The psalmist prays PSALM LXXI. for God's favour. The land of promise shall || never want a man to stand before him. The Redeemer shall see his seed, and prolong his days in them, till the mystery of God shall be finished and Christ's mystical body be completed. vileges of their fathers. PSALM LXX. This Psalm is copied almost word for word from the 40th, from verse 13 to the end; and, perhaps, it is for this reason entitled, A Psalm to bring to remembrance. For it may sometimes be of use to pray over again the prayers which we have formerly made to God on like occasions. David here prays that God would send help to him, shame to his enemies, and joy to his friends. The reader will find in the notes on Psalm 40th all that is necessary for the elucidation of this Psalm. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, 'to bring to remembrance. 3 Let them be turned back for a A. M. 2981. B. C. 1023. reward of their shame that say, Aha, A. M: 2023 MAKE haste, O God, to deliver aha! B. C. O LORD. b me; make haste 2 to help me, 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. 1 Psa. xxxviii. title.- —a Psa. xl. 13, &c.; lxxi. 12.-2 Heb. to my help. 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. 5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. b Psalm xxxv. 4, 26; lxxi. 13. Psa. xl. 15. Psa. xl. 17. e Psalm cxli. 1. PSALM LXXI. This Psalm, being without a title, and very similar to the former, is thought by many to be a continuation of it. The author acknowledges the continued series of God's goodness to him, even from his birth, and implores him not to leave him now in his old age to the malice of his enemies, but to grant him his protection. Toward the end he is assured of this, and at length obtains it, and praises God for it. So that we have here, (1,) A prayer, 1-13. (2,) Joyful praise and thanksgiving, 14-24. The Jews, who were carried captive into Babylon, with King Joachim, made use of this Psalm, as appears from the title of the Vulgate, and the LXX. See Psalm xxxi. 6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. 7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou 4f Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand art my strong refuge. a Psa. xxv. 2, 3; xxxi. 1.- b Psa. xxxi. 1. Psa. xvii. 6. d Psa. xxxi. 2, 3.- Heb. Be thou to me for a rock of habitation. Psa xliv. 4. f Psalm cxl. 1, 4. - Jeremiah xvii. 7, 17.- Psalm xxii. 9, 10; Isaiah xlvi. 3. Isaiah viii. 18; Zechariah iii. 8; 1 Cor. iv. 9. cute them, all which are as powerful as a command. NOTES ON PSALM LXXI. Verses 1-3. In thee, O Lord, &c.-See notes on Psalm xxxi. 1. Thou hast given commandment to save me- -By which he understands God's purpose and promise, and his providence watching to exe-near. Verse 7. I am a wonder to many-Hebrew,n, chemopeth, as a prodigy, or monster, that is, as a frightful spectacle, which they are afraid to come Green renders it, as a gazing-stock to the He takes encouragement A. M. 2991. day. B. C. 1023. 8 Let my mouth be filled with thy || covered with reproach and dishonour A. M. 2981. praise and with thy honour all the that seek my hurt. multitude. This David was, on account of his many truth, justice, and mercy, manifested in all thy disand sore calamities, and perhaps, also, because of his pensations toward me; and thy salvation-Tempofirm trust in God amidst them all; as if he had said, ral and spiritual, wrought out for me; all the day Every one waits to see what will be the issue of such|| long-It shall be the subject of all my songs, and my extraordinary troubles as I have fallen into, and such continual employment to publish it abroad. For I extraordinary confidence as I profess to have in God. know not the number thereof-Of the instances in But thou art my sure refuge-But, although men which thou hast manifested thy righteousness, that desert me, and look with suspicion and contempt on is, thy mercy and truth in delivering me. I will go— me, God is a sure refuge for me. "David, banished || I will not sit down in despair, but I will go on in my from his kingdom," says Dr. Horne, "was regarded work and warfare; in the strength of the Lord God as a wonder, or prodigy of wretchedness; Christ, in-Relying, not on any strength of my own, or any his state of humiliation upon earth, was a sign everywhere spoken against, as Simeon foretold he would be, Luke ii. 34. The Christian, who lives by faith, who quits possession for reversion, and who chooses to suffer with his Saviour here, that he may reign with him hereafter, appears to the men of the world as a monster of folly and enthusiasm. But God is the strong refuge of all such." efforts I can make, but disclaiming my own sufficiency, and depending on God only as all-sufficient: looking to and trusting in his providence and grace. Observe, reader, we must always go about God's work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him, to work in us both to will and to do. I will make mention of thy righteousness-Of thy mercy and goodness; or, rather, of thy faithfulness in making good all thy promises, of thy equity in all thy dispensations, and of thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. Of this righteousness, including these thy perfections, I will make mention, partly to praise and celebrate it, and partly to support and comfort myself with the remembrance of it, and what it Verses 8-11. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise-Give me occasion to multiply praises to thee for delivering me out of my present distress. Cast me not off in my old age-When I am most feeble, and most need thy help, and am one that is grown old in thy service. For mine enemies lay wait for my soul, &c.