A Pfalm for Solomon. This Pfalm is generally believed to have been compofed by David, on Solomon's Coronation, 'I Kings i. Some Paffages in it are more applicable to Chrift Jefus than to Solomon. G * 1 By Judgments, Dens Judicium. Pfal. LXXII. Ive the King thy * judgments, O God: and thy righteousness unto the Kings fon. 2 Then fhall he judge thy people according unto right: and defend the poor. 3 The *mountains alfo fhall bring peace: and the little *hills righteoufnefs unto the people. 4 He fhall keep the [fimple] folk by their right: defend the children of the poor,and punish the wrong-doer. 5 They fhall fear thee as long as the fun and moon endureth: from one generation to another. 6 [He fhall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool: even as the drops that water the earth.] 7 In his time fhall the righteous flourish: yea, and abundance of peace, fo long as the moon endureth. 8 His dominion fhall be alfo from [the one fea to the other:] and from the flood unto the worlds end. 9 They that dwell in the wildernefs fhall kneel before him: his enemies fhall lick the duft. i . and Righteousness, we lity and Inclination to are to understand Abi determine Causes a right. 3 By the Mountains and Hills here we are to understand the greater and leffer Magiftrates. 4 [Meek, but oppreffed and helpless.] This Verfe cannot be applied in a ftrict Solomon, but may to and proper fense to Chrift. 6 He fhall be as readily received by his People, as the Dew was by Gideon's Fleece, and fhall be as welcome to them as Rain to the parched Earth.] 8 [The Mediterranean to the Red-Sea, if understood of Solomon.] The Flood] that is, the River Euphrates. See Vocabulary. 16*Corn and Fruit] do frequently denote Converts or Profelites. See Ifai. xxvii. 6. John iv. 35, 36. xv. 16. Rom. i. 13. Colof. i. 6. Mat. xiii. 24. And 'tis the more probable that 10 The kings of Tharfis, and of the Ifles fhall give prefents: the kings of Arabia and Saba fhall bring gifts. II All kings fhall fall down before him: all nations fhall do him fervice. 12 For he fhall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy alfo, and him that hath no helper. 13 He fhall be favourable to the fimple and needy: and fhall preferve the fouls of the poor. 14 He fhall deliver their fouls from falfhood and wrong: and dear fhall their blood be in his fight. 15 He fhall live, and unto him fhall be given of the gold of Arabia: prayer fhall be made ever unto him, and daily fhall he be praised. 16 [There fhall be an heap of* corn in the earth,* high upon the hills: his* fruit fhall fhake like *Libanus, and fhall be green in the city, like grafs upon the earth.] David fpeaks of Profelytes in this Verse, because 'tis certain that he does fo in the foregoing and following. *Libanus] here fignifies the Cedars which grow on that Mountain, as is agreed by all: And Profelites are elsewhere compared to Trees, Ifai. lx. 13. and particularly to Cedars, which are there called the Glory of Libanus.] " "High upon the hills,] or on the top of the Mountains, is the very expreffion, whereby the Church, when in a flourishing Estate, is reprefented, Ifai. ii. 2. fo that I think there is no reason to doubt, but that David did here intend to defcribe the great numbers of Profelytes which should be in his Son Solomon's Days. We accordingly read of 153600, 2 Chron. ii. 17, 18. of which 80000 were appoinged by him to be Hewers of Wood in the Mountains, for the build ing of the Temple: They are called [Strangers,] but the Hebrew word [Ger] is the very fame that is ufed, Exod. xii. 48, 49. and apply'd to those who were Circumcifed, and might eat the Paffover. [The Strangers which Solomon by his Wifdom and Zeal fhall Convert to the Church, fhall be very numerous and full of Vigour, they fhall fhake themfelves like Champions, Jud. xvi. 20. nay, they fhall be a match for the Cedars of Libanus, which threaten all near them with their lofty tops; for they fhall cut them down for the building of the Temple, and there fhall be as large a fupply of thefe Profelytes, as there is of Grafs in other places: And yet this is but a meer Type and Shadow of the Profelytes, which fhall come into the Church in the Days of the Meffias, who fhall much outdo the others both in Number, and in Zeal, and Courage for building the Church of God.] 17 His name fhall endure for ever, his name fhall remain under the fun among the pofterities: which fhall be bleffed through him, and all the hea then fhall praife him. 18 Bleffed be the Lord God, even the God of Ifrael: which, only doth wondrous things; 16 And bleffed be the Name of his Majefty for ever: and all the earth shall be filled with † his Majefty. Amen, Amen. Evening Prayer. 