Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 28
PSAL. XXVIII.
David prayeth for deliverance from his enemies. 6 He blesseth God for hearing and helping him. 9 He prayeth for the Lords people.
APsalme of David. VntoUnto thee Iehovah doe I call; my rocke, cease not as deafe from me, lest thou be silent from me, and I be made like to them that go downe the pit. Heare thou the voice of my supplications for grace, when I cry out unto thee, whē I lift up my hands unto the oracle of thine holinesse. Draw me not with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquitie, that speake peace with their neighbours, and malice is in their heart. Give thou to them according to their worke, and according to the evill of their practises; according to the deed of their hands give thou to them; tender their reward unto them. Because they will not discreetly attend unto the workes of Iehovah, and to the deed of his hands, he will breake them down, and will not build them up. Blessed be Iehovah, for he hath heard the voice of my supplications for grace. Iehovah is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusted, and I was holpen, and my heart sheweth gladsomenesse; and with my song will I confesse him. Iehovah is a strength to them, and he is the strong sort of the salvations of his Anointed. Save thou thy people, and blesse thy inheritance, and feed them and advance them even for ever.
Annotations.
CEase not &c.] that is, cease not to speake unto and answer me, be not silent as turned away from me; so the like phrase meaneth, Iob 13. 13. Ier. 38. 27. or, cease not to speake for me, as the phrase also importeth, 1 Sam. 7. 8. and so by the Rocke fore-mentioned he may meane Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 4. who is our Advocate with the Father, 1 Ioh. 2. 1. And to be silent (or still) is not in words only, but deeds, as in Iudg. 18. 9. 1 King. 22. 3.
Vers. 2. oracle of thy holinesse] thy holy oracle: The inmost, and most holy place of the Temple was thus named, 1 King. 6. 5, 16, 19, 20. called the Holy of Holies, 1 King. 8. 6. and that which one Prophet calleth the Oracle, 2 King. 6. 23. another calleth the house of the Holy of holies, 2 Chron. 3. 10. The Hebrew Debir hath the signification of Speaking; for from the most holy place God spake to his people, Num. 7. 89. The Apostle seemeth to expresse it by that which is within the veile, Hebr. 6. 19.
Vers. 3. Draw me not] to wit, unto death, that is, destroy me not. So drawing is used, Ezek. 32. 20. Job 21 33. and 24. 20. an example whereof see in Sisera, Jud. 4. 7.
Vers. 4. the evill of their practises] This hath reference to the curse denounced against sinners, Deut. 28. 20.
Vers. 5. not discreetly attend] or, consider, so as to discerne and understand them. The like sinne is blamed, Isa. 5. 12. breake them downe] or, destroy: opposed to building up or edifying; and applied figuratively to men: so Ier. 1. 10. and 42. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 10. build] that is, conserve, exalt, prosper them. See the like phrase, Iob 22. 23. Mal. 3. 15. Ier. 12. 16.
Vers. 8. strength to them] or, to him, as Psal. 2. 3. meaning, his people, (as the Greeke expresseth,) and his anointed King: both which follow. Or, Iehovah strength is his, that is, kingdome and power belong to him. the strong fort] or fortification. The former word strength is in Hebrew G…oz; and this strong fort, Maghnoz; by addition of a letter, adding to the force of the signification. And this is often used for a fortification or strong defenced place, Dan. 11. 10. Judg. 6. 26. of the salvations of his anointed] or of the deliverances (the victories) of his anointed, that is, of me his anointed King. This sentence may also be turned thus: and the strong fort of salvations, his Anointed (Christ) is; meaning that the Christ of God is the saving strength of his people. The last word He is often put for Is, sometime in the Hebrew text it selfe, as is noted in Psal. 16. 3.
Vers. 9. inheritance] that is, people or Church, Deut. 4. 20. and 32 9. Psal. 33. 12. and 94. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Sometime it is the land where they dwelt, Psal. 79. 1. advance them] or beare them up, releeve them. The word is used for advancing to honour, Est. 3. 1. and 9. 3. and for bearing up, supporting, helping, as 1 King. 9. 11. Esr. 1. 4. and 8. 36.