Explanatory Notes upon the Old and New Testaments

A remonstrance of the designs and endeavours of Israel's enemies, ver. 1-8. A prayer, that God would defeat them, preserve his church, and get himself glory, ver. 9-18. A song or psalm of Asaph.

3. Hidden ones - Thy people of Israel, who are called God's hidden or secret ones, to intimate the respect which God has to them, as to his peculiar treasure.

6. The tabernacles - The people dwelling in them. Ishmaelites - Some of the posterity of Ishmael, called by their father's name, as others of them are supposed to be called Hagarens from their grandmother Hagar.

7. Gebal - An Arabian people so called by ancient writers dwelling in the southern border of Canaan, where most of the people here mentioned had their abode.

8. Of Lot - Moab and Ammon.

13. A wheel - Whereas they promise to themselves a sure possession, let them be like a wheel, which is very unstable, and soon removed.

14. The mountains - The woods upon the mountains, which in those hot countries, when they have once taken fire, burn with irresistible violence.

16. May seek - May own and worship thee as the only true God.

The psalmist declares his love for the ordinances of God, and the happiness of those that enjoy them, ver. 1-7. A devout prayer, and expression of faith in him, ver. 8-12. It is generally supposed, David wrote this, when he was driven out of the land by Absalom. To the chief musician upon Gittith, A psalm for the sons of Korah.

4. They-That constantly abide in thy house; the priests and Levites, or other devout Jews who were there perpetually, as Anna, Luke ii, 36-37. They will - They are continually employed in that blessed work.

5. Whose strength - Who trusteth in thee as his only strength. Thy ways - Blessed are they whose hearts are set upon Zion and their journey is thither.

6. Baca - A dry valley in the way to Jerusalem, here put for all places of like nature. Make a well - They dig divers little pits or wells in it for their relief. The rain - God recompenses their diligence with his blessing, sending rain wherewith they may be filled.

7. They go - They grow stronger and stronger. Appeareth - This is added as the blessed fruit of their long and tedious journey.

9. Look - Cast a favourable eye towards him. Anointed - Of me, who though a vile sinner, am thine anointed king.

10. Than dwell - In the greatest glory and plenty.

11. A sun - To enlighten and quicken, and direct and comfort his people. Shield - To save his people from all their enemies. Grace - His favour, which is better than life. Glory - The honour which comes from God here, and eternal glory.

A recital of past, and prayer for present mercy, ver. 1-7. A prediction of a favourable answer, ver. 8-13. To the chief musician, A psalm for the sons of Korah.

1. Captivity - The captives.

4. Turn us - Restore us to our former tranquillity, and free us from the troubles which we yet groan under.

6. Revive us - Give us a second reviving in bringing home the rest of our brethren, and in restraining our enemies.

8. Will hear - Diligently observe. Will speak - What answer God will give to my prayers. Peace - He will give an answer of peace. Saints - Not to all that are called God's people, but only to those who are truly such.

9. His salvation - That compleat salvation for which all the Israel of God wait; even the redemption by the Messiah; of which not only Christian, but even Jewish writers understand this place; and to which the following passages properly belong. And the psalmist might well say this salvation was nigh, because the seventy weeks determined by Daniel were begun. Glory - The glorious presence of God, and the God of glory himself, even Christ, who is the brightness of his father's glory.

10. Kissed - That great work of redemption by Christ, shall clearly manifest God's mercy in redeeming his people Israel, and in the conversion of the Gentiles; his truth in fulfilling that great promise of sending his son, his righteousness in punishing sin, on his son, and in conferring righteousness upon guilty and lost creatures; and his peace or reconciliation to sinners, and that peace of conscience which attends upon it.

11. Truth - Truth among men. Righteousness - And God's justice shall be satisfied: he shall look down upon sinful men with a smiling countenance.

13. Before him - As his harbinger. He shall fulfil all righteousness, he shall satisfy the righteousness of God, and shall advance righteousness and holiness among men. Set us - Shall cause us to walk in those righteous ways wherein he walketh.

