PSAL CXVLI. | The ARGUME NT. Sa 0 | \ His Pſalm containsa ſolemn thankſgiving to God for a glori- ous deliverance from grievous and dangerous calamities ; as alſo from great perplexities and terrors of mind ariſing from the ſenſe of Gods ditpleaſure. : SE ET The Pſalmif refeſſrh his lowe to God for his manifold mercies in delive- ring him out of great ſtraits and dangers, 1 8. promiſing to walk bolily, prayeth for his futureprotettion, fudieth and promiſeth to be thank-
=
: u ) 9 9. pp: x Love the LORD, becauſe he hath heard my voice, and my ſupplications. | | 2 Becauſe he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore
will I call upon him || aslong as I live « . '& Heb, in my days; as long as I have a day to live, as this phraſe is uſed 2 Kings 20, 19. Iſs. 39. 8. Compare Job 25. 6 * The ſorrows of death b compaſſed me, and the
pains of hell c | gat hold upon me 4: I found trouble
and ſorrow, | 1:
b Dangerous and deadly calamities,. as bitter as death. Or, the cords of death. c Or, of the grave, or of death, either killing pains, or ſuch agonies and horrors as dying perſons uſe to feel within themſelves. d Heb. found me, i: e. ſurprized me» Having been long purſuing me, at laſt they overtook me and ſeized upon me, and 1 gave up my ſelf forloſt. |
4 Then called I upon the Name of the LORD : O
LORD, I beſeech thee, deliver my ſoul. _
$ Gracious is the LORD e, and righteous f: yea, our God 3s merciful. OY
e This he mentions either, 1, as that whith he found by expe- rience in anſwer to his prayers: Or, 2: as the argument by which he encouraged himſelf to pray. f Therefore he will maintain me and my juſt cauſe againſt my unrighteous oppreſlors, and perform his promiſes, and ſave thoſe who faithfully terve him and put their cruſt in him.
6 TheLORD preſerveth the fimple g : I was brought
low, and he helped me. CR |
g Sincere and plain-heirted perſons,who dare not uſe thoſe frauds and crafty and wicked artifices in ſaving themſelves or deſtroying their enemies, but wait upon God with honeſt hearts in his way and for his time of deliverance. Which was the caſe of David, who, though he had the proſpe@ and the promiſe of the Kingdom, yet would not make haſte to it by indire& courſes, as by cutting off Saul, when he had great provocation and fair opportunity to do jt : of which ſee 1 Sam. 24. and 26. Such perſons he calls /ample or fooliſh, as this word is commonly rendred, not becauſe they are really fo, but becauſe the world eſteems them ſo.
7 Return unto thy reſt hb, O my ſoul, for * the
LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee, | | k Unto that tranquility of mind and cheerful confidence in Gods promiſes and providence, which thou didſt once enjoy. | ' 8 *Por thou haſt delivered my ſoul ; from death,
mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling k. 3 My ſelf. - k To wit, into miſchief and the pit of deſtruftion. 9 I will walk before the LORD I in the land ofthe living ». . 1 Or, 1 fha# walk, &c. This is either r. the Pfalmiſts promiſe to God in requital of the favour laſt mentioned, I will therefore Pleaſe God, as this phraſe is uſed, Gen. 5. 24. compared with H*b. II. F. Gen, 17. 1. T will devote my ſe}fro the worſhip and ſervice > God. Or, 2. his thankful acknowledgement of Gods further avour. Though Ibe now baniſhed from the place of thy preſence and worſhip, yet Iaſſure my ſelf that I ſhall be reſtered to it, and ſhall ſpend my days in thy houſe and ſervice, which is the one thing that T deſired above all other things, Pſ#s. 27: 4. m Amonglit living men of this world. See on Pſal, 27. 13, : 3 a". _ "We ok NF $ aCorrg, I0 * Thelieved », therefore have I] ſpoken 9: I was p- greatly afflicted p. _ | z To wit, Gods promiſe of deliverance, and of the Kingdom: made to me by Samuel, which I was confident he would perform in ſpight of diſcouragements and difficulties. o So. theſe wank are tranſlated, as by others, ſo by the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 4. 13. I. hve ſpoken, either 1, what I have now ſaid, v. 9+ or 2. what I have uttered to others.concerning Gods promiſes made tome. Which I was not aſhamed nor afraid to publiſh when I had occaſion, be- cauſe T was fully perſwaded that God would make them good. p Or, when 7 was, &c, .or, although 7 was, &c. ſuch particles being! very frequently underſtood, The ſenſe is, and this I did even in the midſs of many and ſore afflictions. ;
11 I faidg in my haſte r, * All men are liars 5. |
* .q Yet onceIconfefs [I ſpake very unadviſedly. » Through kaſti- nels and precipitation of my mind, for want of due conſideration,
as the ſame phraſeis uſed, Pſal. 31. 22. Or, in my terror Or amazement
when I was diſcompoſed and diſtratted with the greatneſs of my
troubles. - 5 The ſenſe is either, r: All men, yea even my former
prove deceitful and perfidious, all human
friends and Companions, help faileth me ; ſo that my caſe is deſperate, if God do not help
ny -
[ Heb:in my days, *P(.18. 56. f Heb: found me»
L
*PG 53. G.
"Pf-56 13
to _-:,- Rom!3.4
| ſpeaks of praiſe rather than of prayer, as appears both from the for«
| or ſpiritual, who are tro be incorporated together, and made one
i
L M 8s.
12 What ſhall-I render unto benefits towards me; ? |
't Yer notwithſtanding all my dangers and my diſtruſt of God roo, God hath conferred ſo many and great blefſings upon me, that I can never make ſufficient returns to him for them.
13 I will take the cup of fſalyation «, and call upon
the Name of the LORDs. © © 5 31 OO,