Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Psalm iv. (d)

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

2. O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme (e) mine honour and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? (g)

3. Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

4. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still. 5. Offer the sacrifice (h) of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.

6. There be many that say: Who will shew us any good?" 7. Lord (i), lift thou up: the light of thy countenance upon us.

8. Thou hast put gladness in my heart: since (k) the time that

(d) Is supposed to have been written by David. It contains a devout address to God, and a spirited assurance to his enemies, "that his innocence had already

[ocr errors]

engaged God in his behalf, and would "continue to insure his protection."

(e) v. 2. "Blaspheme," i. e. " traduce, "speak evil of."

(g) "Leasing," i. e. "falsehood, mis"chief."

(h) v.5."Sacrifice of righteousness." "The "tribute of good conduct and devotion." See Ps. 1. 13, 14, &c. where the inefficacy of ceremonial sacrifice alone, and the necessity of inward devotion from the heart, is strongly pointed out.

(i) v. 7. "Lord, &c." A devout answer to the despondency of those who had said, "Who will shew us any good?"

(k) v. 8. " Since, &c. or as in B. T. more than," that is, "more than in the "time that corn, and wine, and oil in"creaseth," "more than the joy of harvest," which is used proverbially to express great joy. Thus Isaiah ix. 3. "They joy before

[blocks in formation]

66

(m) v. 3. "Betimes," and "early in the morning." So Ps. lvii. 9. "Awake up "my glory; awake lute and harp: I my"self will awake right early." And Ps. CXXX. 6. " My soul fleeth unto the Lord, "before the morning watch; I say, before the "morning watch." So Isaiah xxvi. 9. "With 66 my soul have I desired thee in the night: yea, with my spirit within me will I seek "thee early for when thy judgments are "in the earth, the inhabitants of the world "will learn righteousness." See also Ps. lxxxviii. 13. Ps. xcii. 2.

[ocr errors]

(n) v. 4. "Hast no pleasure," i. e. "Holdest in utter hatred and abhorrence." 2. Till. 384. Ser. 61.

speak leasing (0): the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.

7. But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies make thy way plain before my face.

9. For there is no faithfulness in his (p) mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness.

10. Their throat is an open

sepulchre (q): they flatter with their tongue.

11. Destroy(r) thou them, O God: let them perish through their own (s) imaginations: cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness: for they have rebelled against thee.

12. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy name shall be joyful in thee.

13. For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.

Lessons for the First Day of the Month throughout the Year.

[blocks in formation]

(1) ante, 200.

Even. Esther vi.
1 Cor. xv. (6)

1 Cor. xvi.

(2) ante, 224.
(3) ante,
(8) ante, 137. 147. 40.

130.

November 1.

Apoc. xix. to v. 17.

(4) ante, 44. 37. (5) ante, 228. (9) ante, 57. 49. (10) ante, 166.

(7) ante, 226.
(o) v. 6. "Leasing," i. e. " falsehood,
"what will hurt."

(p) v. 9. "His," or rather "their."
(q) v. 10. "An open sepulchre." "As
"merciless as the grave, sparing none; and
open, ready to receive as many as may fall
"into it." The expression occurs again in
Ps. xiv. 5. "Their throat is an open sepul-
"chre; with their tongues have they de-
"ceived; the poison of asps is under their
"lips;" and Jer. v. 16. in speaking of a
nation God threatened to bring against
Israel, he says of them," their quiver is an
"open sepulchre; they are all mighty men."

(r) v. 11. “ Destroy, &c." The verbs in this and the beginning of v. 12. should rather be in the future, as predictions, than in the optative, as imprecations: "thou "shalt destroy," "they shall perish," "thou shalt cast," and "all they that put "their trust in thee shall rejoice." They are futures in the Hebrew, but that language having no optatives, what is there in the future, is rendered either as a future or an optative, as may best suit what is supposed to be the meaning.

(s) "Imaginations," i. e. " counsels, "contrivances."

EVENING PRAYER.

Psalm vi. (s)

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation (t): neither chasten me in thy displeasure.

2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my (u) bones are vexed.

3. My soul also is sore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

4. Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercies' sake.

5. For in death (x) no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit?

6. I am weary (y) of my groaning; every night wash I my bed, and water my couch with my tears.

7. My beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine enemies.

(s) A psalm of distress; applying to God for relief, and concluding triumphantly, upon a full conviction of receiving it. It is one of the Psalms for Ash-Wednesday.

