Explanatory Notes upon the Old and New Testaments

In the former psalm we praise God for his common providence; in this, for his special favours to his church. The first eleven verses of it David delivered to Asaph, (1 Chron. xvi, 7, &c.) to be used in the daily service of the sanctuary. Here is the preface, ver. 1-7. The history itself in several articles: God's covenant with the patriarchs, ver. 8-11. His care of them in a strange land, ver. 12-15. His raising up Joseph, ver. 16-22. The increase of Israel in Egypt, and their deliverance out of it, ver. 23- 38. His care of them in the wilderness, and their settlement in Canaan, ver. 39-45.

3. Glory - Glory in the God whom you serve, as the only true God.

4. Seek - The Lord in his strength, in his sanctuary, or before the ark, which is called God's strength. Face - His gracious presence.

5. Judgments - The punishments which he brought upon Egypt by his mere word.

6. Of Jacob - The only branch of Abraham's seed to whom the following blessings belong.

7. Judgments - God executes his judgments upon all nations and people.

8. Remembered - So as to perform it. The word - The promise. Commanded - Established. Thousand generations - To all generations.

9. Oath - Wherewith he ratified the covenant with Isaac, Gen. xxvi, 3.

10. A law - That it might be as firm and irrevocable as a law.

11. Lot - The portion assigned to you by lot.

13. They went - Both in Canaan, where there were seven nations, and in Egypt.

15. Anointed - My prophets, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; who are called God's anointed, because they were consecrated to be his peculiar people, and to be kings and princes in their families. And they are called prophets, because God familiarly conversed with them and revealed his will to them, and by them to others.

16. Staff of bread - Bread, which is the staff or support of our lives.

19. His word - That word or Revelation which came first to Pharaoh in a dream, and then to Joseph concerning the interpretation of it. Purged - From those calamities which were cast upon him, and so prepared the way for his release.

23. Ham - Ham was the father of Mizraim, or the Egyptians, Gen. x, 6.

25. Turned - That is, suffered them, to be turned.

28. They - Moses and Aaron, who inflicted that plague after Pharaoh had threatened them.

30. Land - Their country. In chambers - Which entered into the chambers. Kings - Of Pharaoh and his sons, and his chief nobles and governors.

31. Coasts - In all their land, even to the utmost borders of it.

37. Feeble - Diseased or unable for his journey: which in so vast a body, and in a people who had been so dreadfully oppressed, was wonderful.

39. Covering - To protect them from the heat of the sun.

40. Quails - He speaks of the first giving of quails, Exod. xvi, 13, which God gave them as a refreshment, notwithstanding their sin in desiring them, which he graciously pardoned. Bread - With manna which came out of the air, commonly called heaven.

41. River - They flowed in channels which God provided for them, and followed the Israelites in their march.

44. labour - The fruits of their labour; their cities, vineyards, olive-yards.

The foregoing psalm was an history of God's goodness to Israel; this is an history of their rebellion: against him; probably both were wrote by David at the same time, as we find the first verse and the two last in that psalm, which he delivered to Asaph, 1 Chron. xvi, 35, &c. Herein we have the preface, ver. 1-5. The narrative of all of the sins of Israel, aggravated by the great things God did for them; their provocations at the Red-sea, ver. 6-12. Lusting, ver. 13-15. Mutinying, ver. 16-18. Worshiping the golden calf, ver. 19-23. Murmuring, ver. 24-27. Worshiping Baal- peor, ver. 28-31. Quarreling with Moses, ver, 32, 33. Mixing with the nations of Canaan, ver. 34-39. God rebuked them, yet saved them from ruin, ver. 40-46. The conclusion, ver. 47, 48. It begins and ends with Hallelujah.

4. Me - He speaks here in the name, and on the behalf of the whole nation. With-With those favours which thou dost usually and peculiarly give to thy people.

