Isai. 51. 17, &c. Num. 23. 19. Isai. 41. 10, &c. 2 Sam. 7. 18, 19. Luke 1. 45. Deut. 33. 7. 3 Thou hast shewed thy people heavy things: thou hast given us a drink of deadly wine. 4 Thou hast given a token for such as fear thee, that they may triumph because of the truth. 5 Therefore were thy beloved delivered: help me [save] with thy right hand, and hear me. 6 God hath spoken in his holiness: I will rejoice, and divide Sichem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasses is mine: former tranquillity, by the death of Ish-bosheth and the general acknowledgment of David's title to the throne, still it had not yet come to the enjoyment of a settled and quiet state. 2 Sam. iv. 5, &c. 3 Thou hast given, &c. So great were the troubles, which thou didst send upon us, that we were ignorant what counsels to adopt, or what course to pursue, in our distress, and seemed like to men deprived of their reason by means of some intoxicating and pernicious draught. See on Psalm xi. 7. 4 A token, &c. The "token" appears to be the making of David king over the whole country, notwithstanding every opposition, as this would naturally cause the pious Israelites to derive joy from God's faithfulness in the performance of his promises. 5 Therefore, &c. David alludes to himself and his party, whom he represents as having, on this account, been successful in the late struggle for dominion, namely, that all who feared God might "triumph because of the truth."- -Help me, &c. This is a prayer to Jehovah for heavenly assistance in those wars, which he was now about to wage. 6 God hath spoken, &c. God, "who is most holy and cannot lie," has promised me success in my undertakings. 2 Sam. iii. 18. Amos iv. 2. Having, therefore, referred briefly to this prediction, much of which had, probably, been accomplished by his recent advancement to an undivided throne, David expresses his exultation, as a conqueror, resolving to divide by admeasurement into districts, and to portion out under proper officers, both Shechem and "the valley of Succoth," of which he had, at length, become master. Shechem was properly a town of Ephraim; but those persons, who consider the Psalmist, as solely announcing future conquests over heathen enemies, suppose it to have been some place to the east of Jordan, which has not been mentioned any where else, and which, like "the valley of Succoth" in the tribe of Gad, was then in their power. Besides, "to divide" and "to measure" may be intended, they say, to signify nothing more than "to take possession of," since, in the simplicity of ancient times, such was the method of acquiring landed property. Josh. i. 6: xviii. 5. Psalm LXXviii. 56. 7 Gilead is mine, &c. On the supposition, (which seems the more rational one,) that, in the former verse, David pointed out two places, Ephraim also is the strength of my head: Judah | 1 Sam. 28. 2. is my law-giver: 8 Moab is my wash-pot: over Edom will I 2 Sam. 8. 2. cast out my shoe: Philistia, be thou glad of me. 9 Who will lead me into the strong city? who will bring me into Edom? 10 Hast not thou cast us out [off], O God? wilt not thou, O God, go out with our hosts? 11 O be Thou our help in trouble, for vain is the help of man. 12 Through God will we do great acts; for it is He, that shall tread down our enemies. Luke 12. 32. Josh. 7. 12. Isai. 30. 7 : 31.3. Num. 24. 18. 1 Chron. 19. 13. which had already fallen to him by the death of Ish-bosheth, he is now to be regarded as describing his own might, before he enumerates the nations, over which he hoped God would soon enable him to rule. Gilead, as here distinguished from Manasseh, appears to mean the country inhabited by "the children of Gad and the children of Reuben." Num. xxxii. 29, 40.—Ephraim, &c. Ephraim, like Gilead, had been so recently subject to his rival (2 Sam. ii. 9), that we need not feel surprised to find David delighted, at being able to look upon this powerful tribe in the light of the chief guardian of his government and person.Judah, &c. On the accession of David, Judah (instead of Benjamin, whence Saul sprang,) became the royal tribe, and supported the throne by its counsels. Gen. xLix. 10. Psalm LXviii. 27. 8 Moab is my wash-pot. He anticipates reducing his enemies into such thorough subjection, that he will have the power of compelling them to perform, if he thinks fit, the lowest menial services. The Moabites are even to be, as it were, the vessel, in which he purposes to wash his feet. The expression is strong, though not stronger than that, which a heathen historian informs us, was used by an ancient Egyptian king, who, to explain the meanness of his own birth, compared himself, in his original condition, to a vessel employed for the same purpose. -Over Edom, &c. I will hold out my sandals to the Edomites, that they may take them off and clean them. Matt. iii. 11. Luke iii. 16. It would probably, however, be better to understand the phrase, as indicating that custom, which was observed by conquerors towards their captives, to which allusion is so frequently made in the Psalms. xviii. 39: cx. 1. 9 The strong city? Perhaps Rabbah, the chief city of the Ammonites. 2 Sam. xii. 26.-Edom? It is by no means unlikely, that only one city is intended in this verse, namely Bozrah, the capital of Edom, which was strongly fortified, situated on a rock, and deemed impregnable. Obad. 3. Powerful as David then was, he well knew that Jehovah must fight for him, if he looked for victory. 10 Hast not thou, &c. Bearing still in remembrance the national calamities, which had happened during Saul's reign, he here seems almost to despair of success. 12 For it is He, &c. For he will utterly rout our enemies, and THIS is a Psalm of David written during some time of trouble, though the precise occasion of it cannot now be ascertained. He may have composed it, whilst wandering in the southern parts or wilderness of Judah, which he seems to have passed through, when driven from Jerusalem by the rebellion of Absalom. 2 Sam. xv. 23: xvi. 2. He implores, that his prayers for assistance may be heard; and, having declared his assured expectation of being restored by God to his throne, he resolves then to appear before him, in testimony of gratitude, with the offerings, which he had vowed in his distress. Phil. 4. 6. Deut. 4. 27, 29. Prov. 18. 10. Mic. 7. 18, &c. Mal. 3. 