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162. I am as glad of thy word: as one that findeth great spoils.

163. As for lies, I hate and abhor them but thy law do I love.

164. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements.

165. Great is the peace that they have who love thy law and they are not offended at it.

166. Lord, I have looked for thy saving health (e) and done after thy commandments.

167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies and loved them exceedingly.

168. I have kept thy commandments and testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

22d Part. (g)

169. LET my complaint come before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

170. Let my supplication come

(d) A profession of obedience and love for God's law.

(e) v. 166. 174. "Saving health," i. e. "deliverance at thy hands.'

(g) A prayer for instruction and deli

verance.

(h) This Psalm is supposed to have been written by David, when by the calumnies of Doeg and others he was constrained to quit his own country. (See 1 Sam. xxi. 10. and xxvii. 2.) It calls to mind that God had before heard him when he was in trouble, prays for further deliverance, and laments his banishment from his own land, and the inveteracy of his enemies. This and the next fourteen Psalms are called in the Hebrew Songs of the ascent or going up ;" and

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though the reason for so calling them is not known with certainty, it might be one of these: first, because they were sung by the Levites whilst the king was going up to the temple, which we may suppose was an act of great state and solemnity, for amongst the things which astonished the queen of Sheba when she went to see Solomon, was "his ascent by "which he went up to the house of the "Lord, (1 Kings x. 5.);" or, secondly, because they were sung by the people when they were going up to Jerusalem at the three solemn feasts (see note on Ps. cxxii. p. 421.); or, thirdly, because they were sung when the people went up from the Babylonish captivity.

3. What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue? even mighty and sharp (i) arrows, with hot burning (coals.

4. Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech (k): and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar (7) !

5. My soul hath long dwelt among them: that are enemies unto peace.

6. I labour for peace; but when I speak unto them thereof: they make them ready to battle.

Psalm cxxi. (m)

I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills (n): from whence cometh my help.

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(i) v. 3. "Arrows" and "coals," i. e. vengeance from God."

(k) v. 4. "Mesech," "Kedar." Mesech was a son of Japheth, (Gen. x. 2. and 1 Chron. i. 3.) and Kedar a son of Ishmael, (Gen. xxv. 13. and 1 Chron. i. 29.); and these names therefore are probably used generally for the heathen: not importing that he was literally dwelling with any people of the name of Mesech or Kedar, or with any of their descendants, but merely that he was constrained to dwell with some of the heathen, or with persons as barbarous and unprincipled, and as much averse to peace.

(1)" Tents of Kedar." In the prophecy as to Ishmael (Gen. xvi. 12.) which meant to apply to his posterity also, what we translate " he shall dwell "in the presence of all his brethren," signifies more strictly "he shall dwell in "tents ;" and it is remarkable that down to the present day many of his descendants adhere to the practice of dwelling in tents. This Psalm (which, if written by David, must have been written 900 years after the prophecy, and 450 years after Genesis was written,) speaks of the tents of Kedar, as if it was well known that the descendants of Kedar, Ishmael's son, then dwelt in tents; and Isaiah, who wrote 300 years after David's time, when he says, (Isa. xiii. 20.) "neither shall the

2. My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.

3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.

4. Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5. The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;

6. So that the sun shall not burn thee by day neither the moon by night.

7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

8. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in:

"Arabian pitch tent there," implies that the Arabians, who were descendants of Ishmael, were then in the habit of dwelling in tents: and in Solomon's Song i. 5. and Isaiah xlix. 29. are "the tents of Kedar" mentioned. From this, and other stronger instances in which the facts foretold in scripture are fulfilling down to the present time, Bishop Newton illustrates the position," that the prophecies really came "from God." For how could it happen but through him, that their completion should be still in progress?

(m) Upon the transcendency of God's protection. It is supposed to have been written by David, and expresses the high confidence he had in God; and it was thankfully called to remembrance upon the return from the captivity, to remind the people that in the greatest troubles the surest wisdom is to trust in God. Bishop Lowth thinks the first two verses were spoken by David, when going out to war, and that the other six constituted the answer of encouragement from the high priest. There is evidently a change of person at the 3d verse which continues to the end of the Psalm, so that the last six verses are an answer to the person who uttered the first two.

(n) v. 1. The hills," i. e. "heaven." 4. Augustine, 460.

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5. For there is the seat of judgement even the seat of the house of David.

6. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

7. Peace be within thy walls : and plenteousness within thy palaces.

8. For my brethren and companion's sakes: I will wish thee prosperity.

9. Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God: I will seek to do thee good.

Psalm cxxiii. (q) UNTO thee lift I up mine eyes:

(0) A hymn, supposed to have been written by David, and to have been used by the people upon their going up to the public worship at Jerusalem. By the Mosaic law (Exod. xxiii. 17.- Deut. xvi. 16.) three times in a year were all the males to appear before the Lord, in the place which he should choose, (which was afterwards Jerusalem,) viz. at the Feast of the Passover or unleavened bread, at the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, and at the Feast of Tabernacles. The Psalm might also be used again upon the return from the Babylonish captivity.

(p) v. 3. "At unity," i. e. "free from "dissensions;" where the people are unanimous, of one mind.

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(t) v. 3, 4. "Gone over our soul," i. e. put an end to our lives."

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Lessons for the Twenty-seventh Day of the Month throughout the Year.

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3. Then said they among the heathen: "The Lord hath done great things for them."

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4. Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already : whereof we rejoice.

5. Turn (6) our captivity, O.

Lord as the rivers in the south. 6. They that sow in tears: shall reap in joy.

7. He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth (c) forth good seed: shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves (d) with him.

Psalm cxxvii. (a) EXCEPT the Lord build the house (g) their labour is but lost that build it.

(z) A spirited song upon the return from the Babylonish captivity. One of the Psalms for 29th May.

(a) v. 1. "Dream," our joy so great, we could hardly believe our deliverance real. (b) v. 5. Turn, &c." The meaning probably is, complete as effectual a change in us, from misery to joy, as the rivers effect in the south, the hot and dry countries, by turning them from barrenness to plenty.

(c) v. 7. " Beareth, &c." i. e. (probably) "makes a proper use of his adversity, by "turning unto God."

Proba

(d) "Bring his sheaves, &c." bly a proverbial expression to denote great joy, as in Isaiah ix. 3. " they joy before "thee according to the joy in harvest." (e) Upon the vanity and inefficacy of human attempts without God's assistOne of the Psalms appointed to be read at the Churching of Women. (g) v. 1. "Build the house." An ex

ance.

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his beloved sleep.

4. Lo, children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. 5. Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant : even so (i) are the young children.

his quiver full of them they 6. Happy is the man that hath shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm cxxviii. (k) are all they that fear and walk in his ways. 2. For thou (1) shalt eat the labours of thine hands : O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.

BLESSED the Lord

3. Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine: upon the walls of thine house;

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(h) v. 3. For "so," or "but," Parkh. Hebr. Dict. 322, 323. The meaning probably is this: human exertion, without God's assistance, is of small avail: they whom God favours can acquire with ease, without giving up any of their ordinary comforts, more than others can with the greatest sacrifices and labour.

(i) v. 5. "Even so, &c." " adding in the "same way to the Father's powers," or "taking what direction he thinks fit to "give them; instruments in his hand to "execute his purposes or receive his in:"pulse, as arrows in a giant's hand."

(k) Upon the blessings of those who fear God; supposed to have been sung at the marriages of the Israelites.

(2) v. 2." Thou," i. e. "whoever thou "art that fearest God, &c."

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