14. 2, 3. 2 Praise the Lord with harp: sing praises Rev. 5. 8, 9: unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage [a loud noise]. 4 For the word of the Lord is true, and all his works are faithful [done in truth]. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house. Isai. 42. 10. Rom. 15. 8, 9. Tit. 1. 2. Matt. 5. 45. Acts 14. 17. Job 26. 13. 2 Gen. 1. 9, 10. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: stand in Dan. 6. 25, &c. awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world; 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought; and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect; and casteth out the counsels of princes. 11 The counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever, and the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation. Heb. 12. 29. Gen. 1. 3. Matt. 8. 3. Isai. 8. 9, 10. Mic. 4. 11, 12. 12 Blessed are the people, whose God is the Ex. 19. 5. 3 A new song. A song designed to proclaim some fresh instance of his goodness. Ver. 10. 4 The word, &c. God's revealed word contains nothing but what is righteous and holy: all his actions, too, are in complete agreement with his threats and promises Deut. xxxii. 4. 5 He loveth, &c. The Lord's delight is in righteous or just judgment, which he dispenses, as well to protect the innocent, as to punish the guilty. 6 The word of the Lord. Most of the ancient commentators apply this expression to the Son of God, "the personal Word.”— -All the hosts, &c. See on Psalm xxiv. 10.- -The breath of his mouth. It has been suggested, that the Holy Ghost is likewise here referred to, and his procession from the Father. Gen. i. 2. John xx. 22. 7 He gathereth. See on Psalm xxxii. 4. 9 It stood fast. What he commanded to exist arose permanently into being. 10 Of the people. Of such nations, as are not numbered among his worshippers. Had any of their projects lately experienced a great defeat? This notion has been embraced by some persons. E Deut. 4. 7. 2 Chron. 16. 9. Prov. 15. 3. Job 34. 21. Josh. 14. 12. Prov. 21. 31. Job 36. 7. Job 5. 20. 1 Chron. 5. 20. Isai. 40. 31. Zech. 10. 5, &c. Matt. 19. 29. Lord Jehovah; and blessed are the folk, that he hath chosen to him to be his inheritance. 13 The Lord looked down from heaven, and beheld all the children of men: from the habition of his dwelling he considereth [looketh upon] all them, that dwell on the earth. 14 He fashioneth all the hearts of them, and understandeth all their works. 15 There is no king, that can be saved by the multitude of an host; neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength. 16 A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength. 17 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon them that put their trust in his mercy; 18 To deliver their soul from death, and to feed them in the time of dearth. 19 Our soul hath patiently tarried for the Lord, for he is our help, and our shield; 20 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have hoped in his holy name. 21 Let thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us, like as we do put our trust in thee. PSALM XXXIV. FROM 1 Sam. xxi. 10, &c. we learn, that David, having fled, through fear of Saul, to Achish, the king of Gath, and not being received by him in a manner, which answered his expectations, at first feigned himself mad, but afterwards" departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam." Such is the circumstance, which the present Psalm has very naturally been supposed to commemorate. For David here certainly celebrates the divine lovingkindness, on account of some signal deliverance, and invites all 15 There is no king, &c. Should Jehovah so ordain it, not even a large body of infantry, not extraordinary personal strength, nor a powerful cavalry, can save any monarch from ruin. Psalm cxLvii. 10. As the art of war was but imperfectly understood by the Israelites, they placed their principal reliance on a multitude of combatants. 14 Their works. Their thoughts and intentions must also be implied. 20 For our heart, &c. The righteous are now taught the reward of their patient tarrying for the Lord. For we may feel confident, the Psalmist adds, that, so far from disappointing our expectations, he will be sure, at last, to fill our hearts with joy and gladness. I the Israelites to assist him in his work of thanksgiving: moreover, he urges them to sincere trust and religious obedience, by pointing out to them, the happiness of the righteous, as well as the misery of the wicked. WILL alway give thanks unto the Lord: his | praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify [exalt] his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; yea, he delivered me out of all my fear. 5 They had an eye [They looked] unto him, and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. 6 Lo, the poor [this poor man] crieth, and the Lord heareth him, yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord tarrieth [encampeth] round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 80 taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Ephes. 5. 19, 20. Col. 3. 16, 17. Ps. 142. 6. Jer. 9. 23, 24. Luke 1. 46, &c. Matt. 7. 7. John 8. 12. 2 My soul, &c. In this will I glory, that Jehovah is himself my protector and my guide. And be glad. Not simply, however, on account of my deliverance; but because its tendency will necessarily be to impart confidence to their own breasts, when in similar circumstances. 3 His name. See on Psalm v. 12. This verse is, of course, addressed to "the humble." 