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David boasteth of divine mercy.

a Ps. 10. 4. & 53. 1.

PSALMS.

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TH

He glorieth in the salvation of God. heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did b Rom. 3. 10. understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become + filthy: there + Heb. 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.

stinking.

feared a fear.

5 There were they in great fear: Heb. they for God is in the generation of the righteous.

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

will give,

7+ Oh that the salvation of Israel + Heb. Who were come out of Zion! when the &c. LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

PSALM XV.

David describeth a citizen of Zion. A Psalm of David.

a

HE fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominableORD, * who shall abide in thy works, there is none that doeth good. tabernacle? who shall dwell in 2 The LORD looked down from thy holy hill?

Ver. 2. shall I take counsel in my soul,] That is, Shall I be perplexed in my soul, not knowing which way to turn? Bp. Horne.

3.- lighten mine eyes, &c.] Give me wisdom to find out proper measures for my safety, and cheer my spirits; lest I die with grief, or my enemy destroy me. Dr. Wells.

4. ·when I am moved.] Or overcome by them. Wells.

Dr.

It is observable, that this, and many other Psalms with a mournful beginning, have a triumphant ending; to shew us the prevailing power of devotion, and to convince us that prayer brings with it the comforts of heaven, and revives our weary spirits, in the gloomy seasons of sorrow and temptation. Bp. Horne.

Psalm XIV. David here complains of the impiety and general corruption of the people who had led the Israelites into captivity; describes their terrours; and begs of God to bring back His captive people to their own land. Green.

Ver. 2. The Lord looked down &c.] Contrary to the opinion of the wicked, the Lord has all along "looked down from heaven upon the children of men." Dr. Wells.

4.—eat up my people as they eat bread,] That is, cruelly devour my people without fear or remorse. Bp. Hall.

5. There were they in great fear: &c.] In the parallel place, Ps. liii. 5, after the words, "There were they in great fear," are added these, "where no fear was;" which certainly connect better with what follows, "for God is in the generation of the righteous." David is supposed to be speaking primarily of Israel's defection from him to Absalom, and here to be assigning the motive of that defection in many, namely, fear of the rebels' growing power, and distrust of his ability to

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protect them; which fear, he observes, was groundless, because his cause was the cause of God, who would not fail to appear in its support and vindication. Bp. Horne. 6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor,] Laughed at his dependence upon God. Bp. Wilson.

7. Oh that the salvation &c.] This pious wish is uttered by David, that it would please God, who dwelleth in Zion, "between the cherubims," Ps. lxxx. 1, to send from thence, as from His throne, deliverance to His people; redeeming them from the oppression and captivity under which they laboured. Fenton.

The works of God are so visible to all the world, and afford such manifest indications of the being and attributes of the infinite Creator, that they plainly argue the vileness and perverseness of the Atheist, and leave him inexcusable. For it is a sign a man is a wilful perverse Atheist, that will impute so glorious a work, as the creation is, to any thing, yea, a mere nothing, (as chance is,) rather than to God. It is a sign the man is wilfully blind, that he is under the power of the devil, under the government of prejudice, lust, and passion, not right reason, that will not discern what" every one can see, what every man may behold afar off," Job xxxvi. 25, even the existence and attributes of the Creator from His works. Dr. Derham.

Psalm XV. In this Psalm the author describes a citizen of Zion; or what is necessary and requisite in the conduct and behaviour of a member of the Jewish church. Edwards. This seems to be a contrast to the preceding Psalm: it is appointed to be used on the Ascension-day, as it contains the character of one, who should be qualified to ascend into the hill, and dwell in the presence of God, whither our Saviour Christ is gone before. Travell.

Ver. 1. Lord, who shall abide &c.] O Lord, who is the man that shall be admitted to the tabernacle on Thy

He describeth a citizen of Zion.

b Is. 33. 15.

| Or,

receiveth, or, cudurelh.

e Exod. 22.

25.

Lev. 25. 36. Deut. 23. 19.

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a

a Ps. 50.

2 ↳ He that walketh uprightly, and the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my Job 22. 2. & worketh righteousness, and speaketh goodness extendeth not to thee; the truth in his heart.

3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor || taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth

not.

5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward Ezek. 22. 12. against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

& 18.8.

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3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

35.7.

gifts to

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that || hasten after another god: their Or, give drink offerings of blood will I not another. offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

b

Deut. 32. 9.

5 The LORD is the portion + of bram. 3. 24. mine inheritance and of my cup: + Heb. of my 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 instruct me in the night seasons.

part.