16, 17. HEAR my crying, O God: give ear unto my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth will I call upon thee, when my heart is in heaviness. 30 set me up upon the rock, that is higher than I; for thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy. 4 I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever; and my trust [refuge] shall be under the covering of thy wings; 5 For thou, O Lord, hast heard my desires, enable us to trample them down, as mire in the streets. Psalm xviii. 42. The present verse is by some persons imagined to contain the song sung by the Hebrew soldiers as they advanced to battle. Psalm CXLIX. 6. 2 From the ends, &c. From the remotest parts of the land of Israel: how far soever I may be driven from the place of Thy worship, and from my own home. 30 set me up, &c. O place me out of the reach of danger on a high rock (see on Psalm xviii. 1), on one whose summit I could not reach by my own strength, nor without Thy assistance. For hitherto thou hast always been, and, doubtless, wilt vouchsafe again to be, my place of refuge, and my powerful protector. 4 I will dwell, &c. David promises, that, if Jehovah would defend him in his present difficulties, and bring him back in safety, he would never forsake his worship, nor cease to trust in him with humble confidence. Gen. xxviii. 20, &c. Psalm xci. 4. The verse may, however, be designed to express his belief, that, though now driven away from God's courts, he should soon be restored to them, and constantly enjoy the benefit, equally with the comfort, of the temple services. Perhaps he also wishes to assert, that his trust in the divine providence would be greatly increased by this fresh act of mercy. 5 Unto those, that fear, &c. He means himself and his party, whom The represents, as once more in the undisturbed possession of that and hast given an heritage unto those, that fear | Acts 10. 35. thy name. Isal. 53. 10.10 6 Thou shalt grant the king a long life, that Ps. 72. 15. his years may endure throughout all generations: 7 He shall dwell before God for ever: O prepare thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may preserve him. Luke 1. 33. 8 So will I alway sing praise unto thy name, Ps. 30. 12, 13: that I may daily perform my vows. THE TWELFTH DAY. Morning Prayer. PSALM LXII. 145. 1, &c. THERE occur neither petitions nor thanksgivings in this Psalm, but David here proclaims the extent of his confidence in God, which increased more and more, notwithstanding his severe distresses: he expostulates with his enemies and predicts their downfal, concluding with some excellent reflections on the vanity of all human things,and on the divine power and mercy. He is conjectured to have written it, when he had overcome all his fears with respect to the event of Absalom's rebellion, though he was not yet restored to his kingdom. MY Y soul, truly, waiteths till [silent] upon | Luke 2. 25,36,&c. country, which was the peculiar inheritance of God's faithful people. Psalm xxxvii. 9. 6 The king. He thus speaks of himself. Psalm xxi. 1, 7: LXiii. 12. -That his years, &c. The kingdom of David was not, like Saul's, to be confined to one age, and to expire with his own life, but was firmly established, in the Messiah, both to him and to his descendants for ever. 7 Before God. In that place, where God is especially present. Psalm xxiii. 6.- -0 prepare, &c. The divine loving-mercy and faithfulness seem to be here spoken of, as if these attributes of the Deity were really personal guardians of David's throne. Prov. xx. 28. 8 So will I alway, &c. The connexion between the two members of this verse is not, at first sight, apparent. I will celebrate thy praise continually, and learn, by the constant execution of this duty, to keep faithfully to my promises, so that I may pass no day without offering up to thee those sacrifices, which the pressure of worldly trouble induced me to vow. Psalm ci. 11. Waiteth still, &c. Patiently continues in silent expectation of divine aid. Ver. 5. Jer. iii. 23. Mic. 7. 8, 9. 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9. 1 Sam. 26. 10. Hos. 7. 16. Matt. 2. 16. 2 He, verily, is my strength [rock] and my salvation: he is my defence [high place], so that I shall not greatly fall. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? ye shall be slain all the sort of you; yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge. 4 Their device is only, how to put him out Luke 20. 20, &c. [cast him down], whom God will exalt: their delight is in lies: they give good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart. John 6. 67, 68. Isai. 45. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 30, 31. Gal. 6. 14. Lam. 2. 18, 19. Ps. 146. 2, &c. Esth. 5. 11. 5 Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God, for my hope is in him: 6 He, truly, is my strength [rock] and my salvation: he is my defence, so that I shall not fall. 7 In God is my health [salvation], and my glory, the rock of my might, and in God is my trust. 8 0 put your trust in him alway, ye people: pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope. 9 As for the children of men, they are but vanity: the children of men are deceitful upon the weights [to be laid in the balance]: they are altogether lighter than vanity itself. 10 O trust not in wrong [oppression] and 1 Tim. 6. 17, &c. robbery: give not yourselves unto vanity: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 2 So that, &c. My enemies may, he says, give me some disturbance, but they will never be allowed utterly to effect my ruin. Psalm xxxvii. 24. 3 Imagine. See on Psalm iii. 3.As a tottering wall, &c. Their destruction was to come "suddenly, in an instant," like the falling down of a wall or stone fence, that is in a dilapidated and tottering state. Isai. xxx. 13, 14. 7 Health. See on Psalm iii. 3. 8 Ye people. My faithful friends and followers. 9 Are deceitful, &c. Because, when tried by the test of experience, they are ever found wanting: they make promises, which they cannot perform, and raise expectations, which they cannot answer. Dan. v. 27. The mode of pointing these words, as existing in our Psalter, is of very ancient date; but, were the stop to be placed after "deceitful," the sense of the passage would coincide with that given in the Bible version, and be in agreement with the original. 10 O trust not, &c. Place no dependence upon wealth gotten by unlawful and violent means.- -Vanity. The word seems to have a |