David prays for the favour and blessing of God, ver. 1-6. Expresses confidence in him, by praise mingled with prayer, ver. 7-17. A prayer of David.

2. Holy - Sincerely devoted to thy service.

11. Truth - In the way of thy precepts, which are true and right in all things. My heart - Knit my whole heart to thyself.

13. Hell - From extreme dangers and miseries.

This psalm contains a commendation of Zion, a type of the gospel-church, which is here preferred before the rest of the land of Canaan, ver. 1, 2, 3. And before any other place, as being filled with more eminent men, and more of divine blessings, ver. 4-7. A psalm or song for the sons of Korah.

1. Its foundation - The foundation of the temple of God.

2. Zion - That is, Zion itself, or Jerusalem, which was built upon and near Mount Zion. He saith Zion rather than Jerusalem, to intimate that he loved Jerusalem for Zion's sake, or for the temple, which he chose for his peculiar dwelling place.

4. Rahab - Egypt, so called, either from its pride or natural strength. Babylon - Under these two and Philistia, the constant enemies of Israel, he seems to understand all the enemies of the church of God, who shall now be not only reconciled but united to them. Arabia - The nations on every side of them, for Tyre was on the north, Arabia on the South; those nearest to them, and those more remote from them.

5. Zion - Of Jerusalem, or the church of God. Said - It shall be acknowledged. Man - Hebrew. Man and man, all sorts of men without difference of nations. Establish - And this shall not be a transient, but a lasting work; Zion shall continue in its strength and fertility because the Almighty God is her founder and protector.

6. When - When God, the maker and governor of this city shall take a survey of all his citizens. It is an allusion to princes or governors of cities that use to write and keep a register of all their people.

7. Singers - There shall be great rejoicing and praising God, both with vocal and instrumental musick, for this glorious work of the conversion of the Gentiles. He describe's evangelical worship, by legal phrases and customs, as the prophets frequently do. In thee - In Zion or the church. These words may be here added as the burden of the song, which these singers are supposed to have sung, in the name of all the people of God. All our desires and delights are in thee, all the springs of mercy, grace, and glory, flow to us only in and thro' thee.

This is the most melancholy of all the Psalms: it is all lamentation, and mourning, and woe. Here we have the pressure of spirit which the psalmist was under, ver. 1-9. His humble pleadings with God, ver. 10-14. A farther declaration of his affliction, ver. 15-18. A song or psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Title of the psalm. Leannoth - Which seems to be the name of the instrument. Heman - Probably the same person who was famous in David's time, both for his skill in musick, and for wisdom.

4. Counted - l am given up by my friends for a lost man.

5. Free - Well nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entered as a member into the society of the dead. Whom - Thou seemest to neglect and bury in oblivion.

7. Waves - With they judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the sea.

10. Wonders - In raising them to life. To praise thee - In this world?

12. Forgetfulness - In the grave, where men are forgotten by their nearest relations.

13. Prevent - Come to thee before the dawning of the day, or the rising of the sun.

17. Water - As the waters of the sea encompass him who is in the midst of it.

This psalm manifestly treats of the declining state of the house and kingdom of David, in or about the Babylonish captivity. The psalmist praises and rejoices in God, ver. 1-18. He builds all his hopes on God's covenant with David, ver. 19-37. He laments the present calamities of the king and royal family, ver. 38-45. Expostulates with, prays to God, and praises him, ver. 46- 52. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Title of the psalm. Ezrahite - Not him who is mentioned, 1 Kings iv, 31, but some person of the same name, and inspired by the same spirit, who lived long after.

1. Sing - He prefaces this, lest the following complainers of present miseries should argue ingratitude for former mercies. Faithfulness - Whatsoever hath befallen us, it proceeded not from thy unfaithfulness.

2. Establish - As firmly and durably as the heavens themselves.

3. Chosen - With David; whom I have chosen to the kingdom.

4. Build up - I will perpetuate the kingdom to thy posterity; which was promised upon condition, and was literally accomplished in Christ.

