have his life preserved from danger, or his soul from were forewarned by God himself, Judg. ii. 3. Their sin, may admit of a question. The words will suit gods will be a snare unto you, Hebrew, pin, the with either explanation, and probably he might in- || same word with that translated, in the plurál numtend both; but chiefly the latter. We have seen, ber, gins, in this verse. Let the wicked fall-He from verse 4, how earnestly he begs that God would brew, 15, they shall fall; into their own netsprotect him by his grace from complying with the Into the snares, dangers, and mischiefs which they idolatrous practices of the heathen, to whom he was design for me. While that I withal escapeabout to flee for refuge; and it is remarkable that, in Namely, together with my followers, or, in like his last speech to Saul, he particularly dwells upon manner, as I have formerly done. But many transthe danger to which his religion was exposed, 1 Sam. lators, both ancient and modern, join the word "", xxvi. 19. They have driven me out this day from here rendered withal, or together, to the preceding abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go clause to which it is placed next in the Hebrew, and serve other gods. As if he had said, "They have then the meaning is, the wicked shall fall into their done what lies in their power to drive me to idolatry, own nets together, or alike, one as well as another, by forcing me into a country where I shall have the || Saul himself not excepted, (whom, though I dare strongest temptations to it." This was a thing he not destroy him, God will judge,) while that I es seems to have dreaded more than death; and there- || cape, am preserved from that common calamity in fore he prays against it in the next verse. which mine enemies perish. Which was verified by the event. For David escaped all the snares which were laid for him on every side; and was strangely kept out of harm's way, when Saul and other of David's enemies were cut off by the Philistines, I Sam. xxxi. So will the devices of the enemies of God's people be in the end turned against themselves. They shall fall and perish, but the saved of the Lord shall triumph with their Redeemer to eternity. Reader, see that thou be one of these! Verses 9, 10. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me-Keep me from being taken in it: give me to discover and evade it. If Saul and his evil counsellors be intended in this clause, probably the heathen, to whom David was now driven for refuge, were meant in the next. They were workers of iniquity in the worst sense, being worshippers of idols, and their idols were always snares to the Israelites, as their history informs us, and as they || PSALM CXLII. We learn from the title of this Psalm that it was a prayer of David when he was in the cave, most probably the cave of Adullam, whither he fled when he was in danger, both from Saul and from the Philistines, 1 Sam. xxii. 1. He complains of finding no help in his straits, dangers, and troubles, 1-4. He cries unto God in prayer, and comforts himself in him, 5–7. 'Maschil' of David; A Prayer when he was in 2 I poured out my complaint be- A. M. 2944. fore him; I showed before him my trouble. A. M. 2944. I the cave. 3 CRIED unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. Psa. lvii. title. -Or, A Psalm of David giving instruction. NOTES ON PSALM CXLII. B. C. 1060. 3 b When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. • In the way Adullam, was a state of utter destitution. Persecuted by his own countrymen, dismissed by Achish, and not yet joined by his own relations, or any other attendants, he took refuge in the cave, and was there alone. But in that disconsolate, and seemingly des perate situation, he desponded not. He had a friend in heaven into whose bosom he poured forth his complaint, and told him the sad story of his trouble and distress. When danger besetteth us around, and fear is on every side, let us follow the example of David, and that of a greater than David, who, when Jews and Gentiles conspired against him, and David, in the time of trouble, B. C. 1060. B. C. 1060. A. M. 2944. wherein I walked have they privily || 6 Attend unto my cry; for I A. M. 2944. laid a snare for me. am i brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, e 6 but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me: no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. g d Psalm lxix. 20.- - Or, Look on the right hand, and see. • Psalm xxxi. 11; lxxxviii. 8, 18. Heb. perished from me. "Heb. no man sought after my soul. he was left all alone in the garden and on the cross, -Thou knowest me and carest for me, when no one gave himself unto prayer."