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النشر الإلكتروني

Confidence]

PSALMS.

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[in God. upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (L)

EXPOSITION.

(K) A Prayer for deliverance from atheistical and cruel enemies.-This psalm having no title, it is in vain to guess at either its author or occasion. Bishop Horsley calls it "a supplication in behalf of certain helpless people cruelly persecuted by a powerful enemy; who, renouncing all fear of God and regard of men, uses both force and deceit as means of oppression." The heathen formerly, as well as at present, were divisible into two classes; the one extremely ignorant and superstitious-the other more enlightened, as to general knowledge, but atheistical and profane. Persecutors may be found in both classes; the one jealous for their favourite superstition-the other rejecting superstition, and with it all religious worship; the true God as well as idols. The Lord Jehovah is, however, the universal sovereign. He will punish impenitent sinners of every class. At the same time, he hears the desire of the humble, before that desire is expressed in words; and will never fail to answer the prayer which his spirit teaches them to offer.

God will "prepare their hearts to pray,
And cause his ear to hear;
He bearkens what his children say,
And puts the world in fear."

PSALM XI.

Watts.

(L) A Psalm of David, expressive of his confidence in God.-Whether this was writ

ten during Saul's persecution of him, when some advised him to seek his safety in flight; or during the rebellion of Absalom, when the foundations of the kingdom appeared to be subverted (as intimated ver. 3.) we cannot ascertain. But it was certainly during a time of great danger and alarm; when the fate of his kingdom seemed very precarious, and when his friends seemed utterly in despair. David, however, strengthened himself in the Lord his God, and trusted in him for support and deliverance.

"As the choicest of heavenly blessings, (says Bishop Horne) are frequently in scripture represented by the salutary effects of wine, a cup of which the master of the family is supposed to hold in his hand, ready to distribute due portions of it to those around him; so, from the noxious and intoxicating qualities of that liquor, when drunk strong, and in too large a quantity, is borrowed a most tremendous image of the wrath and indignation of Almighty God. Calamity and sorrow, fear and trembling, infatuation and despair, the evils of the present life, and of that which is to come, are the bitter ingredients which compose this most horrible cup of mixture. It is entirely in the hand and disposal of God, who, through every age, has been pouring out its contents, more or less, in proportion to the sins of men. But much of the strength and power of the liquor still remains behind, until the day

NOTES.

PSALM XI. Ver. 2. Privily shoot - Marg. "Shoot in darkness."

Ver. 3. If the foundations---Heb. "For the foundations are cast down." "The just, what hath he Jone?" Ainsworth.

Ver. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, &e. ...Bishop Lowth renders this verse,

"He shall rain live coals upon the ungodly, Fire, and sulphur, and a burning storm; This shall be the contents of their cup."

Divine help]

PSALM XII.

PSALMS.

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

HELP, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour; with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set

[implored.

him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (M) · PSALM XIII.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

HOW long wilt thou forget me,

O LORD? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

EXPOSITION.

of final vengeance. It will be then exhausted, even to the dregs, by unrepenting rebels, when 'burning coals, fire and brimstone,' and eternal tempest,' shall be the portion of their cup.'" (Horne in Psalm lxxv. 8.)

The concluding sentiment is equally corsolatory to good men under every dispensation. "As the righteous Lord loveth righteousness," so he countenanceth the upright by his providence, and rewards them by his grace. The light of his countenance shall afford them everlasting hap piness.

PSALM XII.

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not forsake his people. His word is pure, and his promises have been often tried.

Among the signs of our Lord's second coming, we have been taught to consider this as one, that "the love of many shall wax cold" toward him. (Matt. xxiv. 12.) Many such seasons have occurred, and the Lord has been pleased, by signal appearances, to produce revivals in his church, and such we still expect, even in an unprecedented degree. But even the millennium itself is to be followed with a degeneracy equally remarkable. Satan, though bound for a thousand years, will be again let loose with all the powers of infidelity, (Rev. xx. 7 -11.) so that finally, when the Son of Man cometh, he shall find little faith upon the earth. (Luke xviii. 8.) "When the wicked walk around on every side, the vilest of men shall be exalted;" and when the thrones of earth are filled with infidels an tyrants, then-when good men shall shrink in despair under the power of the last tyranny-then shall the " sign of the Son of Man" suddenly appear, and his "trumpêt sound to judgment."

NOTES.

See

Ver. 2. A double heart-Heb. "A heart and a heart,"

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haps it might be rendered, "I will put him in safety for whom the snare is laid."

Ver. 6. Furnace-Bp. Horne, "Crucible" of earth. Ver. 7. Preserve them-Heb." him ;" i. e. every one

of them

Ver. 8. The vilest men-Heb. "The vilest of the sons of men.'

PSALM. XIII. Title,-To the chief Musician. See title of Psalm iv.

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PSALM XIII.

[of man. see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD..

5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righ

teous.

6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (0)

EXPOSITION.