5. Heavens - The inhabitants of heaven. Faithfulness - Understand, shall be praised; which supplements are usual in scripture.

6. Among - The highest angels.

7. Feared - With a fear of reverence. Saints - The whole society of angels. All that - That encompass his throne.

8. Round thee - Like a girdle encompassing thee. It appears in all thy words and works.

10. Rhahab - Egypt.

12. Tabor - The several parts of the land of Canaan, both within Jordan, where mount Tabor is; and without it, where Hermon lies. Rejoice - Shall be fruitful and prosperous, and so give their inhabitants cause to rejoice. In - By thy favour.

14. Justice and judgment - Justice in judging.

15. Know - Who enjoy the presence of God and his ordinances, to which they are called by the sound of trumpets. Walk - Under the comfortable influences of thy favour.

16. Name - In the knowledge and remembrance of thy name, of thy infinite power and goodness.

17. The glory - To thee alone belongs the glory of all their valiant achievements.

19. Vision - Which then was the usual way by which God spake to the prophets. Holy one - To thy holy prophets; the singular number being put for the plural; especially to Samuel and Nathan. Laid help - I have provided help for my people. Upon - Upon a person of singular courage and wisdom.

22. Exact - Not conquer him or make him tributary.

25. Set - Establish his power and dominion. The sea - The mid- land sea. The rivers - Euphrates, called rivers, in regard of divers branches of it, and rivers which flow into it. So here is a description of the uttermost bounds of the promised land.

27. My first-born - As he calls me father, ver. 26, so I will make him my son, yea my first-born; who had divers privileges above other sons. This and the following passage in some sort agree to David, but are properly accomplished in Christ. Higher - This also was in some sort accomplished in David, but more fully in the Messiah.

29. For ever - To sit upon the throne forever, as the next words explain it. This was accomplished only in Christ.

37. A witness - The rainbow, which is God's faithful witness, a token of God's everlasting covenant between God and every living creature for perpetual generations, Gen. ix, 12, 16.

38. But - Having hitherto declared the certainty of God's promises, he now humbly expostulates with God about it.

45. Youth - The youthful and flourishing estate of David's kingdom was very short, and reached not beyond his next successor.

47. Short - Our time, the time of our king and kingdom, in whose name the psalmist puts up this petition. Wherefore - Wherefore hast thou made us and our king (and consequently all other men, whose condition is nothing better than ours) in vain, or to so little purpose? Didst thou raise us and him, settle the crown upon David's head by a solemn covenant, and vouchsafe so many and great promises and privileges, and all this but for a few years, that our crown and glory should be taken from us, within a little time after it was put upon our heads?

48. What man - All men at their best estate are mortal and miserable; kings and people must unavoidably die by the conditions of their natures; and therefore, Lord, do not increase our affliction.

50. How I - We thy servants; our king and his people; of whom he speaks as of one person.

51. Anointed - By whom he seems to understand either first the kings of Judah, the singular number being put for the plural; and by their footsteps may be meant either their ways or actions, or the memorials of their ancient splendour; or secondly the Messiah, whom the Jews continually expected for a long time, which being well known to many of the Heathens, they reproached the Jews, with the vanity of this expectation. And by the footsteps of the Messiah, he may understand his coming.

52. Blessed - Let thine enemies reproach thee and thy promises concerning the sending of the Messiah, I will heartily bless and praise thee for them, and encourage myself with them.

Probably Moses wrote this psalm, on occasion of the sentence passed on the Israelites, that their carcases should fall in the wilderness. Herein he considers the eternity of God, ver. 1-3. And the frailty of man, ver, 4-6. He submits to the righteous sentence of God, ver. 7-11. And prays for the return of his favour, ver. 12-17. A prayer of Moses the Man of God. Title of the psalm. A prayer of Moses - Who considering that terrible sentence of God, concerning the cutting off all that sinful generation in the wilderness, takes occasion to publish these meditations concerning man's mortality and misery. V.

1. Dwelling place - Although we and our fathers, for some generations, have had no fixed habitation, yet thou hast been instead of a dwelling-place to us, by thy watchful and gracious providence. And this intimates that all the following miseries were not to be imputed to God but themselves.

