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PSALMS.

The Psalms are full of such exalted strains of piety and devotion, such beautiful and animated descriptions of the power, the wisdom, the mercy, the goodness of God, that it is impossible for any one to read them without feeling his heart inflamed with the most ardent affection towards the great Creator and Governour of the universe. Bp. Porteus.

The Psalms are an epitome of the Bible, adapted to the purposes of devotion. They treat occasionally of the creation and formation of the world; the dispensations of Providence, and the economy of grace; the transactions of the patriarchs, the exodus of the children of Israel; their journey through the wilderness, and their settlement in Canaan; their law, priesthood, and ritual; the exploits of their great men wrought through faith; their sins and captivities, their repentances and restorations; the sufferings and victories of David; the peaceful and happy reign of Solomon; the advent of the Messiah, with its effects and consequences; His incarnation, birth, life, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, kingdom, and priesthood; the effusion of the Spirit, the conversion of the Gentiles, the rejection of the Jews; the establishment, increase, and perpetuity of the Christian church; the end of the world, the general judgment, the condemnation of the wicked, and the final triumph of the righteous with their Lord and King. These are the subjects by them presented to our imaginations. We are instructed how to conceive the subjects aright, and how to express the different affections, which, when conceived aright, they must excite in our minds. In the language of this Divine Book, the prayers of the Church have been offered up to the throne of grace from age to age. And it appears to have been the manual of the Son of God in the days of His flesh; who at the conclusion of His supper is generally supposed, and that upon good grounds, to have sung an hymn taken from it; who pronounced upon the cross the beginning of the twentysecond Psalm, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" and expired with a part of the thirty-first in His mouth, "Into Thy hands I commend My spirit." Thus He, who spake as never man spake, chose to conclude His life, to solace Himself in His greatest agony, and at last to breathe out His soul, in the Psalmist's form of words rather than His own. No tongue of man, or angel, as Dr. Hammond justly observes, can convey a higher idea of any book, and of their felicity who use it right.

Let us stop for a moment to contemplate the true character of these sacred hymns. Greatness confers no exemption from the pains and sorrows of life. This the Israelitish monarch experienced. He sought in piety that peace which he could not find in empire, and alleviated the disquietudes of state with the exercises of devotion.

His invaluable Psalms convey those comforts to others which they afforded to himself. Composed upon particular occasions, yet designed for general use; delivered out as services for Israelites under the Law, yet no less adapted to the circumstances of Christians under the Gospel: they present religion to us in the most engaging dress; communicating truths which philosophy could never investigate, in a style which poetry can never equal. Calculated alike to profit and to please, they inform the understanding, elevate the affections, and entertain the imagination. Indited under the influence of Him, to whom all hearts are open, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their fragrancy; but these unfading plants of paradise become, as we are more accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened, fresh odours are emitted, and new sweets are extracted from them. He who has once tasted their excellencies, will desire to taste them again; and he who tastes them oftenest, will relish them best. Bp. Horne.

The Jews, at some uncertain period, divided the Book of Psalms into five sections or books, probably in imitation of the division of the Pentateuch. These divisions end respectively with the 41st, the 72nd, the 89th, the 106th, and the 150th. The first four books of this division terminate with the word Amen, and with a peculiar form of doxology, or praise to God, which was probably, in each instance, added by the collector of the Book of Psalms. Our present order of the Psalms is perhaps that, in which they were sung in the Temple; and this may account for the occasional repetitions. Dr. Gray, Travell.

a Prov. 4. 14.

PSALM I.

1 The happiness of the godly. 4 The unhap-
piness of the ungodly.

Ps. 119. 1

the LORD; and in his law doth he bJosh. 1. 8. meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree plant- c Jer. 17. 8. ed by the rivers of water, that bringLESSED a is the man that eth forth his fruit in his season; his

in the

Or, wicked. | ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of

Psalm I. This Psalm was placed first as a preface to all the rest, being a powerful persuasive to the diligent reading and serious study of the whole book, and of the rest of the Holy Scriptures, taken from that blessedness which attends upon this study and practice. Poole. Ver. 1. Blessed is the man &c.] In other words, Great is the happiness of that man, who hath not trod in the steps of the ungodly, or, if he hath at any time

tw whats + Heb. fade.

