lilike xxiv. 44.

Verse 18.. Blessed be the Lord G6d\ ^ David foresaw all Solomon's grandeur; hSs justice,' equity, and the happiness of the snbjects.under his government; and his soul'hasvin con9equence, sensations of pleasure and gratitude to 6od,"whieh even his own wondrous pen cannot. describe. - But it is worthy of remark, that God did not reveal to him the apostasy of this.beloved son..'He did. not foresee that thia once holy, happy, wise, and prosperous man would-be' the means pf -debasing the Divine worship, aQd establishing the grossest idolatry in Israel. God hid this from' his eyes,, that his heart might not be grieved, and that h^ might.die in peace. Besides, there was still much contir^ency in the business. God would not predict a thing as absolutely certain^ which was still poised between a possibility of being and not being; the soeJe of which he had left, as he does all contingencies, to the free-will of his creature to turn.

Who only doeth wortdrous things.] God alone works miraeles: wherever there is a miracle, there is Grod. }io creiUure'CaA invert ot suspend, the course znd^lawe of nature; this is properly the work of God. J^esus Christ, most incontroVeftiUy, wrought sueh miracles; therefore, most demonstrably, Jesus Chiist is God:

Verse 19. Let 4he whole earth be filled with his glory] liOt the Gospel— the light, the Spirit, and power of Christ, fill the world.

Verse 20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse ate ended.] This was most probably the last Psalm he ever -wrote. There may be several in the cfter pan of tlu8 book ifviiicli were trritlfsii \ff bim; lAt. thBy weie probably composed in a fonoMr period of hia^life, tqt this was the j^ pf the jmmCic Jf/rqyers ^ Damdf the son of /e^se. Those that were found afterwards have got pat of their propef <CQimexion.'

,' IHWd being UQSf his d€a;tht mikes his prayer for lus son $61omon» tQcat he inay^be a just, peace^le, and great king, and his suBjeots happy^ under his government. But this is bat the M«0 of the Psahn: the kernel is Christ and his kingdom, under whom righteousness, peaee, and felicity shall flourish, and unto wham all fiatifnu shall do homage for eter and. ever.

The parts of this Psahn are t^e fbliowiug, vits.: — •

tl. The general declaration of ^equalities of this kingdomv ^^er/ li, S", 4.

III. The partiooiar onMdifig of these in tlieir effeets^ve?. 4-18.

1. David, being tanght^ by expetietaQB. how liafd a matter it is to govern i^ kingtkmi weH, pmys <jM*to assist his eon JMomon^ to whom,' being near death, he was to leave, his crown and sceptre.

-1. " Give the king thy judgments, O (JUjd;" tiie torue knowledge of thy law.

2. ** And thy righteousness unto the king^ ton f^ ^hat,he mky not decline to^the right or left hand, but administer by Jostioe, jadge to 6od..

11. For then this will follow;-^

1. Justice will flourish in hislcingdoto: << He ^luill judge thy people with righte'ousBess, and tby poor with judgment"

Of justice he assigns two effects r — '

9. The punishment of th© wicked: H He rimll break in pieces the oppressor.*'

The consequences, of peace arey— -

1. Fear, and-^ rererence, and the service of God: " They shall fear thee as long as the son.and moon endure, throughout ^1 generati^nisr." * -.

1». Plenty Arid alnidance: «* He shaA come down like rainiipon the mown grails; as showeci thi^ water th^ earth."

3. Prosperity of good men*: " In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundancp of peace, so long as the moon enduretlu" ' *

- Now he shows the g^atness ^nd amplitude iif this kingdom, which will not be so grue of Solomon as x>f Christ and his kingdom.

1. His kingdom will be very large: •* He Ahall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto f^e ends of the earth." ' ^.

S. His Bab)ect8 shall be many. Some vHlMngly,

dllien again«t thm will, shall obey^ Ihiq: " Thef that dwell in the wildemeito shall bow %fyr9^ Unu. His ehemies shaH lick the dust,"— crouch at fa}s feei. *'

3. Hemage. shall be done to him by Asiaj^ Europea]i,'aRd Ajrabian princes. 1. *^ The kings of ^Tvishish ond^ the rales shidl bring ptesents; the &inga

of Sheba and Seba sha^ oater 9A8." S. f Yea, ifi kings shall fkll.doWn before him;..ali o^ons ^jdiall. serve him."

He sets do^^kny exeellent qualities pf this kidg.

1..He should bcready to do good;- a gtoeious -lord to t&e meanest oobject: **F.or he '.shall deliver the needy when he criethVtfie ppor alao^.alld kim tet hath no helper.'*' ' ^

. 9. He shoidd be fa f^oQ) loadi^ his subfecto with exactions:' '* He shall spare the poor and shall sateihe souls Off the needy.".

And arhe shaD^be kind and loving to his 8uB}ectat

so shoH hiar mdQeets sho^ great love and oifection tb

' iBt. \nd they shall offbr him presents: **'And to

him sIubA be giv^ of the. gold qC Arabia."

• And that which woidd induce them to- it might b^ jthat^b^ided' the eqoily and justice, love and- kindness he showed lo nil, they ^d that under Him they enjoy great plenty and -obun^^uibe of all things.

I. Fof the earth 'bvooght. forth com, and the moontains afforded them an ample harvest: ^ There a^aO be- a handful of * corh in the ekrth, upon the top (the Vfgheet part) of the mountains;''the frbit ^dierebf sha)l shak& (stand so thick that the ears shall brush one against another) as the trees in Lebanon.**' • ' 9. The kingdom shall abound in people: *^ They of the city ehall "ffonrish like grass of the earth,* which is thKk.and green. ' Inn word; the king shall be dear to his people; itnd they 'shall love his aanie^wben living, and honour him wheh deftd,.^^^ ntmne'it-to an pokerilies.,-'*.*

S.'V Men shall be blessed in him." God' shaD blese thee,iis he did Solomon.

IV. in the tdose oiffthe Psalm, as nsual, he gives thanks for.taking: into consideration the happmess that was to aoCtue to his people under such a king, even when he Vas laid in the grare. He'breaks forth,

1. " Blessed be- the Xord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things;" for indeed such a king is a wonder, and' \\ is the gr^K^ of God must make him such. "

Poetical venion qf s(>me of the PSALM LXXm. principal passages in this Psdbn.

a. And thai not in Jndea atone, bot in aU the wwld: ** And let the whole wojPld be Med with hie ^ gloiy. Amen, ameo.''