2. Thou - Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.

3. Turnedst - But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable. Saidst - Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Gen. iii, 19.

4. Past - Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible. A watch - Which lasted but three or four hours.

5. Them - Mankind. Away - Universally, without exception or distinction. A sleep - Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past.

7. Are consumed - Thou dost not suffer us to live so long as we might by the course of nature.

8. Hast set - Thou dost observe them, as a righteous judge, and art calling us to an account for them. Secret sins - Which though hid from the eyes of men, thou hast brought to light by thy judgments.

10. Our years - Of the generality of mankind, in that and all following ages, some few persons excepted. Flee - We do not now go to death, as we do from our very birth, but flee swiftly away like a bird, as this word signifies.

11. Thy fear - According to the fear of thee; according to that fear which sinful men have of a just God. So - It bears full proportion to it, nay indeed doth far exceed it.

12. Teach us - To consider the shortness of life, and the certainty and speediness of death. That - That we may heartily devote ourselves to true wisdom.

13. Return - To us in mercy. How long - Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.

14. Early - Speedily.

17. The beauty - His gracious influence, and glorious presence. In us - Do not only work for us, but in us,

This psalm is a dialogue, wherein one declares the safety of them, who take God for their keeper, ver. 1. David declares this to be his resolution, ver. 2. Various promises are made to him, ver. 3-13. Which God himself confirms, ver. 14-16.

1. He - He that makes God his habitation and refuge.

3. Pestilence - From the pestilence, which like a fowler's snare takes men suddenly and unexpectedly.

5. By night - When evil accidents are most terrible and least avoidable. Arrow - The pestilence, or any such destructive calamity; such are frequently called God's arrows. By day - Thou shalt be kept from secret and open mischiefs.

6. Darkness - Invisibly, so that we can neither foresee nor prevent it.

12. Bear thee - Sustain or uphold thee in thy goings, as we do a child.

13. The lion - Shall lie prostrate at thy feet, and thou shalt securely put thy feet upon his neck. Dragon - By which he understands all pernicious creatures, though never so strong, and all sorts of enemies.

14. Because - This and the two following verses are the words of God.

God is praised for his works, ver. 1-5. The doom of the wicked, from the eternal God, ver. 6-9. The prosperity of the righteous, ver. 10-15. A psalm or song for the sabbath-day.

5. Thoughts - Thy counsels in the government of the world and of thy church.

6. A brutish man - Who is led by sense, not by reason and faith. This - The depth of God's counsels and works.

10. Anointed - I shall have cause of testifying my joy by anointing myself, as the manner was at all joyful solemnities.

12. Palm-tree - Which is constantly green and flourishing.

13. Planted - Whom God by his gracious providence has fixed there. The house - In its courts; he means in the church of God, whereof all good men are living members.

14. Old age - Their last days shall be their best days, wherein they shall grow in grace, and increase in blessedness.

This and the six following psalms, according to the opinion of the Hebrew doctors, belong to the times of the Messiah. The glory of God's kingdom, both of providence and glory, ver. 1-6.

1. Clothed - That majesty and strength which he always had, he will shew in the eyes of all people. Moved - He will overrule all the confusions in the world, so that they shall end in the erection of that kingdom of the Messiah, which can never be moved.

3. Floods - The enemies of thy kingdom.

5. Testimonies-Thy promises, which no less than the precepts are God's testimonies, or the witnesses, or declarations of his will to mankind. He seems here to speak of those precious promises concerning the erection of his kingdom in the world by the Messiah. Holiness - It becometh thy people to be holy in all their approach to thee.

The danger and folly of persecuting the children of God, ver. 1-11. Assurance given to the persecuted, that God will deliver them, ver. 12-23.

4. Utter - Or pour forth freely, constantly, abundantly, as a fountain doth waters (so this Hebrew word signifies.) Hard things - Insolent, and intolerable words against thee and thy people.

