صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني
[blocks in formation]

a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

7 How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light.

10 O continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. (O)

PSALM XXXVI.

PSALM XXXVII.

A Psalm of David,

[in God,

[blocks in formation]

EXPOSITION.

(0) A Psalm of David, the servant of Jehovah, complaining of the atheism, deceit, and cruelty of his enemies -Bishop Patrick supposes that this psalm was probably composed toward the beginning of Saul's jealousy against David. (1 Sam. xviii. 9.)

The first verse of the psalm is attended with considerable perplexity, which seems partly owing to some error in the copyist, Bishop Louth reads it, "The wickedness of man, according to the wickedness in his heart, saith, There is no fear of God before mine eyes." For some versions and a few manuscripts, instead of "my heart," read "his heart," which affords this seuse, that "the traugression of the wicked saith, (asserteth) within his own heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes." Applying this to Saul, the wicked man supposed to be here alluded to, a late ingenious writer supposes the psalmist to reflect thus within himself:-"I have made my own observations on that cruel man, Saul, and I have imagined he is an Atheist. Í observe, although he commits many crimes, for which, did he fear God, he would always blush; yet he never blushes till his ini

quities appear hateful in the eyes of his fellow-creatures. He even affects to be a good man, and wears the mask till it cements with his face, accounting himself as good as any other man, till somebody detects his vices, and exposes him to shame, and this is the common condition of almost all bad men." This seems not an impro hable sense of the passage.-(Robinson's Claude ii. 419.)

In the latter part of the psalm, David celebrates the mercy and kindness of the Lord, and prays for its extension and con tinuance. God is considered as the fountain of life, and light, and blessedness. "God, like the sun, (says Bishop Horne) cannot be seen but by the light which himself emits :" and he is no less the universal source of life and blessedness.

"O thou whose power o'er moving worlds presides, Whose voice created, and whose wisdom guides, On darkling man in pure effulgence shine, And cheer the clouded mind with light divine! 'Tis thine alone to calm the pious breast With silent confidence and holy rest; From thee, great God! we spring-to thee we bend;

Path, Motive, Guide, Original, and End.”

NOTES-Psalm XXXVI, Con.

Ver. 7. How excellent-Heb. "How precious!"" Ver. 8. Abundantly satisfied (Heb.watered;" Ainsworth, "moistered") with the fatness-That is, with the richness of the (moral) provisions of thy house.

Ver. 10. O continue (Heb." draw ont at length," Ainsworth, "extend ") thy loving-kindness. Ver. 11. The foot of pride-Or, " of the proud."

Dr. Johnson.

It was the practice of tyrants to tread upon their enemies, or to spurn those who offended them from

their feet.

PSALM XXXVII. Ver. 3. Verily Heb. " Ja

truth"

Ver. 5. Commit-Heb. "Roll thy way upon the

Lord."

[blocks in formation]

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the vicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Il But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the Sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

[providence.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The LORD will not leave him in

his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

[blocks in formation]

Ver 23. Ordered-Marg. " Established."

Ver. . He is ever-Heb. "All the day," or "every day."

Ver. 35. A green bay tree-Marg. "A green tree that groweth in his own (or native) soil."

This psalin is alphabetical, but not strictly so throughout; whether the deviations are owing to the laxness of the Hebrew laws of versification, as some have thought, or to the negligence of transcribers, as is now the more general opinion, we presume not to determine.

[blocks in formation]

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (P)

PSALM XXXVIII.

A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore..

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin.

PSALM XXXVII.

[of God's mercy.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and are corrupt, because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 LORD, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid

from thee.

10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things,

EXPOSITION.

(P) A Psalm of David, exhorting to patience, meekness, and submission to the divine providence. From the beginning to the end of this psalm (Bishop Horne remarks,) the Holy Spirit, by the hand of the prophet, administereth advice and consolation to the church and people of the Lord, oppressed and afflicted in this world by prosperous and triumphant wickedness. Faith and patience are therefore recommended, upon the double consideration of that sure reward which awaiteth the righteous, and that certain punishment which shall be inflicted on the wicked. These two

events are set before us under many lively and affecting images. As the psalm is rather a collection of divine aphorisms on the same subject, than a continued and connected discourse, it admitteth of nothing farther in the way of argument:" but the maxims or observations here introduced, are most interesting and important. It is a folly for Christians to fret and fume at evils which they cannot prevent. It is much better patiently to submit to circumstances, and make the Lord himself the object of their confidence and delight. For, after all, as our Lord himself assures us, it is "the meek" who "inherit the

earth;" and though others may boast greater claims, they only enjoy it. A sensible writer observes, "They have no turbulent, repining, vexatious thoughts that they deserve better; nor are vexed when they see others possessed of more honour, or more riches, than their wise God has allotted for their share."

