PSALM CXLI.

Here the church is speaking, and making supplications (in virtue of the evening sacrifice, that which was offered on the cross) that she may not be seduced by any temptations, choosing rather to bear the rebukes of the Just One, her glorious head, than to partake in the pleasures of wickedness, ver. 1-5. After which she forewarns wicked rulers, that they will fall by a mighty hand, and find that her words (how much soever slighted now) were worthy of their regards; that though in the mean time, her children's bones may lie scattered, as cloven wood, yet the wicked will have a sudden fall; but she shall be delivered, and pass on safely to eternal life.

VER. 6. "They shall hear my words, for they are sweet."]-It is true of all the words which David spoke by inspiration, or the Spirit of God spake to him; particularly in his book of Psalms, concerning the Messiah, the covenant of grace, and the blessings of it; of the rich experiences of grace he had, and the several doctrines of the gospel declared by him, which were sweet, delightful, and entertaining to those who have ears to hear such things, or whose ears are opened to bear them, so as to understand them and distinguish them; but to others not.

Ver. 8. "In thee is my trust."]-Not in himself, nor in his friends, nor in any creature, prince, or potentate, but in the Lord, as the God of nature, providence, and grace; to which he was encouraged by his loving-kindness to him; by the everlasting strength in him; by what he had done for others and for him in times past; by the provisions he has made in his covenant and promises for those that trust in him, who are of all men most happy.

PSALM CXLII,

The title of this Psalm ascribes it to David, "when he was in the cave." But on whatever occasion he wrote it, he plainly represents or stands here as a type of Christ in his state of humiliation, when he was laid exceeding low, and no man cared for his soul. He therefore is to be considered as the person here speaking and making supplications, but in a foresight of the joy which was set before him; and that from and through him the righteous would take hope, when he appeared to be the object of divine care, by the deliverance of his soul from the prison or confinement of the grave.

VER. 3. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me."-Ready to sink and faint under the present affliction, being attended with the hidings of God's face, and with unbelieving frames; which is sometimes the case of God's people, and with which they are as it were covered and overwhelmed, as well as with a sense of sin, and with shame and sorrow for it: Psalm Ixi. 2. and lxxvii. 3.

"Then thou knewest my path."]-The eyes of the Lord are upon all men, and he knows their goings, none of them are hid from him; and he sees and approves of the way, of the life and conversation of his people in general; and particularly observes what way they take under affliction, which is to apply to him for help and deliverance, Psalm i. 6. Job xxiii. 10.

Ver. 5. "I cried unto thee, O Lord, I said, Thou art my refuge."]-God is a refuge to all his people in time of trouble; and where they always meet with sustenance, protection, and safety; he being a strong habitation, a strong hold, a strong refuge, to which they may resort at all times; such is Christ to all sensible sinners that flee unto him, Heb. vi. 18.

"And my portion in the land of the living."]-And a most excellent one he is, a large, immense, and inconceivable portion; he and all his perfections, purposes, promises, and blessings, being included in it; a soul-satisfying one, and which will never be taken away nor consumed; it is a portion in the present life; it will last as long as life lasts, and continues unto death, and at death, and for evermore, Psalm lxxiii. 26.

Ver. 7. "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name."]-This release he desired not so much for his own sake, that he might be at ease and liberty, but that he might have fresh occasion to praise the Lord, and an opportunity of doing it publicly, in the assembly and congregation of the people.

"The righteous shall compass me about."]-In a circle, like a crown, as the word signifies; when delivered, they should flock to him and come about him, to see him and look at him, as a miracle of mercy, whose deliverance was marvellous; and to congratulate him upon it, and to join with him in praises unto God for it.

PSALM CXLIII.

In this Psalm also I humbly conceive, with Austin, we have the voice of the Mediator, graciously interceding for his church, and begging as for himself and his own soul, that it may not be strictly judged; and even fainting, in a view of the dangers it is threatened with by the enemy, ver. 1-4. Then, recollecting the wonders of former times, he renews his merciful intercessions with a yet greater earnestness, pleating (in that humble character which for us he vouchsafed to bear as the servant of the Lord) for that guidance which is necessary to bring his soul, that is, his church, to the land of righteousness.

VER. 1. "In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness."]-He does not, plead his own faith with which he believed in God, though the prayer of faith is very effectual, but the faithfulness of God to his promises he had promised to hear, answer, and deliver such as called on him in a time of trouble; and he is faithful that has promised, nor will he suffer his faithfulness to fail; he cannot deny himself; and on this the psalmist relied for an answer, as well as desired and expected it; not on account of his own righteousness, but either on account of the goodness and grace of God, sometimes designed by righteousness, or because of the righteousness of Christ, or for the sake of Christ, the Lord our righteousness; on whose account God is just and faithful to forgive sin, the blessing the psalmist wanted.

