12. My foot standeth in an even place:] That is, I stand in a sure place, so that I need not fear to fall. Bp. Wilson. David's earnest desire to serve God in the tabernacle, should stir us up to discharge the duties of religion with the same fervency. But the care this pious king took to purify himself before he went unto the altar of God, should convince us, that in order to appear in the presence of God, we should be pure, and lead a holy life. Lastly, we should join with David in the prayer which he offers up to God at the end of this Psalm, and beseech Him to preserve us from being like the wicked, 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged:] This should rather be translated, "Relieve the sorrows of my heart." Dr. Kennicott, Bp. Lowth. 20. — let me not be ashamed:] That is, disappointed. Bp. Wilson. Compare Job vi. 20. 21. — for I wait on thee.] For I trust in thee. Mudge. 22. Redeem Israel, &c.] After imploring forgiveness of his sins, that the people might not be visited for his sake, and after expressing his personal penitence and sorrow, David concludes with a prayer for the deliverance of his country. After the example of David, the pious and devout Christian, who really and in truth puts his entire confidence in God, is never weary or ashamed of that confidence. If he finds that his prayers are not so graciously heard, as that he receives all that he hath prayed for, he receives yet an unspeakable comfort by having done as he ought to do: and though he prospers not as he would wish, yet if he prays as he should, he hath made a good progress towards his own deliverance; and hath raised a good defence against any affliction that invades him: nor will he be frightened out of his innocence by the promises, or threats, or tyranny of his proud oppressors. Lord Clarendon. Psalm XXVI. It is generally agreed, that this Psalm was composed on account of some injurious charge brought against David by some of Saul's courtiers. Dimock. Ver. 1. Judge me.] Give sentence in my favour. Street. Ver. 1. — them that go down into the pit.] Those that are abandoned to destruction. Bp. Patrick. Ver. 2. — worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.] In other words, Worship ye the Lord in that beautiful and glorious sanctuary, where He exhibits his presence to his people. Bp. Hall. See the margin. 3. Draw me not away with the wicked.] Cast me not off with them. Bp. Wilson. 3. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters:] That is, the thunder, called here the voice of the Lord, is upon the waters, collected in the clouds. Green. 4, 5. Give them according &c.] In these verses, as indeed in most of the imprecatory passages, the imperative and the future tenaces are used promiscuously: "Give them—render them—he shall destroy them." If therefore the verbs in all such passages were uniformly rendered in the future, every objection against the Scripture imprecations would vanish at once, and they would appear clearly to be what they are; namely, prophecies of the Divine judgments, which were afterwards to take place. Bp. Horne. 5. — the cedars of Lebanon, See note at 1 Kings v. 6. 6. He maketh them also to skip &c.] This description is figurative and poetical. The figures are rather too strong for a modern language; but they are agreeable to that of the Hebrews, in which they have a singular beauty. Calmet. 7. — the flames of fire.] That is, the flashes of lightning. Mudge. 8. The Lord is their strength, &c.] It is the Lord who gives courage and strength to his servants, and protects him whom He hath appointed king over his people. Bp. Patrick. A prayer collected out of the above Psalm: O heavenly Father, we humbly beseech thy goodness, when we cry unto Thee, to hear our supplications; for if Thou turn away thine ear, and neglect to give us audience in these our pressures and afflictions, the men of thy hand will prevail against us, and bring down our life into the pit. We acknowledge before Thee that our A Psalm and Song at the dedication &c.] An ode on taking possession of the house built for David. Street. Ver. 3. O Lord, thou hast brought &c.] When I was just at the point of death, Thou hast preserved me from the very brink of the grave. Travell. 4. — give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.] The meaning is, Celebrate his holy name. Green. 5. — is life: Life is often put for a long and happy time, as in Psalm xxxiv. 12; and for an eternal and immortal duration, 2 Tim. i. 10; James i. 12. Poole. 6, 7. And in my prosperity &c.] There should not be a full stop at the end of the sixth verse; but after the words "stand strong" in the seventh. The word rendered "prosperity" denotes peace and tranquillity, arising from an affluent prosperous condition. When God had settled him quietly on the throne, he thought all his troubles were over, and that he should enjoy uninterrupted happiness; that God had "made his mountain so strong, that it should never be moved:" that is, had placed him secure from all danger. Dr. Chandler. 7. — thou didst hide &c.] He means, that when God withdrew his protection, displeased with his presumption, and the security he had fondly promised himself, he was immediately disturbed by fresh troubles, and his dream of uninterrupted tranquillity vanished. Dr. Chandler. 8. — the wilderness of Kadesh.] The wilderness of Kadesh was part of that wilderness through which the Israelites passed in their way to Canaan. See Numb. xiii. 26. Bp. Horne. It was the frontier of Idumca and Paran. Calmet. 9. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve.] The terrour of this voice causeth the hinds to cast their calves for fear. Bp. Hall. — and discovereth the forests: and in his temple &c.] The storm strips the trees of their leaves, and opens the recesses of the forest. Travell. While his temple remaineth unshaken by these tempestuous blasts, and all his pious worshippers there securely sing the praises of his glorious majesty and power. Bp. Patrick. Other commentators explain this difficult verse differently: The voice of Jehovah maketh the oaks to tremble; and maketh bare the trees of the woods. Bp. Louth, Abp. Secker. And in his temple every thing proclaimeth his glory. By "his temple" may be meant the heavens. Bp. Hare. The practice of the great duty of praising God for his works, and for his mercies, will preserve in our souls a constant and lively sense of his glorious perfections; which will be a means of making us truly religious, and will make all other religious duties easy and pleasant to us. His almighty power will make us dread offending Him; the sense of our dependence upon Him, and his continual care over us, will incline us to love Him with all our heart and soul; and the grateful remembrance of his past mercies will make us put our whole trust in Him for the time to come. Bp. Wilson. Psalm XXX. This Psalm of David is plainly expressive of his gratitude to God for delivering him from his foes, and rescuing him from his distresses. And as it appears, 2 Sam. v. 11, and 1 Chron. xiv. 1, that Hiram king of Tyre, sent materials and workmen to build an house for David about the time when the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, I apprehend that 9. What profit is there &c.] What service, said I, can I do Thee, when I am dead? Shall my ashes be able to please Thee, or to declare the truth of thy promises? Bp. Patrick. This religious song of thanksgiving is particularly adapted to persons who have escaped great danger. Those whom God has thus delivered ought to celebrate his goodness, and invite all men to celebrate it with them. But, above all, we ought to take notice of the instructions here given us concerning the usefulness of afflictions. Even the best of men sometimes forget themselves in prosperity: but God makes use of adversity to inspire them with a holy fear, to bring them to a sense of their duty, and to oblige them to have recourse Ver. 3.—for thy name's sake lead me.] The Psalmist here beseeches God to glorify Himself, by guiding his steps so that he might escape the danger which threatened him. Bp. Patrick. 5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit:] David, in his distresses, might by these words express his resignation of himself and his affairs into the hands of God: but it is certain, that Christ actually did expire upon the cross with the former part of this verse in his mouth, Luke xxii. 46. Bp. Horne. — thou hast redeemed me.] David means, that it 6.—lying vanities:] That is, Gentile practices, of consulting auguries and divinations, which deceive their expectations. Dr. Hammond. Or by this expression may be meant, strange gods. Dr. Kensicott. 7.—thou hast known my soul in adversities:] Thou hast relieved me in the lowest condition. Dr. Hammond. 8.—in a large room.] In a place of liberty. Green. 9.—mine eye is consumed &c.] My eyes are wasted with weeping, and my whole frame is in a manner destroyed. Travell. 12.—I am like a broken vessel.] I am cast aside like a broken vessel, quite past all use and regard. Bp. Hall. 15. My times are in thy hand:] He declares his assurance that his life was not subject to the will of his enemies, but was at the disposal of God. Bp. Patrick. 19.—before the sons of men:] Publickly, and in the view of the world. Poole. vessel that perisheth. ; Or, let them be cut off for the grave. hard thing. c Isa. 64. 4. — with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.] This should be rendered as it is in the Greek, "on the ten-stringed lute." Green. 3. — a new song;] The "new song" shews the Psalm to be composed upon a new occasion. This appears likewise from the tenth verse, which speaks of some grand defeat given to the projects of the heathen. Mudge. 4. — all his works &c.] That is, all his works are done agreeably to his word or promises. Dr. Wells. 6. By the word of the Lord &c.] The meaning is, that the whole body of the heavens, and all that is in them, were created by his bare speaking of the word, commanding that they should have a being. Dr. Hammond. 7. He gathereth the waters &c.] The element of water, though it be naturally apt to spread itself, yet hath He, in his providence and power, gathered up as in one heap; and part thereof, instead of overflowing the face of the earth, He hath confined in the secret receptacles thereof. Bp. Hall. 11. Be glad in the Lord.] It seems probable that this verse ought to be the first of the following Psalm. Bps. Lowth and Hare, Dr. Kranicott. Outward calamities, and inward pangs of conscience, are the strokes of God's hand, designed to humble the sinner, and lead him to confession; and in the infliction of these, such severity is sometimes necessary, that the patient is brought to death's door, before a turn can be given to the disease: but the pain of a blow upon an ulcerated part, however exquisite, is well compensated if, by promoting a discharge, it effect a cure. Encouraged by the example and declaration of David, to hope for mercy on confession of sin, it is foretold in this Psalm, that humble penitents shall