Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

come abominable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 5. Their throat is an throat is an open sepulchre (t); with their have they deceived the poison of is under their lips. asps

tongues

6. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood.

7. Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. 8. Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief: eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord ?

9. There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear (u) was for God (x) is in the generation of the righteous.

10. As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor: because he putteth his trust in the Lord.

11. Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turneth the captivity (y) of his people then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

(t) v. 5. "An open sepulchre," i. e. "as "merciless as the grave." See ante, 257. note on Ps. v. 10.

(u) v. 9. "No fear," i. e. "no cause for "fear." See Levit. xxvi. 17. 36.

(x)"For God is in the generation, &c." and therefore assists them by raising groundless fears in the minds of their adversaries. This is perhaps the inference intended to be drawn.

(y) v. 11. "Turneth the captivity," i. e. (perhaps) "bettereth the condition." See Ps. cxxvi. 1. 5.

(z) An outline of the qualities for approaching towards God. David is supposed to have been the author; and it probably was used upon some solemn procession with the ark, (the symbol of God's presence,) to the top of mount Sion, (the symbol of heaven.) It is one of the Psalms for Ascension Day, and was probably seted, either because the character of a

[blocks in formation]

PRESERVE me, O God: for in thee have I put my trust.

good man, which it delineates, comes nearest to that of our Saviour, or because the carrying up the ark to the top of mount Sion was considered a type or figure of our Saviour's Ascension.

(a) v. 1. "Dwell" and "rest," i. e. "who "shall have their abode there? who shall "be objects of thy protection? be admitted "into thy presence?"

(b)" Thy tabernacle, thy holy hill," i. e. "heaven."

(c) v. 1,2. The same question, with nearly the same answer, occurs again, Ps. xxiv. 3, 4. which was also composed upon the carrying up of the ark.

(d) v. 5. "He that sweareth, &c." i. e. "he that disappointeth not his neigh "bour, after having sworn to him:" the merit is, not in having sworn, but in disregarding his own interest to fulfil

his oath.

(e) A prayer expressing perfect confi

2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord (g): "Thou art my "God; my goods (h) are nothing "unto thee."

3. All my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth: and upon such as excel in virtue. 4. But they that run after another god: shall have great trouble.

5. Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer neither make mention (i) of their names within my lips.

7. The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground: yea, I have a goodly heritage.

8. I will thank the Lord (g) for giving (1) me warning: my (m) reins also chasten me in the night

season.

9. I have set (n) God (o) always before me: for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.

10. Wherefore my heart (p) was glad, and my glory (q) rejoiced (p): my flesh also shall rest (r) in hope (s).

6. The Lord (g) himself is the 11. For why? thou shalt not portion (k) of mine inheritance, leave my (t) soul in (u) hell: neiand of my cup: thou shalt main-ther shalt thou suffer thy Holy One

tain my

lot.

dence in God, attachment to the godly, abhorrence of idolatry and idolaters, thankfulness for peculiar blessings received, and the expectation of a speedy resurrection after death. It was written by David; but though some authors consider him as speaking in his own person, the more general opinion is, that he speaks in the person of Christ, of whom he was a type. In v. 11. Christ must be considered as the speaker; and if so, he is probably speaker throughout. See Pole's Synopsis, and Dr. Hales's Dissertations, 22 to 37.

(g) v.2.6.8. "The Lord." Hebr. "Je"hovah."

(h) v. 2. "My goods, &c." i. e. (probably,) "my goods, in sacrifice, or otherwise, (or my goodness, B. T.), can be of "no service to thee. What you require is "not for your benefit, but for man's good: "to increase his happiness, and qualify "him for thy favour." Job has the same dea, Job xxxv. 7. "If thou be righteous, "what givest thou him? or what receiveth "he of thine hand?" And it is well expressed by Chrysostom on 1 Tim. Hom.16. "If I be just, what does God gain? or if I "be wicked, what does he lose?"

(i) v. 5. "Make mention, &c." It was part of the Jewish law, that they should “make no mention of the name of other "gods, neither let it be heard out of their "mouth. Exod. xxiii. 13." See also Josh. xxiii. 7. and Ps. lxxi. 14.

[blocks in formation]

to see corruption.

"land, neither shalt thou have any part among them I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel." So Ps. lxxiii. 25. "God is the strength "of my heart, and my portion for ever;" and Ps. cxix. 57. "Thou art my portion "O Lord, I have promised to keep thy "law."

[ocr errors]

(1) v. 8. "For giving, &c." i. e. (probably)" for the warnings he gives me." (m)" Reins,"i. e. "inward thoughts." (n) v. 9. "Set God, &c." i. e. (perhaps) always considered myself as in his sight: "considered him as looking upon me.' In Psalm lxxxvi. 14. the ungodly are said' to have sought after his soul, and not to have set God before their eyes.

