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the wilderness: the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD maketh Or, to be in the hinds || to calve, and discovereth the forests and in his temple || doth uttereth, &c. every one speak of his glory.

| Or, every whit of it

1042,

10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.

11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

PSALM XXX.

1 David praiseth God for his deliverance. 4 He exhorteth others to praise him by example of God's dealing with him.

¶ A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. WILL extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over

I

me.

8.—the wilderness of Kadesh.] The wilderness of Kadesh was part of that wilderness through which the Israelites passed in their way to Canaan. See Numb. xiii. 26. Bp. Horne. It was the frontier of Idumea and Paran. Calmet.

9. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve,] The terrour of this voice causeth the hinds to cast their calves for fear. Bp. Hall.

and discovereth the forests: and in his temple &c.] The storm strips the trees of their leaves, and opens the recesses of the forest. Travell.

While His temple remaineth unshaken by these tempestuous blasts, and all His pious worshippers there securely sing the praises of His glorious majesty and power. Bp. Patrick.

Other commentators explain this difficult verse differently: The voice of Jehovah maketh the oaks to tremble; and maketh bare the trees of the woods. Bp. Louth, Abp. Secker.

And in His temple every thing proclaimeth His glory. By "His temple" may be meant the heavens. Bp.

Hare.

fections;

The practice of the great duty of praising God for His works, and for His mercies, will preserve in our souls a constant and lively sense of His glorious perwhich will be a means of making us truly religious, and will make all other religious duties easy and pleasant to us. His almighty power will make us dread offending Him; the sense of our dependence upon Him, and His continual care over us, will incline us to love Him with all our heart and soul; and the grateful remembrance of His past mercies will make us put our whole trust in Him for the time to come. Bp. Wilson.

Psalm XXX. This Psalm of David is plainly expressive of his gratitude to God for delivering him from his foes, and rescuing him from his distresses. And as it appears, 2 Sam. v. 11, and 1 Chron. xiv. 1, that Hiram, king of Tyre, sent materials and workmen to build an house for David about the time when the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, I apprehend that

He exhorteth others to praise him. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the re- Or, to the membrance of his holiness.

a

memorial.

+ Heb. there is but a

moment in his

5 For his anger endureth but moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure + for a night, but †joy tileb. cometh in the morning.

anger.

in the evening. + Heb.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I singing. shall never be moved.

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this hymn might have been composed on that occasion. Street.

A Psalm and Song at the dedication &c.] An ode on taking possession of the house built for David. Street. Ver. 3. O Lord, thou hast brought &c.] When I was just at the point of death, Thou hast preserved me from the very brink of the grave. Travell.

4.-give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.] The meaning is, Celebrate His holy name. Green.

5.

is life:] Life is often put for a long and happy time, as in Psalm xxxiv. 12; and for an eternal and immortal duration, 2 Tim. i. 10; Jam. i. 12. Poole.

6, 7. And in my prosperity &c.] There should not be a full stop at the end of the sixth verse; but after the words "stand strong" in the seventh. The word rendered "prosperity" denotes peace and tranquillity, arising from an affluent prosperous condition. When God had settled him quietly on the throne, he thought all his troubles were over, and that he should enjoy uninterrupted happiness; that God had "made his mountain so strong, that it should never be moved:" that is, had placed him secure from all danger. Dr. Chandler.

7.- thou didst hide &c.] He means, that when God withdrew His protection, displeased with his presumption, and the security he had fondly promised himself, he was immediately disturbed by fresh troubles, and his dream of uninterrupted tranquillity vanished. Dr.

Chandler.

9. What profit is there &c.] What service, said I, can I do Thee, when I am dead? Shall my ashes be able to please Thee, or to declare the truth of Thy promises? Bp. Patrick.

This religious song of thanksgiving is particularly adapted to persons who have escaped great danger. Those whom God has thus delivered ought to celebrate His goodness, and invite all men to celebrate it with them. But, above all, we ought to take notice of the instructions here given us concerning the usefulness of afflictions. Even the best of men sometimes forget themselves in prosperity: but God makes use of adversity to inspire them with a holy fear, to bring them to a sense of their duty, and to oblige them to have recourse

David sheweth his confidence in God.