7. Of Jacob - He who takes that name to himself, but has no regard to his people.

9. Planted - The word is emphatical, signifying the excellent structure of the ear, or the several organs belonging to the sense of hearing. Formed - By which word he intimates the accurate and curious workmanship of the eye.

10. Know - Mens thoughts and words and actions.

11. Thoughts - Yes, he knoweth all things, even the most secret things, as the thoughts of men; and in particular your thoughts; much more your practices.

12. Blessed - Those afflictions which are accompanied with Divine instructions are great and true blessings.

15. But - God will declare himself to be a righteous judge, and will again establish justice in the earth. Follow - They will all approve of it, and imitate this justice of God in all their actions.

16. Rise - To defend and help me. I looked hither and thither, but none appeared; God alone helped me.

17. Dwelt - In the place of silence, the grave.

19. Thoughts - While my heart was filled with various and perplexing thoughts, as this Hebrew word signifies. Comforts - Thy promises, and the remembrance of my former experience of thy care and kindness.

20. Shall - Wilt thou take part with the unrighteous powers of the world who oppress thy people. A law - By virtue of those unrighteous decrees which they have made.

The author of this psalm was David, as is affirmed, Heb. iv, 7. It has a special reference to the days of the Messiah; as it is understood by the apostle, Heb. iii, 7, &c. and Heb. iv, 3-9. Herein we are called upon, to praise God, as a great and gracious God, ver. 1-7. To hear God's voice, and not harden our hearts, lest we fall as the Israelites did, ver. 8-11.

3. God's - Above all that are called God's angels, earthly potentates, and especially the false gods of the Heathen.

4. Hand - Under his government. Strength - The strongest or highest mountains.

7. Pasture - Whom he feeds and keeps in his own pasture, or in the land which he hath appropriated to himself. The sheep - Which are under his special care. Today - Forthwith or presently.

8. Harden not - By obstinate unbelief. Provocation - In that bold and wicked contest with God in the wilderness. Temptation - In the day in which you tempted me.

9. Works - Both of mercy, and of justice.

10. Do err - Their hearts are insincere and bent to backsliding. Not known - After all my teaching and discoveries of myself to them; they did not know, nor consider, those great things which I had wrought for them.

11. My rest - Into the promised land, which is called the rest, Deut. xii, 9.

This psalm is a part of that which was delivered to Asaph and his brethren, 1 Chron. xvi, 7, on occasion of bringing up the ark to the city of David. Here is a call to praise God, as a great and glorious God, ver. 1-9. To rejoice in his judging all the world, ver. 10-13.

1. O sing - Upon this new and great occasion, not the removal of the ark, but the coming of the Messiah.

4. Gods - The gods of the nations, as the next verse expounds it.

6. Before him - In his presence.

9. Beauty - Cloathed with all the gifts and graces, which are necessary in God's worship.

10. Reigneth - God hath now set up his kingdom in the world. Established - The nations of the world shall by the means of it enjoy an established and lasting peace.

13. Before - At the presence and approach of their Lord and Maker. Cometh - To set up his throne among all the nations of the earth.

Christ is the Alpha and Omega in this psalm. His government speaks terror to his enemies, ver. 1-7. And comfort to his friends, whom he preserves and delivers, ver. 8-12.

1. Isles - The Gentile nations, as this word, used Isaiah xlii, 4, is expounded, Matt. xii, 21.

2. Darkness - A dark cloud doth encompass him.

6. Heavens - The angels, yea God himself from heaven.

7. Confounded - Let them be ashamed of their folly. Gods - All you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship.

8. Zion - Thy people dwelling in Zion or Jerusalem, to whom Christ came. Heard - The fame of thy judgments, and the setting up the kingdom of the Messiah.

11. Light - Joy and happiness. Sown - Is laid up for them.

This psalm sets forth the glory of the Redeemer, ver. 1-3. And the joy of the redeemed, ver. 4-9. A psalm.

2. Salvation - The redemption of the world by the Messiah: which was hitherto reserved was a secret among the Jews, yea was not throughly known by the most of the Jews themselves. Righteousness - His faithfulness in accomplishing this great promise.

Israel is required to praise God, for their hasty constitution both in church and state, ver. 1-5. Some instances of the happy administration of it, ver. 6-9.

1. People - Such as are enemies to God and his people. Sitteth - Upon the ark. He is present with his people. Earth - The people of the earth. Moved - With fear and trembling.

3. Them - All people.

4. Judgment - Though his dominion be absolute, and his power irresistible, yet he manages it with righteousness. The king's strength is by a known Hebraism put for the strong, or powerful king. Equity - In all thy proceedings.

5. Foot-stool - Before the ark, which is so called, 1 Chron. xxviii, 2. Holy - It is consecrated to be a pledge of God's presence.

6. Moses - Moses before the institution of the priesthood executed that office, Exod. xxiv, 6. That call - Who used frequently and solemnly to intercede with God on the behalf of the people.

7. Spake - To some of them: to Moses and Aaron, Exod. xix, 24; xxxiii, 9-11; 1 Sam. vii, 9, &c.

8. Them - The intercessors before mentioned. Forgavest - The people for whom they prayed, so far as not to inflict that total destruction upon them which they deserved;

An exhortation to praise God and to rejoice in him, ver. 1- 5 A psalm of praise

This psalm was composed by David between the time of God's promising the kingdom to him and his actual possession of it. The general scope of David's vow, at his entrance on his government, ver. 1, 2. The particulars of it, ver. 3-8. A psalm of David.

1. I will sing - I will praise thee, O Lord, for thy mercy and justice, which thou hast so eminently discovered in the government of the world, and of thy people; and I will make it my care to imitate thee herein.

2. I will - I will manage all my affairs with wisdom and integrity. When - God is often said in scripture to come to men, when he fulfills a promise to them. House - In my court and family, as well as in my public administrations.

4. Depart - Shall be turned out of my court. Know - Not own nor countenance.

8. Early - Speedily; as soon as I am seated in the throne.

A complaint of pressing afflictions, ver. 1-11. Motives of comfort, ver. 12-28. A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Title of the psalm. Complaint - This psalm contains a prayer for the use of all true Israelites, in the name and behalf of the church of Israel. It seems to have been composed in the time of their captivity, and near the end of it, ver. 13, 14.

3. An hearth - An hearth is heated or burnt by the coals which are laid upon it.

5. Skin - My flesh being quite consumed.

6. A pelican - Is a solitary and mournful bird.

9. Bread - The sense is, dust and ashes are as familiar to me as the eating of my bread; I cover my head with them; I sit, yea, lie down in them, as mourners often did.

10. Lifted me - As a man lifts up a thing as high as he can, that he may cast it to the ground with greater force.

12. Remembrance - Thy name, Jehovah, which is called by this very word, God's remembrance, or memorial, and that unto all generations, Exod. iii, 15.

13. The set time - The end of those seventy years which thou hast fixed.

18. This - This wonderful deliverance shall be carefully recorded by thy people.

19. Looked - From heaven.

20. To loose - To release his poor captives out of Babylon, and from the chains of sin and eternal destruction.

21. To declare - That they might publish the name and praises of God in his church.

22. When - When the Gentiles shall gather themselves to the Jews, and join with them in the worship of the true God.

23. He - God. The way - In the midst of the course of our lives. Some think the psalmist here speaks of the whole commonwealth as of one man, and of its continuance, as of the life of one man.

24. I said - Do not wholly destroy thy people Israel. In the midst - Before they come to a full possession of thy promises and especially of that fundamental promise of the Messiah. Thy years - Though we die, yet thou art the everlasting God.

26. Perish - As to their present nature and use.

28. Continue - Though the heavens and earth perish, yet we rest assured that our children, and their children after them, shall enjoy an happy restitution to, and settlement in their own land.

The psalmist stirs up himself to praise God for all his benefits, ver. 1-19. Calls upon all his works to assist him therein, ver. 20-22. A psalm of David.