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The kingdom of Christ.

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a Acts 4. 25. 1 Or.

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5 Therefore the ungodly shall not | in his wrath, and || vex them in his Or, trouble. stand in the judgment, nor sinners in sore displeasure. the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

PSALM II.

6 Yet have I set my king † upon + Heb. my holy hill of Zion.

с

anointed. + Heb. upon

of my

7 I will declare the decree: the Zion, the hill LORD hath said unto me, Thou art holiness. my Son; this day have I begotten thee. decree. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee Hebr. 1. 5.

|| Or, for a c Acts 13. 33.

1 The kingdom of Christ. 10 Kings are ex- the heathen for thine inheritance, and d Ps. 72. 8.
horted to accept it.
the uttermost parts of the earth for

WHY "do the heathen I rage, thy possession.

tumultuously thing?

anemble. + Heb.

meditate.

b Prov. I. 26.

and the people + imagine a vain

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4b He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the LORD shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them

5. — shall not stand in the judgment,] That is, shall not carry their cause, but in the issue of things shall come off defeated and condemned by God and the world. Mudge. Or, shall not be able to justify themselves, or endure the wrath of the Almighty at the last day. S. Clarke.

6.- knoweth the way] Meaning, approveth the way. Dimock.

This Psalm, like the sermon on the mount, opens with a "beatitude" for our comfort and encouragement, directing us immediately to that happiness, which all mankind in different ways are seeking after. He who hath once brought himself to "delight" in the Scriptures, will find no temptation to exchange that pleasure for any which the world or the flesh can offer him. Such an one will make the oracles of God his companions by day and by night. He will have recourse to them for direction, in the bright and cheerful hours of prosperity; to them he will apply for comfort in the dark and dreary seasons of adversity. And by continual meditation in the sacred writings, he will as naturally improve and advance in holiness, as a tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly and well-watered soil. Bp. Horne.

Psalm II. This Psalm may be supposed to relate, in the first place, to David, whom God established upon the throne of Israel, notwithstanding the opposition of his enemies. It contains also an illustrious prophecy of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, which, in spite of every attempt, both of Jews and Gentiles, God has wonderfully established, even to the utmost parts of the earth. It is appointed to be read on Easter-day, when our Lord, by His resurrection, took possession of this glorious kingdom. Travell, Bp. Patrick. The sole application of the illustrious prophecy contained in this Psalm to the Messiah was the unquestionable doctrine of the primitive Jewish church. Dr. Hales.

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5, 6. Then shall he speak &c.] Their impious opposition will raise His just indignation, as if He had actually spoken to them from heaven, and said, Notwithstanding all your vain attempts, I have anointed David to be king over my people Israel; as in future times I will anoint One of his posterity to sit at My right hand upon the throne of glory. Bp. Patrick, Travell.

7.- Thou art my son; &c.] These words are eminently true of Jesus the Messiah in a prophetical sense, who was invested with the royal office, when He was raised from the dead, and exalted at God's right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, Rom. i. 3; Acts xiii. 33. Green.

12. Kiss the Son,] To "kiss" a person when appointed king, was among the Eastern people an act of homage. Thus Samuel, when he had anointed Saul king, "kissed him," that is, acknowledged him for his sovereign, 1 Sam. x. 1. Green. See the note on Gen. xli. 40.

"Kiss the Son," that is, submit to Him, worship and love Him; "lest He be angry," lest He turn that grace and favour which He has offered you into heavy displeasure, "and ye perish in the way," ye be suddenly cut off in the midst of your counsels. Clarke.

S.