-Hebrew, a, shomree naph-implies. shi, the watchers, or observers, of my soul-That watch, that they may find occasion to take away my life, and that I may not escape out of their hands; take counsel together-Combine their powers and policies to destroy me. Saying, God hath forsaken him-For his many acts of wickedness, as is manifest, because the hearts of all Israel are turned from him, and his own heart fails him. Persecute him, and take him-Let us pursue him closely now, and we shall certainly take him; for he has not forces sufficient to withstand us, and deliver him out of our hands. Verse 17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth-By the instruction of my parents, by thy word and Spirit enlightening and convincing me, and also by my own experience, namely, concerning thy righteousness last mentioned, the wondrous ef fects whereof I have received and declared from time to time. Observe here, reader, as it is a great blessing to be taught of God from our youth, from our childhood to know the Holy Scriptures, and the important truths revealed, the privileges exhibited, and the duties inculcated therein; so those that have been favoured and received good in this way, when they were young, must be doing good when they are grown up, and must continue to communicate what they have received. Verses 14-16. But I will hope continually-Al- || though in the greatest straits and difficulties; and will yet praise thee more and more-For which I know thou wilt yet give me abundant occasion. My Verse 18. Now also when I am old, &c., forsake mouth shall show forth thy righteousness-Thy || me not-Do not abandon the care of me when I need A. M. 2981. headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation. and thy power to every one that is to come. 19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: "O God, who is like unto thee? and thanksgiving. B. C. 1023. 21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, A. M. 2981. and comfort me on every side. 22 I will also praise thee 5 with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when Ising unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 20 Thou, which hast showed me great and 21 My tongue also shall talk of thy rightsore troubles, shalt quicken me again, andeousness all the day long: for they are conshalt bring me up again from the depths of founded, for they are brought unto shame, that the earth. seek my hurt. C promises he hath given us to depend upon; and the everlasting righteousness which his Son hath brought in, by his obedience unto death, for our justification. Verses 20, 21. Thou, who hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again—I never was in such straits and distresses, (and yet I have been in such as were very great and sore,) but I found relief in thee; and therefore I doubt not but thou wilt now revive and restore me, though all men give me up for lost. And shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth-That is, from the grave; for I am like one dead and buried, and past all hope of deliverance, without thy almighty help. Or, rather, it is an allusion to men who are fallen into a deep pit of water; and the meaning is, Thou shalt draw me out of the extreme danger in which I am plunged, and wherein I should perish without thy aid. Thou shalt increase my greatness-Nay, thou wilt not only restore me to my former greatness, but much augment the splendour of it; and comfort me on every side--And though I now seem forsaken by thee, thou wilt return again, and so surround me by thy favour, that my future comforts shall far exceed my present troubles. it most: but continue the same kindness to me in my declining years which I experienced when I was a youth. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best days, and such as they shall have reason to say they have pleasure in. Until I have showed thy strength-By my own experience of its being exerted in fresh instances in my behalf; unto this generation-To which I owe peculiar duties, and which I desire to serve according to thy will, Acts xiii. 36; and thy power to every one that is to come-To all future generations, by leaving my observations upon it on record for their benefit. Thus, as David acknowledges that "it was the God of Israel who taught him, as a warrior, to conquer, and as a psalmist, to declare the wondrous works of his great benefactor; so he requests to be preserved in his old age, until, by completing his victories, and his Psalms composed to celebrate them, he had showed the strength and power of God," not only to his cotemporaries, "but to all that should arise in after times, and chant those divine hymns in the assemblies of the faithful, throughout all ages." Verses 22-24. I will also praise thee, &c.-And In like manner, "if St. Paul wish to have his life then surely I shall be no less forward to bless thee continued on earth, it is only that he may edify the than thou art to bestow thy benefits on me. My lips church and glorify God. Otherwise it is far better, shall greatly rejoice, and my soul, &c.—It is not says he, to depart and be with Christ."