(N) A Psalm of David, complaining of desertion, and imploring divine aid."While God permits his servants to continue under affliction, he is said, after the manner of men, to have forgotten and hid his face from them.' For the use, therefore, of persous in such circumstances, is this psalm intended; and consequently, it suits the different cases of the church universal, languishing for the advent of our Lord to deliver her from this evil world; of any particular church, in time of persecution, and of each individual, when harrassed by temptations, or broken by sickness, pain, and sorrow. He who bore our sins, and carried our sorrows, may likewise be presumed to have made it a part of his devotions in the day of trouble.”. (Bishop Horne.)

The complaint of desertion here resembles that in the beginning of the twentysecond Psalm, which we know was used

by our blessed Lord upon the cross; and the complaint is not of desertion only, but

In

also of persecution from the enemy. both, deliverance is implored and confidence expressed, with a promise of the like grateful return of praise. "The heart which trusteth in God's mercy (says the above excellent writer) shall alone rejoice in his salvation, and celebrate by the tongue, in songs of praise, the loving-kindness of the Lord. It is observable, that this and many other psalms with a mournful beginning, have a triumphant ending; to show us the prevailing power of devo tion, and to convince us of the certain return of prayer, sooner or later, bringing with it the comforts of heaven, to revive and enrich our weary and barren spirits in the gloomy seasons of sorrow and temptation, like the dew descending by night upon the withered summit of an eastern mountain."

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NOTES.

Ver. 3. Lighten mine eyes-That is, restore to me health and joy and comfort; for darkness is the shadow of death.

Ver. 5. I have trusted.—Or, “I trust." Bp. Horne.

PSALM XIV. This psalm bears the name of David, and is addressed likewise to the chief Musician. Another copy of it is given, with some slight variations, Psalm hii., and a difference in the title, which will be there noticed.

Ver. 3. Gone aside-Become filthy.-The expresny, Mr. Hervey suggests, are borrowed from souted or turned) and meats putrified." The

word for the latter is used Job xv. 16. At the end of this verse, the present copies of the LXX insert three verses quoted by St. Paul in the third chapter of Romans from the other psalais, and which have thence been also introduced into this psalm in the Common Prayer-Book.

Ver. 4. Who (or they) eat up my people.-That is, devour the poor. See Micah iii. 3.

Ver. 5. There were they in great fear.-Heb. They feared a fear: the parallel passare, Ps. liti. 5. it is added" where no fear was; see that Psalm.

Ver. 7. O that, &c.-Marg. "Who will give," &c.

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uncertain. From the last verse some learned men have supposed it to have been written during the time of Absalom's rebellion, when the ark was in possession of his party: (See 2 Sam. xix. 9-15,) others refer it to the period of the Babylouish captivity; but St. Paul plainly refers us to the days of Messiah, and to a future restoration of the Jews subsequent to their conversion. (Rom. xi. 26, &c. compare Psalm ex. 2; Isa. Ixii. 11; Zech, ix. 9.) The chief subject of this psalm, however, is the infidelity of the human heart, for infidelity is unquestionably more a disease of the heart than of the head; the corruption of our nature gives an unhappy bias to the judgment. Sin makes fools of us all; and he is the greatest fool whose mind is most under the influence of depraved passious, which not only lead to abominable actions, but incapacitate for doing good. "The consideration of the apostacy and corruption of mankind, described in this psalm, makes the prophet express a longing desire for the salvation of Israel,' which was to go forth out of Zion,' and to bring back the people of God from that most dreadful of all captivities, the captivity under sin and death; a salvation at which Jacob would indeed rejoice, and Israel be glad.”— Bishop Horne)

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PSALM XV.

(P) 4 Psalm of David, describing a citizen of Zion.-We agree with Bishop Horsley, that this psalin has "no allusion to

the offices of the Levitical priesthood;" but is simply intended to point out, that moral "righteousness is the qualification which alone can fit any one to be a guest in God's tabernacle,"- -a citizen of Zion. This qualification, however, implies no claim of merit, but simply moral fitness. "The man (says Bishop Horne,) who would be a citizen of Zion, and there enter into the rest and joy of his Lord, must set that Lord always before him. Renewed through grace, endued with a lively faith, and an operative charity, he must consider and imitate the life of that blessed Person, who walked amongst men without partaking of their corruptions; who conversed unblaneably with sinners; who could give this challenge to his inveterate enemies, Which of you convinceth_me of sin?' in whom the grand accuser, when he came found nothing;' who being himself the truth,' thought and spake of nothing else, making many promises and performing them all,

"In the above comment (says Bishop Horne) it was thought most advisable to open and display the full intent of what was both enjoined aud forbidden, by exeimplifying each particular. Whoever shall survey and copy these virtues and graces as they present themselves in his life, [relying at the same time on his atonement,] will, it is humbly apprehended, take the best and shortest way to the heavenly Zion;" and shall never be expelled from the eternal city.

NOTES.

PSALM XV. Ver. 3-Nor taketh up.-Heb. Receiveth, or endureth."

Ver. 4. Changeth not-That is, will not violate his cath for self-interest.

