Page images
PDF
EPUB

1 Chron. 29. 17, 18. John 6. 45.

2 Chron. 15. 2, 15.

Jer. 3. 4.
John 15. 3.

Neh. 10. 29.

Col. 3. 23, 24.

Luke 8. 15.

Ps. 25. 7.

Prov. 10. 21: 15. 4.

Rev. 3. 17, 18.

Jer. 15. 16.

Rom. 7. 22.

Heb. 10. 16, 17.

Rom. 8. 32.

7 I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness [thy righteous judgments]. 8 I will keep thy ceremonies: O forsake me not utterly.

WE

SECOND PORTION.

HEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way? even by ruling himself after thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not go wrong out of [wander from] thy commandments.

11 Thy words have I hid within my heart, that I should not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I been telling of all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all manner of riches.

15 I will talk of thy commandments, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 My delight shall be in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy word.

[ocr errors]

THIRD PORTION.

DO well unto thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

sion may be to that shame and confusion of face, which arises from remorse of conscience, and which would necessarily disturb one, who felt self-convicted of not having kept all God's commandments.

11 Have I hid, &c. The divine revelation is now compared to a valuable treasure, which the possessor conceals with the greatest care, and in the most secure place, lest it should be lost. Psalm xvii. 14. Matt. xiii. 44.

12 Blessed, &c. The Psalmist wishes to assert, either that Jehovah is the true God, to whom all worship and adoration are due; or, that he ought to be praised and glorified for the blessings, which he confers so unsparingly on mankind. But, in whatever way this passage is understood, the following clause forms a petition for the divine grace and teaching, which could alone enable him to prove his devotion, and to perform his duty in the most acceptable manner.

14 I have had, &c. Abundance of earthly wealth could not afford, to myself, nor even to the children of this world, greater delight, than I experience in following "the way of thy testimonies."

17 O do well, &c. The instance of mercy, which the Psalmist seeks

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.

19 I am a stranger upon earth: O hide not thy commandments from me.

20 My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire, that it hath alway unto thy judgments. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud; and cursed are they, that do err from thy commandments. 22 Ŏ turn from me shame [contempt] and rebuke, for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me, but thy servant is occupied [did meditate] in thy statutes;

[blocks in formation]

to obtain, is not only, that he may be preserved from every danger, but that life may be granted him, to prove the sincerity of his piety, by devoting himself, for the future, entirely to the service of God. Ver. 77. Psalm xxxix. 15.

18 Open thou mine eyes, &c. The really devout Israelites well knew, that the ceremonial institutions of the divine law typified many deep and spiritual mysteries, which they could only understand, in proportion to the degree of illumination vouchsafed to themselves by God. See on Psalm xxxiv. 20: cx. 7.

19 I am a stranger, &c. The author, perhaps, entreats, that, since the earth is not his abiding place, he may be divinely instructed in the way, which will conduct him to that better country, towards which he is journeying, in search of an eternal habitation; lest, if left to his own guidance, he should through ignorance go astray, and wander about to no purpose. Heb. xi. 13, 14: xiii. 14. He seems, however, rather to imply, that he needs to be taught by God the nature of his moral and religious duties, as, without such teaching, he must inevitably fall into many difficulties and troubles, like a mere sojourner in a foreign land, one totally unacquainted with the laws and institutions of the country, in which, for the time, he is residing.

20 My soul breaketh out, &c. His loud and vehement expressions manifested the eagerness, which possessed him, of becoming acquainted with God's will. Possibly nothing else was intended by our old translators, than what is given in the Bible version, namely, that his soul was constantly ready to break or faint, whenever he experienced a dread of being left in ignorance or bewildered through error, with respect to his obligations to heaven: such was the intensity of his desire after religious knowledge.

21 Thou hast rebuked, &c. The obstinately impenitent and careless sinners have ever been subject to the dreadful wrath of God.Cursed. Obnoxious to those punishments, which the Almighty has denounced against their wickedness.Err. See on Psalm xxxviii. 17.

23 Princes also, &c. Not merely the inferior orders of society, but the great men also, when they met together in their assemblies, were accustomed to calumniate and malign the Psalmist. Psalm L. 20.

1 Kings 2. 1, &c. 2 Cor. 10. 5.

Ps. 51. 12.

John 10. 10.

Acts 16. 30.

Prov. 2. 3, &c.

Acts 8. 31, 39.

Ps. 42. 14, 15.

Ephes. 4. 22, &c.

Josh. 24.15.
Luke 4. 42.

Acts 11. 23, 24.

Phil. 3. 13, 14.

24 For thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.

FOURTH PORTION.

MY soul cleaveth to the dust: O quicken thou me, according to thy word.

26 I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me: O teach me thy statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of thy commandments, and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

for very

28 My soul melteth away heaviness: comfort thou me according unto thy word. 29 Take from me the way of lying; and cause thou me to make much of thy law.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; and thy judgments have I laid before me.

31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, confound me not [put me not to shame]. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou hast set my heart at liberty.

25 My soul cleaveth, &c. He now describes himself as brought down almost "into the dust of death" (Psalm xxii. 15); and beseeches, that, in agreement with his gracious promises, God would deign to revive (see on Psalm iii. 3.) his soul, and to rescue him from this great peril. The ejaculatory prayer, which occupies the latter member of the verse, is frequently repeated in this psalm, and signifies, according to circumstances, deliverance from distress, prolongation of life, preservation to immortality, communication of spiritual grace, and every assistance necessary to obey the divine commandments at all seasons. Ver. 37, 40, 88, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159.

26 My ways. These are, apparently, his transgressions. Ver. 59. Perhaps, also, he piously committed to God in prayer the event of all his undertakings. Psalm xxxvii. 5.

29 The way of lying. As opposed to "the way of truth" (ver. 30), this expression seems to comprehend every thing pertaining to false doctrine, equally with whatever is contrary to holiness of life. But idolatry may be meant, since lies and lying are terms used throughout scripture, to denote the false and superstitious worship of the heathen. Jon. ii. 8. Hab. ii. 18. Rom. i. 25.

30 Thy judgments, &c. That information from above, which had been prayed for (ver. 19), as either an unerring guide, or a sure monitor in his earthly pilgrimage, he here engages to place constantly before his eyes for hourly direction and admonition. Psalm xvi. 9.

32 I will run, &c. The Psalmist determines to proceed in the path of his duty to God, not slowly nor listlessly, but with the utmost diligence, as well as with unremitting alacrity, when he shall have been released from the difficulties and troubles, which now assail him. Ver. 43, 44. See on Psalm iv. 1.

THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY.

Morning Prayer.

FIFTH PORTION.

TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes,
and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep
thy law, yea, I shall keep it with my whole

heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein is my desire [do I delight].

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. 38 O stablish thy word in thy servant, that I may fear thee.

39 Take away the rebuke, that I am afraid of, for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, my delight is in thy commandments: O quicken me, in thy righteousness.

[blocks in formation]

or of that path Ver. 112.

33 Unto the end. To the end, either of his life, along which the divine statutes would conduct him. 36 Covetousness. See on Psalm x. 3. It should be observed, that, by the words, (incline) not (my heart) to covetousness, is implied -suffer not my heart to be inclined, or, give it not over, to covetousness. This is a prayer, then, for the influence of divine grace, to counteract the corrupted propensities of human nature.

37 Lest they behold vanity. Lest, by having pleasure in beholding, I should be induced to love and follow the wicked and empty things of this life. The eyes are, most probably, put for all the senses, which are the inlets of temptation, and through which every kind of concupiscence is excited.

38 That I may fear thee. That, perceiving by the protection vouchsafed to me, with what faithfulness thy promises of assistance are performed, I may thence imbibe a reverential fear of thee, and dread, in any way, to transgress thy will.

39 Take away, &c. Since the excellency of the divine law aggravates the guilt and disgrace of acting contrary to it, we may, doubtless, easily perceive the nature of the reproach, which especially

terrified the Psalmist.

40 Quicken me, &c. The aid of the Holy Ghost to enliven his heart, and to rouse within him each devout affection and desire, is here besought, according to the greatness of the divine mercy. Mere animal life cannot surely be meant. Ver. 77.

2 Sam. 23. 1, &c. Isai. 64. 5.

Isai. 54. 17.
Mic. 7. 8.

Ps. 145. 10, &c.
Ephes. 1. 13, 14.

2 Tim. 3. 16, 17.

John 8. 31, 32.

Mark 13. 9.

Acts 4. 18, 19.

Hab. 3. 17, 18.

Rom. 2. 13.
Jam. 1. 15.

Josh. 23. 14.

2 Cor. 1. 10.

SIXTH PORTION.

LE ET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

42 So shall I make answer unto [have wherewith to answer] my blasphemers, for my trust is in thy word.

43 O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in thy judg

ments.

44 So shall I alway keep thy law, yea, for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy commandments.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And my delight shall be in thy commandments, which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and my study shall be in thy statutes.

SEVENTH PORTION.

THINK upon thy servant, as concerning thy word, wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.

41 According unto thy word. In agreement with those engagements, which thou hast graciously made with thy people, to deliver them out of all their troubles.

43 O take not, &c. Delay not to interpose in my behalf, nor let me ever be so much disheartened by distress, and oppressed with uncertainty of relief, as to be unable to discourse confidently on the faithfulness, with which thy promises are kept.

45 And I will walk, &c. When rescued from the bondage of fear and anxiety, like a man liberated from confinement, I shall be able to serve thee without restraint or hinderance: moreover, I will then resolutely pursue that straight path of thy commandments, upon which I now so much desire to enter. Ver. 32.

46 Even before kings. By "kings" are, probably, to be understood the great men among the Israelites. But, whether David or Ezra is the author of the Psalm, no more would seem to be implied than this, that earthly power, how great and mighty soever, should never prevent him from speaking in praise of revelation.

48 My hands, &c. Thirteen senses of the phrase, "to lift up the hands," have been brought to explain the present passage. Active exertion in the cause of religion,and eagerness to put in practice God's commandments are, apparently, intended. Gen. xii. 44. Psalm x. 13. Heb. xii. 12.

« PreviousContinue »