-Horne. In possible to express the joy wherewith, not merely imitation of these, and such like excellent examples, my lips, but my heart and soul shall sing triumphant as long as we live we ought to be endeavouring to songs for the extraordinary deliverance which I exglorify God, and edify one another; and those that pect from thee. My tongue also shall talk of thy have had the largest and longest experience of the righteousness all the day long-Which shall not goodness of God to them, should improve their ex-only be the subject of my solemn songs, but of my perience for the good of their friends. And it is a constant discourse; wherein I will perpetually magdebt which the old disciples of Christ owe to the suc-nify thy goodness and truth toward me, and thy just ceeding generations, to leave behind them a solemn testimony to the power, and pleasure, and advantage of religion, and the truth of God's promises. Verse 19. Thy righteousness also is very highMost eminent and evident, as high things are; and that which thou hast in righteousness done for thy people is very great. God's righteousness, here intended, includes the rectitude of his nature; the equity of his providential dispensations; the righteous laws which he hath given us to be ruled by; the righteous vengeance upon mine enemies. How much more is "the truth of God, in accomplishing his promises, by the redemption of our souls, and the confusion of our spiritual enemics, a subject which demands a never ceasing tribute of gratitude and love, of praise and thanksgiving. To celebrate it aright, with the melody of voices and affections, all in perfect concord, is the duty and delight of the church militant; which, when thus employed, affords the best resem blance of the church triumphant."-Horne. How Solomon is to administer PSALM LXXII. PSALM LXXII. the affairs of the kingdom. That David was the author of this Psalm, says Bishop Patrick, appears from the conclusion of it. From whence we may also gather, that it was made by him toward the conclusion of his life: when, by his command, Nathan the prophet, and Zadok the priest, took Solomon and set him upon his throne, (1 Kings i. 39, &c.,) that David might have the satisfaction to see all the great men of his kingdom do homage to Solomon, and acknowledge him for their succeeding sovereign before he died. Upon this, it is probable, the spirit of the holy man was so transported with an extraordinary joy, that he endited this hymn, wherein he first recommends Solomon to the divine benediction, and then instructs him how to make his people happy, by describing the qualities of a good king, and the prosperous state of the kingdom under his government. This he began to behold before he died, (1 Chron. xxix. 25,) and he hoped others would behold it when he was gone, to the example and admiration of all following generations. Divers passages of this Psalm, however, do not agree to Solomon, nor to any other king but the Messiah, as is confessed by the Jewish doctors themselves, who so understand it. It must therefore be acknowledged, that this, like many others, is a mixed Psalm, belonging to Solomon imperfectly, but to Christ clearly and fully divers expressions being designedly so ordered, that the reader might be led by them to the contemplation of Christ and his kingdom on this occasion. Which was the more necessary for the support of God's true Israel, because the Spirit of God foresaw Solomon's dreadful apostacy, and the great misconduct and calamities of his successors, and the miserable state of the kingdom under their hands, and therefore was pleased to fortify their hearts with views of that glorious condition which they should enjoy under the Messiah, who should certainly come. After a short prayer for his he foretels the glory of his reign, 1-17. And concludes with prayer to the God of Israel, 18–20. successor, A. M. 299. GIVE the king thy judgments, O 4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall the king's son. 5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun 3 The mountains shall bring peace to the and moon endure, throughout all generations. Verses 3, 4. The mountains, &c.-Which are so dangerous to passengers, on account of robbers or wild beasts, which commonly abide there; shall bring forth peace-Shall be travelled over, or inha Verse 1. Give the king-Namely, Solomon, who was now anointed king, although his father was yet living, 1 Kings i. 39; thy judgments-Either, 1st, Thy statutes and precepts, often called God's judg-bited, with perfect security and safety. Or peace is ments; as thou hast already given them to him in thy book, so give them to him in another and better way, by writing them upon his heart, or by giving him a perfect knowledge of them, and a hearty love to them, that he may obey and walk according to them. Or, 2d, Give him a thorough acquaintance || with thy manner of governing and judging, that he may follow thy example in ruling thy people, as thou rulest them, namely, in righteousness, as it follows. He says judgments, in the plural number, because, though the office of ruling and judging Verse 5. They shall fear thee, &c.—Most comwas but one, yet there were divers parts and branch-mentators consider the psalmist as suddenly turning es of it; in all which he prays that Solomon might be directed to do as God would have him do in such cases. Verse 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness-Namely, if thou givest him what I have desired. And by this prediction he tacitly admonishes him of, and obliges him to, the performance of his duty. Or the words may be rendered, Let him judge, the future being put for the imperative, as is often the case; and so it is a prayer. And thy poor-Or, thy afflicted, or oppressed ones; for such are thine in a special manner; thou art their judge and patron, Psa. lxviii. 