Job 35. 9, 10. 1 Sam. 30. 6. Lam. 3. 24. Ps. 22. 1. Rom. 5. 8. Jer. 4. 20. Deut. 28. 8. Acts 16. 25, &c. 6 Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul? and, why art thou so disquieted within me? 7 Put thy trust in God, for I will [shall] yet give him thanks for the help of his counte nance. 8 My God, my soul is vexed within me; therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon. 9 One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes: all thy waves and storms [thy billows] are gone over me. 10 The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the day-time; and in the night-season did I sing of him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life. 7 For I will yet, &c. Since, notwithstanding the greatness of my present troubles, I am perfectly convinced, that I shall yet have cause again to give him thanks, for looking favorably upon me, and for still shewing himself my saviour and my God. 8 My God, &c. My mind, O God, is extremely dejected and miserable. I am forced, therefore, to comfort myself with the recollection of those wonderful things, which thou formerly didst for thy chosen people at the river Jordan (Josh. iii. 15, 16), and at mount Hermon (Deut. iii. 1, &c), not doubting, but that thou wilt now likewise deign to exert thy power in my own behalf. David, however, may refer to some instances of the divine mercy, which he had himself experienced in those parts, but which the historians have not related. See on Psalm cv. 18. Jordan and Hermon are, of course, mentioned, because between them the exiled king was then chiefly forced to remain. Moreover, Hermon is styled "the little hill," with respect to the superior dignity and importance of Sion. 9 One deep, &c. As calamities and troubles are frequently represented under the image of deep waters (see on Psalm xviii. 16), David, to point out the intensity of his distress, describes himself as being in great danger of drowning in a stormy sea, where wave after wave passed above his head. For, at the sound of descending water-spouts, (which are said to be more frequent on the Syrian coast than in any other part of the Mediterranean,) the depths are stirred up and thrown into dreadful commotion, one billow encouraging, as it were, and inciting, another to join their forces and overwhelm him. Allusion may, doubtless, be made to the many cataracts of melted snow, which, in the spring, precipitated themselves down the sides of the mountainous ridge near the source of the Jordan, in whose neighbourhood David then was. 10 The Lord hath, &c. Yet I will not now despond, nor forget God's favors in former times, when I commemorated, with praises and prayers at night, the mercies I had enjoyed during the day. 11 The God of my strength. That Almighty Being, from whom alone 49. 15. 11 I will say unto the God of my strength, Isai. 40. 27, &c. Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I thus heavily [mourning], while the enemy oppress eth me? Heb. 11. 25, 26. 12 My bones are smitten asunder, as with a Isai. 51. 7. sword, while mine enemies, that trouble me, cast me in the teeth, 13 Namely, while they say daily unto me, Where is now thy God? 14 Why art thou so vexed, O my soul? and, why art thou so disquieted within me? 15 O put thy trust in God; for I will [shall] yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God. PSALM XLIII. Mic. 7. 10. Ps. 55. 4, 5. 2 Jer. 30. 16. Jer. 33. 6, &c. Cor. 7. 9, 10. THE subject, the expressions, and, particularly, the devout termination of this Psalm, are so similar to those of the foregoing one, that it is generally considered to be only a continuation of it. IVE sentence with me, O God, and defend | 1 Sam. 24. 15. GIV my cause against the ungodly people: 01 Cor. 4. 4. deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man. 2 For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee? and, why go I so heavily [mourning], while the enemy oppresseth Ine? 3 O send out thy light and thy truth; that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling; 4 And, that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God. Zech. 10. 12. Ephes. 6. 12. Prov. 3. 5, 6. 2 Sam. 6. 5. his safety was able to be derived; as, in the preceding verse, “God of my life" means the divine author and preserver of his existence. 15 Which is the help, &c. Who can render my face radiant with joy at the consciousness of being rescued from my misfortunes. Is the expression equivalent to that, which occurs, Psalm iii. 3,-" the lifter up of my head"? 1 Give sentence, &c. God is entreated, under the character both of a judge and an advocate, to protect David from his enemies. 2 For. See on Psalm xvi. 9. 30 send out, &c. Let the light of thy favorable presence, and thy faithfulness in the performance of promises, unite in guiding me into the path, which leads to thy dwelling on mount Sion. 4 And, that I may, &c. The commencement of this verse depends on the former member of the preceding one,-And "send out thy light and thy truth," that I may, &c. Ps. 9. 18: 125. 3. Job 5. 17, &c. 5 Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? and, why art thou so disquieted within me? 60 put thy trust in God; for I will [shall] yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God. THE NINTH DAY. Morning Prayer. PSALM XLIV. THE mournful strain, which pervades the present Psalm, constitutes an evident proof, that it was composed on some occasion of great national distress, when the Israelitish state was suffering grievously from its enemies, and many of the people had been carried into captivity, though the state itself still subsisted, and the public worship of God was faithfully maintained. In all likelihood Hezekiah, king of Judah, was the writer of it, and that, perhaps, soon after the blasphemous message sent to him by Sennacherib. Isai. xxxvii. 9, &c. The author recounts the divine mercies formerly shewn towards the Israelites, and compares them with the existing afflictions of his brethren, whom he represents, as nevertheless continuing to cleave stedfastly, in heart and soul, unto Jehovah. Ex. 12. 26, 27. Ex. 15. 17. Deut. 7. 1. Deut. 8. 