; Of which 80me, indeed moet, judge ibis was the last

prajer Pavtd made. See the notes at the end of the

Tstt following poetical version ef some of the principal passages of the foregoing Psalm was made and idndly given me by my much respected flriend, /(ime# Montgomery^ Esq., of Sheffield.' I' need not tell the intelligent reader that be baa seized the spirit, and exhibited some of the principal beauties, of the Hebrew bard; though, to use his own words in his letter to me, his " hand trembled to touch the harp of Zion.'* I take the liberty iiere to register a wish, which I have strongly expressed to himself, that he wooM hrvonr the Chnrch of Crod with a metrical yereiod of the whole book.

Great David's greater Son I Hailj In the time' appointed, \ His reign on earth begun!

\ • He cornea to breidt oppression,.

I To; let the captive free.

To takeaway transgression, And reign in equity.

He comes with 'succour speedy

To those Who suiafer wrong; To help, the poor and needy.

And bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sighing.

Their darkness turn to light, Whose souls, in misery dying.

Were precious in his sight.

By such shall he be feared While sun and moon endure, V Beloved, adored, revered.

For he shall judge the |x>or,

Tfltoogh ehaoging genenfuoo^

With Justice, merey, truth. While stars maintain their stationay ^ And moons renew their youth.

He shall come ^wn like showert

Upon the fruitful earth. And joy, and hope, like ^wers.

Spring in his path to birth; Before him, on the mountains.

From hill to valley flow.

To him shall bow the knee; The Ethiopian stranger

His gk>ry oome to see: With offerings of devotion.

Ships from the isles shall meel To pour the wealth of ocean

In tribute at his feet.

Kings shall fall down before him«

And gold and incense bring; All nations shall adore Kim,

His praise all people sing: For he shall have dominion

Or dove's lighi wing, can soar.

For him shall prayer unceasing,

And daily vows, ascend; His kingdom still increasing, —

A kingdom without end; The mourttain-dews shall nourish

A seed in weakness sown. Whose fruit shall spread and flourish

And shake like Lebanon.

O'er every foe victorious.

He on his throne shall rest, From age to age piore glorious,-^

AJf-blessing, and all-blest: llie tide of time shall never

His covenantlremove; His name shall stand for ever.

His name — ^what is iti — LOVE,

The psalmist speaks of Go^s goodness to his people, 1; shows how much he was stumbled at the prOsperiiy of the wicked, and describes their state, S-18; details the process of the temptation, and the pain he suffered in consequence, 13-16; shows how he was delivered, and the dismal reverse of the state of the once pro§^ perous ungodly man, by whieh his own false views were corrected^ 17-99; his great confidence in Oodf mul the good consequences of it, 93-98.

T^RULY « God is good to Israel, even to such as are ' of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had ^ell nigh slipped. -

3 • For I was envious, at the- foolish, wJien I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no banjds in their death: but their strength is ^ firm.

6 'They are not ^ in trouble as other men; neitherlBC they plagued » like otJier men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them ^as a, garment. "

7 ^ Their eyes stand out with fatness: " they have more than heart could wish.

8 ^ They are corrupt, and " speak wickedly concerning oppressioji: they >*. speak loftily.

This is the commencement of the Third. Book of the Psalter; and the Psalm before us has for title, A Psalm of Asaph; or, as the margin has it, A PsaUn for Asaph. The title- in the Hebrew is *\Dvh *t10TD mizmor leasaph; " A Psalm of Asaph:" and it is likely that diis Asaph was the composer of it; that he lived under the Babylonish captivity; and that he published this Psalm to console the Israelites under bondage, who were greatly tried to find themselves in such outward distress and misery, while a people much more wicked and corrupt than they, were in great prosperity, and held them in bondage.

Verse I. Truly God is good to Israel] Captives as they were, they still had many blessings from God; and they had promises of deliverance, which must be fulfilled in due time.

Such as are of a clean heart] Those who have a clean heart most have inward happiuess: and, because they resemble God, they can never be forsaken by him. ^

Verse 2. My feet were almost gone] I had nearty given up my coAfidetice. I was ready to find jfault with the dispensations of providence; and thought the Judge of all the earth did n6t do right.

Veise 3. I was enviotts at the foolish] J saw persons who worshipped not the true God, and others who were abandoned to all vices, in possession of every temporal comfort, while the godly were in straits, jdifficulties, and afiliction. I began then to doubt whether there was a wise providence; and my mind became irritated. It seems to have been a maxiiQ among the ancient heathens, Gsov ovst^og rwg xaxou^ eu^oufjbovffiv, " The prosperity of the wicked is a reproach to the gods.*^ But they had no just conception of a state of future rewards and punishments. Besides, man could not bear prosperity. If men had uninterrupted comforts here, perhaps not one soul would ever seek a preparation for heaven. Human trials and afflictions, the general warfare of human life, are. the • highest ' proof of a providence as benevolent as it is wise. Were the state of human affairs dififerent from what it is, hell would be more thickly peopled; and there would be fewer inhabitants in glory.. There is reason to donbl whether there would be any religion upon earth had we nothing but temporal prosperity. Indeed, all the following verses are proofs of it.

gladly have sore conflicts at their death. -.Their my then thiuats sore at them that they may fall; or that th^ir confidence in their God may be shaken. But of thi^ the ungodly know nothing. Satan will not molest them; he is sure of his prey 4 they are entangled, and cannot now break their nets; their consciences are searedf they have no sense of guilt. If they think at all of another world, they presume on that mercy wliichthey never sought, and of which they have no distinct notion. Perhaps, ** they die without* a sigh or" a groan; and thus go off as quiet as a lamb'* — to the ^laughter.

Verse 6. Pride compasseth them about ^as a chain] Perhaps there is an allusion here to the ofl&ce which some of them bore. Chains ofgoldfZad golden rings, were ensigns of magistraoy and civil power. As these chains encompassed their necks, or* the- rings their wrists and fingers, a& Uie signs^ of |he offices in virtus of which they acted; so DOn chamas, violence, oppressive conduct, encompassed jthem. They made no other use of their great power, than to oppress the poor and the needy 4 and to drive things to extremities.' The Chaldee, instead of a chain, represents this as a crown or diadem, which they had fbrmed out of the plunder of the poor and defenceless.

Verse 7. Their eyes stand out with fatness] " Their countenance is chaHgedbecause of fatness."— CAoWee. By fatness, or corpulency, the natural lines of the face are changed, or rather obliterated. The characteristic distinctions are gone; and we see little remaining besides the hitman hog.

They have more than heart could wish.] I doubt this translation. VHtos^ heart ever said, / have enough, which had not its portion with God 1 It would be more Hteral to say, " They surpass the- thoughts of tbeir heart." 'They have more than they expected, though not more than they wish.

And speak trtc^e^/y concerning oppression] They vindicate excessive acts of goyeniment: they push justice to its rigour. They neither show equity, lenity, nor mercy; they are cruel, and they vindicate their proceedings.