8 I have set the LORD always c Acts 2. 25. 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.

+ Heb. dwell confidently.

d Acts 2. 31.

10 For thou wilt not leave my & 13. 35.

-

holy mountain? or who shall have the privilege of wor-like our Commandments, in some publick place "to shipping therein? Travell. Who shall be accounted a teach;" (for so it is expressed, Psalm lx :) that is, that true member of the kingdom of grace here, and of glory the people might learn it, and be able to join. Mudge. hereafter? S. Clarke. Ver. 2. my goodness extendeth not to thee;] Or, my good things are not needful for Thee: they would be a sacrifice of no value; else I would give them Thee. The best sacrifice I can offer to Thee is beneficence to Thy saints and servants. Green.

4.- He that sweareth &c.] He that promises by an oath to do a thing, and does accordingly, though it be to his own hurt, and breaks not his oath. Dr. Wells.

5. He that putteth not out his money to usury,] That is, to any poor brother Israelite, God having forbidden usury in this case: see Deut. xxiii. 19, 20. Dr. Wells. - shall never be moved.] Shall never fail of God's favour. Dr. Wells. The following prayer is a just improvement of the above Psalm :

Gracious God, who hast vouchsafed to let us know upon what conditions we may be received into Thy protection and eternal favour; give us grace to practise those virtues Thou hast enjoined us; make us to love justice in all our actions, and uprightness in all our words; make us as tender in the wrongs and injuries done to our neighbours, as if they were done to ourselves; infuse into our hearts an abomination of all vice, by how great persons soever countenanced; and a love and reverence for virtue, and of virtuous men, in how little esteem soever they are in this world: and let us do all this out of our true love of Thee, and of Thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen. Lord Clarendon.

Psalm XVI. In this Psalm David declares his full trust and confidence in God for protection and assistance; and renders Him thanks for his security in this life, and for the hopes of a happy immortality in the next. The latter part contains a clear prophecy of the resurrection of our Lord Christ, to which St. Peter and St. Paul directly apply it, Acts ii. 25, and xiii. 35.

Travell.

Michtam] If one may guess from the signification of this word, joined to the Greek translation, it may be, A Psalm to be written in golden letters, and set up,

4.- drink offerings of blood] This alludes to sacrifices in which the blood of men was offered. Bp. Patrick. A principal ceremony is here put for the whole of idolatry. Gerard. ·nor take up their names into my lips.] David here declares that he will have no conversation with idolaters, nor swear by the name of their gods. Bp. Wilson.

6. The lines are fallen &c.] That is, my lot and portion, or kingdom, is appointed unto me in a pleasant country. Bp. Wilson, Dr. Wells. They used with cords to measure their grounds in surveys, Amos vii. 17: and hence, by a figure, a measuring cord comes frequently to signify any space or portion of land that belongs to a person. Dr. Hammond.

7.-my reins] That is, my inward thoughts and affections. S. Clarke.

8. I have set the Lord always before me:] As my God, and my support. Green.

9.-my glory] By this word he meant his tongue. The Psalmist, as applying his own tongue to the best purpose, the praise of God, had reason to call it his glory. Merrick.

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David craveth help

+ Heb. justice.

+ Heb.

PSALMS.

soul 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 plea
sures for evermore.

PSALM XVII.

1 David, in confidence of his integrity, craveth
defence of God against his enemies. 10 He
sheweth their pride, craft, and eagerness.
13 He prayeth against them in confidence
of his hope.

¶ A Prayer of David.
EAR the right, O LORD,
attend unto my cry, give ear
unto my prayer, that goeth not out

without lips of feigned lips.

of deceit.,

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

hereafter submit to death for the sake of mankind, is laid in the grave, I am well assured Thou wilt raise Him from thence, before His body be in the least corrupted. Bp. Patrick, Travell. Thou wilt not abandon my life to the grave. This may signify either, Thou wilt not suffer the grave to exert its dominion over me too soon, that is, immaturely; or, to maintain it over me too long. In the former sense David seems to have meant it of himself: in the latter it is applicable to our Lord, whom God raised up the third day, having loosed the bonds of death, because it was not possible He should be holden of it. Green.

thine Holy One] Meaning David in the literal sense, and in the spiritual the Messiah, in whom the prophecy was fulfilled. See it applied to Him by St. Peter, Acts ii. 25, &c. Green.

against his enemies.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps † slip not.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine. ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou || that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

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9 From the wicked † that oppress waste me. me, from † my deadly enemies, who + Heb. my compass me about.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

enemies against the soul.

Ver. 1.-out of feigned lips.] Deceitful dissembling lips. S. Clarke.

2. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;] Let me be tried and judged by Thee, to whom I make my appeal from the unjust accusations of men. S. Clarke. 3.-in the night;] That is, when the heart is freest from disguise. Green.

-shalt find nothing;] Canst find in me no wicked design. Such were the appeals of David to God, for his innocence under the persecution of Saul. And what stronger appeals can be made? Green. See the old translation.

4. Concerning the works of men, &c.] Though as to what others are wont to do in like circumstances, I know it is usual not to scruple at means for self-preservation; yet from the respect I have to Thy commands, I have kept me from following others in using violent and murderous practices for my safety. Dr. Wells.

8. -as the apple of the eye,] By the apple of an eye is meant its pupil. Dr. Wells. See note at Deut. xxxii. 10.

9.who compass me about.] The allusion here is to huntsmen, who, spying game, go round to see how they may most advantageously pitch their nets to take it. Dr. Kennicott.

We are here to observe the sentiments of the children of God, and their happiness. As to their sentiments, David teaches us, by his example, that they always trust in God; that they love and esteem the pious and virtuous above all; that they avoid the company and errours of the wicked, and adhere inviolably to the pure service of God. As to their happiness, this Psalm teaches us that it is very great; that God Himself is their portion and inheritance; that He is on their right hand that they may never be moved; that the sense of their happiness makes them rejoice and praise God coninclosed in their own fat :] That is, bloated, and tinually; and that they are even convinced that God puffed up with pride. Bp. Wilson. The meaning is, will not abandon them to the power of death. Lastly, that pride is the child of plenty, begotten by selfthis Psalm foretells that Christ should not see corrup-indulgence; which hardens the hearts of men against tion, but be exalted to heaven, where He reigneth over all things, and has prepared for all true believers joys that never shall expire. Ostervald.

Psalm XVII. In this prayer David humbly represents to God his innocence in those things whereof he was accused, probably of seeking Saul's life and the kingdom; and therefore beseeches Him to grant him deliverance from his persecutors and calumniators. Bp. Patrick.

10.

the fear of God, and love of their neighbours: rendering them insensible to the judgments of the former, and the miseries of the latter. Bp. Horne.

10, 11. They are inclosed &c.] By changing the situation of a single letter in the original, which has probably been misplaced by the copyists, these verses may be explained thus: "They draw close their cords; with their mouth they speak exultingly, We have succeeded now. They come about me, they set their eyes stooping down upon the earth." The image here is

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lion that desireth to

ramis.

+ Heb. sitting. + Heb. prevent his face.

| Or, by the swerd.

1 Or. From

men

hand.

13 Arise, O LORD, † disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, || which is thy

His psalm of thanksgiving. words of this song in the day a 2 Sam. 22.

that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,

WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength.

rock.

14 || From men which are thy hand, 2 The LORD is my rock, and my O LORD, from men of the world, fortress, and my deliverer; my God, by thine which have their portion in this life, my strength, in whom I will trust; + Heb. my † and whose belly thou fillest with thy my buckler, and the horn of my salhid treasure: they are full of chil-vation, and my high tower. dren, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

1 Or, their

children are

full.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

PSALM XVIII.

David praiseth God for his manifold and marvellous blessings.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the

taken from hunters, and the circumstances follow very properly. They compassed him about; they inclosed him in their net; "we have succeeded at last," they said; they came round him; they stooped down and looked earnestly at him; their eyes fixed, like a lion that is just leaping at his prey. Mudge.

13. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, &c.] The Psalmist, having characterized those who pursued after him to take away his life, now intreats God to "arise," or appear in his cause; to "disappoint," or "prevent" the enemy in his designs; and to "cast him down," to overthrow and subdue him. The next words may be thus rendered; " Deliver my soul from the wicked by Thy sword, from men by Thy hand, O Lord, from the men of the world:" the expressions, "sword, and hand of Jehovah," being frequently used to denote His power and vengeance. Bp. Horne.

which is thy sword:] Which is the instrument Thou employest for the execution of Thy judgments.

S. Clarke.

14.—whose belly thou fillest &c.] Whose bellies Thou filiest with Thy stores, or abundance of temporal blessings; whose children are fed to the full, and who leave the rest of their substance to their little ones. Green, Bp. Horne.

he

15. As for me, I will behold &c.] He either prays that may keep on, or is confident that he shall keep on, in a way of righteousness, and enjoy the presence of God, and be satisfied every morning with the image or idea of God. Mudge.

when I awake,] He appears to say this with reference to the resurrection of the just. Dr. Hammond. The confidence with which David calls upon the Lord in this Psalm, and the hope he possessed that God would have regard to his innocence, shews the great happiness of the good; since they can in all conditions apply themselves to God with assurance, knowing that He will always be their protector. The last words of this Psalm should raise our thoughts to the desire and

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 b The sorrows of death compassed b Ps. 116. 3. me, and the floods of † ungodly men +Heb. Belial.

made me afraid.