The confidence which David manifests in this Psalm, shews, in general, that attempts against the designs of God are vain; and that nothing can hurt those whom He loves, and has promised to bless. But the application which the Apostles make to our Lord of these words, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee," engages us more especially to consider this Psalm as it relates to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, which has been established in the world,

Ver. 1. Why do the heathen &c.] That is, Why do the Jews and Heathens combine together to attempt, what they will never be able to accomplish? Travell. 2. The kings of the earth &c.] The kings and gover-in spite of all opposition from kings and the great men nours of the surrounding nations conspire together to oppose the decrees of Providence, and to prevent David

of the earth, and will subsist for ever. And since this kingdom is established among us, and we have the hap

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LORD, how are they increased that trouble me? many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield

David prayeth for audience.

enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the dis. 43. 11. LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

PSALM IV.

1 David prayeth for audience. 2 He reproveth and exhorteth his enemies. 6 Man's happiness is in God's favour.

Hos. 13. 4.

To the chief Musician on Negin- Or, oth, A Psalm of David.

|| Or, about. || for me; my glory, and the lifter up HEAR me when I call, O God of

b Ps. 4.8.

c Ps. 27. 3.

of mine head.

4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained

me.

C

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine

piness to be Christ's subjects, let us submit ourselves to this glorious King; let us serve Him with humility and joy, and place all our trust and confidence in His favour and protection. Ostervald.

Psalm III. The title of this Psalm explains the occasion of it; and it is impossible an hymn could be composed with greater propriety, or nobler sentiments of religion, at a time when David was given over by many as absolutely lost, and his enemies thought it was beyond the power of God to save him. Dr. Chandler.

Ver. 2.

Selah.] It cannot certainly be known what is meant by this word; the most probable opinion is, that it was a note in musick. Bp. Patrick.

This Hebrew word is found seventy times in the Psalms, and three times in Habakkuk. One conjecture is, that it means “the end” or a "pause," and that the ancient musicians put it occasionally in the margin of their psalters, to shew where a musical pause was to be made, and where the tune ended. Calmet.

3.- the lifter up of mine head.] David means by this expression, that God would remove his distresses, and make him triumph over all his enemies. Dr. Chandler. 4.-out of his holy hill.] That is, out of the tabernacle or place of His religious worship, which was on Zion, called on that account His holy hill. Dr. Wells. 7.- for thou hast smitten] The Hebrew properly means, "Thou art wont to smite," "Thou smitest continually."

broken the teeth] As men of violence are frequently resembled to wild ravenous beasts, so the power or means made use of by such men to oppress others, are fitly denoted by the teeth, cheekbone, or jaws, &c.; these being the parts, whereby beasts of prey chiefly devour their prey. Hence, to break the teeth, cheekbone, &c. of an enemy, is frequently used in Scripture to denote the depriving an enemy of his power to hurt. Dr. Wells.

8.thy blessing is upon thy people.] Rather, May Thy blessing be upon Thy people. Green.

'The example of king David in this Psalm should

overseer.

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teach us, that all our security depends upon God's protection, of which neither the power nor malice of our enemies can deprive us, if we repose our trust and confidence in Him. We should therefore pray to Him, that He would not suffer us to be misled by any worldly designs or stratagems, but that He would be our shield, our comforter, and supporter, and make the world see that salvation belongeth only to Him, and that His blessing is peculiar to His people. Lord Clarendon.

Psalm IV. When, or upon what occasion David penned this Psalm, is not certainly known, though the matter of it makes it probable, it was in the same (or the like) distress wherein he composed the foregoing. Bp. Patrick.

-chief Musician] That is, the master or director of the sacred musicians and musick of the temple: of whom see 1 Chron. vi. 31, and xv. 16. Poole.

Neginoth,] Stringed instruments played on with a bow. Dr. Kennicott.

By these words, "To the chief Musician, &c." he seems to mean, I recommend this Psalm to the care and ordering of the master or director of the sacred musick in the temple, and him who plays most skilfully upon stringed instruments. S. Clarke. Ver. 1.