(t) v. 1. "In thine indignation, &c." The meaning perhaps is, "If I am to be "rebuked and chastened, let it not be when "thine indignation is raised, or thy dis"pleasure heavy;" and then it corresponds with Jer. x. 24. "O Lord, correct me, but "with judgment: not in thine anger, lest "thou bring me to nothing. Pour out thy "fury upon the heathen that know thee "not, &c." See Ps. xxxviii. 1., and see ante 88. note on 2 Cor. vi. 2.

(u) v. 2. "My bones," "even my bones." So severe is my distress, and so far beyond the reach of human aid.

(x) v. 5. "In death, &c." So Ps. xxx. 10. "Shall the dust give thanks unto thee, or "shall it declare thy truth?" and Isaiah Xxxviii. 18. "The grave cannot praise "thee; death cannot celebrate thee: they

that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth." So also Ps. cxv. 17.

8. Away (2) from me, all ye that work vanity (a): for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9. The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer.

10. All mine enemies shall be confounded (b), and sore vexed: they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.

Psalm vii. (c)

O LORD my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and de

liver me;

2. Lest he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces: while there is none to help.

3. O Lord my God, if I have done any such thing (d): or if there be any wickedness in my hands;

4. If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me: yea, I have delivered (e) him "The dead praise not thee, O Lord; neither "all they that go down into silence."

(y) v. 6. I am weary, &c." i. e. (probably) "it tires me out."

(z) v. 8. "Away, &c." A spirited transition; as though he had received at the moment God's assurance of relief.

(a)" Vanity," i. e. "injustice, wicked"ness."

(b) v. 10. "Confounded," "because of "his deliverance; because it put an end "to their hopes for his destruction."

(c) This Psalm is supposed to have been written by David upon some false report made against him to Saul, or in his flight from Absalom, when he was reviled by Shimei, 2 Sam. xvi. 7, 8. He applies with great feeling to God for protection, protests his own innocence, calls upon God to judge between him and his enemies, and foretells from God's justice. their discomfiture.

[ocr errors]

(d) v. 3. "Any such thing," i. e. "such as is imputed to me."

(e) v. 4. "Delivered," i. e. "betrayed."

that without any cause (g) is mine enemy;

5. Then let mine enemy persecute my (h) soul, and take (h) me: yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honour (i) in the dust.

6. Stand up, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself because of the indignation of mine enemies: arise up for me in the judgement that thou hast commanded. 7. And so (k) shall the congregation of the people come about thee for their sakes (1) therefore lift up thyself again.

8. The Lord shall judge the people; give sentence with me, O Lord: according to my righteousness, and according to the innocency that is in me.

9. O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end: but guide thou the just.

64

[ocr errors]

(g) "Without any cause," i. e. "in

him, whom I have carelessly treated as "mine enemy."

(h) v. 5. "Soul," i. e. "Life," "me," or " it." B. T. 2. Till. 274.

(1) "Lay mine honour, &c." i. e. "dis"grace me, bring ignominy upon me."

(k) v. 7. "So, &c." i. e. "when it is seen "how thou protectest thy servants, the people shall turn more zealously to "thee." Its influence upon others is often pressed as an argument to induce God to shew some token for good upon those who trust in him. See Ps. xxxii. 71.-Ps. lviii. 10.-Ps. Ixiv. 9, 10.

(4)" For their sakes," i. e. "to con"vince them; to bring them to thee."

(m) v. 10. "The very hearts, &c." When God directed Samuel to select David, he said, "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; "for man looketh on the outward appear"ance, but the Lord looketh on the heart, "1 Sam. xvi. 7.:" and in Jer. xvii. 10. God says, "I the Lord search the heart; I try "the reins, even to give every man accord"ing to his ways, and according to the "fruit of his doings." Well therefore did the wise man say, Prov. iv. 23. " Keep thy

10. For the righteous God: trieth the very hearts (m) and reins. 11. My help cometh of God: who preserveth them that are true of heart.

12. God is a righteous judge, strong and patient: and God is provoked (n) every day (o).

13. If a man will not turn (p), he (q) will whet his sword (r): he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

14. He (s) hath prepared for him (s) the instruments of death: he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

15. Behold, he (t) travaileth with mischief: he hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth ungodliness.

16. He hath graven and digged up a pit and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for other.

"heart with all diligence; for out of it are "the issues of life."

