1. The persons described.
2. The notion by which judgment is expressed.
3. Something concerning the certainty of this judgment.
1. The persons described, 'Them that err from tliy statutes.' Some err out of weakness, and some out of pride and obstinac3^ (1.) To err out of weakness, to wander in by-paths of our own, is not safe : Ps. 125, 2, ' As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.' Men that do not sin out of malice, but are discouraged by the rod of the wicked resting upon the lot of the righteous, ver, 3 ; therefore think to shift for themselves by their own compliances, counsels, and crooked courses, God will deal with them as with his open enemies. (2.) Proudly to exalt ourselves against God, and trample his interest under foot, will bring sure judgment: Ps. cxix. 21, 'Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.' Of such the text speaks, those that oppose themselves against God, and bear themselves high in sinful courses, upon account of their pros- perity.
2. The notion by which the judgment is expressed, ' Thou hast trodden down/ The Septuagint e^ovhhwaa^, ad nihil deduxisti,
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tliou liast brought to nothing ; Acquila, confixisti, thou hast stricken throngh ; Synimachns, airifke'y^a^, rcprohasll, thou hast disproved ; the vulgar, sprevisii, thou liast contemned ; ApoUinarins, u0ept^a<^, parvi pependisti, tlion hast little esteemed: all to the same purpose. The phrase of treading under foot, used by us, implies — (1.) A full punishment ; (2.) A disgraceful one.
[1.] A full punishment. God will pull them down from their alti- tudes, even to the dust, though never so high and proudly exalting themselves against God. A full conquest of enemies is thus often expressed in scripture : Isa. x. 6, the Assyrian is said ' to take the prey, and to tread them down like mire in the streets ; ' so Micah vii. 10, the same expression, when an adversary is laid even with the ground, that he may be crushed and trampled upon, as Jehu trode Jezebel under foot, 2 Kings ix. 32 ; and Isa. xxvi. 6, ' The feet of the poor shall tread it down, even the steps of the needy.' So the utter and final overthrow of Satan is expressed, Eom. xvi. 20, ' He shall tread Satan under his feet.'
[2.] It implies a disgraceful punishment: Ps. ex. 1, ' Until I make thine enemies thy footstool ; ' an expression to show the ignominy and contempt God will put upon them. Christ keeps his sheep in his hands, John x. 28, his lambs in his bosom, Isa. xl. 11, and his ene- mies under his feet. Josh. x. 24. When he vanquished the Canaau- itish kings, ' Come near,' saith he to his captains ; ' put your feet upon the necks of these kings.' Thus Sapores the king of Persia trampled upon Valentinian the emperor, and Tamberlane made Bajazet his footstool. The meaning is, God will not only bi'ing them under, but reduce them to an abject and contemptible condition. So Chrysos- tom on the text expoundeth this phrase, that God will make them eVof etSto-Tou9, koL KaTayeXdaTOv<; , ignominious and contemptible. They shall not go off honourably, but with scorn and confusion of face, miserably broken.
3. The certainty of this judgment, that he can, hath, and will do so.
[1.] He can do so, though they be fortified with never so many advantages, for wha't is too hard for God who made all things ? It is easier, we know, to destroy than to build up things. Things long a-building may be destroyed in a moment ; and therefore, God, that made them, can destroy them : Isa, xxvii. 4, ' Who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle ? I would go through them, I would burn them together.' Briers and thorns are matter to feed the fire, not to quench it. We want faith in the power of God, and therefore we are dismayed when we see wicked men great and high.
[2.] He hath done so, notwithstanding their greatness and proud attempts. That is the Psalmist's expression here ; God hath already trodden down many such persons, and hath decreed to tread down all. Of that sort the prophet speaks as a thing already done, either in way of faith, or in part of sense, as begun to be executed : Amos ii. 9, ' I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose Height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks ; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.' Potent and mighty enemies, if they stand in the way of his people's mercies, God can pluck them uj), root and branch. When Pharaoh advanced himself against
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tlie people of God, God trod him down, and flung liim into the bottom of the sea. So the Psalmist tells us, Ps. cxxxv. 10, ' He smote great nations, and slew mighty kings for their sakes, all the king- doms of Canaan, and gave their land for an heritage unto Israel his people/ God will show what respect he hath to his jieople ; there- fore, when he ariseth to avenge their quarrel, nothing shall be able to stand before him.