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النشر الإلكتروني

The head-stone]

PSALMS. tress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate

me.

8. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doth valiantly.

PSALM CXVIII.

[rejected.

17 I shall not die, but live; and declare the works of the LORD.

18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

19 Open to me the gates of righ teousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD, we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

EXPOSITION.

(X) Praise to God, especially for the salvation by Messiah.-In this psalm, which

is universally attributed to David, Bishop Horne remarks" A king of Israel appears leading his people in solemn proces

NOTES-Psalm CXVIII. Con.

Ver. 10, 11, 12. Destroy them-Heb. "I cut them off." Both Ainsworth and Bp. Horne render these words in the past ("I cut," or "I did cut.") So LXX, Vulgate, and Jerom.

Ver. 12. Quenched-LXX and Chal. "kindled." Ainsworth says, the Hebrew means both. The fact is, thorns are no sooner kindled into a blaze than they are extinct.

Ver. 13. Thou hast thrust. — Dr. Boothroyd, following the Arabic, reads, "They have thrust, to agree with the verse preceding: but Bp. Horsley, following the LXX, Vulgate, &c. reads, "I received a strong push," or thrust.

Ver. 20. This gate-Bp. Horne, "This (is) the gate" referring to the gate of the tabernacle, or temple.

Ver. 22. The stone.-Whether or not this stone had any reference to David himself, as chosen by God, but rejected by many of the people, we are sure that it reiers chiefly and ultimately to the Messiah,

to whom it is specially applied, both by the evangelists and aposties. Matt. xxi. 42; Mark xii. 10; Luke xx. 17; Acts iv. 11; 1 Peter ii. 4.

Ibid. The head stone of the corner-That is, not the top stone, but the chief stone of the foundation, answering to what we call the first stone. See Ephs. 11. 20. 21; 1 Peter ii. 4, 5.

Ver. 23. This is the Lord's doing-Heb. “This is from the Lord.”

Ver. 24. The day.... made. To make (or do) a day, is to appoint, or consecrate it. See Leb. of Exod. xxxiv. 22; Deut. v. 15.—xv. I.

Ver. 25. Save now, I beseech -Heb. Hoshiah-no, or Hosanna. Matt. xxi. 9, 15.

Ver. 26. Elessed be he.-Matt. xvi. 9; Luke xix. 38. Ver. 27. Bind the sacrifice-Heb. The feast (offerings) with cords:" but the word rendered cords is sometimes used for thick branches, Levit xxiii. 40, and may therefore refer to keeping the feast of tabernacles.

2

PSALMS.

The blessings] 29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever. (X)

PSALM CXIX.

ALEPH.

BLESSED are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

50 that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

BETH.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I

[of obedience

sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

GIMEL.

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

EXPOSITION.

sion to the temple (or tabernacle,) there to offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for a marvellous deliverance from bis enemies, and a glorious victory gained over them. After inviting the whole nation to join with him upon this joyful occasion, he describes at large his (previous) danger and his deliverance from it, which latter is wholly attributed to the power and goodness of Jehovah. After this, as Mr. Mudge has rightly observed, there ensues (if the whole he not such from the beginning,) a kind of sacred dialogue," which much resembles that in the latter part of the twenty-fourth Psalm, to which our readers may refer. Ver. 19. he demands of the priests, "Open to me the gates of righ

teousness," meaning the entrance to the sanctuary, “I will go into them, and praise the Lord." The verses following were probably sung alternately by the king with his retinue, and the priests and levites.

The repeated application of the twentysecond verse to our Saviour Christ, leaves no doubt of its meaning or design. He is the grent foundation-stone of the Christian church. "the head of the corner." The day of his resurrection was the most joyful that the Lord ever made; and the hosannah of the priests, in ver. 25. was literally adopted and addressed to our Lord Jesus by children in the temple. (Luke xix. 38.)

NOTES.

PSALM CXIX. ALEPH-BETH. The meaning is, that the first eight verses in the Hebrew, begin with sleph, answering to our A, the next eight with beth, or B, and so on.

Ver. 1. Undefiled-Marg. " Perfect, or sincere." Ver. 2. Do no iniquity — LXX “Work not ini quity." So Ainsworth, and see 1 John iii. 6-10.

Ver. 18. Open thou mine eyes-Heb. "Reveal." or rather, uncover, unveil. St. Paul speaks of some who had still "the veil upon their hearts," or understandings. David prays, that from him this ve might be removed.

Ver. 24. My counsellors-Heb. “The men of m

counsel."

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24 Thy testimonies also are my de- the end. light, and my counsellors. (Y)

DALETH.

25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

29 Remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

PSALM CXIX.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good,

40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts quicken me in thy righ

teousness.

VAU.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 So shall I have wherewith to

EXPOSITION.