5, and hast commanded all thy people, and especially kings and magistrates, to take a singular care of them, because they have few or no friends. here put for that prosperity, ease, and plenty, which is the fruit of peace; when the mountains and hills are cultivated and tilled, and so are capable of producing abundance of grain, though naturally full of stones and barren. He shall judge the poor of the people-That is, vindicate them from their potent oppressors, as judging often means. He shall save the children of the needy-Whom the rich had, or would have seized upon, for bond-men, upon some pretence or other. his speech to Solomon here, and signifying that his wisdom and righteous administration of his government should redound to his everlasting honour, so that all posterity should continually esteem and revere him as the wisest and best of princes. They acknowledge, however, that in this he was a type of Christ, and that the words ultimately, and in their most sublime sense, are to be explained of him. But as fear or reverence is frequently put for strict and proper divine worship, (as Isa. xxix. 13, compared with Matt. xv. 9, and frequently elsewhere,) which certainly was not due to Solomon, and could not be paid to him without idolatry; and as the psalmist never elsewhere, in any part of the Psalm, speaks of Solomon in the second person, but always in the third; many others consider him as addressing God Luke ii. 14, and left it as a legacy to his disciples, in these words, to whom he had spoken before in the second person, verses 1, 2, as it is here. Thus Mr. Samuel Clark: "They shall worship and serve Verse 8. He shall have dominion from sea to sea thee, O God, so that, with peace, true religion shall-Either, 1st, From the Sinus Arabicus, or Red sea, flourish." "The sense is," says Poole, "This shall be another blessed fruit of his righteous government, that, together with peace, true religion shall be established, and that throughout all generations, as it here follows. Which was begun in Solomon's days, and continued, though not without much interruption, in the time of his successors, the kings of Judah, and afterward, until the coming of Christ, in and by whom this prediction and promise was," in part, and shall, in the end, be "most fully accomplished." And Henry interprets the words to the same purpose. As long as the sun and moon endure -Hebrew, With the sun, and before the moon, that is, while they continue in the heavens; or, as others expound it, Both day and night, as the twelve tribes are said to serve God, Acts xxvi. 7. Verse 6. He shall come down, &c.-To wit, by the influences of his government upon his people, the administration of which shall be so gentle and easy, that it shall refresh and revive the hearts of his subjects, and render them a flourishing people. But this phrase much better agrees to Christ, who was yet to come, and who did come down from heaven, and brought or sent down from thence his refreshing and fertilizing doctrine, often compared to rain, and the sweet and powerful influences of his Spirit. Like rain upon the mown grass-Which it both refreshes and causes to grow and flourish, and therefore was very acceptable, especially in Canaan, where rain was more scarce, and more necessary than in many other places, because of the scorching heat, and the natural dryness of the soil, and the want of rivers to overflow or water the land. to the Mediterranean sea, for so far Solomon's deminion extended; but so did David's also; and, therefore, in that respect Solomon has not that preeminence, which this promise plainly seems to give him, above his predecessors. Or, rather, 2d, More generally from one sea to another, or in all parts of the habitable world. In which sense it is truly and fully accomplished in Christ, and in him only. And from the river-Namely, Euphrates: which was the eastern border of the kingdom of Canaan, allotted by God, (Exod. xxiii. 31; Num. xxxiv. 3,) but possessed only by David and Solomon; unto the ends of the earth-To the border of Egypt, or the tract of country along the Mediterranean sea, the end of the land of Canaan. But if understood of the kingdom of Christ, the expression means literally to the remotest parts of the earth, or throughout the whole world. Thus, Psa. ii. 8, I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Verse 9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him-That is, that inhabit solitary places. The Hebrew word, y, tziim, here used, (from y, tziah siccitas, dryness, or a dry place,) is applied to barren grounds or deserts, parched up for want of springs and rains, and it here signifies the inhabitants of such countries, and particularly the people and kings of Arabia Deserta. These were tributary to Solomon, 1 Kings x. 15, and great numbers of them submitted to Christ, and received his gospel. And his enemies shall lick the dustShall prostrate themselves to the ground in token of reverence and subjection to him, as was the custom of the eastern people. Verse 7. In his days shall the righteous flourish -As the wicked shall be discountenanced and pun- Verses 10, 11. The kings of Tarshish and of the ished, so good men shall be encouraged, advanced, isles-That is, of remote countries, to which they and multiplied. And abundance of peace as long as used to go from Canaan by sea, all which are frethe moon endureth-That is, as long as time and the quently called isles in Scripture. The kings that world shall last. Which neither was nor could be ruled by sea or by land. The kings of Sheba and Sethe case under the reign of Solomon, which was not ba-Two countries of Arabia; unless the one be a of very long duration, and the peace of whose king- part of Arabia and the other of Ethiopia, beyond dom was sadly disturbed, and almost wholly lost Egypt. Yea, all nations shall serve him—This canafter his death; but which was, and more especially not be affirmed, with any shadow of truth, of Solohereafter will be, undoubtedly and eminently accom-mon, but was, or will be, unquestionably verified in plished in Christ, who came to bring peace on earth, Christ, who is, and will show himself to be, King of |