5. See - Enjoy. Chosen - Of thy chosen people; such as are Israelites indeed. Gladness - Such joy as thou hast formerly afforded unto thy beloved nation. Glory - That we may have occasion to glory in God's goodness towards us. Inheritance - In the congregation of thy people.

6. Glory - As our fathers did.

7. At the sea - When those wonders were but newly done, and fresh in memory.

8. Saved them - That he may vindicate his name from the blasphemous reproaches, which would have been cast upon it, if they had been destroyed.

9. Led them - As securely as if they had walked upon the dry land.

13. Soon - Even within three days, Exod. xv, 22, 23. Waited not - They did not wait patiently upon God for supplies, in such manner and time as he thought fit.

14. Lusted - For flesh.

15. Souls - Into their bodies. So their inordinate desire of pampering their bodies, was the occasion of destroying them.

16. The saint - So called, because he was consecrated by God for that sacred office of the priesthood, in which respect all the priests are said to be holy, Lev. xxi, 6-8. Hereby he intimates, that their envy and rebellion was not only against Aaron, but against God himself.

19. A calf - When they were but just brought out of Egypt by such wonders, and had seen the plagues of God upon the Egyptian idolaters, and when the law of God was but newly delivered to them in such a tremendous manner.

20. Their glory - God, who was indeed their glory. Into - Into the golden image of an ox or calf, which is so far from feeding his people, as the true God did the Israelites, that he must be fed by them.

23. Breach - God had made a wall about them; but they had made a breach in it by their sins, at which the Lord, who was now justly become their enemy, might enter to destroy them; which he had certainly done, if Moses by his prevailing intercession had not hindered him.

24. Despised - Preferring Egypt, and their former bondage, before it, Num. xiv, 3, 4.

25. The voice - To God's command, that they should boldly enter into it.

26. Lifted up - He swear. Of this dreadful and irrevocable oath of God, see Num. xiv, 11, 12.

27. Overthrow - He swear also (tho' not at the same time) that he would punish their sins, not only in their persons, but in their posterity.

28. Joined - They had communion with him, as God's people have with God in acts of his worship.

31. And - It was accepted and rewarded of God as an act of justice and piety.

37. Devils - They did not worship God as they pretended, but devils in their idols; for those spirits, which were supposed by the Heathen idolaters to inhabit in their images, were not good spirits, but evil spirits, or devils.

43. Counsel - By forsaking God's way, and following their own inventions.

45. Repented - Changed his course and dealing with them.

The psalmist here observes God's providential care of the children of men in general, and shews how he helps those that are in any distress, in answer to their prayers. He instances in banishment and dispersion, ver. 1-9. Captivity and imprisonment, ver. 10-16. Sickness, ver. 17-22. Distress at sea, ver. 23-32. The disposal of families and nations, ver. 33-13

3. Gathered - Into their own land.

4. No city - Or rather, no town inhabited, where they might refresh themselves.

6. The Lord - Hebrew. Unto Jehovah, to the true God. For the Heathens had, many of them, some knowledge of the true God.

7. Forth - Out of the wilderness.

10. Darkness - In dark prisons or dungeons.

12. Heart - The pride and obstinacy of their hearts. Fell - They fell into hopeless miseries.

17. Afflicted - With sickness.

20. Word - His command, or blessing.

32. Exalt him - In public assemblies, and before all persons, as they have opportunity. Elders - The magistrates or rulers; let them not be ashamed nor afraid to speak of God's wonderful works, before the greatest of men.

33. Rivers - Those grounds which are well watered, and therefore fruitful. And so the water-springs, here, and the standing water, ver. 35 are taken. Into - Into a dry ground, which is like a parched and barren wilderness.

34. For - He doth not inflict these judgments without cause, but for the punishment of sin in some, and the prevention of it in others.

35. Water - Into a well-watered and fruitful land.

36. Hungry - Poor people who could not provide for themselves.

39. They - These men, who when they are exalted by God, grow insolent and secure. Low - By God's just judgment.

40. Contempt - Renders them despicable. Wander - Banishes them from their own courts and kingdoms, and forces them to flee into desolate wildernesses for shelter.