-Horne. present time; we live in a world of dangers and wants, but what danger need we fear, if God is our refuge; and what wants, if he be our portion? Heaven, which alone deserves to be called the land of the liv ing, will be to all believers both a refuge and a portion. else will, and wilt not fail me nor forsake me when Verse 3. When my spirit was overwhelmed with- men do. Thou art my refuge and my portion— in me-And ready to sink under the burden of grief Thou only art both my refuge to defend me from all and fear: when I was quite at a loss what steps to evil, and my portion to supply me with all the good take, and almost ready to despair; then thou knew-which I need and desire; in the land of the living— est my path-That is, practically, so as to direct me Even in this life, wherein I doubt not to see thy good. what way I should take, in order that I might escape || ness, and more especially in the life to come. There Saul and his men: or, thou knowest my sincerity || is enough in God to answer all the necessities of this and innocence, the straight path in which I have walked, and that I am not such a one as my persecutors represent me. And it was, and is, a comfort to me, that thou knewest this, and also, that thou knewest the danger that I was, and am, in, and how; in the way wherein I walked-Suspecting no danger; they have privily laid a snare for me-To entrap me. Saul gave Michal his daughter to David, on purpose that she might be a snare to him, 1 Sam. xviii. 21. And as he complains, every thing that was done to, or respecting him, was done with a design to insnare and destroy him. Yet, in the midst of all, he knew he was under the eye and guardian care of his all-wise and almighty Friend: in him he trusted, and this was his support and comfort. And "such should be, at all times, the confidence of believers in the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of God, even when human prudence has done its utmost, and is at its wit's end." Verse 4. I looked on my right hand, &c.-The place where the patron, or assistant used to stand; but there was no man-Namely, in Saul's court or camp: none of my former relations, friends or acquaintance; that would know me-Own me, or show any respect or kindness to me. The verb, in the first clause of the verse, being in the imperative; look on my right hand, &c.-Dr. Horne considers the words as a request to God to look on his desti- || tute condition, and to pity and relieve him; but Bishop Patrick views them as a kind of soliloquy, and explains them thus, "Look about thee, O my soul, and see if thou canst spy any hope of relief from thy best and most powerful friends: there are none of them that dare own thee; nor do I know whither to flee for safety." Refuge failed, or rather, faileth me-There is no patron on earth to whom I can commit my cause, nor any help in man for me. No man cared, rather careth, for my soul -Or, for my life, namely, to preserve it: but they all conspire to take it away. Verse 5. I cried, rather I cry, unto thee, O Lord | Verses 6, 7. Attend unto my cry, &c.—0 let my importunate cry prevail for some relief; which will come most seasonably in this exceeding great necessity; for I am brought very low—And if thou do not help me I shall quite sink. Deliver me from my persecutors-Either tie their hands, or turn their hearts; break their power, or blast their projects; restrain them, or rescue me. For they are stronger than I-And it will be to thine honour to take part with the weakest. Deliver me from them, or I shall be ruined by them; for I am not yet myself a match for them. Bring my soul out of prison-Not only bring me safe out of this cave, but bring me out of all my perplexities, and set me at perfect liberty; that I may praise thy name-Not that I may enjoy myself and my friends, and live at ease; no, nor that I may defend my country: but that I may praise, glorify, and serve thee; the end this, which we ought to have in view in all our prayers for deliverance out of trouble, or for any other blessing. The righteous shall compass me about-Shall flock to me from all parts, partly to see such a miracle of the divine power and mercy; and partly to rejoice and bless God with me and for me, and for all the benefits which they expect from my government. Observe reader, "this prayer of David was heard and answered; he was delivered from his persecutors, enlarged from his distress, exalted to the throne, and joined by all the tribes of Israel." And let not us fear, though we be brought very low, and our persecutors, the world, the flesh, and the devil, be too strong for us; but God will deliver us, if we cry earnestly to him, from the bondage of sin and all our enemies, and redeem us from the prison of the grave, that we may join the great assembly before the throne, and there praise him for ever.