Verse 9. Set their mouth against the heavens] They blaspheme God, ridicule religion, mock at Providence, and laugh at a future state.

10 Therefore his people return hither: ' and waters of a fiill cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, 'How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? '

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who * prosper in the world; -they increase in riches.

13 " Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and " washed my hands in innocency.

fault wiih every thing.; they traduce the memory of the just in heaven, and ridicule the saints that are upon earth. They criticise every dispensation of God.

Verse 10. Therefore his people return hither] There lie very few verses in the Bible that have been more variously translated than this; and, l&e the man in the fable, they have blown the hot to cool it, and the cM to warm it. It has been translated, " Therefore God's people fall off to them; and thence they reap no small advantage/', And, '^Therefore let his people come before them; and waters in full measure would be wrung out from thera.^' That is, *^ Should God's people come before them, they would squeeze them to the utmost; thc^ would wring out all the juice in their bodies." The Chaldee has, '' Therefore, are they turned against the people of the Lord, that they may hniise and beat them with mallets; that they may pour out to them abundance of tears." The VtUgate^ ^ Therefore shall my people return here, and days of abundance shall he found by them." The Septuagint is the same. The JEthiopic^, Arahio^ and Syriac, nearly the same. The Hebrew te.xt is, oSn ^pv 31B^ \th yzh M^LT kSo 'D1 lachen yHshub ammo ('OJ^ ammi) halom; umey male yimmatsu lamo; <* Therefore shall my peo- {de-be converted, where they shall find abundance of waters." That is, The people, seeing the iniquity of the Babylonians, and feeling their oppressive hand, shall be converted to me; and I will bring them to their own land, where they shall find an abundance of all the necessaries of life. I believe this to be the meaning; and thus we find their afilictions were sanctified to them; for they obliged them to return to God, and then God caused them to return to their own land. The Vulgate translates kSd "^Ol umey male, "abundance of waters," by et dies plenty " and days of plenty;" for it has read 'D' yemey, days, for '»D1 umey, and waters. Almost all ttie Versions support this reading; but it is not acknowledged by any MS. The old Psalter is here mutilated.

Verse 11. They say. How doth God knowf\ My people are so stumbled with the prosperity of the wicked, that they are ready in their temptation to say, " Surely, God cannot know these things, or he would never dispense his favours thus.^' Othersconsider these words as the saying of the wicked: " We may oppress these people as we please, and live as we list; God knows nothing about it."

Verse 12. These are the ungodly] The people still speak. It is the ungodly that prosper, the irreligious and pro^e.

14 For all the day long havd I been plagued, and ^ chastened every moitiing.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 * When I thought to know this, ^ it was too painful for me,

17 Until » I went into the sanctuary of God; tfien understood I • their end.

Verse 13. / httoe cleansed my heart in vain] It is no advantage to us to worship the true God, to walk according to the law of righteousness, and keep the ordinances of the Most High.

Verse 14. For all the day long have I been plagued] Far from enjoying worldly prosperity, we are not only poor, hut we are afflicted also; and every succeeding day brings with it some new trouble.,

Verse 15. If I say, I will speak thus] I have at hult discovered that I have reasoned incorrectly; and that I have the unifonn testimony of all thy children against me. From generation to generation they have testified that the Judge of all the earth does right; they have trusted in thee, and were never confounded. They also met with afflictions and sore trials, but thou didst bring them safely ihrough all, didst sustain them in the worst, and sanctifiedst the whole to their eternal good.

Vers^ 16. When I thought to know this] When I reviewed the history^ of our fathers, I saw that, though thou hadst from time to time hidden Ihy face beeaiiae of their sins, yet thou hadst never utterly abandoned them to- their adversai;ies; and it was not reasonable to conclude that thou wouldst do now what thou hadst never done before; and yet the continuance of our captivity, the o^ressive hardships which we suffer, and the small prospect there is of release, puzzle me again. These things have been very painful tome.

Verse 17. Until I went into the sanctuary] Until, in the use of thy ordinances, 1 entered into a deep consideration of thy secret counsels, and considered the future-state of the righteous and the wicked; that the unequal distribution of temporal good and evil argued a future judgment; that the present is a state of.trial; and that God exercises his followers according to his godly wisdom and tender mercy. Then light sprang up in my mind, and I was assured that all these exercises were for our benefit, and that the prosperity of the wicked here was a prelude.to their destruction. And this I saw to be their end.

That this Psalm was written during the captivity, there is little room to doubt. How. then can the psalmist speak of the sanctuary f There was none at Babylon; and at Jerusalem it,had been long since destroyed? There is no way to solve this difilcolty but by considering that ^KnpD mikdeshey may be taken in the sense of holy places — ^places set apart for prayer and medita^ tion. And that the captives had such places in their captivity, there can be no doubt; and the place that is Mi aput to meet God in, for pmyei, supplication

1 B Surely ^ thon didst set them in slippery places: ihou castedst them down into destruction,

1 9 How are they brought into desolation, at in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors,

21 Thus my heart was * grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 ' So foolish was If and » ignorant: 1 was as a beast ^ before thee,

23 NcYerthelcss I am continually with thee: tliou hast holdcn me by my right hand.

«onfeasion uf ain, and meditaiioni is holy unto the Lord; and i»j therefore, bis sanctuary, whether a hQU^e or the ojtenJfeM. Cornet ihinks by holy meditation* a view of ihe DiTme seerel3> to wliich he refera^ ver* 24, \s here meant.

Verse 18. Th<fu didst s^i them in slippery places] AfRuence is ft alippery path; few have ever walked in it ^iihQU.1 faliing. Ii is possible to h^ faithful in the unnghttous mammon, but it is very dtfficult. No man ahould desire riches; for ihey hriftg with them so many eares and temptations aa to be almost unmanageahie. • Rich men, even when pious, are seldom happy; they do noi enjoy the cotisolationa of reli^on. A good maiSt posseased of very exienaive estates, unblaniable in his whole deportmcnii once aaid to me * " There must be some strange malignity io riches thus to keep me in continual bondage, and deprive me of the cotisolalions uf the Gospel.'* Perbapa to a person to whom hia estates are a snare, the worda of our Lord may l>e literaliy applicable: ** Sell what ihon hast, and give to ihe >L rf^poor; ajid Ihou sha!t have treasure in heaven: and eome, take up ihy cross, and foUow meH" Bui he u?ent away sorrow fuU for he had great possessions 1 May we not then say mih the psahnist, Surely thou didst set them in slippery plac&s^ &c. 1

Verse l&. Are they brought into desolation] This is often a literal fael. I have knowti several cases where persons, very rich, have by sudden losses been hfought into desolation aa in a moment; in conse* queue© of which they ti^ert utterly consumed wiih ieri'&rs*

Verse 20, As tf dream when one awaieth] So their goods fled away. Their possessum wis a dr§am — their privation i reaL

Thou shalt despise their imag^.] While destitute of tme relipon, whatever appearance they had of greatness, nobility, honour, and happiness; yet in the sight *f God they bad no more ih&n the ghost or sh^de of excellence, which G6d is said here to despise. Who wo«Id be rich at such risk and diabonour }

Verae 3 1, Thus my heart was grieved] The differenl views which 1 got of this subject quite confounded me J I wss ©quaUy astonished al their sudden over-

S4 * Thou shah giiid© tne with thy counsel, and afterwnrd receive nrie fa glory.