The five first verses of this psalm are taken out of psalm 57, the rest out of psalm 60. David thanks God for personal mercies, ver. 1-5. Prays for national mercies, ver. 6-13. A song or psalm of David.

1. Glory - With my tongue.

David complains of his enemies and appeals to God, ver. 1-5. Foretells their destruction, ver. 6-20. Prays that God would succor him in his low condition, ver. 21-29. Concludes with a joyful hope of deliverance, ver. 30, 31 To the chief musician, A psalm of David.

1. God - The author and matter of all my praises.

4. Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained ver. 5.

6. A wicked man - Who will rule him with rigor and cruelty. Satan - To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts.

7. Sin - Because it is not from his heart.

10. Desolate places - Into which they are fled for fear and shame.

11. Catch - Hebrew. ensnare, take away not only by oppression but also by cunning artificers. Stranger - Who hath no right to his goods.

17. Delighted not - In desiring and promoting the welfare of others.

18. Garment - Which a man wears constantly. Like water - Water in the cavity of the belly, between the bowels, is almost certain death. And oil soaking into any of the bones, will soon utterly destroy it.

20. That speak evil against my soul - With design to take away my life.

21. Is good - Above the mercy of all the creatures.

23. When - Towards the evening, when the sun is setting. The locust - Which is easily driven away with every wind.

That this psalm belongs to the Messiah, is abundantly evident both from the express testimony of the New Testament, Acts ii, 34; 1 Cor. xv, 25 Heb. i, 13; x, 13. and from the consent of the ancient Hebrew doctors. Of him, it is directly and immediately to be understood; the spirit of God wisely so ordering this matter, that it might be a convincing testimony against the unbelieving Jews, concerning the true Messiah, and concerning the nature and quality of his kingdom. His prophetic office, ver. 2. His priestly office, ver. 4, His kingly office, ver. 1, 3, 5, 6. His states of humiliation and exaltation, ver. 7. A psalm of David.

1. The Lord - God the father. Said - Decreed it from eternity, and in due time published this decree, and actually executed it; which he did when he raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion. Unto - Unto his son the Messiah, whom David designedly calls his Lord, to admonish the whole church, that although he was his son according to his human nature, yet he had an higher nature, and was also his Lord, as being God blessed forever, and consequently Lord of all things. The Hebrew word Adon is one of God's titles, signifying his power and authority over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messiah, to whom God hath delegated all his power Matt. xxviii, 18. Sit - Now take thy rest and the possession of that sovereign kingdom and glory, which by right belongeth to thee; do thou rule with me with equal power and majesty, as thou art God; and with an authority and honour far above all creatures, as thou art man. Make - By my almighty power communicated to thee as God by eternal generation, and vouchsafed to thee as mediator. Enemies - All ungodly men, sin and death, and the devil. Footstool - Thy slaves and vassals.

2. The rod - Thy strong or powerful rod, and the rod is put for his scepter, or kingly power: but as the kingdom of Christ is not carnal, but spiritual, so this scepter is nothing else but his word. Zion - From Jerusalem.

3. People - Thy subjects, shall offer thee as their king and Lord, not oxen or sheep, but themselves, their souls and bodies, as living sacrifices, and as freewill-offerings, giving up themselves to the Lord, 2Cor viii, 5, to live to him, and to die for him. The day - When thou shalt take into thy hands the rod of thy strength, and set up thy kingdom in the world. In the beauties - Adorned with the beautiful and glorious robes of righteousness and true holiness. The dew - That is, thy offspring (the members of the Christian church) shall be more numerous than the drops of the morning dew.

4. Sworn - That this priesthood might be made sure and irrevocable.

5. The Lord - God the son; the Lord, who is at thy right-hand. Strike - Shall destroy all those kings who are obstinate enemies to him.