17 Our Translators. understood this Verse whom, we that live of Christ only, from 1700 Years after him are called Chriftians, and thro' whom alone we are truly blefied. 19 † The apprehension and fear of A Pfalm of Afaph, that is, Asaph the Seer, 2 Chron. xxix. 30. who lived in the days of Hezekiah, nor Afaph, mentioned 1 Chron. vi. 39. It ould feem that thefe profperous wicked were Foreigners; for the Pfal mift, ver. 10. plainly diftinguishes between them, and the People, or God's People, that is, the Jews. T Quam bonus Ifrael. Pfal. LXXIII Ruly God is loving unto are of a clean heart, 2 [And yet my Faith 2 [Nevertheless, my feet were began to be stagger'd, almoft gone: my treadings I was tempted to doubt had well-nigh flipt.] of God's Care and Love to Good Men.] 58 Blafphemy,] that is, Slander, Falle AC cufation of innocent Men; for the Hebrew word does not ufually fignify any thing faid in the Vocabulary. or 3 And why? I was grieved at the wicked: I do alfo fee the ungodly in fuch profperity. 4 For they are in no peril of death: but are lufty and strong. They come in no misfortune like other folk: neither are they plagued like other men." 6 And [this]is the caufe that they are fo* holden with pride : and overwhelmed with cruelty. Their eyes fwell with fat 7 nefs and they do even what they [luft.] 8 [They corrupt other, and fpeak of wicked *blafphemy: their talking is against the moft High.] done against God. See Blaspheme, &c. [They are always endeavouring to debauch other Men, and thofe whom they cannot gain to their Party, they are always plotting to infnare, and opprefs by Lyes, and malicioufly contrived Stories: Nor do they ftop here, but vent their profane Difcourfe against God himself.] 9 [For the Tongues of fuch Men fpare nel ther God nor Man.x * * 10 Fall;] that 15 S 9 [For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven: and their tongue goeth through the world] To Therefore fall the people Fall away, (in our punto them and thereout fuck fent Language) become of their fide. they no fmall advantage.t Obferve an emphatical THE. [By their boldness and arrogance (as it often happens) they bring many over to their Párty, and even fome of the Jews themfelves, who are miferably led away, and partake with the wicked in their finful Pleafures and Profits.] ir Tuff, 1 12 [If it fare better 11 Tufh, fay they, how should God perceive it: is there know ledge in the most High? 12 Lo, thefe are the ungod ly, these profper in the world, and these have riches in poffeffion: and I faid, [Then have I cleanfed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency.] 13 [All the day long have I been punished and chaftened every morning.] the with the bad, than wich good, 'tis to no purpofe that I have endeavoured to keep my Heart from all evil from all finful Actions.] Thoughts,and my Hands * 13 Morning in the Scripture fignifies often all the lightfome part of the four and twenty Hours. So Gen. i. 5. Fob 7. 18. Ifai. xxiii. 2. [For notwithstanding my Integrity, yet have I had a large fhare of Trouble and Affliction.] 14 Yea, and I had. almoft faid even as they but lo, then I fhould have [condemned the generation of thy children.] is Then thought I to underftand this: but it was too hard for me, 16 Until I went into the fanctuary of God f: then underftood I the end of thefe men; 17 Namely, how thou doft fet them in flippery places t: and cafteft them down, and deftroyeft them. 18 O how fuddenly do they confume: perish, and come to a fearful end! 19 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh: fo fhalt thou make their [image] to vanifh out of the city. L 2 14 [In effect accused all them of Folly, who are true to thee and their own Consciences] 16+ To hear thy word read and expounded, and to pray for, and obtain a right understanding of it. 17 + Where they can have no sure or steady footing. 19 [Pomp, and outward Glory, which was dow, and appearance of Happiness.] at beft but a meer fha 20 [Thus] |