25 ^ Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon eartli thai I desLr^ beside thee*

26 ^ My fiesh and my heart faileth: 6ii^ God is the *" strength of my heart, and ^ my portion for ever*

27 For, I'Cj ° they that are fat from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all ttiem that " go a whoring from thee.

28 But iX tf good for me lo " draw near to God: I have put my tmst in the Lord God, that I may ' declare all thy works.^.

throw arid my own ignoranee. T felt as if 1 were a heaM fn stupidity. I permitted my mind to be wholly oc(5Upiftd with sensible things^ like the beiMa that perish, and did not look into a fotore state; nor did T eottsider, nor submit to, the wise designs of an uneiTiug ProTideuee,

Verse S3, /am dmtinuaily mth thee] 1 now see that myself and my people are onder ihj piardian care: that we are coulinually upheld by thee; and while in thy ri^hl hand, we shall not be utterly east

Verse §4» Thmi shnlt guide me wiih thy rvuns^ After we have suffered awhile, receiving directions and consolations from thy good Spirit, by si#ans of thy propliets, who ate in the same capdvity with ourselves; ihou wilt gvant us deliverance, restore us to our own land, and crown us with honour and happiness. Any sincere foil owe e of God may use these words in reference to this and the coming world. Tky counsel — thy worm and Sj'irit* shall guide me through life; and when I have done and suffered thy Hifhteous win, thou w^ilt receive me intv thy eternal glory.

Verse 35. Whom hate I in heaven bu! thee!] The original is more emphatic; TVYSn *tS "|D;*l W'O^l 'S '0 yns<3 mi h bashshamayim; veimmerha h ch^tphatsH baarets. " Who is there to me in the heaveijs? And with thee 1 have desired nothing in the earth:" No man can say this who has not taken God for hts portion in reference to both worlds.

Verse 2^. My flesh — fai/efh] I shall soon die; and my heart — even my natural courage^ will fail; and no support but what ia supematund will theji be available* Therefore^ be adds,—

And my portion] Allusion ia her© made to the division of the promised land. T ask no inherifsnee below; I look for one above. 1 do not look for this in the possession of any plare; it is God alone that eaft content the desires and wishes of an immortal spirit* And even this would not satisfy, had 1 not the prospect of its heidgfor ever, D^ipS leniam^ ** to eternity V

The leuD. ptrhh is generally used to signify a coming to Hoihingt being annihilated i and hy some it ia thus applied lu the fiiMdly imp^ntleni^ ihey ehall all be an* nihilaUd. But whera b tliis to be found in ihe Scriptures! In no part, properly understood. In the new heavens and the new earth none of the wicked shall be found; for therein dwells tighteoysposs — nothing but God and righieoud e:pirita \ but at the same time ih^ wicked ahail be in their own place. And to suppose that they shall he annihilated^ is a$ great a heresy, though sear eel y so abaurd^ as to believe ihat the pains of daiunauon are emendaiofy^ and that hell-fire shall burn out* There is presumptive evidence irom Scripture to kiid us to the eonclusiont that if there be not eternal punishmenl^ glory will not be eternal; as the s&me terroa are used to express the duration of both. No human spirit that ia not untied to God can be saved. Tho4e who are WAa from thee shall peruk — they ahaU be /ff*l, undonet ruitied; and that without remedy* Being separated from God by sin, they aiialj never be rejoined i the great gulf must he between them and their Maker eternally.

Ail them that g& a tehonng fr&m thee.] That ia, all ih&t wofship false gods; all idolaters. This is the oafy meaning of the word in such a connejuon* I liate erplained this elsewhere.

Verae 2S. It ia goad fur me to draw*ne&r] We hare already aeen that those who aie far off ahaU periah; there fore, it is ill for them. Those who draw near — who come in the true xptnt of sacrifice ^ and with the only available offering, the Lord Jesus, shall be ftnally sayed; therefore, it is good for Mem.

/ have put my trust in the Lord" God] I confide in Jehm^ah^ mtf Pr&p and Stay. I have taken hun for my portion.

That I may declare all ihy worksJ] That 1 may teacify to all how good it is to draw high to Gad; and what a sufficient portion he is to the soul of man.

The Vulgate^ Septuagtnt, Mthiopic, and AraMc^ add, ij» ihe gates of the daughter of Sion. These worda appewr ta make a better finish i but they aifl not acktiowledged hy any Hebrew MS.

The i^rophet shows the grief thai many good men feel at the prosperity of tha wieked^ and the distresses of the godly; hut at last, consulting the will of God, lt« (Inda that itie felicity of the wicked ends in wretch* edness^ and the crussea of the godly are the way to happiieaa; audi with thi^ eonaide ration, be gaiita quiet to faja troubled mind. I^t the question bei Who is the hoppy^ man / The godly or ttngadly f And then the part* of the Psalm will be as follows: —

L The arguments produced for the happiness of^e wjckedn, ver. 1-9*

n. The impression these arguments, make in carnal mindst ver, St 3, 10-14.

IlL The rejection of these doubta and impreasions, WT. 15-17. rv ♦ The re fu talion o f the former argume nls, v er. 1 8 -2 0.

V* The psalmist's censure of himself for bis preeipttate judgment, ver. 21, S^^

VI. His full reaoluti«»a of the doubt, alter the full eiimiiMtion of the reasons on both aides. That true

happiness constats in union with God$ and therefore

the wicked I who are far from A/m, however they Jiouri^, ate uuliappy, ver, 23-28,

But, more pa^ticularlyf the Psalm is diviaible into the following parts:—

I. There i^f firsts an assertion: " Certainly, God is good to Israel^ to such as are of a clean heart,"^ yer- 1. But can this comport with their present afflicted state? With this he was greatly harassed, ver, 2. He saw the wicked in proaperity, which he states in several particulars.

n. What carnal minds tliink of them.