[ocr errors]

(0) "God," Hebr. "Jehovah.” (p) v. 10. "Was," or "is," "rejoiced," or " rejoiceth."

[ocr errors]

(9) "My glory," i. e. (probably) "my" tongue,' " called in Ps. cviii. 1. "the best "member that I have;" and in Ps. lvii, 9. my glory."

(r)" Rest," i. e. " in the grave."

(s)" In hope," i. e. " of being quickly "raised."

(t) v.11. "My soul, &c." St. Peter, in his bold address, immediately after the gift of tongues, considers this verse as written prophetically of Jesus Christ, "God hath "raised up Jesus, having loosed the pains "of death; because it was not possible that "he should be holden of it: For David "speaketh concerning him, " I foresaw the "Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

66

12. Thou shalt shew me the path of life (x); in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

Psalm xvii. (y)

HEAR the right, O Lord, consider my complaint and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence (*): and let thine eyes look upon the thing (a) that is equal.

3. Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night season; thou hast tried me, and shalt (b) find no wickedness in me : for I am (b) utterly purposed that my mouth shall (b) not offend.

"therefore did my heart rejoice, and my

66

flesh

tongue was glad; moreover also, myj "shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not "leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou "suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." "Men and brethren, let me freely speak "unto you of the Patriarch David, that "he is both dead and buried, and his "sepulchre is with us unto this day. "Therefore being a prophet, and know"ing that God had sworn with an oath "unto him, that of the fruit of his loins "according to the flesh he would raise

[ocr errors]

up Christ to sit on his throne; (See "Ps. lxxxix. 20 to 36.- cxxxii. 11, 12.) "he, seeing this before, spake of the resur"rection of Christ, that his soul was not " left in hell, neither his flesh did see cor"ruption. Acts ii. 24 to 31." St. Paul also considers the latter branch of this verse as looking to the Messiah; for after citing the words "thou shalt not suffer "thine Holy One to see corruption," he adds, "for David, after he had served his "own generation by the will of God, fell "on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, "and saw corruption: but he whom God "raised again” (viz. Jesus)" saw no cor"ruption. Acts xiii. 35 to 37."

(u) v. 11. "Hell." Hebr. "Sheol." Not "the place of torment," but "the place "where nothing can be seen; the dark and "unseen place;" answering to the Greek "dons." See ante, 9. note (a).

(*) v. 12. "Path of life," i. e. probably,

4. Because of men's works that are done against the words of thy lips (c): I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.

5. O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip

not.

6. I have called upon thee, O God, for thou shalt hear me : incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

7. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, thou that art the Saviour (d) of them which put their trust in thee; from such as resist thy right hand.

8. Keep me as the apple (e) of hide me under the shadow (g) of thy wings,

an eye :

9. From the ungodly that trouble

"the road to life everlasting," "the way "to eternal life."

(y) A prayer of David's, protesting his innocence, and earnestly intreating for deliverance.

(z) v. 2. "From thy presence," because then it must be just.

(a) "The thing, &c." i. e. (probably) "justice, impartiality."

(b) v. 3. Read, "found," "was," and "should."

[ocr errors]

(c) v. 4. "The words of thy lips,” i. e. thy commandments."

(d) v. 7. "The Saviour, &c." i. e. "who preservest from such as resist thy power "those who trust in thee," protecting the latter from the former.

(e) v. 8. "The apple, &c." The same similitude occurs in the song of Moses, Deut. xxxii. 10.; "he led him" (i. e. the people of Israel) "about, he instructed

him, he kept him as the apple of his eye;" and in Zech. ii. 8. in speaking of the vengeance which should fall upon the nations which spoiled Jerusalem, this reason is given, "for he that toucheth you, toucheth "the apple of his eye." The wonderful formation of the eye, to protect it from injury, and to answer the purposes of sight, is among the instances of God's transcendant skill, and turns to ridicule the doubt, "whether we are the effect of chance, or "the work of God's hand." See Ps. cxxxix. 12 to 16.

(g) "Under the shadow, &c." or "cover

me: mine enemies compass me round about to take away my soul. (h)

10. They are inclosed in their own fat (i); and their mouth speaketh proud things.

11. They lie waiting in our way on every side; turning their eyes down to the ground:

12. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey and as it were a lion's whelp lurking in secret places.

13. Up, Lord, disappoint him, and cast him down deliver my

soul from the ungodly, which is a sword of thine;

14. From the men of thy hand (k), O Lord, from the men, I say, and from the evil world which have their portion in this life (), whose bellies (m) thou fillest with thy hid treasure.

