Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 27
PSAL. XXVII.
David sustaineth his faith by the power of God: 4 by his love to the service of God: 9 by prayer for Gods assistance and instruction. 13 The fruits of faith and patience.
APsalme of David; Iehovah is my light and my salvation, for whom should I feare? Iehovah is the strength of my life, for whom should I dread? When evill doers made battell against me to eat my flesh, my distressers and my enemies to me; themselves stumbled and fell. If a pitched host shal pitch against me, my heart shal not feare: if warre shall rise up against me, in this, I trust.
One thing I have asked of Iehovah, the same I will request, that I may sit in the house of Iehovah all the dayes of my life, to view the pleasantnesse of Iehovah, and to inquire in his Palace. For he will keepe me privily in his pavilion, in the day of evill: he will keepe me secret, in the secret place of his tent; on a rocke he will exalt me. And now shall mine head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I will sacrifice in his tent, sacrifices of shouting: I will sing, and sing Psalme to Iehovah. Heare, Iehovah, my voice when I call, and be gracious to me, and answer me.
To thee, said my heart, seeke yee my face; thy face, Iehovah, I doe seeke. Hide thou not thy face from me, turne not aside in anger thy servant: thou hast been my succour, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Though my father and my mother should forsake me, yet Iehovah would gather me. Teach me, Iehovah, thy way, and lead me in the path of righteousnesse, because of my enviers. Give me not to the soule of my distressers, for witnesses of falshood doe stand up against me, and he that breatheth violent wrong. Except I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of Iehovah in the land of the living. Earnestly expect thou for Iehovah, be confirmed, and let thine heart wax strong; and earnestly expect thou for Iehovah.
Annotations.
OF David] the Greeke addeth, before hee was anointed. my light] that is, my comfort, joy, &c. So God and Christ are often called the light or illumination of his people, Mic. 7. 8. Esas. 16. 19, 20. and 10. 17. Luk. 1. 79. and 2. 32. Rev. 21. 23. Ioh. 1. 4. and 8. 12. The Chaldee expoundeth it, The word of the Lord is my light. the strength] or strong fort, fortification: see Psal. 28. 8.
Vers. 2. made battell] or came neere against me, to wit, in fight. So this word is used for battell, Psal. 55. 19, 22. my enemies to me] a vehement manner of speech (as 2 Sam. 22. 2. my deliverer to me:) noting against whom in speciall their hatred was bent.
Vers. 3. if war] that is, warriers, or an-armie, as the word is used, Iosh. 8. 11. See also Psal. 76. 4.
Vers. 4. One thing] or One request, as is expressed, 1 King. 2. 20. 1 Sam. 2. 20. For such want of words to be supplied, see the notes on Psal. 10. 10. that I may sit] that is, dwell, or abide. to view the pleasantnesse] to see the pleasantnesse or amenitie of Iehovah, and consequently to enjoy it. The Tabernacle had the figure and patterne of heavenly things in Christ, Hebr. 8. 5. which David in spirit here desireth to contemplate. The Hebrew phrase is, view in the pleasantnesse; and after in the 13. vers. see in the goodnesse; which signifieth to have the fruition, use, and enjoying of pleasure and goodnesse, Eccles. 2. 1. And as to seeke in Iehovah, 2 Chron. 34. 26. is to seeke Ichovah, 2 King. 22. 18. so to see in the good, is to see the good, and enjoy it. So in Psal. 106. 5. and 128. 5. and 50. 23. to inquire] or seeke early, that is, diligently.
Vers. 5. will keepe privily] or hide me, that is, keepe me safe as in the most holy of his Sanctuary, into which none might enter, Levit. 16. 2. called therefore Gods hidden place, Ezek. 7. 22. and his Saints are his hidden ones, Psal. 83. 4.
Vers. 6. sacrifices of shouting] or of triumph, of joyfull sounding and alarme. This hath respect to the law, which appointed over the sacrifices, trumpets to be sounded, Numb. 10. 10. whose chiefest, most loud, joyfull and triumphant sound was called Trughnah, Triumph, alarme or Iubilation; Numb. 10. 5, 6, 7. So to other instruments this triumphant noise is adjoyned, Psal. 33. 3. and is applied sometime to mans voice or shouting, Ios. 6. 5. 1 Sam. 4. 5. Ezra 3. 11. See also Psal. 89. 16. and 47. 6. and 81. 2. and 100. 1.
Vers. 8. seeke yee my face] an unperfect speech, which wee may supply and explaine thus, (thou saidest) seeke yee my face; and this thy commandement my heart minded, and spake of to thee in my tentations; and I made it a ground of my action and request following. See a much like defect of a word, in 1 King. 20. 34. To seeke the face, is of desire to see, heare, and know, 1 King. 10. 24. and to pray and aske counsell in doubts and distresses, &c. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Hos. 5. 15. So Psal. 105. 4.
Vers. 10. Though my father &c. should] see the like in Esay 49. 15. Or, For my father &c. have forsaken me, but Iehovah will gather me, that is, receive and take me to him. So the word gathering is also used, Judg. 19. 15. Ios. 20. 4. Mat. 23. 37. He meaneth that God would be a father unto him.
Vers. 12. to the soule] that is, to the will, lust, or desire. So Soule is for will, Psal. 41. 3. and 105 22. Ezek. 16. 27. and for lust, Psal. 78. 18. the Chaldee expoundeth it the will. that breatheth] or puffeth out. See Psal. 10. 5.
Vers. 13. Except I had beleeved] an unperfect speech; where we may understand, I should have fainted, or They had overthrowne me, if I had not beleeved: but the Greeke saith, I beleeve to see the good things of the Lord. Land of the living] that is, where men live in this world, and in speciall, the land of Canaan, the seat of Gods Church, Ezek. 26. 20. So Psal. 52. 7. and 116 9. and 142. 6. Iob 28. 13. For by death, men are said to be cut out of the land of the living, Esay 53. 8. and 38. 11. Jer. 11. 19. but the Chaldee expounds it, the land of life eternall: and that was figured by the land of Canaan.
Vers. 14. be confirmed] be comfortable, hold fast, (as the Greeke hath) be manly, or, quit thee as a man; which word the Apostle useth, 1 Cor. 16. 13. These are the words of incouragement against remisnesse, feare, faintnesse of heart, or other infirmities, as Deut. 31. 6, 7. Ios. 10. 25. 1 Chron. 22. 13. Dan. 10. 19. let thy heart wax strong] so also the Greeke turneth it: or we may reade it, he will strengthen thy heart. So after in Psal. 31. 25.