6. Judge - Condemn and punish them. The places - Or, the place of battle. Dead bodies - Of his enemies. Heads - All those princes who oppose him. But this and the like passages are not to be understood grossly, but spiritually, according to the nature of Christ's kingdom.

7. Drink - He shall have a large portion of afflictions, while he is in the way or course of his life, before he comes to that honour of sitting at his father's right-hand. Waters in scripture frequently signify sufferings. To drink of them, signifies to feel or bear them. Therefore - He shall be exalted to great glory and felicity.

This and several of the following psalms seem to have been wrote for the service of the church in their solemn feasts. It is composed alphabetically, each sentence beginning with a several letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalmist here praises God for his works, ver. 1-9. Recommends the fear of God, ver. 10.

2. Sought - Diligently meditated upon.

3. Work - Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people. Righteousness - His justice or faithfulness in performing his word.

4. Remembered - By their own nature, and the lasting benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten.

5. Meat - All necessary provisions for their being and well-being.

7. The works - All that he doth on the behalf of his people, or against their enemies. Truth - Are exactly agreeable to his promises, and to justice. Commandments - His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law. Sure - Constant and unchangeable.

8. Done - Constituted or ordered.

9. Redemption - The deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type of that higher redemption by Christ. Commanded - Appointed, or established firmly by his power and authority. For ever - Through all successive generations of his people to the end of the world. Reverend - Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his peoples eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.

10. The fear - True religion. Beginning - Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom.

This also is an alphabetical psalm. We have here the character and blessedness of the righteous, ver. 1-9. The iniquity of the wicked, ver. 10.

2. Generation - The posterity.

3. Righteousness - The fruit or reward of his righteousness, which is God's blessing upon his estate.

4. Darkness - In the troubles and calamities of life. He - The upright man.

5. Lendeth - Gives freely to some, and lends to others according to the variety of their conditions. Affairs - His domestick affairs. Discretion - Not getting his estate unjustly, nor casting it away prodigally, nor yet withholding it from such as need it.

6. Moved - Though he may for a season be afflicted, yet he shall not be eternally destroyed.

7. Evil tidings - At the report of approaching calamities.

9. Dispersed - His goods, freely and liberally. Righteousness - His liberality, or the reward of it. Ever - What he gives is not lost, but indeed is the only part of his estate, which will abide with him to all eternity.

10. The desire - Either of the misery of good men; or of his own constant prosperity.

We are here exhorted to praise God, ver. 1-3. Particularly for his glory and greatness, ver. 4, 5 And for his grace and goodness, ver. 6-9.

6. Humbleth - Who is so high, that it is a wonderful condescention in him to take any notice of his heavenly host, and much more of sinful and miserable men upon earth.

8. Princes - As he did Joseph, David, and others. His people - Who in God's account are far more honourable than the princes of Heathen nations.

This and the four following psalms, the Jews were wont to sing at the close of the paschal supper. It is a solemn commemoration of God's delivering Israel, giving them the law, and water out of the rock, ver. 1-8.

2. Judah - Or Israel, one tribe being put for all. Judah he mentions as the chief of all the tribes.

4. The mountains - Horeb and Sinai, two tops of one mountain, and other neighbouring mountains.

7. Tremble - The mountains did more than what was fit at the appearance of the great God.

We are to give glory to God, not to ourselves or idols, ver. 1-8. By trusting in his promise and blessing, ver. 9-15. And by praising him, ver. 16-18.

8. Are like them - As void of all sense or reason as their images.

9. Their - Who trust in him.

10. Aaron - You priests and Levites.

11. Ye that fear - All of you who worship the true God, not only Israelites, but even Gentile proselytes.

12. Mindful - In our former straits, and therefore we trust he will still bless us.

13. Both small - Of whatsoever quality, high and low, rich and poor.

16. The Lord's - In a peculiar manner, where he dwelleth in that light and glory, to which no man can approach. Given - As the foregoing verse declares, that God was the creator of heaven and earth, so this asserts that he is also their Lord and governor to dispose of all men and things as he pleases.