(Y) Ver. 1-24. The blessedness of obedience to the word of God.-"This psalm (says Bp. Horne,) is divided (most probably for the advantage of memory,) according to the number of letters which compose the Hebrew alphabet, into twenty-two portions, of eight verses each; and not only every portion, but every verse of that portion begins with the letter appropriated to it. David must, undoubtedly, have been the author. He describeth, in a series of devotional meditations, the instruction and the comfort which, through all vicissitudes of mind and fortune, he had ever found in the word of God. The many strong expressions of love towards the law, and the repeated resolutions aud vows to observe it, will often force us to turn our thoughts to the true David, whose "meat and drink it was, to do the will of him that sent him."

As the psalm is very long, we shall divide it into several portions, with a brief expository hint on each. Mr. Heary re

marks, that there are ten different words by which divine revelation is here distinguished, namely, God's law, his way, his testimonies, his commandments, his precepts, his word, his judgments, his righteousness, his statutes, and his truth or faithfulness: we are not to suppose, however, that they are always used with distinct meanings, being often interchanged to prevent perpetual repetition.

Our younger readers should particularly remark, that attention to God's word is the best guard against temptation: the surest antidote against youthful sins is the treasure of the scripture: "His word is a treasure," says Mr. Henry, "worth laying up; and there is no way of laying it up safe, but in our hearts." There deposited, it will fortify the mind against all the troubles of life, support us under all discouragements, and direct us in all circumstances of difficulty. He is sure to be well advised that makes the scriptures "the man of his counsel."

NOTES-Psalm CXIX. Con.

Ver. 28. Melleth (Heb. "droppeth") for heavi ness.-Grief melted him in to tears.

Ver. 31. I have stuck-That is, adhered to, &c. Ver.35. Make me to go-Bp. Horne," Conduct me."

Ver. 42. So shall I have-Marg. "So shall I answer him that reproacheth me in a thing," or, any matter." See Ainsworth.

Comfort of]

PSALMS.

[the promises. answer him that reproacheth me; for me, because of the wicked that forsake

I trust in thy word.

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thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts. (Z)

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59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy teach me thy statutes.

TETH.

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy

EXPOSITION.

(Z) Ver. 25-50. Prayer for divine instruction and direction.-Our souls naturally cleave to the dust. It is alone by the influence of God's Spirit, and by the instrumentality of his word, that they can be quickened. And when quickened to newness of life, it is still the same word that must be our guide, our consolation, our support. "Remember thy word unto thy servant on which thou hast caused me to hope." And when the word of God becomes the ground of our hope, it will become the subject of our conversation, and

the theme of our rejoicing. We shall neither be ashamed nor afraid, to avow ourselves believers in divine truth David resolves to bear testimony in favour of the God of Israel "before kings," when assembled on affairs of state: and when travelling among strangers, in "the house of his pilgrimage," that neither his voice nor his harp should be prostituted to idol worship, however popular; but the word and truth of God should form "his theme, his inspiration, and his song."

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Longing for]

PSALMS. servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word.

68 Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

JOD.

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

[salvation. 77 Let thy tender inercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause but I will meditate in thy precepts.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

САРН.

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. (A)

EXPOSITION-Psalm CXIX. Continued.

(A) Ver. 57-88. The advantages of afflic tion and the value of God's word.-The psalmist complains of having been plundered by banditti, and by others reproached and slandered. Even in this, however, he finds both advantage and consolation. He finds it good for him that he had "been afflicted:" for, before his affliction, he had gone

astray:" but "now," says he, "have I kept thy word;" and that word, from the instruction and consolation which it administered, had become to him " more

precious than thousands of gold and silver."
"In the school of affliction, (says Dr. Booth-
royd,) sin is brought to remembrance, re-
pentance promoted, the judgment inform-
ed, the heart improved, the spirit of prayer
strengthened, and the principles of new
and holy obedience established."

"I love thee, therefore, O my God,
And breathe toward thy dear abode;
Where, in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest.”

NOTES-Psalm CXIX. Con.

Ver. 66, Good judgment—Heb. “Taste," or savour. It is applied both to bodily and mental taste, and in the title of Ps. xxxiv. is rendered behaviour. See Ainsworth and Horne.

Ver. 70. Fat as grease-Ainsworth, “As gross as fat;" Boothroyd, " Void of feeling," which is rather the interpretation.

Ver. 75. Right-Heb. "righteousness."
Ver. 80. Sound-Heb. “ Perfect," sincere; ver. 1.

Conper.

Ver. 82. Mine eyes fail-That is, are wearied (or worn) with waiting for its fulfilment See Ps. Ixix. 3. Ver. 83. Like a bottle-That is, a bottle of skin, which is dried and shrivelled. So the psalmist's body, by disease and age: "How many are the days of thy servant!"

Ver. 85. Not after thy lan-That is, contrary to thy law. See Exod. xx1.33; Ps. xxxv. 7. Ver. 86. Faithful Heb. Faithfulness."

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