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T. 2.

v.6.

v.7.

v. 9:

where no ground (k) is; I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.

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3 I am weary of crying; my throat is dry my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God.

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.

5 I paid them the things that I never took: God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee.

6 Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause (1) let not those, that seek thee, be confounded through me, O Lord God of Israel.

7 And why? for thy (m) sake have I suffered reproof shame hath covered my face.

8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren even an alien unto my mother's children.

which were only to happen to the Messiah. It seems to be so considered, John ii. 17.-Rom, xv. 3.-xi. 9. David is mentioned as the author, Rom. xi. 9. (k)"No ground," nothing to prevent my sinking still deeper.

(1)For my cause," and " through me," i. e. (probably) on account of the misery in which I am; let them not be deterred from adhering to thee from witnessing the sufferings I endure.

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(m) "For thy sake," i. e. (probably) it is for my adherence to thee, that I have suffered reproof, that shame hath covered my face, &c.

(n)" The zeal," &c. When our Saviour drove the money changers, &c. from the temple, saying, "Make not "my Father's house an house of mer"chandize, his disciples remembered "that it was written," (referring to this passage) "The zeal of thine house hath 65 eaten me up."

9 For the zeal (n) of thine house hath even eaten me and the rebukes (0) of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me (p).

10 I wept (9) and chastened myself with fasting and that was turned to my reproof.

III put on sackcloth also: and they jested upon me.

12 They that sit (r) in the gate speak against me and the drunkards make songs upon me.

13 But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee in an acceptable time.

14 Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy even in the truth of thy salvation.

15 Take me out of the mire, that I sink not: O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters (s).

16 Let not the water-flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

17 Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable:

(o)"Rebukes," perhaps by insinuating that he could not be the true God, who could suffer his servant to be so afflicted.

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(p)" Fallen upon me." When Saint Paul exhorted the Roman converts to give up their own gratification to advance the salvation of others, he told them," that even Christ pleased "himself, but, as it is written," (allud ing to this Psalm)" the reproaches of "them that reproached thee fell on me." Rom. xv. 3.

(q) "Wept," &c, so that even my acts of devotion were turned against me.

(r) "That sit in the gate," i. e. the judges; so that I am equally the object of scorn, &c. to the grave and serious, and to the thoughtless and dissipated.

(s)" Deep waters," an expression to signify great dangers. See Ps. xviii. 3. 16. -cxxiv. 3, 4.-cxliv. 7.

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v.23.

22 They gave me gall (t) to eat: and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

23 Let (u) their table (x) be made a snare (y) to take themselves withal and let the things that should have been for their wealth, be unto them an occasion of falling.

(t) "Gall," "vinegar;" what would increase my sufferings, not what would. diminish them. When our Saviour was taken to the place of crucifixion, "they

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gave him" (according to Matt. xxvii. 34.) vinegar to drink, mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof, "he would not drink." It was usual to give the convicts what would deaden their sense of pain; this was calculated to heighten it. According to John xix. 28. it was that some scripture might be fulfilled that Jesus, whilst upon the cross, said, "I thirst;" and when they had lifted up a spunge, filled with vinegar, and he had received it, he said, it is finished, and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost, and it is to this passage he is supposed to have alluded,

(u)" Let," &c. Dr. Hammond observes from St. Augustine and the Jewish Arab, that this and the following verses are to be understood in the future tense, as predictions, not as imprecations.

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27 For they persecute him, whom thou hast smitten and they talk how they may vex them whom thou hast wounded. 28 Let them fall (a) from one wickedness to another and not come into thy righteousness.

29 Let them be wiped out of the book of the living and not be written among the righteous.

30 As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness: thy help, O God, shall lift me up.

31 I will praise the Name of God with a song and magnify it with thanksgiving.

32 This (b) also shall please

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(y)" Their table be made a snare," v. 23. &c. This was perhaps a proverbial expression. The meaning, which corresponds with that in the latter part of the verse, is obvious, that their table, their very food, that which should support them, should be their ruin.

(z) St. Peter refers to this passage, v.16. Acts i, 20. in his history of Judas's conduct, and his exhortation to the disciples to choose another in his stead. "For," says he, "it is written in the Book of Psalms, let his habitation be desolate,

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7.2.

v. 2.

V. 4.

the Lord
that hath horns and hoofs.

better than a bullock

33 The humble (e) shall consider this, and be glad seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.

34 For the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his prisoners.

35 Let heaven and earth praise him the sea, and all that moveth therein.

36 For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah : that men may dwell there, and have it in possession.

37 The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein,

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(c) "The humble," &c, It is matter of consolation to the poor and lowly, that that offering which God most highly values, the offering of praise and thanksgiving, is as much within their power, as within the power of the rich.

(d) An anxious prayer for deliverance from his enemies, nearly the same as the last six verses of Ps. xl, David is considered the author,

(e) This verse occurs, Ps. xxxv, 4,— xl. 17.-lxxi. II.

(f) "Soul," i. e. life.

(g)" Say," i.e. have occasion to say, from thy protection.

(b) An anxious prayer for deliverance, calling to mind the protection he had

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IN (i) thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; but rid me, and deliver me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and

save me.

2 Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort: thou hast promised to help me; for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.

