صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني
[blocks in formation]

mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he that trusteth in the

LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (K)

PSALM XXXIII.

REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous for praise is comely for the upright.

PSALM XXXII.

[in the Lord.

2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathereth the waters of the

EXPOSITION.

(K) A Psalm of David, giving instruction.-"As the sick is eloquent in the praise of health, (says Bishop Horne,) so the sinner beginneth this his confession of sin with an encomium on righteousness, longing earnestly to be made a partaker of the "evangelical" blessedness; "to be delivered from the guilt and the power of sin, to be pardoned and sanctified through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Sin is compared to a debt which may be discharged in two ways-either by blotting out the record, (Ps. li. 1-9.) or by covering it with a contrary account, namely, the merits or atonement of the Saviour, typified by the mercy-seat which covered the ark. opposition to the blessedness above-mentioned, (continues the good prelate, the penitent now proceeds to declare his own wretched state, occasioned by his keeping silence, or not confessing his sin, which therefore rankled and festered inwardly, occasioning torment inexpressible. The disorders of the mind, as well as those of the body, should be communicated to persons skilful in assuaging and removing them: many might thereby be saved from the horrible crime of self-murder, which is generally committed in agonies of solitary remorse and despair."

"In

This is called an "instructing or didactic psalm;" and the doctrine of it is explained, by the apostle Paul, to be that of imputed righteousness. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto

whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (saying,) Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the mau to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Rom. iv. 1-4. The doctrine of justification by faith, here stated by St. Paul, was justly esteemed by Luther the fundamental article of the Protestant faith, by which the church must either stand or fall.

This psalm is evidently in dialogue (or in a dramatic form) like many others. The two first verses appear to be chorus; the five following the confession of the psalmist. Ver. 8. Bishop Horsley, (and perhaps justly,) considers as an oracular voice from the most holy place. Verses 9 and 10 appear to us the oracle continued, though the prelate just quoted considers them as the language of the psalmist; and the last verse we conceive to be the concluding chorus. The oracle itself, as we consider it, promises instruction and enjoins obedience. Man, in this case, is considered no better than an untamed colt, which must be forcibly restrained" with bit and bridle," and even a kind of muzzle to prevent the animal from attacking his owner. says Job, "Man is born like a wild ass's colt," (Job xi. 12.) and it is only by a long training in trials and afflictions that he is brought to submission or obedience: but when thus brought to trust in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about; and great matter of joy is this, to those who are thus brought to love and fear God.

NOTES.

PSALM XXXIII. Ver. 2. The psaltery (or Nabla) was made in the form of a leathern bottle, and turned round in playing Bishop Horsley thinks it was the instrument with ten strings; if so, the "and" is

Blest is the man, for ever blest,. Whose guilt is pardoned by his God; Whose sins with sorrow are confess'd, And cover'd with a Saviour's blood.”

Watts.

So

here improperly supplied; but in Ps. xcii. 3. they appear to be distinguished.

Ver. 5. Goodness-Marg. " mercy."
Ver. 7. He gathereth-As this evidently refers to

The divine]

PSALMS.

[providence.

sea together as an heap: he layeth safety: neither shall he deliver any up the depth in storehouses. by his great strength.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike;

he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. (L)

PSALM XXXIV.

A Psalm of David when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

I WILL bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

PSALM XXXIII.

EXPOSITION.

(L) A Psalm exhorting to generai joy and praise. The topics of thanksgiving are here derived from the general goodness and fidelity of God, from the display of the divine power in the work of creation, and from the infinite superiority of the divine wisdom in the government of the world. It is in vain for mortals, however high in rank, to combine against him who made the universe. He that spake the world into being, can, with a word, frus trate all the counsels of the heathen, and even "make their diviners mad." (Isaiah xliv. 25.) As in the second psalm, so in this (which was probably a psalm of David,

though his name is not prefixed to it) JEHOVAH is represented as seated on his celestial throne, whence, looking down upon men, he distributeth among them the gifts of his providence at pleasure. Wisdom, knowledge, power, are all his; it is in vain, therefore, to look to a horse for speed, to a giant for strength, or even to a host of warriors for deliverance. "The eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy:" to him, therefore, are we directed for protection, and not to frail mortals like ourselves.

NOTES-Psalm

the creation, Gen. i. 2, 9, 10. this verse should be rendered in the past tense, like the preceding.As an heap-That is, into one place. See Gen. 1. 9. 10. Ver. 10. The Lord bringeth, &c. (Heb. "Frastrat-th") the counsel of the heathen.-See Ps. ií. 2—4. Ver.1. Toall generations-Heb. “ To generation and generation.

Ver. 15. He fashioneth their hearts alike— Or, "He alike fashioneth all their hearts;" i. e. distributeth wisdom to men at his good pleasure. See Job xxxviii, 36,

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

30 magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

90 fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Il Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he

PSALM XXXIV.

may see good?

[for deliverance.

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (M)

EXPOSITION.