O God of my righteousness:] O my righteous God. Bp. Hare, Edwards. Or the expression may mean, O God, who art to do me justice, to whom I apply for justice. Mudge, Merrick. O God, the witness and defender of my righteous cause. S. Clarke. - enlarged me] Set me free from distress. Street. 2. O ye sons of men, &c.] O ye wicked men, how long will ye defame my government? how long will ye carry on your vain attempts, and go on in lying and spreading false calumnies against me? Dr. Wells. Otherwise, by "my glory" he may mean, "God who is my glory:" for so God is called, Psalm iii. 3, and cvi. 20. David was accustomed to glory, and with good reason, on account of his steadfast worship of the true God, and of His favour towards him. This zeal for God's service was made a subject of disgrace and ridicule by the wicked. Le Clerc.

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4. Stand in awe, and sin not:] The rendering of the Greek is, "Be ye angry, and sin not;" that is, Though you be angry, take care you do not sin. So St. Paul (Ephes. iv. 26.) recites it. Dr. Wall.

5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,] That is, act righteously, which is the most acceptable sacrifice. Dr. Wells.

6. There be many &c.] This seems to relate to the righteous, who, in times of calamity and persecution, like the friends of distressed David, are tempted to despond, on seeing no end of their troubles. Bp. Horne. - lift thou up &c.] Manifest thy love and favour to me and mine. S. Clarke.

7. Thou hast put &c.] Other men do not so much rejoice in their vintage and harvest, when it is most abundant, as I do in the assurance of Thy favour towards me. Bp. Hall.

We may learn from this Psalm, 1st, That however our enemies seek to oppress us, yet God, whose power no man can resist, hath chosen to Himself, and will take to His love, those who are godly, and that when they cry unto Him, He will hear them. 2dly, That we ought to 66 commune with our own hearts," which, in the language of Scripture, is to retreat from the world, and give ourselves up to private meditation and reflection. And the design of this self-communion is, to restrain us from vice; to cherish and improve the seeds of virtue; to give us leisure for examining into the state of our souls; to stamp upon our hearts a love for God, and a reverence for His laws; to make us, in short, "stand in awe and sin not." 3dly, That in God alone is rest, in Him security, in Him tranquillity. We ought therefore to pray to our heavenly Father, that, amidst all the storms and troubles of this life, we may lie down

God favoureth not the wicked.

morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

thine eyes.

5 The foolish shall not stand in Heb. before thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

+ Heb. the man of bloods

7 But as for me, I will come into and deceit. thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

+ Heb. the temple of thy

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righte- holiness. ousness because of mine enemies; + Heb. those make thy way straight before my me. face.

b

which observe

stedfastness.

mouth, that

9 For there is no || faithfulness + in Or their mouth; their inward part is+very+ Heb. in his wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

is, in the mouth of any

of them. + Heb. wickednesses.

b Rom. 3.

|| Or, Make

10 | Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall || by their own counsels; 13 cast them out in the multitude of their them guilly. transgressions; for they have rebelled their counagainst thee.

|| Or, from

sels.

and sleep in peace, looking up to Him for safety, succour, and protection. Bps. Nicholson and Porteus.

Psalm V. David most probably composed this Psalm, when he was persecuted by Saul or Absalom, and their adherents. Edwards.

- Nehiloth,] That is, organs or other wind-instruments. Dr. Wells.

-

Ver. 3. and will look up.] Toward heaven, the throne of Thy glory, from whence I hope for help. Bp. Wilson.

5. The foolish] The wicked. S. Clarke.

6.

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that speak leasing :] That make it their business to raise and disperse false and scandalous reports of me. S. Clarke.

8. Lead me, &c.] Guide me, O Lord, in the plain path of truth and righteousness, lest, if I err from it, my enemies rejoice and triumph. Travell.

9. their throat is an open sepulchre ;] They utter mischief with open mouths, gaping, like noisome tombs, to swallow up the innocent. Travell.