5 The || sorrows of hell compassed | Or, cords. me about the snares of death prevented me.

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

expectation of eternal life, which the righteous shall enjoy after the resurrection. Ostervald.

Psalm XVIII. The departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, the passage of the Red sea, and the appearance of God on mount Sinai, are subjects from which the Hebrew poets have taken the most sublime part of their imagery: and as these historical facts, and the images taken from them, have a certain connexion with each other, it often happens that more than one of them are made use of, and they are united and blended together in order to increase the dignity and grandeur of the subject; of which we have an example in this Psalm. Bp. Lowth, Street. The sublimity of the figures used in this Psalm, and the consent of ancient commentators, even Jewish as well as Christian, but above all the quotations made from it in the New Testament, prove that the kingdom of the Messiah is here pointed at, under that of David. Bp. Horne. There is no doubt that after David had first composed this Psalm, he reviewed it, and made some small alterations in it; which is the reason of the trifling differences between this Psalm as it stands here, and as it stands in 2 Sam. xxii. Dr. Wells.

Ver. 2.-horn of my salvation,] See note on 1 Sam.ii. 1. 5. The sorrows of hell &c.] David here means, that such sorrows as had almost brought him to the grave, compassed him about: and his enemies came on so suddenly that he had not time to escape them by flight. Dr. Wells.

the snares of death] These "snares" or toils "of death," or the grave, allude to the ancient manner of hunting, which is still practised in some countries, and was performed by surrounding a considerable tract of ground by a circle of nets, (compare Ps. cxl. 5,) and afterwards contracting the circle by degrees, till they had forced all the beasts of that quarter together into a narrow compass; and then it was that the slaughter began. Parkhurst.

David's psalm

+ Heb. by his.

|| Or, great waters.

PSALMS.

of thanksgiving 7 Then the earth shook and trem- | of my calamity: but the LORD was bled; the foundations also of the hills my stay. moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke + out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of || many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for

me.

18 They prevented me in the day

7. Then the earth &c.] The Psalmist seems here to allude to a dreadful tempest, which fell upon his enemies, and made the very earth tremble under them. Bp. Patrick. This and the following verses are highly poetical; and must be understood to signify, that the deliverance of David was the effect of the Divine power miraculously exerted. Travell.

8. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,] The ancients placed the seat of anger in the nose, or nostrils, because when the passion grows warm or violent, it discovers itself by the heated vehement breath which proceeds from them. This description of a smoke arising into, and a fire breaking forth from, the nostrils of God, denotes, by a poetical figure, the greatness of His anger and indignation. Dr. Chandler.

10.—he rode upon a cherub, &c.] He was attended, and, as it were, carried by angels as in a chariot, and did move very swiftly; yea, He did move as swift as the wind, and a rapid wind did accompany His descent. Dr. Wells.

11. He made darkness &c.] The meaning is, that He and all His heavenly attendants were surrounded with thick dark clouds. Dr. Wells.

12.- coals of fire.] The word, rendered "coals of

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me accord

ing to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before + Heb. with. him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands † in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt || shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

+ Heb. before his eyes.

Or, wrestle.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: || Or, lamp. the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have || run || Or, broken. through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

fire," signifies living, burning coals. Where the lightning fell, it devoured all before it, and turned whatever it touched into burning embers. Dr. Chandler.

15. Then the channels &c.] This alludes to the manner of God's destroying the Egyptians by drying up the channels of the sea, that deep on which the earth is said to be founded; and so engaging them to enter into it, and then bringing the waters upon them. This poetical description is preparatory to David's deliverances which follow. Fenton.

16.

- many waters.] Sudden and great calamities are frequently expressed in Scripture under the figure of a deluge of waters. Bp. Lowth.

18. They prevented me] That is, came on me suddenly, unawares, when I was unprovided and helpless. Bp. Patrick.

19. — a large place ;] Meaning a state of liberty. Bp. Patrick.

26.- with the froward &c.] That is, to the perverse Thou wilt shew Thyself an adversary. Green.

28.-light my candle:] Give me light and joy. Bp. Wilson.

29. For by thee &c.] Through Thee I break the troops of the enemy; through my God I leap over walls,

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