COMMENTARY

ON THE

BOOK OF PSALMS.

FIRST DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM I

ARGUMENT.

This Psalm, which is generally looked upon by expositors as a preface or introduction to the rest, describes the blessedness of the righteous, consisting, ver. 1. negatively in their abstaining from sin; 2. positively, in holy meditation on the Scriptures, productive of continual growth in grace, which, 3. is beautifully represented under an image borrowed from vegetation; as, 4. is the opposite state of the unbelieving and ungodly, by a comparison taken from the threshing-floor. The last two verses foretel the final issue of things, with respect to both good and bad men, at the great day.

VER. 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

The Psalter, like the Sermon on the Mount, openeth with a "beatitude," for our comfort and encou

ragement, directing us immediately to that happiness which all mankind, in different ways, are seeking and inquiring after. All would secure themselves from the incursions of misery; but all do not consider that misery is the offspring of sin, from which it is therefore necessary to be delivered and preserved, in order to become happy, or " blessed." The variety of expressions, here used by David, intimateth to us, that there is a gradation in wickedness; and that he who would not persist in evil courses, or commence a scoffer at the mystery of godliness, must have no fellowship with bad men: since it is impossible for any one, who forsakes the right path, to say, whither he shall wander; and few, when they begin to "walk in the counsel of the ungodly," propose finally to sit down in the "seat of the scornful." O thou second Adam, who alone, since the transgression of the first, hast attained a sinless perfection, make thy servants "blessed," by making them "righteous," through thy merits and grace!

2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

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 lively 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. The enemy, when advancing to the assault, will always find him well employed, and will

be received with" Get thee behind me, Satan !" When the law of God is the object of our studies and meditations, we are conformed to the example of our Redeemer himself, who, as a man, while he "in"creased in stature," increased likewise" in wisdom," and grew powerful in the knowledge of the law which he was to fulfil, and of those prophecies which he was to accomplish; so that, at twelve years of age, he appeared to" have more understanding than all "his teachers; for the divine testimonies had been "his meditation." Ps. cxix. 99.

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

By continual meditation in the sacred writings, a man as naturally improves and advances in holiness, as a "tree" thrives and flourishes in a kindly and well-watered soil. All the "fruits of righteousness show themselves at their proper" season" as opportunity calls for them; and his words, which are to his actions what the "leaves" are to the fruit, fall not to the ground, but are profitable, as well as ornamental. Every thing in him and about him serves the purpose for which it was intended; his brethren are benefited by him, and his Maker is glorified. How eminently is this the case with that TREE OF LIFE, which Jehovah planted in the midst of his new paradise, by the waters of comfort; a tree which sprung out of the earth, but its height reached to heaven, and its breadth to the ends of the world! its shadow is for the protection, its fruit for the sup

port, and its leaves for the healing, of the nations. It flourishes in immortal youth, and blooms for ever in unfading beauty. See Rev. xxii. 2.

4. The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff, which the wind driveth away.

In the foregoing description of the righteous, all appeared verdant and fruitful, lovely and enduring; but here, by way of contrast, we are presented with nothing but what is withered and worthless, without form or stability, blown about by every wind, and at length finally dispersed from the face of the earth, by the breath of God's displeasure, and driven into the fire prepared for it. Such is the state, such the lot of the "ungodly;" and so justly are they compared to "chaff."

5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

A day is coming, when the divine Husbandman shall appear with his " fan in his hand," and shall 'thoroughly purge his floor." The wheat, which shall stand the winnowing of that day, will be gathered into the celestial granary; while the chaff, for ever separated from it, shall be hurried out of the floor, and carried, by a mighty whirlwind, to its own place. Then shall there be a "congregation of "the righteous," in which "sinners shall not stand." At present wheat and chaff lie in one floor; wheat and tares grow in one field; good and bad fishes are comprehended in one net; good and bad men are contained in the visible church. Let us wait with patience God's time of separation.

6. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

In the present scene of confusion, we may be, and often are, deceived in the judgement we form of men. But it cannot be so with the Omniscient. "The "foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, "The Lord knoweth them that are his;" 2 Tim. ii. 19. Their good deeds are not unobserved, nor will they be forgotten by him. His eye seeth them in secret, and his hand will reward them openly, in the day of final retribution; when crowns of glory shall sparkle on the heads of the righteous, but shame and torment shall be the portion of the wicked; "the way of the ungodly shall perish."

PSALM II.

ARGUMENT.

David, seated upon the throne of Israel, notwithstanding the opposition made against him, and now about to carry his victorious arms amongst the neighbouring heathen nations, may be supposed to have penned this, as a kind of inauguration psalm. But that "a greater than David is here," appears not only from the strength of the expres sions, which are more properly applicable to Messiah, than to David himself; but also from the citations made in the New Testament; the appointment of the Psalm by the church to be read on Easter day; and the confessions of the Jewish