--Horne. The psalmist prays for PSALM CXLIII. PSALM CXLIII. pardon and help. This is the seventh and last of those termed Penitential Psalms. It is thought to have been composed by David when Absalom his son persecuted him; and it was so inscribed in some old Greek copies. He complains, and prays for pardon and help, 1-12. NOTES ON PSALM CXLIII. B. C. 1021. 5 I remember the days of old, I A. M. 2993. meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest' I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: *cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I 2 flee unto thee to hide me. Verses 3, 4. For the enemy hath persecuted my Verses 1, 2. In thy faithfulness-According to soul-This is not a reason of what he said last, verse thy true and faithful promises, made to the penitent 2, but an argument to enforce his petition, delivered who apply to thee for pardon and aid; answer me— verse 1, and repeated verse 7. He hath smitten my Grant my earnest request; and in thy righteous life down to the ground-He hath beaten me down ness-Whereby thou art inclined and engaged by to the earth, where I lie struggling for life. He hath promise to favour righteous persons and just causes. made me to dwell in darkness-Not only in dark Or, the word, here rendered righteousness, may sig- caves, but under dark apprehensions, and clouds of of nify mercy, as it often does; for "God's promises trouble and distress, out of which I see no way are only conditional, and our sins and frailties are so deliverance, except from thy power and mercy; as many, that we have always need of God's mercy to those that have been long dead-In as hopeless a make us capable of being reputed of the number of condition in the eye of man, as those that have lain those who have complied with the conditions an- long in the grave. Therefore is my spirit over· nexed to the promises." And enter not into judg-whelmed-See on Psa. cxlii. 3. My heart within ment, &c.—As if he had said, When I appeal to thyme is desolate-Deprived of all hope and comfort, righteousness, I do not do it under an idea that I can except from thee; or, is astonished, as Doin' may justify myself upon a strict trial at the tribunal of be properly rendered. thy justice; for I know, if thou shouldst rigorously examine all the tempers and affections of my heart, and actions of my life, I should certainly be condemned by thee to wrath and punishment; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified-That is, according to thy holy and righteous law, and upon the terms of strict justice, without thy indulgence and infinite mercy. Observe well, reader, no man, in order to his justification before God, can plead innocence or his own righteousness; either that he has not sinned, or that he does not deserve to die for his sins; nor must he suppose that he has any satisfaction of his own to offer. Whoever expects to be justified, must look for that inestimable blessing, followed by peace with God, adoption into his family, and a title to life eternal, as an act of pure grace, a free and undeserved gift from the divine mercy, to be conferred upon the penitent and believing, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus: see Rom. iii. 19-28. Verses 5, 6. I remember the days of old-That is, but still, upon a more calm reflection, I consider what thou hast done for thy servants in former times, and likewise what thou hast done for me during the persecutions of Saul, and long before that time, in my younger days, when thou didst deliver me from the greatest danger: see 1 Sam. xvii. 34, &c. I stretch forth my hands, &c.-I pray to thee fervently. My soul thirsteth after thee-After thy favour and help; as a thirsty land-For rain. Verses 7-9. Hear me speedily-Defer no longer; for my spirit faileth—I am just ready to faint. Hide not thy face-Be not angry with me; do not turn from me as one displeased with me, nor deprive me of the light of thy countenance: if I have thy favour let me know that I have it; lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit-That are dead and buried, of whom there is no hope; or, lest I be discouraged, dejected, and disconsolate. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning-Early, seasonably, 2 The psalmist praises God PSALM CXLIV. for his goodness. A. M. 2983. 10 m Teach me to do thy will; || sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring A. M. 2983. for thou art my God: "thy Spirit my soul out of trouble. is good; lead me into the land of upright B. C. 1021. ness. q B. C. 1021. 