17. Josh. 24. 12. Deut. 4. 37: 7. 7, 8. Ps. 51. 7. WE E have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us, what thou hast done in their time of old; 2 How thou hast driven out the heathen with thy hand, and planted them in; how thou hast destroyed the nations, and cast them out. 3 For they gat not the land in possession through their own sword; neither was it their own arm, that helped [saved] them; 4 But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them. 5 Thou art my King, O God; send help unto Jacob. 2 Planted them in. The children of Israel are very often introduced into the sacred writings under the figure of a vine, which God had planted. Psalm LXXX. 8. Jer. ii. 21. 3 The land. The promised land of Canaan, which had been wrested out of the hands of the seven heathen nations. 4 The light, &c. See on Psalm iv. 7. Does this expression bear any allusion to the majestic presence of God, visibly presiding over the armies of the Israelites by means of "the pillar of the cloud," which actually did go before them in the wilderness? 6 Through thee will we overthrow [push | 1 Cor. 2. 1, 4. down] our enemies; and in thy name will we Phil. 4. 13. tread them under, that rise up against us. 7 For I will not trust in my bow; it is not Ps. 20. 7. my sword, that shall help [save] me; Hos. 1. 7. 8 But it is thou, that savest us from our ene-Josh. 23. 9, 10, mies, and puttest them to confusion that hate 2 Sam. 7. 10. us. 9 We make our boast of God all day long, and will praise thy name for ever. 10 But now thou art far off, and puttest us to confusion, and goest not forth with our armies: 11 Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies, so that they, which hate us, spoil our goods: 12 Thou lettest us be eaten up like sheep, and hast scattered us among the heathen: 13 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and takest no money for them: 14 Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours; to be laughed to scorn, and had in derision of them, that are round about us: 1 Cor. 1. 29, &c. Jer. 33. 24. Lev. 26. 17. Isai. 50. 1, 2. Luke 21. 24. Jer. 15. 13. Deut. 28. 25, 37. 6 Will we tread, &c. Like oxen in the act of trampling upon those unfortunate persons, whom they have gored and thrown down. Deut. xxxiii. 17. 8 But it is thou, &c. We, equally with our forefathers, have had “large experience" of thy goodness, in rescuing us from our enemies, and in covering those enemies with open shame (see on Psalm xxii. 5.) by the disappointment of their expectations. For these instances of mercy the Psalmist declares, in the next verse, that God's praise is, and ever will be, in the mouth of his countrymen. 11 Spoil. See on Psalm xxxviii. 17. 12 Like sheep. There is much force in this comparison, not only from the nature and disposition of the animal itself, but from the circumstance, that sheep were slaughtered in greater numbers than any other quadruped, both for sacrifice and for food.—And hast scattered, &c. If the Psalm did, as is suggested, proceed from Hezekiah, under the circumstances mentioned in the introduction, this and the following verse may refer to the destruction of Samaria, and to the consequent captivity of the ten tribes, which events had happened only about eight years before. 13 And takest, &c. As a master, who merely seeks to get rid of useless slaves. When God appears no longer in defence of his servants, but delivers them over unto the will of their enemies, he is often said to have sold them. Judg. iii. 8. Joel iii. 8. 14 Thou makest us, &c. Such is the description given of the inha Gen. 4. 13. Jer. 24. 9, 10. Jer. 3. 25: 51. 51. Ps. 79. 13. Isai. 37. 3. Ps. 119. 157. 1 Cor. 4. 9, &c. Job 23.11. Mark 14. 29, &c. Job 31. 14. Rom. 8. 36. 15 Thou makest us to be a by-word among the heathen, and that the people shake their heads at us. 16 My confusion is daily before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, 17 For the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, for [by reason of] the enemy and avenger. 18 And, though all this be come upon us, yet do we not forget thee, nor behave ourselves frowardly in thy covenant; 19 Our heart is not turned back, neither our steps gone out of thy way; 20 No, not when [though] thou hast smitten us into the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. 21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, and holden up our hands to any strange god, shall not God search it out? for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart. 22 For thy sake also are we killed all the bitants of Judah, who had not been carried away captive, but remained still in their native land. 17 Avenger. See on Psalm viii. 2. Revenge, (which is directly opposed to the revealed law of Jehovah,) is very properly given as a characteristic of the heathen, who, "having not the law, are a law unto themselves." The Psalmist may, however, allude to one, who, inflamed with spite and revenge against the Jews, delighted to make atheistical reflections, as to the existence and government of that God, whom they were accustomed to worship. Psalm LXXXIX. 50. 18 Nor behave ourselves, &c. Nor, through wilful disobedience, have we violated that sacred covenant, by which we are bound to Thee. For we have not been tempted to turn aside to the worship of idols, nor to dispense with any ordinance or precept enjoined by the inspired word. Hezekiah, it should be remembered, was a great reformer of the Jewish church. 2 Kings xviii. 4, &c. 20 No, not when, &c. We adhere still to Thee and to Thy religion, though thou hast now very heavily afflicted us, yea, so heavily, that we may almost be said to dwell in a land, which, having been entirely deserted by man, is inhabited solely by serpents (Isai. xxxiv. 13. Jer. ix. 11), and which a horrible darkness has overspread. See on Psalm xxiii. 4: xci. 13. Does this verse refer to some former distress of the nation? It is, of course, difficult to determine, whether the expressions here used ought to be taken in a literal, or a metaphorical, sense. 21 The name, &c. See on Psalm v. 12. 22 Are we killed. We are in imminent danger of being killed. |