17. Silence - Into the place of silence, the grave.

This psalm is a solemn thanksgiving to God. Wherein the psalmist professes his love to God, for delivering him out of great straits and dangers, ver. 1-8. Prays for his future protection, and promises to praise him, and to walk holy before him, 9-19.

3. The sorrows - Dangerous and deadly calamities. Pains - Such agonies and horrors, as dying persons use to feel.

7. Rest - Unto a chearful confidence in God.

The form of this psalm seems to be dramatical, and several parts of it are spoken in the name of several persons; as it is in the book of the Song of Solomon, and in one part of Ecclesiastes. David speaks in his own name from the beginning to ver. 22, from thence to ver. 25, in the name of the people; and thence to ver. 28, in the name of the priests; and then concludes in his own name. He calls upon all about him to praise God, ver. 1-4. Encourages himself and others to trust in God, from the experience he had had of his power and mercy, ver. 5-18. He gives thanks for his advancement to the throne, as it was a figure of the exaltation of Christ, ver. 19-23. The people, the priests, and the psalmist himself triumph in the prospect of the Redeemer's kingdom, ver. 24-29.

10. Nations - The neighbouring nations, Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, who were stirred up, by the overthrows which David had given some of them, by their jealousy at his growing greatness, and by their hatred against the true religion.

11. Yea - The repetition implies their frequency and fervency in this action.

12. Bees - ln great numbers. Thorns - Which burns fiercely, but quickly spends itself.

13. Thou - O mine enemy. The singular word is here put collectively for all his enemies.

14. Salvation - My saviour.

15. Doth valiantly - These are the words of that song of praise now mentioned.

16. Exalted - Hath appeared evidently, and wrought powerfully and gloriously.

19. Open - O ye porters, appointed by God for this work. The gates - Of the Lord's tabernacle: where the rule of righteousness was kept and taught, and the sacrifices of righteousness were offered.

20. The righteous - As David was a type of Christ and the temple of heaven, so this place hath a farther prospect than David, and relates to Christ's ascending into heaven, and opening the gates of that blessed temple, both for himself and for all believers.

22. The builders - The commonwealth of Israel and the church of God are here and elsewhere compared to a building, wherein, as the people are the stones, so the princes and rulers are the builders. And as these master-builders rejected David, so their successors rejected Christ. Head stone - The chief stone in the whole building, by which the several parts of the building are upheld and firmly united together. Thus David united all the tribes and families of Israel: and thus Christ united Jews and Gentiles together. And therefore this place is justly expounded of Christ, Mark xii, 10 Acts iv, 11 Rom. ix, 32 Eph. ii, 20. And to him the words agree more properly than to David.

24. Made - Or sanctified as a season never to be forgotten.

25. We - These seem to be the words of the Levites, to whom he spake ver. 19.

26. Blessed - We pray that God would bless his person and government. Cometh - To the throne; or from his Father into the world: who is known by the name of him that cometh or was to come, and of whom this very word is used, Gen. xlix, 10 Isaiah xxxv, 4. Name - By commission from him. We - We who are the Lord's ministers attending upon him in his house, and appointed to bless in his name, Num. vi, 23 Deut. x, 8. So these are the words of the priests.

27. The Lord - Or, The mighty God, as this name of God signifies, and as he shewed himself to be by this, his wonderful work. Who - Who hath scattered our dark clouds, and put us into a state of peace, and safety, and happiness. The horns - These are supposed to be made for this very use, that the beasts should be bound and killed there. These three last verses are David's words.

