Page images
PDF
EPUB

2 One day telleth another (u): and one night certifieth another.

3 There is neither speech (x) nor language: but their voices (y) are heard among them.

4 Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words into the ends of the world.

5 In them (z) hath he set a tabernacle for the sun which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.

nishing the wicked that "they regard not " in their mind the works of the Lord, "nor the operation of his hands." See also Is. v. 12. Had David known, what astronomy has since discovered, the size, &c. of the sun, moon, and starry system, how would it have raised his admiration! The moon, the nearest to us of the heavenly bodies, is almost one third the size of the earth. The planets, that is, those stars which are nearest the sun, and derive their principal light from him, are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Herschel, &c. Mercury and Mars are less than the Earth, and Venus about the same size, but Jupiter is a thousand times larger, Saturn a hundred times, and Herschel eighty. And if these are all inhabited by rational beings, as is most probable, how insig nificant in the great scale of the creation is our earth, and how is our idea of the works of God extended? And yet our Bun and all these planets are almost as nothing when we look farther into the heavenly bodies. Every star is probably another sun like ours, with other planets belonging to it; and if so, ours is only one, and that a very small one, of many thousand worlds. The sun is a million times larger than the earth, and ninetyfive millions of miles from us, and the nearest of the stars (excluding the planets) is many millions of miles beyond him. A thousand stars are visible to the naked eye, with a good telescope three thousand may be seen, and as the glasses are improved, more are continually discovered. Mr. Addison has noticed the commencement of this Psalm in the 6th volume of the Spectator, page 272.

6 It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about (a) unto the end of it again and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law (b) of the Lord is an undefiled law, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart: the commandment of the Lord is

"The Supreme Being has made the best "arguments for his own existence in the "formation of the heaven and the earth: "and Aristotle says, that should a man "live under ground, and there be con"versant with the works of art and "mechanism, and then be brought up "into the open day, and see the several

[ocr errors]

glories of the heaven and earth, he "would immediately pronounce them the "works of such a Being as we define God "to be. The Psalmist has very beauti"ful strokes of poetry to this purpose "in that exalted strain "The heavens "declare the glory of God" (to the end of verse 4. and then he adds), "as such a "bold and sublime manner of thinking "furnishes very noble matter for an ode, "it is wrought into the following_one," and then he subjoins the wellknown hymn,

"The spacious firmament on high," &c.

(u)" Telleth another," and "certi- v.2. "fieth another," i. e. of God's glory: the constant succession of day and night is another illustration of it.

66

(x)" Neither speech," &c. i. e. probably, there is no country to which they do not proclaim the power, &c. of God. "Language" is used for "nation or

"people.' Dan. iii. 4. "To you it is

"commanded, O people, nations and "languages."

v.4.

(y) "Their voices," " their sound,” v.3,4. "their words," i. e. the testimony they bear to God's wisdom, &c.

[blocks in formation]

2. 10.

pure, and giveth light unto the

eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever : the judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold sweeter (c) also than honey, and the honey-comb.

11 Moreoever, by them is thy servant taught and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret faults!

13 Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great offence.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart: be alway acceptable in thy sight, 15 O Lord: my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm xx. (d) THE Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee.

nished to the world in general for magnifying the name of God, the Psalmist passes to the consideration of God's law, which supplies as strong proofs of the wisdom and goodness of God, and of his attention to the comforts and happiness of man; and therefore gave the Israelites in particular additional grounds for praising God.

(c)" Sweeter," &c. So Ps. cxix. 103. "O how sweet are thy words unto my "throat, yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth."

66

[ocr errors]

(d) This Psalm was probably occafioned by some successful expedition against a powerful enemy. The first five verses seem a prayer whilst the king was sacrificing to God before they set

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Sion.

3 Remember all thy offerings: and accept thy burnt-sacrifice. 4 Grant thee thy heart's desire and fulfil all thy mind.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and triumph in the Name of the Lord our God: the Lord perform all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord helpeth his Anointed, and will hear him from his holy heaven: even with the wholesome strength of his right hand.

7 Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.

8 They are brought down, and fallen but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord, and hear us, O King of heaven : when we call upon thee.

Psalm xxi. (e) THE King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord: exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation.

out, and the last four either a spirited assurance that God would give them success, or an exultation from perceiving that the offering was accepted, or a song of triumph after the victory. It is a very animated composition, and David is considered the author. It is used in the service for the King's Accession.

(e) A prophetic hymn, looking for. ward to the success, &c. of the Messiah. Jarchi, one of the Jewish writers, says of it, "our masters understand it of King

[ocr errors]

Messiah, but for replying to the he "retics, it is better to understand it of

66

King David ;" and Kimchi, another Jew, observes, "some say David made "this Psalm for the Messiah ;" and this opinion he prefers. Chandl. Def. 257,258.

2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire and hast not denied him the request of his lips.

3 For thou shalt prevent (ƒ) him with the blessings of goodness and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life: even for ever (g) and ever.

5 His honour is great in thy salvation: glory and great worship (b) shalt thou lay upon him.

6 For thou shalt give him everlasting felicity and make him glad with the joy of thy

v.3.

countenance.

7 And why? because the King putteth his trust in the Lord: and in the mercy of the Most Highest he shall not miscarry.

v. 4.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

over death, and of the triumph that "ensued; and truly there are some

[ocr errors]

things in it which are more literally " fulfilled in Christ than in David, as " v. 4, 5, 6." It is difficult, indeed, to understand it of David, especially if David, as is generally supposed, was the author; but his own successes might lead him to look prophetically to those of the Messiah. It is one of the Psalms for Ascension Day.