Ver. 2. "And enter not into judgment with thy servant."]-The psalmist knew he was but a man, and could not contend with God; and a sinful creature, and could not answer him for one of a thousand faults committed by him; and though his servant, yet an unprofitable one; his nature, his heart, bis thoughts, words, and actions, would not bear examining, nor stand the test of the holy law of God; nor was he able to answer the demands of divine justice in his own person; and therefore pleads for pardon and accept. ance through Christ and his righteousness, and intreats that God would not proceed against him in a judicial

way.

"For in thy sight shall no man living be justified."]— ` In a law sense, so as to be acquitted in open court, that is, by the deeds of the law, as the apostle explains it, Rom. iii. 20. by obedience to it, by a man's own works of righte ousness; and none but the righteousness of Christ can make

men righteous or justify them before him; but this can and does present men unblameable and irreproveable in his sight.

Ver. 4. "Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me."-Covered over with grief, borne down with sorrow, ready to sink and fail: see note on Psalm cxlii. 3.

"My heart within me is desolate."]-Destitute of the Spirit and presence of God, and with respect to the exercise of grace, and filled with fears: or astonished, at the providence he was under, like one stunned and filled with sore amazement, not knowing what to make of things, or what the issue of them would be: so David's antitype was sore amazed in the garden, when his troubles and agonies came upon him, Mark xiv. 33.

Ver. 7." Hide not thy face from me."]-Nothing is more desirable to a good man than the face or presence of God, the light of his countenance, and sensible communion with him; which may be said to be hid, when he withdraws his gracious presence, and withholds the discoveries of his love, and the manifestations of his free grace and favour; which he sometimes does on account of sin, and is the case at times of the best of saints, and is consistent with the love of God, though very grieving to them.

Ver. 10. Teach me to do thy will."-Revealed in the word, which saints desire a greater knowledge of in order to do it, and in which they delight, and also are desirous of being taught, and to practice submission to the will of God under afflictions; which was now the case of the psalmist.

"For thou art my God."]-His covenant God, and from whom all his afflictions came in a covenant way, and therefore he desires to be instructed by him in them; Jer, xxxi. 18.

Ver. 11. "Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake."]-Being like one dead, ver. 3. that is, revive and cheer his drooping spirit, ready to fail, being overwhelmed within him, ver. 4, 7. as well as revive the work of grace in him, and quicken his soul to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty; and this he desires not only for his own soul's good, but for the glory of God, that his name might be honoured, and not blasphemed.

PSALM CXLIV.

The title of this Psalm seems to claim David for its author: but if he was (for it may be rendered for David, and so mean for the David, or Christ, yet) it appears from ver. 10. that he did not consider himself as speaking in his own person, because his deliverance is there urged (as an encouraging example of hoping for deliverance) by the person whom he supposed to be there speaking. In ver. 1-4. therefore, the anthor, whoever he was, is to be supposed speaking, I humbly conceive, in the person of the blessed man Christ Jesus, whom he there represents as blessing the Lord for enabling him to fight his battles, and subduing the people to him; reminding us also of the goodness which inclines him to be caring for man. In a just sense of which, the mystical body of Christ, or his church, seems to be introduced as the speaker, ver. 5. humbly begging that the Lord, he who delivered David, would again shew his power, come to touch the mountains, and deliver it from the sons of the stranger; that is, of satan, that stranger, or enemy to all goodness, and the father of lies; whose children mind nothing but vanity and lies, placing all their happiness in worldly prosperity; whereas our happiness consists only and altogether in having the Lord for our God, whatever our outward circumstances

are.

VER. 3. "Lord, what is man, that thon takest knowledge of him?"]-As the Lord does, especially of some of the sons of men; whom he reckons as his portion and inheritance, his jewels and peculiar treasure, and who are as dear to him as the apple of his eye, whom he magnifies, as in Job vii. 17. makes them kings and priests, raises them from the dunghill, and sets them among princes, to inherit the throne of glory, on whom he sets his heart, and loves them with an everlasting love.

Ver. 9. "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God."]— The author of his being, the Father of mercies temporal and spiritual, and therefore to him praise is always due; a new song of praise is to be sung for new mercies, and as these are new every morning, and are renewed day by day, new songs should be sung continually or this is a song suited to new testament times, in which all things are be come new; there is a new covenant of grace, and a new and living way to the throne of grace, a new slain sacrifice, redemption newly wrought out, and therefore the new song of redeeming grace must be sung.

Ver. 15." Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."]-Whose God the Lord is, not only by creation, and as he is a common benefactor and preserver, but as their God in covenant, their covenant God and Father in Christ, whom