1. They have no conflicts in their death, ver. |.

2. They are not troubled like other men, ver. &«

3. They are proud and haughty, ver. 6, and yet aie not punished.

4. They are oppressive tyrants; "Violence corereth them."

7. They oven apeak againat God^ and all the dispensations of his providence: *^ Tlieir tongue walketh through the earth/' xei, &,

8. They assert that he takes no cognizance of their ways, ver. 10^ 11.

ni- Tlie eyil cuncluaion formed from these premises refhted.

1. It ia the ungodly that proaper in the earth, ver. 1 3<

3. If so, then of what ayail are my leligioqa observances and sufferinga^ Ac."! ver. 13, 14.

He reaolvea the question, —

1. From ihe testimony of Ahh the godly, ver. 16.

2. He tried to solve it by reoMont hnt did not auc* ceedf ver, 16.

3. He comtUlM mih God^ mA the whole ia made plain^ ver. 17»

1. That the happiness of the wicked la umtahlt^ ver. IB.

%. Theii desolation oomes suddenly and uneipeei-* edly^ Ter. 19.

5. Thus ll^ is demonstrated that their happiness wils vain, empty, as unsubstantial as a dream^ ver. 20.

IV. He now acknowledges that he had formed aq erroneous judgment. L That he gave v^-ay to anu mosity. &. Thftt he acted rather like a hea^t than a man^ in looking only to thti pteaent life, ver. 21, ^3, He now receives instruction and encouragement.

1. The godly are not neglected: " They are con* tbtiaSly with God,''* ver. 33.

S. They are tenderly led as by the hando( a lovlnf father, ver. 23.

3. They are directed by the toord and Spirit ^f God, ver. 34.

4, They are often cromned with signal marks of God'fi esteem, even in thia life, ver. 24,

V. Hia reaohition to live to God, aa be sees Uiat such alone are happy.

I. He expects nothing in hmven but God; ** \MjCDa have I in heaten," &c.

The cruelty of the

enemies of Ood^s people.

9. He win seek no other portion on earth: "There 18 none on earth,'' ver. 35.

3. I \iill cleave to him in life and death: ^ When my flesh and my heart fail."

4. My confidence in him shall be unshaken, ^er. 86.

VI. He draws two eonclosions from what he had learned: —

1. They that are far from God perish.

3. They that draxc nigh to him are saved, ver. S7.

Therefore, I wUl so trust in God that I shall be abfo to declare his works, ver. S8.

The psaimist complains of the desolatimu of the sanctuary^ and pleads with God, 1-3; shows the insoknee and wickedness of their enemies, 4—8; prays to God to act for them as he had done for their fathers, whem^ by his miraculous power, he had saved, 9-17; begs God to arise, and vindicate his own honour against his enemies, and the enemies of his people, 18-S3.

r\ GOD, why hast thou *>cast us off for ever? why doth, thine anger ^ smoke against ^ the sheep of thy pasture?

2 Remember thy congregation, • wJUch thou hast purchased of old; the ^ rod ' of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this Mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

The title is, Masehil of Asaph, or, ** A Psalm of. Asaph, to give instruction.^ That this Psalm was written at a time when the temple was ruined, Jerusalem hnmt, and the prophets scattered or desttoyed, is erident. But it is not so clear whether the desolations hera refer to the dajrs of Nebuchadnezzar, or to the desolation that took place under the Romans about the seventieth year of the Christian «ra. ^almet inclines to the former opinion; and supposes the Psalm to be m lamentation orer the ten^ destroyed by Nebuehadnezaar.

Vsfse 1. O God, why hast thou east us* off for evert] Hast thou determined that wfi shall nerer more be thy people 1 Are we never to see an end to our calamities f

Verse 9. Remember thy congregation, which thou host purchased of old] We are the descendants of that people whom thmi didst take unto thyself; the ehildren of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Wilt thou never more be reconciled to us t

Verse 3. Lift up thy feet] Arise, and return to us; our desolations still continue. Thy sanctuary is pnK fimed by thine and onr enemies.

Verse 4. Thine enemies roar] Thy people, who were formerly a distinct and separate people, and who would not even touch a (Jentile, are now obliged to mingle with the most profane. Their boisterous mirth, their cmel mockings, Iheir insdtiog eommands, are heard every where in aO our assemblies.

4 ^ Thine enemies roar in the nMdst of thy congregations; * they set up their ensigns /or signs.

5 A man was famous according as he bad Hfted up axes upon the thick trees.

6 But now they break down ^ the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

^ 7 ^ They ■ have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled ■ by casting down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground.

samu othotham othoth, th^ set up their standards in the place of ours. All the ensigns and trophies ^srare those of oar enemies; oor own were no longer to be seen. The fifth, sixth, and seventh Terses give a correet historical account of the ravages committed bj the Babylonians, as we may see from 2 Kings xzt. 4, 7, 8r^9, and Jer. lii. 7, 18, 19: <*And the city was broken up, and all the men fled by night by the way of the gate. They took Zedekiah,.and slew his sons before his eyes; and put out his eyes, and bound him with fetters of biass, and carried him to Babylon. And on the second day of the fifth month of the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnea^ar, Neboxaradan. the captain of the guard, came unto Jerusalem; alld he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king^ house, and every great man's housie; and aO the houses of Jerusalem burnt he with fire. And they broke doMm the walls of Jerusalem round abont. And the pillars of brass, and the bases, and the brazen sea, they broke in pieces, and earried the brass to Babylon. And the pots, shovels, snuffers and spoons, and the fire pans and bowls, and such thngs as were of gold and. silver, they took away." Thus they broke down, and carried away, and dcstroyiA this beautiful house; and in the true barbarian B^vit^ neither sanctity, beauty, symmetry, nor elegance- of workmanship, was any thifig in their eyes; What hammers and axes could ruin, was mined; Jerusalem was totally destroyed, and its walls laid level with the ground. Well might the psalmist sigh over such a desolation^

8 <* They said in their hearts, Let us » destroy them together: they have burned up all iJie synagogues of God in the land.

9 _We see not our signs: ^ there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Verse 8. Let us destroy them]. Their object was totally to annihilate the political existence of ^ the Jewish people.