(f)" Prevent," i. e. go before his wishes, give him of the blessings of goodness beyond what he can expect.

(g) "For ever," &c. This is true of our Saviour, "Christ being raised from "the dead, dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him." Rom.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

feel thy hand: thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee.

9 Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath: the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them.

10 Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth and their seed from among the children of

men.

II For they intended mischief against thee and imagined such a device (k) as they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore shalt thou put them to flight and the strings of thy bow shalt thou make ready against the face of them.

13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength : so will we sing, and praise thy power.

66

"the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might and do"minion, and every name that is named, "not only in this world, but also in that "which is to come;" and according to Philipp. ii. 9 to 11. "God hath highly "exalted him, and given him a name "which is above every name; that at the

[ocr errors]

name of Jesus every knee should bow, "of things in heaven, and things in "earth, and things under the earth, and "that every tongue should confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord," &c.

(i)"Thine enemies," &c. The times of the Messiah are continually described as times of great vengeance. See note on Ps. ii. 9. and ante 29. note on Luke xxi. 25. and this vengeance was executed to an extent beyond example at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem.

[blocks in formation]

(k) "Such a device," &c. This v. II. might allude to the putting our Saviour to death, by which the Jews probably supposed they should remove him from the earth, and annihilate his religion, in both of which objects they were disappointed.

[blocks in formation]

(1) A prophetic description of the trouble and anguish the Messiah should undergo, of the scorn with which he should be treated, of many of the cir cumstances of his passion, of the assistance God should give him, of his ultimate triumph, and of the final success of his kingdom. David is considered the author, and he speaks in his own person as though he was speaking of himself; but he was a type of the Messiah, and in that character speaks of things as having happened to himself which were only to happen to the Messiah. This is one of the Psalms selected for Good Friday. v. 1. (m) "My God," &c. Our Saviour, whilst upon the cross, uttered the beginning of this verse, Matt. xxvii. 46.Mark xv. 34. perhaps to fix the attention of his followers upon the predictions in

(9) ante 191.

Heb.x. (12)

(5) ante 185.164

(10) ante 191. (11) antè 195.

3 And (n) thou continuest holy: O thou worship of Israel.

4 Our fathers hoped in thee: they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They called upon thee, and were holpen : they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded.

6 But as for me, I am a worm (0), and no man : a very

this Psalm, and upon their wonderful accomplishment.

(") For "and" read "but." The 8.3. meaning probably is, though I do not immediately obtain relief, I am satisfied thou wilt not wholly forsake me; I shall have the deliverance which they who trust in thee have always found.

(o) "A worm," i. e. treated with such v. 6. little regard. There are many passages speaking prophetically of the contempt the Messiah should experience, of the sufferings he should undergo, and of the ultimate success of his religion. It is of him that it is said, Is. 1. 6. "I gave my "back to the smiters, and my cheeks to "them that plucked off the hair; I hid "not my face from shame and spit "ting" and of him God saith, Is xlix. 7. "to him whom man despiseth,

7,8.

scorn of men, and the out-cast of the people.

7 All they that see me, laugh me to scorn (p): they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying,

8 He trusted in God, that "he would deliver him : let him "deliver him, if he will have him."

9 But thou art he that took me (9) out of my mother's womb: thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts.

9.9.

9.12.

10 I have been left unto thee ever since I was born: thou art my God, even from my mother's womb.

11 O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand : and there is none to help me.

12 Many oxen (r) are come about me fat bulls of Basan close me in on every side.

"to him whom the nation abhorreth, to "" a servant of rulers, kings shall see "and arise, Princes also shall worship."

0.15

(p) "To scorn," &c. How exactly does this correspond with the account we have of what occurred at the crucifixion? They that passed by reviled "him, wagging their heads: likewise "also the chief priests mocking him, " with the scribes and elders, said, He "saved others, himself he cannot save ; "if he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and will believe him: he trusted in "God, let him deliver him now, if he "will have him." Matt. xxvii. 39. 41, 42, 43.

[ocr errors]

we

(q) "Took me," &c. The protection experienced in the helpless state of infancy is also stated as a ground for confidence, Ps. lxxi. 5. "Through thee "have I been holden up ever since I was "born; thou art he that took me out "of my mother's womb.”

(r)" Oxen" and "bulls of Basan," persons as impetuous, cruel, and overbearing as oxen fed in the rich pastures of Basan.

(s) For "shalt bring" read "hast

[blocks in formation]

"brought." This is the Bible translation.

(t) "Pierced," &c. When our Sa- v. 17. viour was nailed to the cross, his hands and feet were necessarily pierced. It may be observed, that crucifixion was not a Jewish punishment, and that there was no Jewish punishment in which the hands and feet were pierced. The probability, therefore (humanly considered) was against the fulfilment of this prediction; but the same almighty Power that suggested the prophecy could also bring it to pass.

(a)" Staring," &c. This might v. 17. imply that he would be in a situation to be stared at, raised above the heads of the by-standers; and this was the case with our Saviour on the cross.

(x) Part," &c. and "cast lots." v. 18. These two singular predictions were literally fulfilled at our Saviour's death "The soldiers, when they had crucified "Jesus, took his garments, and made "four parts, to every soldier a part, and "also his coat: now the coat was with

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »