3 Confider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine [Left I fleep my laft.] eyes, [that I fleep not in death.] 4 Left mine enemy fay, I have prevailed againft him; for. if I be caft down, they that trouble me, will rejoyce at it. 5 But my truft is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy falvation. 6 I will fing of the Lord, because he hath dealt fo lovingly with me: yea, I will praife the Name of the Lord most Higheft. A Pfalm of David, complaining of an universal Corruption of Mens Manners; and feems to refer to that general defection under Abfalom, and to the great averfion to God and the Truth, which reign'd amongst the Jews, in the time of Chrift and the Apostles, Ro.iii. 10, &c. Dixit infipiens. Pfal. XIV. *2,4 No not one. These words are not to be ta ken in too ftrict a fenfe, as if every few in David's Time were gone out of the way: However, it cannot be-applied to those who adhered to God and David, who are called the Generation of the Righteous, ver. 9. nor to those who became Converts to the Gospel, in the time of Chrift and his Apoftles for then alfo there was a Rem nant, Rom. xi. 5. fo that this Pfalm is principally to be understood of those who joined with Abfalom against David, and those who rejected the preaching of Chrift, and those whom he fent. 5 Their throat is an open fepulchre, with their tongues have they deceived: the poifon of afps is under their lips. 6 Their mouth is full of curfing and bitternefs: their feet are fwift to fhed blood. 7 Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. 8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all fuch workers of mifchief: eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord? ge 9 [My Subjects were affrighted with the greatnumbers which follow'd Abfalom,and theSuccefs, which he at firft met 9 There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was: for God is in the neration of the righteous. with,but this was a groundless fear: For God will not defert thofe, though never fo few, that are true to him.] So alfo at the firft preaching of the Gofpel many who were well-affected to it, yer durft not openly profefs it for fear of the great numbers of the unbelieving Jews, but their fear was unreafonable too, and that for the fame caufe. healed? Here he abruptly, and elegantly breaks off his Speech, as if he despair'd of fuch a Mercy.], After he had made a short aufe, he takes courage again, and goes on, When the Lord, &c. as if he had faid, I will not lay afide all hopes of feeing this happy time, and when this comes to pafs, Then fhall Jacob rejoyce, &c. *When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people: that is, when God reftores thofe to Jerufalem, whom this Rebellion has drove away. The Third Day. Morning Prayer. A Pfalm of David on occafion of his return to the Tabernacle of Sion, from which he had been driven by Abfaloms Rebellion. Ham. Patr. Domine, quis habitabit? Pfal. xv. 6 [He who maketh Ex.xxii.25. Deut.xxiii. Bribe] L Ord, who fhall dwell in thy tabernacle: or who fhall reft upon thy holy hill? 2 Even he that leadeth [an uncorrupt] life: and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour: and hath not flandered his neighbour. 4. He that fetteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes: and maketh much of them that fear the Lord. 5. He that fweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not though it were to his own hindrance. 6 [He that hath not given his money upon ufury:] nor taken [reward] against the in nocent. 7 Whofa doeth thefe things: 7 From Gods favour, fhall never fall †. Michtam, Michtam, that is, a Jewel, or Golden Pfalm of David, containing a most memorable Prophecy of Chrift. Conferva me, Domine. Pfal. XVI. PR eferve me, O God: for in thee have I put my trust. 2 O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord: Thou art my God, [my goods are nothing unto thee.] 2 [If I fhould offer things I have, and rento Thee all the good der thee all the Service I am able, yet this would be no fufficient requital for the Protection, and other Mercies I have receiv'd from thee. 3 All my delight is upon the Children, and muft expect to be treated 5 *Their drink-offerings of bloud will I not offer: neither make mention of their names within my lips. 4 [Shall do violence to themselves in offer ing humane Sacrifices, and even their own as Enemies by the true Their Drink-Offerings, that is, The DrinkOfferings made to the Heathen-Idol, whofe Name he declares he and abhorrence of them. 6 [The Lord is my God, and I look on the Knowledge and Worfhip of him to be the will not mention, out of a juft deteftation 6 [The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou fhalt maintain my lot.] which I have received by Inheritance from my Fathers: This is the best part of all my Royal Enjoyments; and thou, O God, wilt, I doubt not, fecure me in the poffeffion of it.] moft valuable Treasure O God, * Cup 6, 7, and Lot, fignify the fame thing, viz. That share or part which God the Mafter of the Feaft deals out to every single Perfon. So Cup fignifies Pfal xi. 6. Mat. xx. 22. 7 [The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground: yca, I have a goodly heritage.] 7 [For there is no Country comparable to that which God hath appointed to be the place of my Abode and Government; there is no Land fo pleafant as this of Judea, if only for this caufe that here we Worfhip the true God, according to his own Direction and Command.} 8 For 8 [For the Advice and Direction he gives me in all Dangers and Difficulties; and for the Reproofs and Checks I 8. I will thank the Lord for [giving me warning]: my reins alfo chaften me in the night-feafon.] have every Night from my own Heart, whenever I do amifs.] Reins here again fignifies Thoughts, Confcience, Heart, &c. as Pfal. vii. 10. xxvi. 2, &c. 9 I have always kept my felf under this belief and apprehenfi on, that God is nigh at 9 [I have fet God always before me: for he is on my right hand, therefore I fhall not fall.] hand to relieve and fupport me; and that therefore I shall not finally be overthrown.] 10 My Glory,] that is, my Tongue. *My Flefk, every part of me. Ham. II * Hell here fignifies the state of the dead. See Vocabulary. And therefore thefe words cannot in a strict To Wherefore my heart was my flesh alfo fhall reft in hope. glad, and *my glory rejoyced: II [For why? thou shalt not leave my foul in hell: neither fhalt thou fuffer thy holy one to fee corruption.] and proper fenfe be understood of David, (as St. Peter obferves, Ads ii. 29.) but of Chrift, in whofe Perfon David here speaks. [For tho' I be killed, and my Soul go to the place where the Souls of other dead Men are, yet I fhall not long remain there : And tho' my Body be laid in the Grave, yet it fhall be raised from thence, before it be in the least corrupted.] 12 Thou shalt fhew me the path of life; in thy prefence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore. A Prayer of David for deliverance from his Perfecutors and Slanderers. Exaudi, Domine. Pfal. XVII. HE Ear the right, O Lord, confider my complaint: and hearken unto my prayer, *Feigned, Deceitful. that goeth not out of* feigned lips. |