be led to make their prayer unto God in the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation, while He "may be found:" that so they may be forgiven, and preserved from great and overwhelming calamities; from the fears of death, and the terrours of judgment. Bp. Horne. Psalm XXXIII. This Psalm is an acknowledgment of the great power, and wisdom, and goodness of God in his works of creation and providence; wherein, all are obliged to sing praises to his name, and faithfully to serve and depend on Him. Dr. Hammond. It was probably composed on the occasion of some special benefit received from God. Reeves. Ver. 2. — with harp: — with the psaltery] The harp let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 15. He fashioneth their hearts &c.] He formed their hearts one and all, and consequently must know what are their thoughts and intentions. Mudge. 17. An horse is a vain thing &c.] If David was the author of this Psalm, these words may refer to his vic- e Iss. 19. 3. maketh frustrate. d Prov. 19. 21. Isa. 46. 10. generation and generation. e Ps. 65. 4. &144. 15. 7. The angel of the Lord &c.] The Divine protection and salvation vouchsafed to the faithful, is here signified; whether we suppose that by "the angel of Jehovah" is meant the presence of Christ in the church militant; or the ministration of created spirits to the heirs of salvation, as in the case of Elisha, 2 Kings vi. 17. Bp. Horne. 8. O taste] Seriously consider and make trial, by a stedfast fidelity to God in all troubles. Dr. Wells. 9. ...his saints.] His servants. Bp. Wilson. 11. —ye children.] Ye that are humbly disposed to be taught as children. Dr. Wells. 22 — according as we hope in thee.] We desire thy mercy on no other terms, and in no other degree, but in proportion to the sincerity of our trust. Dr. Kennicott. This Psalm engages us to make these reflections; 1. That it is a duty highly reasonable, as well as delightful to praise God; but that none but upright men can discharge it in a becoming manner. 2. That we ought to praise God, because He has created the world by his almighty power, and because He governs it wisely and justly by his providence. 3. That if it was a great advantage to the Israelites to be the people whom God had chosen for his inheritance; the favour which God has vouchsafed us, in admitting us into his church, and entering into covenant with us, is a still more glorious privilege. 4. That God has a perfect knowledge of all that passes in the world, that He sees all the thoughts and actions of men; the recollection of which should engage us to walk before Him in holiness and righteousness. Lastly, we should observe that the true way to have God our friend, is to trust in Him, to fear Him, and without ceasing to apply to Him for mercy. Ostervald. Psalm XXXIV. The title informs us, that this Psalm was composed by David when he was sent away from Abimelech on his feigning himself mad. See 1 Sam. xxi. 13. But the name there given to the king of Gath is Achish. Hence Dr. Kennicott conjectured, that Abimelech was the common title of the king of Gath, (as Pharaoh of Egypt,) and Achish his particular name. Street. This Psalm, which was perhaps composed for the use of those who resorted to David, contains the noblest encouragements to piety and virtue, from an assurance, that all such as are so devoted are the immediate care of almighty God; as all those of a contrary character are his abhorrence, and the sure marks of his vengeance. And surely this Psalm, considered in this light, is one of the noblest, the best-turned, and best-judged, and best-adapted compositions that ever were penned. Dr. Delaney. It should be remarked, that the twentieth and twenty-first verses are of particular importance, as containing the famous prophecy, that "not a bone of the Just One (Messiah) should be broken." John xix. 36. Dr. Kennicott. Ver. 5. They looked unto him, &c.] The Greek, and other ancient versions, render this verse, "Come unto him, and be enlightened; and let not your faces be ashamed." Dr. Wall. — and were lightened: &c.] The meaning is, that the humble looked unto God for David's protection, and received that light, that is, that comfort and joy from Him upon his return in safety, which diffused itself throughout their whole hearts; so that "their faces were not ashamed," or, as the word signifies, "not put to the blush for shame," by being disappointed as to their hope on his account. Dr. Chandler. 6. This poor man! Meaning himself. Edwards. 11, 12. False witnesses—spoiling of my soul.] This was never more literally true of David, than it was of the holy Jesus, when, standing before Pontius Pilate, He received my other return from the Jews for all the gracious words which He had spoken, and all the merciful works He had done among them, than that of being slandered and put to death. Bp. Horne. 12. to the spoiling of my soul. Attempting to rob me of my life. Green. 13. — my prayer returned &c. The meaning seems to be, My prayer returned with blessings on my own head. Merrick. The sentence may perhaps be better explained thus, "My prayer rested or settled in my bosom;" that is, I was never without a prayer for them in my breast. Mudge, Dr. Kennicutt. The Hebrews used various attitudes in prayer; the one here alluded to was that used in great grief, at which time they prayed with the head inclined on the bosom. Rosemuller. 15. and I knew it not; This may mean, that the perfidy of his enemies was unknown to him; he suspected no such thing from them. Rosemuller.