Because this psalm was very large, and the matter of it of the greatest importance, the psalmist thought fit to divide it into two and twenty several parts, according to the number of the Hebrew letters, that he might both prevent tediousness, and fix it in the memory. Each part consists of eight verses. All the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on. It is observable, that the word of God is here called by the names of law, statutes, precepts or commandments, judgments, ordinances, righteousness, testimonies, way and word. By which variety, he designed to express the nature and perfection of God's word. It is called his word, as revealed by him to us; his way, as prescribed by him for us to walk in; his law, as binding us to obedience; his statutes, as declaring his authority of giving us laws; his precepts as directing our duty; his ordinances, as ordained by him; his righteousness, as exactly agreeable to God's righteous nature and will; his judgments, as proceeding from the great judge of the world, and being his judicial sentence to which all men must submit; and his testimonies, as it contains the witness of God's will, and of man's duty. And there is but one of these one hundred and seventy six verses, in which one or other of these titles is not found. The general scope and design of this psalm is, to magnify the law and make it honourable: to shew the excellency and usefulness of divine Revelation, and recommend it to us, by the psalmist's own example, who speaks by experience of the benefits of it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays for the continuance of God's grace, to direct and quicken him in his way.

6. Respect - A due respect, which implies hearty affection, diligent study, and constant practice. To all - So as not to allow myself in any known sin, or in the neglect of any known duty.

7. When - When by thy good spirit I shall he more fitly instructed in the meaning of thy word.

8. Forsake me not - For then I shall fall into the foulest sins.

9. A young man - Or, any man. But he names the young man, because such are commonly void of wisdom and experience, and exposed to many and great temptations. Cleanse - Purge himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.

11. Hid - I have laid it up in my mind like a choice treasure, to be ready upon all occasions to counsel, quicken or caution me.

17. Live - Safely and comfortably.

18. Open - Enlighten my mind by the light of thy Holy Spirit, and dispel all ignorance and error. Behold - Those great and marvelous depths of Divine wisdom and goodness, and those profound mysteries of Christ, and God's grace to mankind, and of that everlasting state, which are not to be known but by Divine illumination.

19. A stranger - I am not here as in my home, but as a pilgrim travelling homeward in a strange land. Commandments - Which are my chief support and guide in my pilgrimage.

20. Breaketh - Faints, as it frequently does, when a thing vehemently desired is delayed. Judgments - To a more sound knowledge and serious practice of them.

21. The proud - Obstinate and presumptuous sinners, who sin with an high hand. Err - Or, wander, knowingly or wilfully.

25. The dust - I am in danger of present death: I am like one laid in the grave. Quicken - Preserve my life, or raise me out of the dust. Word - According to thy promise.

26. My ways - My sins; and all my cares, and fears, and troubles.

27. Understand - More throughly.

28. Melteth - Like wax before the fire.

29. Grant me - Vouchsafe me an accurate knowledge of thy word, and let me govern myself by it in all things.

30. Laid - Or, set before me as a mark to aim at; as a rule to direct me.

32. Run - I will obey thy precepts with all readiness, fervency, and diligence. Enlarge - When thou shalt replenish my heart with wisdom, and love to thee and thy law.

36. Covetousness - He mentions this in particular, because it is most opposite to God's testimonies, and does most commonly hinder men from receiving his word, and from profiting by it: and because it is most pernicious, as being the root of all evil.

37. Vanity - The vain things of this present world, such as riches, honours, pleasures: from beholding them, with desire or affection. Quicken - Make me lively, vigourous and fervent in thy service.

38. Stablish - Confirm and perform thy promises.

39. I fear - For my instability in thy ways; which in respect to my own weakness, I have great cause to fear.

40. Longed - After a more solid knowledge and constant performance of them. In - According to thy faithfulness.

43. Take not - Do not deal so with me, that I shall be ashamed to mention thy word. Judgments - In thy word.

45. At liberty - Enjoy great freedom and comfort in thy ways.

48. Lift up - To receive and embrace thy precepts and promises.

49. Thy word - Thy promises.

52. Judgments - Thy ancient dispensations to the children of men in punishing the ungodly.

53. Horror - A mixed passion, made up of abhorrence of their sins, and dread and sorrow at the consideration of the judgments of God coming upon them.