3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly: out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man,

received through life, and concluding as if fresh deliverance was vouchsafed him in the progress of the Psalm. Supposed to have been written by David at the time of Absalom's rebellion. The writer describes himself, verse 8. as " in the "time of age," and verse 16. as " in his "old age, and grey-headed;" and yet, in verse 19. as having been "brought to

great honour, and comforted on every "side;" so that if David was the author, the time of writing it was probably in Absalom's rebellion. It is the Psalm appointed to be read at the Visitation of the Sick.

(i) Nearly the same as the beginning v.1. of Ps. xxxi,

to 3.

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For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for thou art my hope, even from my youth.

5 Through thee have I been holden up, ever since I was born: thou (k) art he, that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall be always of thee.

6 I am become as it were a monster unto many; but my sure trust is in thee.

70 let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long.

8 Cast me not away in the time of age: forsake me not when my strength faileth me.

9 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying: "God hath "forsaken him; persecute him, "and take him; for there is none to deliver him."

10 Go not far from me, O God my God, haste thee to help me.

11 Let (/) them be confounded and perish that are against my Soul: let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.

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() "Thou," &c. So Ps. xxii. 9. "Thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet on my mo"ther's breasts."

(1) This verse occurs Ps. xxxv. 4.— xl. 17-lxx. ii,

(m)" Make mention," i. e. perhaps, rely upon. They were forbidden to "make mention of the name of any other "God, or to let it be heard out of their "mouth," Exod. xxiii. 13. and in Ps. xvi. 5. the writer professes that he will not "make mention of their names" (viz. the names of other gods)" within his lips."

12 As for me, I will patiently abide alway and will praise thee more and more.

13 My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation: for I know no end thereof.

14 I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God and will make mention (m) of thy righteousness only.

15 Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now : therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.

16 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray. headed until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.

17 Thy righteousness, O God, is very high and great things are they that thou hast done; O God, who is like unto thee!

18 O what great troubles (n) and adversities hast thou shewed me! and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth (0) again.

19 Thou hast brought me to great honour (p) and comforted me (g) on every side.

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20 Therefore will I praise thee

(n) "Troubles," &c. He probably v.18. alludes to his troubles and deliverances whilst he was persecuted by Saul.

(o)" Deep of the earth," i. e. the v.18, grave. So Ps. lxiii. 10. "These also that seek the hurt of my soul, they "shall go under the earth," i.e. shall die, perish.

(p) "Great honour." This corre- v. 19. sponds with David's circumstances; God had raised him to great honour, by giving him the kingdom.

(9) "Comforted me," i. e. given me v.19. comfort which ever way I turned.

v. 21.

V. 1.

and thy faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument of music: unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 21 My lips will be fain (r), when I sing unto thee and so will my soul, whom thou hast delivered.

22 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long for they are confounded, and brought unto shame, that seek to do me evil.

Psalm lxxii. (s) GIVE the King (t) thy judgements, O God and thy righteousness unto the King's son.

(r) "Fain," i. e. eager, so much would it delight him.

(s) This Psalm was probably written upon David's making Solomon his son king over Israel, about 1015 years before the birth of Christ. See I Chron. xxiii. 1. and xxix. 22, 23. It foretells the justice of his government, the extent of his dominion, the homage he should receive, the prosperity he should experience, &c.; and through him, who was a type of the Messiah, is supposed to look forward prophetically to the Messiah himself. The 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 15th, and 17th verses, are expressed in language which seems to have a higher object than Solomon; and the intent probably was, to lead from Solomon to the contemplation of the Messiah and his kingdom. Many of the ancient Jewish writers considered it as looking forward to the Messiah. Dr. Benson, however, thinks it relates either wholly to Solomon, or wholly to the Messiah: and he sees 66 nothing in it, but what "suits the great and glorious character "of the Messiah." Benson's Introduction, xxii. xxiii.

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() "The king," and "the king's son," probably mean the same person. "When David was old, and full of days, " he made Solomon his son king over "Israel." I Chron. xxiii. 1. So that he was at the same time both "the king" and "the king's son." So our Saviour

2 Then shall he judge (u) thy people according unto right: and defend the poor.

3 The mountains (x) also shall bring peace (y) and the little hills righteousness unto the people.

4 He shall keep the simple folk by their right: defend the children of the poor, and punish

the wrong doer.

5 They shall fear(x) thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth : from one generation to another.

6 He shall come down like the

rain into a fleece of wool (a) : even as the drops that water the earth.

Christ was both "God" and "the Son "of God"

(u) "Judge," &c. Strict impartiality in judging, and attention to the poor, were among the characteristics elsewhere foretold of the Messiah. Thus it is said of him, Isaiah xi. 3, 4. "He shall not "judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; "but with righteousness shall he judge "the poor, and reprove with equity for "the meek of the earth." And Jer.

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xxxiii. 15. "He shall execute judgment "and righteousness in the land."

(x) "The mountains," i. e. probably, t the places of strength, the situations usual. ly seized upon by armed forces; the points from which war has generally come down.

(y)" Peace." The disposition to produce peace upon earth, was another of the characteristics of the Messiah. In the spirited prophecy, Isaiah ix. 6. one of the appellations given him is, " the Prince of "Peace;" in Haggai ii. 9, he is called "Peace;" and part of the triumphant song, sung by the angels at his birth, was, on earth peace." Luke ii. 14.

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(x)" Fear," i. e. reverence, worship. (a) For "into a fleece of wool," the Bible translation is, " upon the mown

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grass," i.e. he shall bring as great blessings upon the earth, as rain does upon a new mown field. The same idea occurs, Hos. vi. 3. "If we follow on to "know the Lord, he shall come unte

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