That is, my tongue, or, my soul.

a Ps. 22. 5. Isai. 49. 23.

PSALMS.

the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

PSALM XXXI.

1 David shewing his confidence in God craveth
his help. 7 He rejoiceth in his mercy. 9
He prayeth in his calamity. 19 He praiseth
God for his goodness.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of
David.

Na thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deHeb. to me liver me speedily be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence

for a rock of strength.

b Luke 23.

46.

to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, LORD God of truth.

He prayeth in his calamity. 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my foot in a large room.

9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man vessel. out of mind: I am like † a broken + Heb. a

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute

me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

a vessel that perisheth.

17 Let me not be ashamed, O ŎLORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and || let Or, let them be silent in the grave.

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

to Him; and then He is reconciled and hears their cry, changing their sorrow into joy, and their complaints into songs of praise. Ostervald.

Psalm XXXI. David being pursued by his enemies, probably in his retreat from Keilah, 1 Sam. xxiii, intreats the Lord in this Psalm to deliver him. He then returns thanks that his prayers are heard. Green.

Ver. 3.-for thy name's sake lead me,] The Psalmist here beseeches God to glorify Himself, by guiding his steps so that he might escape the danger which threatened him. Bp. Patrick.

5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit:] David, in his distresses, might by these words express his resignation of himself and his affairs into the hands of God: but it is certain, that Christ actually did expire upon the cross with the former part of this verse in His mouth, Luke xxiii. 46. Bp. Horne.

·thou hast redeemed me,] David means, that it

them be cut of for the grave.

hard thing.

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak +grievous things + Heb. a proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

1 Cor. 2. 9.

19 Oh how great is thy good- c Is. 64. 4. ness, which thou hast laid up for them

was God who had often rescued him out of his difficulties. Bp. Patrick.

6.-lying vanities:] That is, Gentile practices, of consulting auguries and divinations, which deceive their expectations. Dr. Hammond. Or by this expression may be meant, strange gods. Dr. Kennicott.

7.- thou hast known my soul in adversities;] Thou hast relieved me in the lowest condition. Dr. Hammond. 8.-in a large room.] In a place of liberty. Green. 9.-mine eye is consumed &c.] My eyes are wasted with weeping, and my whole frame is in a manner destroyed. Travell.

12.-I am like a broken vessel.] I am cast aside like a broken vessel, quite past all use and regard. Bp. Hall. 15. My times are in thy hand:] He declares his assurance that his life was not subject to the will of his enemies, but was at the disposal of God. Bp. Patrick. 19. before the sons of men!] Publickly, and in the view of the world. Poole.

Blessedness consisteth

PSALMS.

in remission of sins. that fear thee; which thou hast | the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and wrought for them that trust in thee in whose spirit there is no guile. before the sons of men!

20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kind

1 Or, fenced ness in a || strong city.

city.

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

13.

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not 22 For I said in my haste, I am hid. I said, I will confess my trans- b Prov. 28. cut off from before thine eyes: never-gressions unto the LORD; and thou Is. 65. 24. theless thou heardest the voice of my forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 1 John 1. 9. supplications when I cried unto thee. Selah. 23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

d Ps. 27. 14. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

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20. Thou shalt ·

-

secret of thy presence] As if they were in the "secret of God's tabernacle," as it is called, Psalm xxvii. 5. See the note there.

pavilion] See the note on Psalm xxvii. 5. - from the strife of tongues.] From the mischief of contentious and slanderous tongues. Poole.

21. Blessed be the Lord: &c.] When David consulted God, whether the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him up, He shewed him distinguished kindness in revealing to him their intended treachery, 1 Sam. xxiii. 12. Green.

22.- nevertheless] Notwithstanding my fears and want of faith. Bp. Wilson.

23.- plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.] Will fully punish in due time the insolent oppressor. Dr. Wells, Bp. Wilson.

The considerations that make the soul cheerful in the hour of affliction, are, that God is merciful; that as He is not ignorant, so neither is He unmindful of our troubles that He is a friend, who "knows" us in adversity, no less than in prosperity: that He hath not subjected us to the necessity of being overcome by our spiritual enemies; but hath," with the temptation, made a way for us to escape." Bp. Horne.

Psalm XXXII. It is generally supposed that David wrote this Psalm after the pardon he obtained for his adultery with Bathsheba, and his murder of Uriah. Rosenmüller. This being a penitential Psalm, is appointed for Ash-Wednesday. Travell.

Maschil.] This word seems to signify, as in the margin, a Psalm of instruction or recollection. The Psalms which have this title are generally of a moral

time of

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee † in a time when + Heb. in a thou mayest be found: surely in the finding. floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

7 Thou art my hiding place; c Ps. 9. 9. thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: + I will guide thee with mine eye.

+ Heb. I will counsel thee,

shall be

9 Be ye not as the horse, or as mine eye the mule, which have no understand-upon thee. ing: whose mouth must be held in d'Prov. 26. 3. with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

nature, and are designed to convey some salutary advice, (as this, ver. 8,) and to dispose the mind to attention and reflection. Mudge.

Ver. 3. When I kept silence,] While I neglected to confess my sin I had no rest; my mind and conscience persecuted me day and night. Bp. Wilson.

4.

- my moisture is turned &c.] The following description of a Syrian summer, by Dr. Russell, is the most beautiful comment that can be met with on this passage: " From the end of May (if not sooner) not so much as one refreshing shower falls, and scarce a friendly cloud appears to shelter from the excessive heat of the sun, till about the middle of September. The verdure of the spring fades before the middle of May; and before the end of that month the whole country puts on so parched and barren an aspect, that one would scarce think it capable of producing any thing, there being but very few plants which have vigour enough to resist the extreme heat." Harmer.

6.-in the floods &c.] That is, when calamities (which are here represented under the image of floods of water) are sent abroad into the world, they shall not come near the good man. Green.

7.-thou shalt compass me about &c.] Thou shalt give me occasion to sing unto Thee many songs of deliverance. Dr. Wells.

8. I will instruct thee &c.] Hearken then unto me, thou that art in search of godly wisdom: I will give thee counsel, and direct thee to the wisest and safest course of life; I will have thee continually under my care and inspection. Bp. Patrick, Travell.

9.-lest they come near unto thee.] The rendering should be, agreeably to some of the ancient versions,

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12 Blessed is the nation whose and generaGod is the LORD; and the people e Ps. 65. 4.

tion.

REJOICE in the LORD, Oye whom he hath chosen for his own in- & 144. 15.

righteous for praise is comely

for the upright.

2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness and a Ps. 119. 64. judgment: the earth is full of the Or, mercy. | goodness of the LORD.

b Gen. 1. 6,

7.

6b By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD:

"else they will not come near thee." Dr. Hammond, Green.

11. Be glad in the Lord,] It seems probable that this verse ought to be the first of the following Psalm. Bps. Lowth and Hare, Dr. Kennicott.

Outward calamities, and inward pangs of conscience, are the strokes of God's hand, designed to humble the sinner, and lead him to confession; and in the infliction of these, such severity is sometimes necessary, that the patient is brought to death's door, before a turn can be given to the disease: but the pain of a blow upon an ulcerated part, however exquisite, is well compensated if, by promoting a discharge, it effect a cure. Encouraged, by the example and declaration of David, to hope for mercy on confession of sin, it is foretold in this Psalm, that humble penitents shall be led to make their prayer unto God in the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation, while He 'may be found:" that so they may be forgiven, and preserved from great and overwhelming calamities; from the fears of death, and the terrours of judgment. Bp. Horne.

66

Psalm XXXIII. This Psalm is an acknowledgment of the great power, and wisdom, and goodness of God in His works of creation and providence; wherein all are obliged to sing praises to His name, and faithfully to serve and depend on Him. Dr. Hammond. It was probably composed on the occasion of some special benefit received from God. Reeves.

Ver. 2.—with harp :—with the psaltery] The harp

heritance.

13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

f

Ps. 34. 15.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD f Job 36. 7. is upon them that fear him, upon i Pet. 3. 12. them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

among the Jews was played upon with a bow; the psaltery with the fingers. Rosenmüller. He mentions these instruments, because they were used in the publick worship and praises of God in the tabernacle. Poole.

-with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.] This should be rendered as it is in the Greek, "on the ten-stringed lute." Green.

3.. -a new song;] The "new song" shews the Psalm to be composed upon a new occasion. This appears likewise from the tenth verse, which speaks of some grand defeat given to the projects of the heathen. Mudge.