5. The eagles - Which lives long in great strength and vigour.

11. So great - So much above their deserts and expectations.

14. Knoweth - The weakness and mortality of our natures, and the frailty of our condition, so that if he should let loose his hand upon us, we should be irrecoverably destroyed.

21. His hosts - A title often given to the angels, in regard of their vast numbers, mighty power, unanimous concurrence, and exquisite order. Ministers - This Hebrew word is commonly used of the highest and most honourable sort of servants,

David in the foregoing psalm praises God for his love to his people; in this, for his works of creation and providence. He gives God the glory of his majesty in the upper world, ver. 1-4. The creation of the sea and dry land, ver. 5-9. The provision he makes for all the creatures, ver. 10-18. The regular course of the sun and moon, ver. 19-24. The furniture of the sea, ver. 25, 26. God's care and sovereign power over all the creatures, ver. 27-32. Concludes with a resolution to continue praising God, ver. 33-35.

2. Light - With that first created light, which the psalmist fitly puts in the first place, as being the first of God's visible works.

3. Waters - In the waters above the heavens, as they are called, Gen. i, 7.

4. Spirits - Of a spiritual or incorporeal nature, that they might be fitter for their employments. Fire - So called for their irresistible force and agility, and fervency in the execution of God's commands.

5. Who laid - Hebrew. he hath established the earth upon its own basis, whereby it stands as fast and unmoveable, as if it were built upon the strongest foundations. Forever - As long as the world continues. God has fixt so strange a place for the earth, that being an heavy body, one would think it should fall every moment. And yet which way so ever we would imagine it to stir, it must, contrary to the nature of such a body, fall upwards, and so can have no possible ruin, but by tumbling into heaven.

6. The deep - In the first creation, Gen. i, 2, 9.

7. Rebuke - Upon thy command, Gen. i, 9. Fled - They immediately went to the place which God had allotted them.

8. Go up - In that first division of the waters from the earth, part went upwards, and became springs in the mountains, the greatest part went downwards to the channels made for them.

9. A bound - Even the sand of the sea-shore.

11. Wild asses - Stupid creatures, and yet plentifully provided for by the Divine providence.

13. The hills - Which most need moisture. From - From the clouds. Satisfied - By this means all the parts of the earth, are made fruitful. The fruit - With the effects of those sweet showers.

15. Oil - He alludes to the custom of those times and places, which was upon festival occasions to anoint their faces with oil. Bread - Which preserves or renews our strength and vigour.

16. Trees - Which come up, and thrive not by man's industry, but merely by the care of God's providence.

19. For seasons - To distinguish the times, the seasons of divers natural events, as of the ebbing and flowing of waters, and other seasons for sacred and civil affairs, which were commonly regulated by the moon.

21. Roar - They roar when they come within sight of their prey. Seek - Their roaring is a kind of natural prayer to God, for relief.

25. Creeping - This word is common to all creatures that move without feet.

26. Leviathan - The whale. Therein - Who being of such a vast strength and absolute dominion in the sea, tumbles in it with great security, and sports himself with other creatures.

20. Darkness - Which succeeds the light by virtue of thy decree.

29. Hidest - Withdrawest the care of thy providence.

30. Spirit - That quickening power of God, by which he produces life in the creatures from time to time. For he speaks not here of the first creation, but of the continued production of living creatures. Created - Other living creatures are produced; the word created being taken in its largest sense for the production of things by second causes. Renewest - And thus by thy wise and wonderful providence thou preservest the succession of living creatures.

31. Rejoice - Thus God advances the glory of his wisdom and power and goodness, in upholding the works of his hands from generation to generation, and he takes pleasure in the preservation of his works, as also in his reflection upon these works of his providence.

32. He looketh - This is a farther illustration of God's powerful providence: as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so on the contrary, one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth, makes them tremble and smoke, as Sinai did when God appeared in it.

35. Praise ye the Lord - Hebrew. Hallelujah. This is the first time that this word occurs. And it comes in here on occasion of the destruction of the wicked. And the last time it occurs, Rev. xix, 1, 3, 4, 6, it is on a like occasion, the destruction of Babylon.