5 They had an eye, &c. "The humble" may again be understood. But this seems rather to form a general proposition (see on Psalm xxxi. 5.) importing, that all men, who have ever looked up to God in their distress, have received comfort. For their eyes have immediately shone with a radiant light, indicative of joy at the confident fulfilment of their hopes, instead of their faces being covered with confusion from the effect of anticipated disappointment. See on Psalm xiii. 3. 6 The poor. If we have here the words of David, and not of "the humble," he probably means himself under the title of the afflicted man. See on Psalm LXXii. 2. It has been suggested, that this and the next verse allude to the patriarch Jacob, whom, when at Mahanaim, God placed under the protection of two hosts of angels. Gen. xxxii. 2. 7 The angel of the Lord, &c. The singular here stands for the plural. This image is taken from the practice of war, as if the angelic armies used to pitch their tents round about the devout worshippers of God, for the purpose of preserving them from danger. 2 Kings vi. 17. Psalm cxxv. 2. Luke 12. 29, &c. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Phil. 4. 19. Ps. 32. 9. Prov. 2. 1, &c. 1 Pet. 3. 10, &c. Jam. 3. 5, &c. 1 Pet. 2. 22. Isai. 1. 16, 17. Rom. 12. 9, 18. 2 Chron. 6. 40. Amos 9. 4. 2 Chron. 32. 20, 21. John 15. 7. Ps. 145. 18, 19. Prov. 24. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 11. John 19. 36. 9 His saints. 9 O fear the Lord, ye that are his saints; for they, that fear him, lack nothing. 10 The lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they, who seek the Lord, shall want no manner of thing that is good. 11 Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is he, that lusteth to live, and would fain see good days? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile: 14 Eschew evil, and do good: seek peace, and ensue [pursue] it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. 16 The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil, to root out the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them, that are of a contrite heart; and will save such, as be of an humble spirit. 19 Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of all. 20 He keepeth all his bones, so that not one of them is broken. See on Psalm xxx. 4. 11 Ye children. Ye humble and tractable persons, who are conscious, that you need instruction. By this affectionate appellation the Hebrew teachers were wont to address their scholars. 1 John ii. 1: v. 21.- -The fear of the Lord. The acceptable mode of demonstrating your reverence for Jehovah. The Psalmist then goes on to state, that a holy life affords the truest testimony to the existence of such reverence. 12 To live. Not merely length of days is implied, but the enjoyment of a prosperous and happy existence. Psalm xxxviii. 19; LXXXI. 16.- -Fain. See on Psalm iii. 3. 13 Keep thy tongue, &c. By thy words neither injure nor deceive another. 20 He keepeth, &c. The primary reference in this verse is, doubtless, to God's complete protection of the good; but St. John teaches us, that it comprises also a prophecy respecting our Saviour, that real Paschal lamb, whose bones were to be so solicitously preserved from being broken. Num. ix. 12. Whether the pious Israelites, those, who really were looking" for the consolation of Israel," fully comprehended the 21 But misfortune shall slay the ungodly; 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16. and they, that hate the righteous, shall be deso- Rev. 20. 11, &c. late. 22 The Lord delivereth the souls of his ser- 1 Kings 1. 29. vants; and all they, that put their trust in him, Acts 16. 31. shall not be destitute. THE SEVENTH DAY. Morning Prayer. PSALM XXXV. THE contents of this Psalm would lead us to presume, that David composed it, when he was persecuted by Saul, and wickedly betrayed by Doeg, as well as by some other enemies. 1 Sam. xxii. 9: xxiii. 19. Earnest entreaties to God for aid, together with a pathetic account of the troubles, which he endured from the unkindness and ingratitude of his countrymen, are joined to joyful anticipations of speedy deliverance. Though, in some degree, applicable to David, the Psalm may principally describe the sufferings and subsequent triumph of the Messiah. PLEAD thou my cause, O Lord, with them, Ex. 14. 25. that strive with me; and fight thou against them, that fight against me. Jer. 50. 34. 2 Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and Isai. 42. 13. stand up to help me: prophecy or not, we have no means of determining, nor is it a very probable supposition. Still, as they had their minds continually directed to the Messiah, and to the circumstances of his appearing (John viii. 56), they may, by divine inspiration, have been, in some measure at least, aware of the ultimate meaning of the present passage, and of other similar passages in the writings of the persons, who were, from time to time, endued with a prophetic spirit and commissioned to instruct them. For their faith would be kept in constant exercise even by the glimpses thus afforded them of the future, and though they did not arrive at the precise signification of every expression, which they were graciously permitted to read. Psalm xxii. 18: Lxix. 22. 21 Misfortune. The afflictions, which come upon "the ungodly." -Shall be desolate. "Shall soon be brought to nought:" shall not escape that destruction, which they have justly deserved. Psalm XL. 18. 22 Shall not be destitute. Will not be frustrated of their expectations, nor sink irrecoverably under the weight of those "great troubles," which have been permitted by God, for a time, to break down their spirits. Ver. 18. 1 Plead thou, &c. Jehovah is now introduced by David, both as an effective advocate (Joel iii. 2), and as an invincible champion on his behalf. Exod. xv. 3. |