Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 36
PSAL. XXXVI.
The grievous estate of the wicked. 6 The excellencie of Gods mercies to such as trust in him. 11 A prayer for the righteous, 13 and prophesie of the wickeds fall.
To the master of the musicke, a Psalme of David, the servant of Iehovah.
THe trespasse of the wicked assuredly saith in the inmost of my heart, no dread of God is before his eyes. For he flattereth himselfe in his owne eyes, to find his iniquity which he ought to hate. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he hath left off to be prudent, to doe good. He thinketh iniquity upon his bed, he setteth himselfe on a way not good, he refuseth not evill. Iehovah, thy mercy is in the heauens, thy faithfulnesse unto the skies. Thy justice as the mountaines of God, thy judgements a great depth: Iehovah thou savest man and beast. How precious is thy mercy, O God, and the sons of Adam hope for safety in the shadow of thy wings. They shall be plenteously moistened with the fatnesse of thy house, and the streame of thy pleasures thou wilt give them to drinke. Because with thee is the well of life: in thy light we see light. Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to the right of heart. Let not the foot of pride come on me; and the hand of the wicked, let it not make meflee. There have they fallen, that worke painfull iniquitie: they have beene thrust downe, and have not beene able to rise.
Annotations.
THe trespasse of the wicked] or Trespasse saith to the wicked, that is, perswadeth, imboldneth, hardeneth him. assuredly saith] or, it is an assured saying, a faithfull affirmation. This word is peculiar to the oracles of God, which are sure and faithfull, (as the Apostle sometime mentioneth faithfull sayings, 1 Tim. 1. 15. and 3. 1. and 4. 9.) In the new Testament it is interpreted, said, Mat. 22. 44. from Psal. 110. 1. And David by the spirit here testifieth that the wicked mans trespasse is such, as assuredly saith (or avoucheth) even in his heart and conscience, that he dreadeth not God. in the inmost of my heart] in the mids, or within my heart: meaning that he certainly knew it, and was much affected with it.
Vers. 3. to finde] that is, to performe, or accomplish; as to finde the will, is to performe or doe the same, Isa. 58. 13. So in Rom. 7. 18. Or, to finde, that is, to obtaine and get, as Gen. 6. 8. Mat. 11. 29. Rom. 4. 1. Or, to finde, that is, to invent or devise new mischiefes; as the Apostle speaking of inventers (or finders out) of evill things, Rom. 1. 30. which he ought to hate] or, which is to bee hated, is odious. So, to keepe, Psal. 119. 4. that is, to be kept: to stop, Psal. 32. 9. for, to bee stopped: to doe, Esth. 6. 6. for, is to be done. So Psal. 49. 15. Ios. 2. 5. See also the verbe active expounded passively, by the Apostles authoritie, Psal. 51. 6. But the Chaldee expoundeth it, he hateth doctrine.
Vers. 5. he setteth himselfe] namely, to stand or walke continually in a way not good, as Isa. 65. 2. or, he standeth still, as Exod. 14. 13.
Vers. 6. in the heavens] elsewhere it is said, unto the heavens, Psal. 57. 11. so here in may bee used for unto: sometime it is, above the heavens, as Psal. 108. 5.
Vers. 7. mountaines of God] that is, high, mighty or excellent mountaines. The Hebrew usetth to note excellent things, by adding the name of God; as Cedars of God, Psal. 80. 11. Mount of God, Psal. 68. 16. river of God, Psal. 65. 10. wrastlings of God, Gen. 30. 5. harps of God, Rev. 15. 2. and sundry the like. So the Chaldee here saith, high as the strong mountaines.
Vers. 8. How precious] that is, honourable and much to be esteemed; sometime the word signifieth bright and glorious, Iob 31. 26. Zach. 14. 6. which also agreeth well here. and the sonnes] or, when, or therefore the sonnes. shadow of thy wings] that is, thy protection, so Psal. 63. 8. and 91. 4. called sometime, the secret of Gods wings, Psal. 61. 5.
Vers. 10. Well of life] or, as the Chaldee translateth, well of living waters, that is, an ever-springing fountaine, from whom life & all graces spring and flow. So God is called the Well of living waters, Ier. 2. 13. and 17. 13. Song 4. 15. we see light] or enjoy light, that is, knowledge, comfort, joy, &c. See Iob 29. 3. Isa. 9. 2. Iam. 1 17. Psal. 27. 1.
Vers. 11. Extend thy mercy] or draw it, meaning, exercise and shew it; as Psal. 109. 12. also prolong or continue it; as Psal. 85. 6. Eccles. 2. 3.
Vers. 12. foot of pride] or of haughtinesse, that is, (as the Chaldee translateth) of the proud man, as Ier. 50. 31, 32. the thing being put for the person in whom it is. As deceit, for a deceitfull man, Prov. 12. 27. Povertie, for poore people, 2 King 24. 14. habitation, for inhabitants, 2 Sam. 9. 12. Circumcision, for circumcised, Rom. 2. 26. Helpings, governings, for, helpers, governors, 1 Cor. 12. 28. dreams, for dreamers, Ier. 27. 9. sinne, for sinner, Prov. 13. 6. and many the like. See also Psal. 5. 5. and 12. 9. and 55. 21. and 109. 4. and 78. 31.
Vers. 13. There] to wit, in the very enterprise, while they laboured to remove me.