They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the Isoui,] It is supposed that there were no syna- ^ gogues in the land till after the Babylonish captivity. How then could the Chaldeans burn up any in Jude'al The word njriD moadey^ which 'we translate synagogues^ may be taken in a more generpi sense, and ipe^ any places where religious assemblies were held: and that such places and assemblies did exist long before the Babylonish captivity, is pretty evident from different parts of Scripture.. It appears that Elisha kept sQch at his house on the sabbaths imd new moons. See 9 Kings iv. 23. And. perhaps to such St James mi^ refer, Acts xv. 33, a speeies of synagogues, where the law was read of old, in every city of the land. And it appears that such religious meetings were heM at the house of the Prophet Ezekiel, chap, zxxiii. 31. And perhaps every prophet's house was sneh. This is the only place in the Old Testament whne we have the word synagogue. Indeed, whereever there was a place in which God met with patriarch or prophet, and any memorial of it was preserved, there was a ijrio moed, or place of religious meeting; and all such places the Chaldeans would destroy, pursuant to their design to extinguish the Jewish religion, and blot out all. its memorials from tbo earth. And this was certainly the most likely means to effect their purpose. How soon would Christianity be destroyed in England if all the oborches, chapels, and pla<M9s of worship were destroyed, and oqly the poor of the people left in the land; whp, from their circumstances, could not build a place for the worship of God! After such desolation, what a miracle was the restoratioo of the Jews!

Verse 9. We See not our signs\ "They have taken away all our trophies, and have left us no memorial that God has been among us. Even thou thyself hast left us destitute of all those supernatural evidences that have so often convinced us that thou wert among us of a truth." But we may say that they ^were not totally destitute even of these. The preservation of Daniel in the lions* den, and of the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace; the metamorphosis of Nebuchadnezzar; the handwriting that, appeared to Belsba^zar; were all so many prodigies and evidences that God had not left them without proofs of his being and his regard.

II ^Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

12 For "God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 *Thou didst *» divide the sea by thy strength: ^ thou brakest the heads of the '^diagons in the waters.

14 Thou brakest ^le heads of leviathan in

one among them in that place that could tell them how long that captivity >^as yet to endure. But there were prophets in the captivity. Daniel was one; but his prophecies were confined to one place. Eze^ kiel was another; but he was among those captives who were by the river Chebar. They had not, as usual, prophets who went to and fro through the land, preaching repentance and remission of sins.

Verse 11. Why wUhdrawest thou thy hand] It has been remarked, that as the outward habit of the easterns had no sleeves, the hands and arms were fiiequently covered with the folds of the robe; and in order to do any thing, the hand must be disentangled and drawn out. The literal version of the Hebrew is: ** To what time wilt thou draw back thy hand; yea, thy right hand, from within thy bosom V Consume; that is, manifest thy power, and destroy thy adversaries. I have, in the introduction to the bodk of. Psalms, spoken. of the old metrical version by Stemhold and Hopkins, and have jstated that it was formed from the original text. A proof of this may be seen by the learned reader in this and the preceding verse; where, though their version is harsh, and some of their expressions quaint almost to ridicule, yet they have hit the true meaning which our prose translators have missed: —

Ver. 10. When wilt thou once, Lord, end this shame. And cease thine en'mies strong t Shall they alwajrs blaspheme thy name. And rail on thee so long t Ver. 11. Why dost thou draw thy hand aback. And hide it in thy lap? O pluok it out, 'Snd be not slack To give thy foes a rap I

Verse 19. For God is my King of old] We have always aoknowled^ed thee as' our sovereign; and thou hast reigned as a king in the midst of our land, dispensing salvation and deliverance from the centre to every part of the circumference.

Verse 13. Thou didst divide the sea]. When our fathers came firom Egypt.

Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.] Pharaoh, his captains, and alf his host, were drowned in the Red Sea, when attempting to pursue them.

Verse 14. The heads of leviathan] Leviathan might be intended here as a personification of the Egyptian government; and its heads, Pharaoh vt4 his chief eaptains.

pieces, <md gavest him ^to be meat ^ to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 * Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: • thou driedst up ^ mighty rivers.

J 6 The day is thine, the night also is thine: ** thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

17 Thou hast ^ set all the borders of the earth: • thou hast ^ made summer aifd winter.

18 ' Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that ^the foolish people have Masphemed thy name. ' - '

19 O deliver not thtf soul * of thy turtle-

To the "people inhabiting the wilderness.] Prdbibly meaning the birds and beasts of prey. These were the people of the wildetness, Which fed on the dead bodies of the Egyptians, vdtich the tides had cast ashore. The Vtdgatef Septuagint^ Mthiopic, and Arabic read, ** Thoa kaiit g:iven him for meat to' the Ethiopians,'^ or Abyasiniaiis.

Verse 15. Thou didst cleave the favhtain] Thov didst cleave the rock in the wilderness, of which aD the congregation drank.

Thou driedst up mighty rivers,] Does not ttb refer to the cutting off the waters of &e Jordan, so that the people passed over dry-shod 1

Verse 16. The day is thine, the night also is thine] Thou art the Author of Ught, and of tfaie sun, which is the means of dispensing i$.

Verse 1 7. nou hast set all the borders of the earth] Thou alone art the Author of ail its grand geographical divisions.

Th4>u hsui made summer and winter,] Thou hast appointed that peculiarity in the poise and rotation of the earth, hy which the seasons are produced.

Verse 18. Remember this] Thei heathen not oi^y. deny these things, but give the honour of them to their ^se gods, and thus blaspheme thy name.

Verse 19. DeHoer not the. soul of thy turtle-dove] Thy people Israel are helpless, defenceless, miserable^ and afflicted: 0 deliver them no longer into the power of their brutal adversaries.

Verse 20. Have respect unto the c&venant] mn nnsV habbet labberith. Pay attention to the covenant sacrifice; to that offered by Abraham, Gen. xv. 0, &c., when the contracting parties, God and Abram, passed through between the separated parts of the covenant sacrifice.. An indi^mtable type of Jesus Christ; and of God and man meeting in his sacrificed humanity.

The dark places of the earth] The caves, dens, woods, &c., of the land are full of robbers, cut-throats, and murderers, who are continually destro3ring thy people; so that the holy seed seems as if it would be entirely cut off, and the covenant promise (has be Jendered void.

dove unto the multitude qfthetmckeiH * forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

20 'Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

21 O let ^ot the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

• 22 Arise, O God, plead tliine ovirn cause: ^ remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee

The words may either vp^Aj to Chaldea or Juiea. Judea -inB at this time little else than a den of robbers, its own natural inhabitants being removed. CWdea was infbsted i^itfa hordes of Muiditti also.

'Verse 31. ^Let not the oppressed return ashamedH Do not perltait thy people to be so diminished, thai when, according to thy promise, they are restorad to their own land, they may appear to' be but a handM of men.

Versd 83. Plead thine own cause] Thy honow is conoernbd, as w^ as our safety and salvation. The fool — the idolater, reproachetk thee daily — he boasts of the superiority of his idols, by >¥hose power, lie asserts, we are brought under their domination.

Verse 23. Forget not the voice] White we praf!» thee for our own salvation^ we call apoa-ifaee to vMl^ cate thy injured honour: and let all tlie natioas "W0 that thou lovast thy followers, and hatest those wkoM thy enemies. Let not man prevail against thee or I

Both the oompljdnt and petition ire summarily < prised in the three first yersea; and afterwards amplH fied throughout the Psalm.