12 And of thy mercy a cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's 'I am thy servant. m Psa. xxv. 4, 5; cxxxix. 24.- Neh. ix. 20. Isa. xxvi. 10. and speedily, as this phrase is taken Psa. xc. 14. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk || -So as to please thee and to secure myself; I flee unto thee to hide me-Without whose care these caves, and rocks, and human helps can give me no protection. Ver. 10, 12. Teach me to do thy will--To continue in faithful obedience to thee, notwithstanding all temptations to the contrary. Thy Spirit is good, lead me, &c.—Or rather, as it is exactly in the Hebrew, and as many, both ancient and modern translators, render the clause, Let thy good Spirit lead P Psa. cxix. 25, 37, 40, &c.- Psa. liv. 5.- Psa. cxvi. 16. me. Leave me not to mine own blind or vain mind, or corrupt affections; neither give me up to the evil spirit, as thou didst Saul, but conduct me in all my ways by thy good, or gracious, and holy Spirit; into the land of uprightness-In a straight, plain, and level way, that I may not stumble nor fall either into sin or mischief. This is opposed to the crooked and rugged ways in which sinners are said to walk, Psalm cxxv. 5; Prov. ii. 15. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul-That is, out of thy mercy to me, whose life they seek. PSALM CXLIV. We may infer from verses 2 and 10, that David composed this Psalm after his accession to the throne. And yet it appears from verse 5, that it was written before he had subdued all his enemies. The Philistines, and some others, were not yet fully conquered. While, therefore, he blesses God for his mercies, and expresses his astonishment at the divine goodness, shown to such a creature as man, 1-4; he beseeches God to perfect his work, and subdue their remaining adversaries, by the might of his power, 5-8. He breaks forth into a strain of praise and thanksgiving, 9, 10. And again returns to his prayers for the complete redemption and prosperity of Israel, 11-15. 2 My 3 goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he 1 Heb. my rock, Psalm xviii. 2, 31.xviii. 34. Heb. to the war, &c. a 2 Sam. xxii. 35; Psa. b 2 Sam. xxii. 2, 3, 40, 48. NOTES ON PSALM CXLIV. 4 d Man is like to vanity: his days Hebrews, ii. 6. Psa. cii. 11. Or, My mercy. Job vii. 17; Psalm viii. 4; d Job iv. 19; xiv. 2; Psa. xxxix. 5 ; lxii. 9.and illustrates God's goodness to him, by the conVerses 1, 2. Blessed be the Lord my strengthsideration of his own meanness. Though I am a On whom I rely, and from whom I have power to king over my people, yet, alas, I am but a man, a withstand and subdue my enemies, and to perform || base, sinful, and mortal creature; if compared with the duties of my place and station; who teacheth thee, less than nothing and vanity; that thou takest my hands to war, &c.-Who gives me that skill in || knowledge of him-That thou so much as takest nomilitary affairs, and that dexterity in the management || tice, or makest any account of him, especially that of my weapons, which is much above my education || thou hast any care over, or kindness for him; or the and former course of life; my goodness-Or, my son of man, &c.--The same thing repeated in other mercy, or the God of my mercy, as God is called, words: see on Psa. viii. 4; Job vii. 17, 18. Man-Psalm lix. 10, 17. He who is exceedingly good or In his nature and continuance in the world; is like merciful to me, as goodness itself; who subdueth the to vanity-Or, to a vapour, or a breath, as Isa. lvii. people under me-Who disposes my people's hearts 13, which is gone in an instant. His days are as a to receive and obey me as their king. "What Da- shadow that passeth away-That declineth, as Psa. vid here acknowledges, with regard to his victories, cii. 11, and cix. 23, (where see the notes,) or "that and that skill or might by which they were obtained, glides over the earth, vanishes, and is seen no more. should be likewise acknowledged by all earthly Such was human nature; but the Son of God hath kings and generals in the day of battle and conquest." taken it upon himself, rendered it immortal, and exVerses 3, 4. Lord, what is man--He magnifiesalted it to heaven; whither all will follow him here The mercy of God in B. C. 1038. B. C. 1038. A. M. 2966. are as a shadow that passeth away. || who delivereth David his servant from A. M. 2966 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and the hurtful sword. come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 h Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thy hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; m 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their of a palace: right hand is a right hand of falsehood. n 13 That our garners may be full, affording 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God:'all manner of store; that our sheep may bring upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: Psa. xxxiii. P Verses 7, 8.kind to kind. 2, 3; xl. 3.