4. all his works &c.] That is, all His works are done agreeably to His word or promises. Dr. Wells.

6. By the word of the Lord &c.] The meaning is, that the whole body of the heavens, and all that is in them, were created by His bare speaking of the word, commanding that they should have a being. Dr. Hammond.

7. He gathereth the waters &c.] The element of water, though it be naturally apt to spread itself, yet hath He, in His providence and power, gathered up as in one heap; and part thereof, instead of overflowing the face of the earth, He hath confined in the secret receptacles thereof. Bp. Hall.

15. He fashioneth their hearts &c.] He formed their hearts one and all, and consequently must know what are their thoughts and intentions. Mudge.

17. An horse is a vain thing &c.] If David was the author of this Psalm, these words may refer to his vic

David praiseth God,

| Or, Achish, 1 Sam. 21.13.

PSALMS.

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tory over the Syrians, 2 Sam. x. 18; where it is said he alew forty thousand horsemen. Dimock. See the note on 1 Kings x. 28.

22.- according as we hope in thee.] We desire Thy mercy on no other terms, and in no other degree, but in proportion to the sincerity of our trust. Dr. Kennicott. This Psalm engages us to make these reflections: 1. That it is a duty highly reasonable, as well as delightful to praise God; but that none but upright men can discharge it in a becoming manner. 2. That we ought to praise God, because He has created the world by His almighty power, and because He governs it wisely and justly by His providence. 3. That if it was a great advantage to the Israelites to be the people whom God had chosen for His inheritance; the favour which God has vouchsafed us, in admitting us into His church, and entering into covenant with us, is a still more glorious privilege. 4. That God has a perfect knowledge of all that passes in the world, that He sees all the thoughts and actions of men; the recollection of which should engage us to walk before Him in holiness and righteousness. Lastly, we should observe that the true way to have God our friend, is to trust in Him, to fear Him, and without ceasing to apply to Him for mercy. Ostervald.

Psalm XXXIV. The title informs us, that this Psalm was composed by David when he was sent away from Abimelech on his feigning himself mad. See í Sam. x. 13. But the name there given to the king of Gath is Achish. Hence Dr. Kennicott conjectured, that Abimelech was the common title of the king of Gath, (as Pharaoh of Egypt,) and Achish his particular name. Street. This Psalm, which was perhaps composed for the use of those who resorted to David, contains the noblest encouragements to piety and virtue, from an

|

and exhorteth others thereto.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed.

:

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Or, They

flowed unto

12 a What man is he that desireth a 1 Pet. 3. 10. life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

assurance, that all such as are so devoted are the immediate care of almighty God; as all those of a contrary character are His abhorrence, and the sure marks of His vengeance. And surely this Psalm, considered in this light, is one of the noblest, the best-turned, and best-judged, and best-adapted compositions that ever were penned. Dr. Delaney. It should be remarked, that the twentieth and twenty-first verses are of particular importance, as containing the famous prophecy, that "not a bone of the Just One (Messiah) should be broken," John xix. 36. Dr. Kennicott.

Ver. 5. They looked unto him, &c.] The Greek, and other ancient versions, render this verse, "Come unto Him, and be enlightened; and let not your faces be ashamed." Dr. Wall.

and were lightened: &c.] The meaning is, that the humble looked unto God for David's protection, and received that light, that is, that comfort and joy from Him upon his return in safety, which diffused itself throughout their whole hearts; so that "their faces were not ashamed," or, as the word signifies, "not put to the blush for shame," by being disappointed as to their hope on his account. Dr. Chandler.

Edwards.

6. This poor man] Meaning himself. 7. The angel of the Lord &c.] The Divine protection and salvation vouchsafed to the faithful, is here signified; whether we suppose that by "the angel of Jehovah" is meant the presence of Christ in the church militant; or the ministration of created spirits to the heirs of salvation, as in the case of Elisha, 2 Kings vi. 17. Bp. Horne.

8. O taste] Seriously consider and make trial, by a steadfast fidelity to God in all troubles. Dr. Wells. 9.- his saints:] His servants. Bp. Wilson. 11.-ye children,] Ye that are humbly disposed to be taught as children. Dr. Wells.

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