An observation in the latter part of the psalm may demand particular notice, as it has occasioned some practical difficulty. As a general maxim, it may certainly be admitted. "So far is charity from impo verishing (says Bishop Horne,) that what is given away, like vapours emitted by the earth, returns in showers of blessings into the bosom of the person that gave it; and his offspring is not the worse, but infinitely the better for it." (Prov. xi. 25.) This maxim is not, however, to be so strictly interpreted, as to maintain that, in no case, has a pious man been reduced to beg gary: our Lord himself, though not a beggar, lived upon the hospitality of his disciples, during the whole of his public ministry. He had no patrimony, no home, no purse; and when called upon for tribute, was compelled to work a miracle to pay it. Generally speaking, however, benevolence far more frequently enriches than impo;

verishes.

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

and imagine deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O LORD my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17 For I am ready to halt, and my Sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

PSALM XXXVIII.

[faith in him.

19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

22 Make haste to help me O LORD, my salvation. (Q)

PSALM XXXIX.

To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will

EXPOSITION.

A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance -That is, a memorial of his sins, and of his sufferings under them. His afflictions appear to have been of two classes-bodily pain and sickness, and the desertion of his friends and relatives, who, instead of comforting, aggravated his afflictions. In David's history, indeed, we read nothing of his being confined with sickness; yet it is reasonable to believe this might often be the case, though perhaps for no long continuance, so as to interrupt the operations of his government. That he suffered much from disease may be inferred, not only from his frequent references to it in the book of Psalms, but from the singular fact of his extreme debility, and the extraordinary means used to keep life in him, for some time before his death, though he died at the age of seventy. (1 Kings i. 1-4.) In these afflictions, he constantly refers to sin as the cause of his sufferings; and it is true that all our sufferings originate in sin; yet his language in this psalm seems to refer particularly to his dreadful apostacy in the matter of Criah, when he sent Joab to conduct the war with the Ammonites, while he stayed

at home to indulge in ease, and luxury, and crime.

Many have endeavoured to explain the psalmist's complaints of unsoundness and putridity in his flesh aud in his bones figuratively, of his inward distress and spiritual conflicts; but we think it seems evident (as Mr. Scott observes,) that the writer was (also) visited with some dire malady, which affected his whole frame in the most distressing manner; and that he considered this as the chastisement of God, for some particular sins of which his conscience accused him." What that particular malady might be with which he was afflicted, we presume not to determine; but from the symptoms mentioned, and particularly from his friends and neighbours keeping" aloof from his sore," we should think it must have closely resembled,, either the leprosy of Job, or the pestilence of Hezekiah, either of which, connected with the agonies of conviction in his conscience, would be fully sufficient to account for his groans and agonies. But we totally object to the application of such language to our Redeemer, for reasons which we have already stated: nor do we find any application of it to him in the New Testament, by either evangelists or apostles.

[blocks in formation]

Ver. 10. Is gone from me-Heb. "Is not with

me" His disease affected his sight. Ve. 11. My sore-Heb. "Stroke."Men-Marg. "Neighbours."

-My kins

Ver. 15 'In thee do I wait for."

do I hope-Marg. "Thee Hear-Marg. "Answer."

Ver. 17. Ready to halt- Marg. "For halting;" i. e. ready to sink down under my infirmities. Ver. 19. Lively lively, are strong."

....

strong. Heb.

66 (Being)

Ver. 20. Because, &c. -. - Read the last clause, "What is good."

[ocr errors]

PSALM XXXIX. Title- To Jeduthun. See 1 Chron. xvi. 41.-xxv. 3. Ver. 1. With a bridle-Heb, "Muzzle." It is pro

Contemplations]

PSALMS.

keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue.

4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days asan handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee; verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, LORD, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

PSALM XXXIX.

[on the frailty of life

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. (R)

PSALM XL.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I WAITED patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:

EXPOSITION.

(R) A Psalm of David, contemplating the frailty of human life.—“The psalm begins abruptly, with the result of a meditation on the narrow, slippery, and dangerous paths of life; and more especially on the extreme difficulty of restraining the tongue amidst the continual temptations and provocations of the adversary." (Bp. Horne.) Meditation should terminate in devotion: and this ineditation led to the following excellent prayer-that the psalmist might be taught practically his own frailty, and the uncertain duration of the present life, which, compared to the life to come, is but as a shadow to the

substance; a shadow fleeting like that of the passing cloud upon the grass.

The life of man is then compared to "an image," exhibited to the mind in a vision, or in a dream and in no man is this vanity more striking than in the avaricious, who "heapeth up riches," and knoweth not who shall gather them. And even while this transitory life endures, how doth affliction “melt away health, and beauty, and talent, and wealth, and every thing desirable in man!

"This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake, and find me there?" Watts.

NOTES-Psalm XXXIX. Con.

bable that the bridles of the ancients were made in the form of umuzzles. See Note on Ps. xxxii. 9. Ver. 2. Stirred--Heb. " Troubled." Ver. 3. The fire burned.-See Jer. xx. 9. Ver. 4. Hon frail 1 am-Marg. "What time I have;" i. e. as the Chaldee explains it, "How soon I shall cease to exist here."

Ver. 5. At his best state-Heb. "settled;" most permanent.

Ver. 6. In a vain shew Heb. "An image;" phantasm, or appearance only

Ver. 10. Blow-Heb. "Conflict," stroke!

[blocks in formation]
« السابقةمتابعة »