I. He eKpostulates with God about theii^ oalamhj. 1. Prom the author of it: « Thou, O God.** 2% From the extremity of it: ^ Cast us not off.**

3. From the duration of it: *« For ever."

4. From the cause: ^ Thy angoramokes against us." 6. From the object of it: ** The sheep of thy pa»>

To his complaint he subjoin^ his petition; in whMi every word has ttte strength of an argument.

8. "Of old:" Thy people ever since ^hy covenant with Abtafaam.

4, "The rod of thine inheritance;** dwelling i| that laod Which thou didst measure out to them.

his manifold mercies^

6. " This Moont Zion, wherein thoa hast dwelt:^^ Where we gave thee the worship which belonged to.the tme Goi; and thou wert pleased with our mm6c9B and services. Remember this people, and all these engagements; and. ^ cast us not off fof ever."

7. "Lift up thy feet:" Cdnsider' thy oum diskemmr^f they are thy enemies as well as ours. See what they have done against thee, thy temple^ thy orimanees. Look at their blasphemies^ and avenge the qoarrel of. thy covenant, ver. 3-11.

Consider what thou hast done for our forefathers.

1. Thou hast been' long our King and DeliTerer. See the proofe, ver; 13-15.

S. Thy ^general providence respects all men. Thou hast given them.lighl; the sun and moon^ the vicissutmde of se€uons, Sic,, yer. 16,17,

• 1. That God woqld remember the reproaches of his enmnies, ver. 18.

S. That he would deliver the souls of his children^ ver. Id.

4. That he would remember his covenant with Abram,, to make them ao innumerable people, and a blessing to all mankind, ver. 20.

5. That, when they did return, they might not be a diminiriied people; for their enemies were determined to destroy them, ver. 1^1.

6. 'That they might be. led from all consideratioos to prqise his name, ver. 21.

At the conclusion be urges his petition: —

3. ^ Forget not ihine enemies."

The psalmist praises Ood for present mercies, 1; the Lord answers, and promises to judge the people righteouslyf2i 3; rebukes the proud and haughty, 4, 5; shows that all authority comes ff&n himself, 4-7; thaZ he wiB punish the wicked, 8; the psalmist resolves to praise God, 9; amd the Most Hijgh promises to cast down the wicked, and raise up the righteous, 9, 10.

unto thee do we give thanks: for that

The title is, '' To the chief Musician, or conqueror, AUtaschith, destroy not, A Psalm or Sev^ of Asaph."" See this title Al-taschith explained Psa. Ivii. The Chaldee -supposes that this Psalm was cooqiosed at the time of the pestilence, when David prayed the I/)rd not to destroy the people. Some of the Jews suppose that AUtaschith is th& beginning of a Psalm, to 'the air of which this Psalm was to be set and sung. The Psalm seems to have been composed during the captivity; and appears to be a continuation of the subject in the preceding.

Verse 1. Unto thee^ O Ood, do we give thanks] Thou canst not forget thy people. The nnmerons manifestations of thy providence and mefsjr show that thoa art not far off, but near: this ny wondrous works declare.] These words would nmke a proper conclusion to the preceding Psalm-, wliluh seems to end very abruptly. The secomd verse li the commencement of the Divine anssrer-to the prayer of Asaph.

Verse 9. When I shall receive the eongregaUon] When the proper time is come that the eongtsgation, my people of Israel, should be brought out of captivity, and received back into favt>ur, I shi^ not only enlarge fhem, bq( punish their enemies. They shdl he cujt

2 * When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

4 I said unto the fools. Deal not fool-

off and cast out, and become a more miserable people than those whom they now insult. I will destroy them as a nation, so that they shall never more be numbered among the empires of the earth.

Verse 3. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved] They all depend on me; and whenever I withdraw the power by which they exist and hve, Uiey are immediately dissolved.

/ bear up the pillars of it.] By the word of- my power all things are upheld; and without me nothing can subsist. Those who consider this Psalm to have been written by David before he was anointed kmg over ALL Israd, understand the words thus: " All is at present in a state of confusion; violence and injustice reign: bat when * I shall receive the whole congregation,^ when all the tribes shall acknowledge me as king, I will reorganize the whole constitution. It is true that the land and all its inhabitants are dissolved— unsettled and nnconnected by the bands of civil interest. The whole system is disorganized: *I bear up the pillars of it;' the expectation of the chief people is placed upon me; and it is ihe hope they have of my coming speedily to the throne of all Israel that prevents them fironi breaking out into actual rebellion."

6 Lift not up yoitf horn on high: speak no^ with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the ' south.

7 But ^ Gdd is the Judge: ^ he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

8 For » in the hand of the hoRj) there is a

idolatrous Chaldeans sufficient warning to abandon their idols, and worship the tine God; but they wbuld not. I have also charged the wieked, to whom for a ieason I have delivered you because of your- transgressioDs, not to Itft up their horn — not to use their power to oppress and destroy. They have,, notwithstanding, abused flieir power in the persecutions with which they have afflicted yeu. For all these things they shall sholtly be brought to an awful account. On the term honh see the note on Luke 1. 69.

Verse 5. Speak not with a stiff neck,] Mr r Bruce has observed that the Abyssinian kings have a horn on their diadem; and that the keeping it erect, or in E projecting form, makes them appear as if they had a stiff neck; and refers to this passage for the antiquity of the usage, and the appearance also.

- yerse 6. For promotion cometh neither from the east, 4-c.] As if the Lord had said, speaking to the Babylonians, None of all the surrounding powers shall be able to help you; none shall pluck you out of my hand. I am the Judge: I will pull you dawn, and iset my afflicted people up, ver. 7..

Calmet has observed that the Babylonians had Media, Armenia,' and Mesopotamia on the bast; >and thence came Darius the Mede: that it h&d Arabia, Phoenicia, and Egypt on the west; thence came Cyrus, who overthrew the empire of the Chaldeans. And by the mountains of the desert, D'VI IDID midbar harim, which we translate south, Persia, may be meant; which government was established on the ruins of the Babylonish empire. No help came from any of those powers to the sinful Babylonians; they were obliged to drink the cup of the red wine of God's judgment, even to the very dregs. They were to receive no other punishment; this one was to annihilate them as E people for ever.

Verse 8. It is full of mixture] Alluding to that mingled potion of stupifying drugs given to criminals to drink previdusly to their execution. See a parallel passage to this, Jer. xxv. 15-26.

Ver9e 9.. Lwill sing praises to the God of Jacob,] These are the words of the psalmist, who magnifiea the Lord for the promise of deliverance from their enemies. -.

