Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 30
PSAL. XXX.
David praiseth God for his deliverance. 5 Hee exhorteth others to praise him by example of Gods dealing with him.
APsalme, a song of the dedication of the house of David. I will exalt thee Iehovah, for thou hast drawne up me, and hast not made my enemies to rejoyce at mee. Iehovah my God, I cried out unto thee, and thou healedst me. Iehovah, thou hast brought up my soule from hell, thou hast kept me alive from them that goe downe the pit. Sing Psalme to Iehovah, yee his gracious Saints, and confesse yee to the remembrance of his holinesse. For a moment is in his anger, life in his favourable acceptation; in the evening lodgeth weeping, and at the morning shouting joy. And I, I said in my safe quietnesse, I shall not bee moved for ever. Iehovah, in thy favourable acceptation thou hast setled strength to my mountain: thou didst hide thy face, I was suddenly troubled. VntoUnto thee Iehovah I called, and unto Iehovah supplicated for grace. What profit is in my bloud, when I goe downe unto corruption? shall dust confesse thee? shall it shew forth thy truth? Heare thou Iehovah, and be gracious to me; Iehovah, be thou an helper to me. Thou hast turned my mourning to a dance to me: thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and hast girded me with joy. That my glory may sing Psalme to thee, and not be silenced: Iehovah my God, I will confesse thee for ever.
Annotations.
DEdication] or initiation, which is, when a new thing is first imployed and put to that use for which it was made. It is applied to houses, as here, and Deut. 20. 5. to altars, as Num. 7. 84, 88. to walls, as Nehem. 12. 27. to images, as Dan 3. 2. and to men, and then it meaneth instruction, or training up, as Prov. 22. 6. Gen. 14. 14. It is recorded by the Hebrewes, that when the Israelites brought their baskets of first-fruits into the Sanctuary, according to the Law in Dent. 26. and came thither in companies, as their manner was, they sang by the way the 122. Psalme, and when they came to the Sanctuary, with every man his basket on his shoulder, they sang the 150. Psalme; and when they were come into the court-yard, the Levites said this 30. Psalme, I will exalt thee, &c. Maimony in Misn. tom. 3. in Biccurim (or Treat. of First-fruits) chap. 4. sect. 17. And the Chaldee expoundeth this title, For the dedication of the house of the Sanctuary an Hymne of David.
Vers. 2. hast drawne up me] as out of a pit of waters; for this word is used for drawing of waters, Exod. 2. 16, 17. waters signifying troubles. at me] or over me, for my ruine. Or, my enemies to me, that is, my utter enemies, as Psal. 27. 2.
Vers. 3. healedst me] that is, helpedst me out of trouble: So Psal 41. 5. and 60. 4. Hos. 7. 1. 2 Chron. 7. 14. my soule from hell] me, or my life from the perill and state of death. So Psal. 86. 13. Ionas meant the same, when he said, thou hast brought out my life from the pit, Ion. 2. 6. Of hell, See Psal. 16. 10. them that goe downe] that is, which die, that I should not be among them: The Hebrew also hath another reading, that I should not goe downe the pit. The meaning is the same.
Vers. 5. to the remembrance] or for it, that is, that his holinesse may be had in remembrance, as Isa. 26. 17. So Psal. 97. 12.
Vers. 6. a moment] or little while. For Gods anger towards his, and their affliction, is short and moment any, as Isa. 54. 7, 8. 2 Cor. 4. 17. life] or lives, meaning a blessing and the continuance of it, as Psal. 133. 3. and 21. 5. Life is here opposed to a moment. So yeares of life, meane many good yeares, Prov. 3. 2. and the Chaldee here for life, saith life eternall. lodgeth] that is, abideth: or he (meaning God) causeth weeping to lodge, as if it should be an abiding guest. So another Prophet saith, At even tide loe there is trouble, but afore the morning it is gone, Isa. 17. 14. The Chaldee here translateth the latter part thus, in the morning he raiseth up with song.
Vers. 7. in my safe quietnesse] or tranquillitie. Gods children have so great infirmities, that in prosperity they are too secure, (as David sheweth here, and Iob, in chap. 29. 18, 19, 20.) and in adversitie they are too fearefull, as David elsewhere doth confesse, Psal. 31. 23. and 116. 11.
Vers. 8. setled] or made stand, that is, reared up, constituted and stablished sure. So this phrase importeth, Psal. 107. 25. and 31. 9. to my mountaine] that is, mount Sion, where Davids house or court was: or, figuratively, he meaneth his kingdome, as Isa. 2. 2. Dan. 2. 35, 44. See Psal. 65. 7. thy face] thy favourable countenance; the Chaldee calleth it Shecinah, the divine Majestie of God.
Vers. 10. what profit] what gaine (or use) will there be in my bloud; which here may meane his violent death, as in Psal. 72. 14. unto corruption] the grave, or place where the body rotteth. See Psal. 16. 10. shall dust] that is, my body when it is turned to dust. The Chaldeesaith, they that lie in the dust. See the like in Psal. 6. 6. and 88. 11. and 115. 17. Isa. 38. 18.
Vers. 12. to a dance] which is a signe of joy, Ier. 31. 4, 13. therefore the Greeke turneth it here, joy. The contrary is in Lam. 5. 15. where their dance is turned into mourning. loosed my sacke] or, done off my sackcloth; which was wont to be worne in time of sorrow, Esth. 4. 1. Ion. 3. 6. Psal. 35. 13.
Vers. 13. my glory] so the Greeke putteth to the word my; by glory, meaning the tongue or soule: See Psal. 16. 9. But the Chaldee translateth, That the glorious ones of the world may praise thee. silenced] or made silent, which is, when men are cut off by death, as Psal. 31. 18.