Ver. 6. Usury.-See Exod. xxii. 25, 23; Lev. IIV. 35-37; Neh. v.-7.

PSALM XVI. Title,

Michtam.-Marg. "A golden (psalm) of David." D'Herbetot observes of the works of seven of the most excellent Arabian poets, that they are called Al Modhahebat, which signifies golden, because they were written in letters of gold upon Egyptian paper. Might not the six psalms which are thus distinguishet

Messiah's character]

PSALMS.

earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also in

PSALM XVI.

[and resurrection.

struct me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the LORD always before me because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave soul my in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Q)

EXPOSITION.

(2) A golden Psalm of David.-Different conjectures have been formed respecting the occasion of penning this psalm, and that of Dr. Hales seems as probable as any; namely, that it was composed just after David had received by Nathan the promise that his house should be built up for ever in the person of Messiah. (1 Chron.

xvii. 11-27.

The late Dr. Kennicott calls it-" An hymn prophetically descriptive of the Messiah, as expressing his abhorrence of the general idolatry of mankind, and his own zeal for the honour of Jehovah: with

the full assurance of his being raised from the dead, before his body should be corrupted in the grave. That David did not here speak of himself, but of the Messiah, and of him only, is asserted by St. Peter and St. Paul: (see Acts ii. 25-32, with xiii. 35-37.) And if this psalm speaks in a literal sense, concerning an actual and speedy resurrection, by that same literal sense David himself is necessarily excluded."

The former part of the psalm has, by most commentators, been considered as applicable to David; but if, as some think, ver. 4 implies the priestly character of the

NOTES-Psalm XVI. Con.

and Ps. Iv.-1x.) be so called from their having been, on some occasion, written in letters of gold, and hung up in the sanctuary? Such a title would have been agreeable to the Eastern taste, as D'Herbelot has mentioned a book, entitled "Bracelets of Gold." Orient. Cust. No. 168. See Title of Psalm xxii.

Ver. 2. O my soul, Thou hast said, &c -The LXX. and several MSS. (probably to avoid the supplementary words) read, 1 have said," &c.; but this makes no difference in the meaning. My goodness (extendeth) not to thee;" the LXX renderit," Thou hast no need of my goods (or goodness.) Compare Job xxxv. 7. The Chaldee and Syriac render the words, "My goodness is from thee."-Kennicott reads, "Is not without thee."

Ver. 3. In the earth-" In the land." Bp. Horsley. Ver. 4. That hasten (rus) after another (God).Ainsworth renders it," that endow another; and Kennicott," that go whoring after strange gods."

Their drink offerings of blood.-The drink offerings of the Jews were of wine only, (Levit. xvii. 10-14.) part of which was poured on the head of the victim; but the heathen offered "drink offerings of blood, even of human blood, the blood of their enemies." See Horne's Introduction (vol. i. 128.) In Dupuis' Journal in Ashantee, mention is made of a wretched tyrant who delighted in drinking the blood of his enemies. In one instance, he had an enemy bound and laid before him. He then had his body pierced with hot irons, gathering the blood which issued from him in a vessel, one half of which he drank, and offered up the rest unto his god." See also Orient, Lit. No. 306, 752

Ver. 5. Portion of mine inheritance-Heb. "Of my part." See Num. xviii. 20.

Ver. 6. The lines are fallen.-That is, the measuring cords by which heritages are allotted out.

See Ps. 1xxviii. 55.-
Note on Job xix. 27.

-My reins instruct me.-See

Ver. 9. Rest in hope-Heb. "Dwell confidently." Ver. 10. My soul in hell-The apostles Peter and Paul both explain these words exclusively of our Saviour Christ, as in our Exposition, but there is some difficulty as to the translation. The word rendered Hell, is Sheol, which we have alrendy shown to mean both the grave and the invisible world. Our translators frequently render it by the former word, as Gen. xlii. 38.-xliv. 31; 1 Kings ii. 9; Job xvii. 13, 14 and often Hell, as here, Job xxvi. 6; Ps. ix. 17. But it is generally admitted to include (like Hades) the invisible world in general. See Exposition and Notes on Job xxvi. 5,6. Bishop Pearson says, "It appeareth that the first intention of putting these words into the Creed was only to express the burial of our Saviour, or the descent of his body into the grave." It is most certain, however, that the phrase was afterwards explained, even by the Christian fathers, of Christ's descent into the place of punishment See 1 Peter iii. 18. " But that it was actually so, or that the apostle intended so much," the Bishop confesses is not manifest." "that See also Professor Witsius, who contends, Christ descended into hell, (the place of torment) is no where expressly affirmed in Scripture, nor in the most ancient creeds. The creeds which mentioned the descent, were generally silent with respect to the burial; nor was it without some mistake that both were afterwards joined together." Sacred Dissertations on the Apostle's Creed, (translated by D. Fraser) Diss. xviii.-Dr. J. P. Smith readers the first clause of this verse (10), Thou wilt not leave my life in the grave;" which nearly corresponds with Dr. Kennicoll's version, "Thou wilt not abandon my life to the grave."

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