15. They have children at their desire and leave the rest of their substance (n) for their babes.

:

16. But as for me, I will (o) behold (p) thy presence in righteousness: and when I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it.

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

[blocks in formation]

"ing." A highly poetical idea. It is to be met with Ps. xxxvi. 7.-lvii. 1.—lxi. 4. -xiii. 8.-Is. xxxiv. 15. and more particularly in our Saviour's affectionate lamentation over Jerusalem: "How often "would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her "chickens under her wings, and ye would "not! Matt. xxiii. 37.-Luke xiii. 34."See also Ps. xci. 4.

(h) v. 9. "Soul," i. e. “life.”

(6) ante, 52. 179. (4) ante, 101. (10) ante, 88. 238. (11) ante, 53. (12) ante, 201.

(i) v. 10. "Inclosed in their own fat." An expression to denote their arrogance. So Ps. Ixxiii. 7. "their eyes swell with fatness;" and Ps. cxix. 70. "their heart is as "fat as brawn." And in the sublime hymn of Moses, Deut. xxxii. 15. "Jeshurun "waxed fat and kicked; (thou art waxen "fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered "with fatness); then he forsook God which "made him, and lightly esteemed the "rock of his salvation,"

EVENING PRAYER.
Psalm xviii. (q)

I WILL love thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence: my Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.

2. I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised: so shall I be safe from mine enemies.

ings of ungodliness (r) made me afraid.

4. The pains of hell came about me: the snares of death overtook me. 5. In my trouble I will call upon the Lord and complain unto my God.

6. So shall he hear my voice out of his holy temple and my complaint shall come before him, it shall enter even into his ears.

7. The earth trembled (s) and quaked the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were re

3. The sorrows of death compassed me and the overflow-moved, because he was wroth.

(k) v. 14. "The men of thy hand,” i. e. (probably) "those thou usest as instru"ments to execute thy vengeance;" the same as in verse 13. "the ungodly, who "are a sword of thine." So Ps. lxxx. 17. And in Is. x. 5. God calls the Assyrian "the rod of mine anger, and the staff in "their hand is mine indignation ;" and see Is. xxxvii. 26.

(4) Their portion in this life," i. e. (probably) "who look to nothing after "this life, have no prospect of blessings "in a future state, and think they have "every thing if they have wealth, and "children, and worldly advantages."

(m) "Whose bellies thou fillest," i. e. (perhaps) "who are fully satisfied by hav"ing worldly treasures, and thou reward"est them accordingly.'

(n) v. 15. "Leave the rest of their substance," i. e. (probably) "have substance "to leave behind them after their deaths." See Ps. xlix. 11.

(o) v. 16. " Will," or "shall." (p) "Behold, &c." This probably alludes to his expectations after death, in opposition to the views of the worldly men before referred to, who have no thought beyond this life. See Ps. xlix. 15.

66

(q)" The song of David, in the day that "the Lord had delivered him out of the "hand of all his enemies, and out of "the hand of Saul." It is recorded also, 2 Sam. xxii. Mr. Pierce considers it as spoken in the person of Christ, and looks upon it as a hymn to God for raising him from the dead, for making him victorious over his enemies, (the Jews,) and for giving him a people among the Gentiles. Pierce on Rom. xv. 7. 9.

(r) v. 3. "Overflowings of ungodliness," or, as it is in the Bible translation and in 2 Sam. xxii. 5. " the floods of ungodly "men." The same image is used, Is. lix. 19. "when the enemy shall come in "as a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall "lift up a standard against him."

(s) v. 7. "The earth trembled, &c." This probably refers to some extraordinary interposition of God's assistance by thunder, lightning, and hail. Similar interpositions are noticed in fine animated language in the 29th and 97th Psalms, but it may be questioned, if this passage is any where surpassed in sublimity and majesty. Dr. Blair says of it, "The descriptions of "the Deity in the Psalms are wonderfully "noble, both from the grandeur of the "object, and the manner of representing "it. What an assemblage, for instance, "of awful and sublime ideas is presented "to us in that passage of the 18th Psalm, "where an appearance of the Almighty is "described, verse 7., &c." And even in Sternhold's version much of its spirit and magnificence is retained:

"The Lord descended from above

"And bow'd the heavens most high, "And underneath his feet he cast

"The darkness of the sky.

"On cherubs and on cherubims
"Full royally he rode,
"And on the wings of mighty winds
"Came flying all abroad.”

In the magnificent description of the le-
viathan in Job, some of the imagery is so
like this, that the writer of the latter of
the two compositions had probably seen
the former. See Job xli. 18 to 21.

« AnteriorContinuar »