Verse 10. All the horns of the wicked] All their power and influence, will I cut off; and will exalt and extend the power of the righteous. The psalmist is said to do these things, because he is as the mouth of God to denounce them. All was punctually fulfilled: the wicked — the Babylonians, were all cut o^; the

cup^ and the wine is red; it is >^ full of mixture: and he poureth out of tbe Mune: ^ but the dr^gs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring theyn out, and drink ^AeTTi.

9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 " All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; &ut ** the herns of the righteous shajl be exalted.

righteous — the Jews, called so from the holy coTentM, which required righteousness, were delivered ud exalted. ^ •

Bishop Nicholson supposes that David was the alithor of this Psalm; and that he composed it on his inauguration or entrance upon the kingdom; and by it he gives us an example of a good king.

There are three chief parts in this Psalm: —

n. His profession how to perform the regal office, ver. 2, 3, 10.

, III. His rebuke of foolish men for midbikes occasioned,—

1. Partly by their pride when tliey rise to great places, ver. 4, 5.

S. That they do not consider whence their prefer ment comes, ver. 6j 7. '

d. That they judge not rightly of afflictions, ver. 8.

1. He doubles it to show that it should be Jrtquenily done: '^ Unto thee do we give thanks; onto thee," &c.

3. His reason for it: *' For (hat thy name is near;^ — thy help.is iilways at Hand. '* The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him."

3. Of which he had experience in hk exaltation to the kingdom, which he calls God's *' wondrous wprks." y

U. How thejQffice of » good king is to be discharged.

9. T9 rectify disorders. They had need of ^ just and upright king. 1. The land and its inhabitants were, disorganized. S. • He was the only stay and support of the state: ** I bear up the pillars."

III. ^iB rebuke of bad men.

9. Wiektdf and vaunted the|r wealth sod pow«r.

3. They used their power to oppress*

4. ThSy were obstinate in their oppression bf tie poor. He refers to their falsQ judgments.

K They supposed that their authority and iniluenee otme by their own merit; and for them they were accouvtsble to none.

Jlk They did not consider that God was the author of power, &c.

S« Their third niistake was, they imputed afflictions to a wrong cause, and did pot consider that they earns from GUhI.

Tke great privileges

of the Jewish people*

To show this, the psalmist uses an elegant compariaon, comparing God to the master of a feast, who invites and entertains all kinds of men at his table; who has a cup of mixed wine in his hand, by which he represents the miseries of this life. To all God reaches this cup; and evety (me drinks of it, some more, some less.

1. "In the hand of the Lord there is a cap.** He appoitions the afflictions of men.

3. " It is full of mixture;*' not all sourj nor sweeif nor bitter. The strength of it is tempered by God to the circumstances of his creatures.

4. ** He poureth out of the same.*' He gives to all, ■ome even to his own children. All must drink of Asm cup.

6. B^irhelees or dregs oiii '^ all the wicked of the sarth shall wring out.*' Those who are incorrigible hsTe- afflictions without benefit; they wring the dregs out. On them God*s judgments fall without mitigation.

He concludes the Psalm with —

1. A repetition of his thanks: ** I will declare for e? er; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.*'

8. A prbtestittion of his duty: 1. " I will cot off tbs horns of the wicked.** 3.^1 will exalt the horns of the righteous." Those who exalt themselves shall be abased: those who humble themselves shall he exalted.

Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento, (Has tibi eniot artes) pdcisque imponere morem; Parcere subjectis^ et debeilare superbos.

''But, Rome, 'tis thine alone, with awful sway. To rule mankind, and make the world obey; Disposing peace and war thy omu majestic way: To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free: These are imperial arts, and worthy thee."

These lines of the Roman poet contain precisely the same sentiment that is expressed in the tenth verse of the Psalm. And thus God acts in the government of the world, dealing with nations as they have dj^alt with others: so tbs conquerors are conquered; the oppressed, raised i% honour sad dominion.

TItf true God known in Judah, Israeli Salem, and Zionj 1, 8. A description of his defeat of the enemies of hie people^ 3-6. How God is to be worshipped, 7-9. He should be considered as the chief Ruler: all the potentates of the earth are stibject to him, iO-18.

rows of the bow, the shield, Eicchi», Regis and the sword, and the bMiIe. cir. anntmi Selah. ^^:.

Yo the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song •of Asaph.

his name is great in Israel. 2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place

The title, ** To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asnph.'* See tlie titles to Psalms iv. and Ti. The Vulgate, Sepiuagint, and others have, ** A Psalm for the A88}n'ians;*' and it is supposed to be a thanksgiving for the defeat of the Assyrians. The Syriac says it is a thanksgiving for the taking of Kabbah, belonging to the children of Ammon. It is conlidered by some of the best commentators to have been oomposed after the defeat of Sennacherib. That it was composed after the death of David, and after the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah were separated, is evident from the first verse. If Asaph was its author, it could not be the Asaph that flourished in the days of David, but some other gifted and Divinely inspired man of the same name, by whom several others of the Psalms appear to have been composed during the captivity.

Verse 1. In Judah is God known] The true Ood revealed himself to the Jews. The Israelites, after the ^paration of the tribes, had the same knowledge, but

4 Thou art more glorious and excellent * than tlie mountains of prey.

they greatly corrupted the Divine worship; though still God was great, even in Israel.

Verse 3. In StUem also is his tabernacle] Salem was the ancient name of Jebus, afterwards called Jerusalem. Here was the tabernacle set up; but afterwards, when the temple was built on Mount Zion, there was his habitation. The Psalm was evidently composed after the building of Solomon's temple.

Verse 3. There brake he the arrows of the how] "fla'l rishphey, ihe fiery arrows. Arrows, round the heads of which inflammable matter was rolled, and then ignited, were used by the ancients, and shot into towns to set t)iem on fire; and were discharged among the towers and wooden works of besiegers. The Romans called them phalarica; and we find them mentioned by Virgil, JEn. lib. ix., ver. 705: —

Fulminis acta mode. On this passage Sertnus describes the phalarica as a dart or spear with a spherical leaden head to which fire was attached. Thrown by a strong hand, it killed cir"l*^W iind none of the men of might

6 * At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the. chariot and horsp are cait into a dead sleep, ^ 7 Thou, even thou* art to be feared: and ^ whd may stand in thy sight when once thou art augry?

those whom it hit, and set iire to buildings, &c* It was ciiUecl phedariea (torn the towers called phalit, from which it was generally projected. In aUusion to Ihese St. Paul speak* of the fiery darts of the devil ^ Eph. vi, 1 6, to ttie note on which the reader is requetled to refer.