- Psa. xviii. 50.- Or, victory. 4 Psa. cxxviii. 3.- Heb. cut.— Heb. from 8 Heb. able to bear burdens, or, loaden with fesh Whose mouth speaketh vanity-Empty boasts, or vain threatenings which come to nothing; or false and deceitful promises and professions of friendship, which they cannot, or do not, make good; and their right hand, a right hand of falsehood—“ For, with that hand, as with a pledge, they confirmed the treaties of peace, and leagues of friendship made with Israel, all which they had perfidiously broken. Lifting up the hand was the usual ceremony at the taking of an oath, Gen. xiv. 22. So that this clause seems to be a repetition of the sense contained in the former: agreeably to which the Chaldee interprets the former part of the verse to mean a false oath; and the Arabic renders the latter part thus; and their oath is an oath of iniquity.”—Dodd. Verses 9, 10. I will sing a new song unto theeWhen thou hast granted this my request, verses 7,8, which I know assuredly thou wilt do. He giveth salvation to kings-Who are not preserved by their own power or prudence, but by God's special provi dence, which, for the public good of the world, watcheth over them. after who follow him now in the paths of righteousness and holiness. It is justly observed here by Dr. Horne, (as had been suggested by Dr. Hammond,) that, "if David, upon the remembrance of what God had done for him, could break forth into this reflection, much more may we do so, for whom the Redeemer hath been manifested in the form of a servant, and in that form hath humbled himself to the death of the cross, to gain the victory over principalities and powers, to put all things under our feet, and to make us partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Lord, what, indeed, is man, or what is the son of such a miserable creature, that thou shouldst take this knowledge, and make this account of him!" Verses 5-8. Bow thy heavens and come down- || To help me before it be too late, remembering what a frail and perishing creature I am. "David having celebrated his victories over some of his enemies, and extolled the mercy and goodness of God, to whom he ascribed the achievement of them, now proceeds to request a further manifestation of the omnipotent arm in his favour against other hostile forces, which still threatened his country upon his accession to the throne." Touch the mountains and they shall smoke-As Sinai did at thy glorious appearance, Exod. xix. 18. This is a figurative and poetical description of God's coming to take vengeance on his enemies, which is continued in the next verse. The images used are taken from the promulgation of the law on Sinai. Cast forth light-people, that thine and our enemies being subdued, ning and scatter them-Namely, the enemies of and peace established in the land, thy people may David and Judah, such as the Philistines, Moabites, enjoy those blessings which thou hast promised them. Ammonites, and Syrians: see 2 Sam. v. and viii. That our sons-Who are the strength, safety, and Shoot out thine arrows-Thy thunderbolts, or light- hopes of our nation; may be as plants-Flourishing nings, as before; and destroy them-Totally: for and thriving, and growing in strength and stature, as these weapons of thine are irresistible. Send thy plants do in their youth; that our daughters-Upon hand-Thy power; from above-For from thence whom the hope of posterity depends; may be as we look for help; deliver me out of great waters-corner-stones, &c.-Strong and beautiful, and adornWhich are ready to overflow me, namely, the mul-ed with all the ornaments belonging to their sex. titude of enemies, which assault me on all sides; That our garners may be full-That our storefrom the hand of strange children-Either of the houses may be well replenished with the fruits and heathen nations, or of the rebellious Israelites. || products of the earth. That our sheep may bring Verses 11-14. Rid me, and deliver me, &c.— "Prayer is again made for a continuance of God's favour, and a complete victory over every enemy; the happy consequences of which, in the establishment of Israel and the prosperity of Jerusalem, are described." That our sons, &c.-This mercy I ask not only for my own sake, but for the sake of thy 2 |