54. The house - In this world, wherein I am a stranger and pilgrim, as all my fathers were.

55. Thy name - Thy holy nature and attributes, thy blessed word, and thy wonderful works. In the night - When darkness causes fear in others, I took pleasure in remembering thee; and when others gave themselves up to sleep, my thoughts and affections were working towards thee.

56. This - This comfortable remembrance.

57. Said - I have professed and owned it.

59. Thought - I seriously considered both my former courses, and my duty in all my future actions.

61. Robbed - Done me many injuries, for my respect to thy law.

66. Judgment - Whereby I may rightly discern between truth and falsehood. Knowledge - A spiritual experimental knowledge.

70. Fat - They are stupid and insensible.

74. Glad - For the encouragement they have by my example to trust in God. See me - Alive and in safety. Word - In thy promise, and have not been disappointed of my hope.

75. Judgments - Thy corrections. Of faithfulness - In pursuance of thy promises, and in order to my good.

79. Known - Loved and practiced them.

80. Sound - That I may love and obey them sincerely, constantly, and universally.

81. Fainteth - With long desire and earnest expectation.

83. Bottle - A leathern bottle. My natural moisture is dryed and burnt up.

84. The days - The days of my life. I have but a little while to live; give me some respite before I die.

85. Who - Who have no respect to thy law.

86. Faithful - Just and true.

89. In heaven - With thee in thy heavenly habitation.

91. They - The heaven and the earth. Ordinances - As thou hast appointed. For - All things are subject to thy power and pleasure.

96. Perfection - Of the greatest and most perfect enjoyments in this world. Commandment - Thy word; one part of it being put for the whole. Broad - Or, large, both for extent, and for continuance: it is useful to all persons: it is of everlasting truth and efficacy; it will never deceive those who trust to it, as all worldly things will, but will make men happy both here and forever.

100. Because - The practice of religion is the best way to understand it.

102. Taught me - By thy blessed spirit, illuminating my mind, and working upon my heart.

108. Offerings - The sacrifices of prayer and praise.

109. Is - Exposed to perpetual danger.

118. Deceit - Their deceitful devices, shall bring that destruction upon themselves which they design for others.

121. Judgment, &c. - Just judgment.

122. Surety - Do thou undertake and plead my cause.

123. The word - For the performance of thy faithful or merciful promise.

126. To work - To put forth thy power for the restraint of evil- doers. They - The wicked. Made void - Or, abrogated thy law, have openly cast off its authority.

127. Therefore - Because the general apostacy of others makes this duty more necessary.

129. Wonderful - In regard of the deep mysteries, the most excellent directions, and the exceeding great and precious promises of God contained in them.

131. Panted - I thirst after thy precepts, and pursue them eagerly.

133. Steps - My motions and actions.

136. Rivers - Plentiful tears, witness of my deep sorrow for God's dishonour, and for the miseries which sinners bring upon themselves.

140. Pure - Without the least mixture of falsehood.

142. Everlasting - The same in all ages and places.

143. Trouble - Outward troubles and anguish of spirit.

148. Watches - The middle watch, which was set in the middle of the night; and the morning watch, which was set some hours before the dawning of the day.

149. Judgment - According to thy word.

150. Nigh - To me, they are at hand and ready to seize upon me. Are far - They cast away from them all thoughts of thy law.

152. Of old - By long experience. Founded - Thou hast established them upon everlasting foundations.

160. The beginning - From the beginning of the world.

161. But - But I feared thine offense and displeasure more than their wrath.

164. Seven times - Many times; a certain number being put for an uncertain.

165. Offend - Hebrew. they shall have no stumbling-block, at which they shall stumble and fall into mischief.

175. Judgments - Thy word or testimonies, which are the only ground of my hope in thy help.