(M) A Psalm of David, thanking God for his deliverance from Gath.-The history here referred to has already passed before us in 1 Sam. chap. xxi.; some have, indeed, doubted the authenticity of this title; but we think without sufficient reason, as the psalm certainly celebrates an escape from some great and imminent danger, and may be suitably and profitably used on any occasion of providential succour or deliverance. It is a narrative of David's experience in the particular instance before us: "This poor man cried,” says he, evidently alluding to himself; and "the Lord delivered him :" others are therefore encouraged to do the same, under expectation of the like deliverance. "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

Many of the expressions here used may, without violence, be applied to the circumstances of our divine Redeemer, and Bishop Horsley conceives one passage, "He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken," is applied to him by the apostle John (chap. xix. 36.) It is more generally thought that St. John referred to the law of the pascal lamb, (Exod. ix. 46;) but supposing the reference to be to this psalm, we cannot admit it to be inapplicable to the psalmist himself, who often complains respecting his bones waxing old, &c., and might, therefore, well be thankful for their preservation. Nor can we by any means admit the canon of interpretation which the Bishop cites from Mr. Hutchinson, viz., "that any one sentence which is applicable to the true David (i.e. Messiah,) and to none else, determines

NOTES.

psalmist had no opportunity to commit his thoughts to writing. Ver. 5. They looked---Marg. " They flowed;" but tre eceive the sense to be, that, as by looking to the light of the sun our eyes are enlightened, so are our minds, by looking unto God: and as the light of the And makes our countenances shine, so the influences of the divine Spirit cheer the heart.

Ver. 18. Unto them that are of a broken heart--Marg. or, "Broken of heart;" contrite of spirit.

Ver. 19. The righteous---Singular, "The righteous (man)." Some apply this exclusively to Christ; but it is also applicable to every one who is justitied by his righteousness.

Ver. 21. Shall be desolate --- Marg. "Guilty;" Ainsworth, “Condemned as guilty."

[blocks in formation]

PLEAD my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the

wind: and let the angel of the LORD

chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slip pery and let the angel of the LORD

persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid

for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest

[deliverance

the poor from him that is too strong for him; yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew

not.

[blocks in formation]

EXPOSITION-Psalm XXXIV. Continued.

the psalm to that David." (Bishop Horsley, p. 72.) On the contrary, we believe there are but few which are confined to Messiah only, or to any one single topic, it being common to these lyric odes generally to admit a variety of topics; as we have already had frequent occasion to remark. In fact, it is the very nature of a typical dispensation, to advert sometimes to the

typical things themselves, and sometimes
to represent. So is it in typical prophecies,
to the sublimer objects they were intended
as we shall have farther occasion to ob-
A spiritual Christian may
Christ in a thousand objects which sur-
improvement arising from
round him, without excluding the moral

serve.

sense.

NOTES.

PSALM XXXV. Ver. 5. Let the angel of the Lord chase them-Or pursue them with divine vengeance.

Ver. 6. Dark and slippery-Heb. “darkness and slipperyness,

Ver.7. They have hid for me their net in a pit.This alludes to the custom of digging pits, and putting nets in them, covered with straw, &c. to catch wild beasts.-Orient. Cust. No. 995.

Ver 8. At unawares- Heb. "Which he knoweth not of."

Ver. 11. False witnesses- Heb. "Witnesses of wrong," Ainsworth, "of cruel wrong."

see

their literal

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

ther let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha! our eye hath seen it.

[and cruel enemies.

yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. (N)

PSALM XXXVI.

the servant of the LORD.

22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause:

PSALM XXXV.

THE

HE transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are

EXPOSITION.

(N) A Psalm of David, appealing to God to maintain his cause.-The psalmist here addresses JEHOVAH as his champion, to support his cause against his enemies; he therefore calls upon him, in military terms, to "Take hold of shield and buckler, draw out the spear," &c. But the fol. lowing verses (from 4 to 9) both Bishop Horne and Mr. Scott render in the future instead of the imperative. "They shall be confounded and put to shame," &c. which is the more necessary when we apply the psalm to the sufferings of Messiah, to which it seems generally applicable, as he prayed not for the destruction, but the salvation of his enemies: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke xxiii. 34.) So verses 26, 27. They shall be ashamed; they shall be clothed with shame," &c.

46

Though the occasion of this psalm is not expressly mentioned, it was evidently written while smarting under the false accusations and reproaches of his enemies, particularly as Bishop Patrick and others suggest, those of Doeg. (See 1 Sam. xxii. 9, 22.)

The false witnesses that rose up against David, showed the same dispositions as those which arose against his Lord, and vented alike their malice in taunt aud ridicule. In several instances, David certainly displayed remarkable forbearance towards his enemies; but it was the glory of Jesus to pray for his murderers when he was dying. The type was amiable, but the antitype divine.

"O glorious type of heavenly grace!
Thus Christ the Lord appears :
While sinners curse, the Saviour prays,
And pities them with tears."

Watts.

NOTES.

PSALM XXXVI. Ver. 1. The transgression of the wicked-The word here rendered saith," is not the common term, but is generally applied to the word of Jehovah. For my, the LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac read his: allowing this variation of half a letter in the original, it gives the important sentiment, that the oracle of a wicked man is the

corruption of his own heart; and that, doubtless, is the true source of his atheism.

Ver. 2. Until his iniquity, &c.-Heb. "To find his iniquity, (which he ought) to hate." Ainsworth. Ver.3. He deviseth mischief-Marg. "Vanity." Ver. 6. The great mountains-Heb. "Mountains of God."A great deep-Lowth," A vast abyss.""

« السابقةمتابعة »