(n) v. 12. "Provoked," i. e. " by the "conduct of the wicked."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

(0) 66

Every day," i. e. "constantly receiving provocation."

(p) v. 13. "Turn," i. e. "reform, depart from evil.”

(q)" He," i. e. "God."

(r) Whet his sword," i. e. " prepare "himself to take vengeance." In the song of Moses Deut. xxxii. 41. God is represented as saying, "If I whet my glittering "sword, and mine hand take hold on "judgment, I will render vengeance to "mine enemies, and will reward them that "hate me;" and to this passage David might here allude.

(s) v. 14. "

'He," i. e. "God." "Him," i. e. "the man that will not turn."

(t) v. 15. "He," i. e. "mine enemy, "the person whose conduct induced David "to write this Psalm;" or, indefinitely,

[ocr errors]

any one," to intimate that God will bring upon the wicked the destruction they destine for others: "Look at any one "that travaileth with mischief; it shall "come upon himself.”

17. For his travail shall come upon his own head: and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate.

18. I will give thanks unto the Lord, according to his righteousness and I will praise the Name of the Lord most High.

Psalm viii. (u)

O LORD (x) our Governor (x), how excellent is thy name in all the world thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!

2. Out of the mouth (y) of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies that thou

(u) A spirited triumphal hymn, supposed to have been written by David after he had overcome Goliath, the giant of Gath, but probably looking forward prophetically to an event, of which that might be a type, our Saviour's victory over Satan, and his future power and glory. The 2d verse is referred to, (Matt. xxi. 16.) upon our Saviour's triumphant entry into Jerusalem; the 4th, 5th, and 6th are alluded to by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (Heb. ii. 6, 7, 8.) with reference to our Saviour's ascension; and the 6th is referred to, with reference to our Saviour, Ephes. i. 22. and 1 Cor. xv. 25— 27. It is one of the Psalms for Ascension Day. Mr. Mede has written a learned discourse upon it; B. 1. Disc. 9. p. 36.

(x) v. 1, 9. “Lord," Hebr. " Jehovah," "Governor," Hebr. "Adon."

(y) v. 2. "Out of the mouth, &c." When the chief priests and scribes were displeased, because the multitudes who met Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem, and the children in the temple, cried out unto him, "Hosanna to the Son of David," (hailing him as the Messiah,) our Saviour answered them, in allusion to this verse, "Have ye never read, "out of the mouths "of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. See Matt. xxi. 1-16."

See also 1 Cor. i. 27. where it is said, “God "hath chosen the foolish things of the "world to confound the wise; and God "hath chosen the weak things of the world "to confound the things that are mighty." Mr. Mede considers the terms "babes and

mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3. For (2) I will consider thy hea vens, even the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;

4. "What (a) is man that thou "art mindful of him: and the "Son of man, that thou visitest “him ?”

5. Thou madest him lower (b) than the angels: to (c) crown him with glory and worship.

6. Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands: and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet (d);

sucklings" as referring to our Saviour and his disciples.

(z) v. 3. "For I will," or rather "when "I." It is so in B. T.

(a) v. 4. "What, &c." After looking, though but for a moment, to the wonderful works of God in the heavens, he puts the question which the comparative insig nificance of man naturally suggests, and in answer bursts into ecstacy upon looking forward to HIM who was to be made man, to still the enemy and the avenger, and to be crowned with glory and worship.

[ocr errors]

(b) v. 5." Lower," by making him "man." The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews introduces this and the next verse; and, after intimating that our Saviour had not yet arrived at the summit of his power, because all things were not yet put under him, adds, "but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower "than the angels, for the suffering of "death, crowned with glory and honour." (c)" To crown him," i. e. “in order "to crown him for that very purpose." (d) v. 6. "Under his feet." In speaking of Christ's glory, and exaltation, and superiority, (Ephes. i. 20-22.) St. Paul says, that God," when he raised him from "the dead, set him at his own right hand "in the heavenly places, far above all

[ocr errors]

principality, and power, and might, "and dominion, and every name that is "named, not only in this world, but "also in that which is to come, and put "all things under his feet." See also

1 Cor. xv. 25-27.

« AnteriorContinuar »