10. Destroy thou them.] Concerning passages of this imprecatory kind in the book of Psalms, it is to be observed, that they are not spoken of private and personal enemies, but of the opposers of God and His anointed; nor of any among these, but the irreclaimable and finally impenitent; and this by way of prediction rather than imprecation; which would appear, if the original verbs were translated, as they should be, in the future tense. The verse before us would then run thus: "Thou wilt destroy them, O God; they shall perish by their own counsels: Thou wilt cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against Thee." Bp. Horne.

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Or, upon

the eighth.

a Ps. 38. 1.

b Ps. 30. 9. & 88. 11. & 115. 17. & 118. 17. Is. 38. 18.

PSALM VI.

1 David's complaint in his sickness. 8 By faith he triumpheth over his enemies.

He prayeth against

6 I am weary with my groaning; | all the night make I my bed to Or, every swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

night.

& 25. 41.

8 Depart from me, all ye workers e Matt. 7.23. of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard Luke 13. 27. the voice of my weeping.

9 The LORD hath heard my sup

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth plication; and the LORD will receive upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

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These four things are remarkable in this Psalm 1st, The fervency and confidence with which good men call upon the Lord in their necessities. 2d, Their zeal for His service, and the joy and reverence with which they adore Him, in places set apart for publick worship. 3d, God's abhorrence and detestation of sin, and especially of pride and deceit; and the punishment reserved for the proud and unjust. And lastly, His favourable protection of all those that fear Him, and trust in Him. Ostervald.

Psalm VI. In this Psalm are described two conditions of the writer in the first he complains of some grievous disorder, heightened by the malicious joy of his enemies, from which he prays to be relieved; in the second, his prayer is answered, and he triumphs in the disappointment of His enemies. Mudge. This being one of the penitential Psalms, is appointed to be used on Ash-Wednesday, and is suitable to the condition of those who are any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate. Travell.

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- Neginoth upon Sheminith,] The harp of eight strings. Bp. Patrick.

Ver. 2.-my bones are vexed.] That is, shaken, or made to tremble. Bp. Horne. My pain reaches to my bones and inward parts. S. Clarke.

3.

-but thou, O Lord, how long?] But Thou, O Lord, how long wilt Thou thus afflict me? Dr. Wells.

5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee:] For the dead are utterly unable to commemorate Thy wonderful works, and propagate the memory of them to posterity. Bp. Patrick.

7.-it waxeth old] That is, dim, or is grown stiff with weeping. Bp. Wilson, Green.

8. Depart from me, &c.] Away with your idolatrous

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¶ Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. LORD my God, in thee do I about 1062. put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver

me:

insinuations, as if the God of Israel could not deliver His servant: He hath heard his prayer, and will deliver him from death, and from your expectation of triumphing in his fall. Green.

ye workers of iniquity;] Ye that put your trust in idols. Bp. Wilson.

We are all God's children, and reproof and correction is as due to children from their parents, as nourishment; they cannot prosper without it: crosses and afflictions are God's chastisements, without which we cannot be, if we are His children. Therefore the pious and godly man does not, must not pray, that all things may succeed according to his own wish, and that he may know nothing but prosperity in this world: all that he prays is, that those afflictions, which he must pass through, may not fall upon him out of God's anger, and that His displeasure may not pursue him beyond that adversity. Lord Clarendon.

Psalm VII. David is said to have composed this Psalm concerning the words, or the matter of Cush the Benjamite. Whether Saul or Shimei, or any one else, be intended under this name, it is sufficiently clear, that David had been maliciously aspersed and calumniated by such a person; and that the Psalm was written to vindicate himself from the imputation, whatever was the nature of it. Bp. Horne.

Shiggaion] This word denotes a wandering song, or a Psalm ascribed to David, as composed by him in the time of his wanderings, when he was falsely accused by his enemies, and hunted by Saul, as a partridge on the mountains. Fenwick. Or it may mean a song expressing grief. Dr. Kennicott, Street.

Otherwise it is thought to be the name of a certain kind of song, to the tune of which this Psalm was to be sung. S. Clarke.

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