Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 1 – Commentary on psalm 2
PSAL. XLII.
The Prophet sheweth his desire to appeare before God; 4 his teares for his absence; 6 hee checketh himselfe for his weaknesse, 8 complaineth of his troubles, 12 and encourageth his soule to trust in God.
To the Master of the Musicke; an instructing Psalme to the sonnes of Korach.
AS the Hinde desirously brayeth for the streames of waters; so my soule desirously brayeth unto thee O God. My soule thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appeare before the face of God! My teares have beene to me bread day and night, while they say unto me all the day, where is thy God? These things I remember, and powre out upon mee my soule, because I had passed with the throng, had resorted with them unto the house of God, with voice of shouting and confession, a multitude keeping festivitie. Why …owest thou downe thy selfe, my soule, and makest thou a tumultuous stirre within me? wait hopefully for God, for yet I shall confesse him: the salvations of his face. My God, within mee my soule boweth downe it selfe, for that I remember thee from the land of Iordan and Hermonim, from the little mountaine. Deepe unto deepe calleth, at the voice of thy water-spouts; all thy billowes and thy waves doe passe over me. By day, Iehovah will command his mercy, and in the night his song with me; a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, why hast thou forgotten me; why goe I sad for the oppression of the enemie? With a murdering weapon in my bones, my distressers doe reproach me; when they say unto me all the day, where is thy God? Why bowest thou downe thy selfe, my soule; and why makest thou a tumultuous stirre within me? wait hopefully for God, for yet I shall confesse him; the salvations of my face, and my God.
Annotations.
THe second booke] to wit, of Psalmes. For though they be all compiled in one volume, (as were also the small Prophets) which thereupon is called The booke of the Psalmes, Act. 1. 20. (as, The booke of the Prophets, Act. 7. 42.) yet in the Hebrew there are five bookes; the first reacheth to the end of the 41. Psalme fore-going, which is concluded with Amen and Amen. The second, to the 72. Psalme, concluded also with Amen Amen, and the end of Davids Prayers. The third reacheth to the 89. Psalme, concluded likewise with Amen and Amen. The fourth unto the 106. Psalme, whose conclusion is Amen, Halelujah. The fifth, unto the 150 Psalme, ended with Halelujah.
Vers. 1. Korach] this was the Levite that rose up and rebelled against Moses and Aaron, for which God destroyed him and his family, and all that took part with him, Numb. 16. Howbeit, there were of his sons that died not, Numb. 26. 11. departing (as it seemeth) from their fathers tents, as all were counselled, Numb. 16. 24, 26. Of his race came Samuel the Prophet, and Heman his nephew was a singer, 1 Chron. 6. 33. To those sons of Korah, this and sundrie other Psalmes are commended; which for the most part are songs of comfort, against afflictions and sorrowes. The Chaldee expoundeth the title thus, To laud with good understanding by the hands of the sons of Korah.
Vers. 2. As the Hinde] or the Hart, a beast thirstie by nature, and whose thirst is increased when shee is hunted. The Hinde, the female is here meant, as the word annexed, she brayeth, and the Greeke article heel… manifest. And in females the passions are stronger than in males. desirously brayeth] in Greeke, desireth. This word is used but here, and in Joel 1. 20. O Lord, the beasts of the field bray also unto thee.
Vers. 3. thirsteth] that is, earnestly desireth: So Psal. 63. 2. Of thirst for Gods grace and spirit, see Isa. 55. 1. Ioh. 7. 37. Rev. 22. 17. the living God] so called here, because he is the well of living (that is, of continuall springing) waters, Ier. 17. 13. abundantly refreshing those that come to him. Or, living, is opposed to the dead, that is, false Gods, Psal. 106. 28. 1 Thess. 1. 9. yee turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Or living, that is, lively, powerfull, effectuall; as Psalm. 38. 20. Hebr. 10. 31. the Chaldee saith, living and permanent. before the face of God] that is, before his Arke or Tabernacle wherein he dwelt among men. So, that which in 1 Chron. 13. 10. is before God; in 2 Sam. 6. 7. is, with the Arke of God. And there all men were bound to appeare (or be seene) before God three times a yeare, Exod. 23. 17. and 34. 23, 24. And here the word before or unto, is to be understood, as often in the Hebrew, which sometime is supplied; as may be seene by comparing 2 Sam. 10. 2. with 1 Chron. 19. 2. and 1 King. 22. 29. with 2 Chron. 18. 28. The Chaldee expoundeth it, when shall I goe in to see the brightnesse of the Majesty (or Divine presence) of the LORD.
Vers. 4. to me bread] that is, my bread, my food. So, bread of teares, Psal. 80. 6. they say] my foes, as vers. 11. or while it is said. all the day] or, every day, as the Greeke turneth it.
Vers. 5. These things] namely my absence from Gods face, vers. 3. and my adversaries reproach, vers. 4. The Chaldee addeth, These signes I remember. powre out upon me] or shed within me, or by my selfe. This noteth exceeding sorrow, or fainting, like that in Iob 30. 16. And now my soule powreth out it selfe upon mee, and the daies of affliction have tooke bold on me. So 1 Sam. 1. 15. Lam. 2. 12. throng] a multitude preasing to goe before God: the Chaldee expoundeth it a shadow, saying, When shall I goe under the shadow, shall I together be strengthned in the tents of the just, in the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord, &c. keeping festivitie] or, with a multitude dancing, or keeping a feast. For at their solemne assemblies they kept feasts, Exod. 23. 14. with dancing, eating, drinking and joy, Exod. 32. 5, 6, 19. Iudg. 21. 19, 21. Deu. 16. 14, 15.
Vers. 6. Why lowest thou downe] to wit, with sorrow; and therefore the Greeke turneth it, why art thou sorrowfull? For Sorrow or Care in a mans heart boweth it downe, but a good word rejoyceth it, Prov. 12. 25. the salvations] understand, and, or for the salvations, that is, the full salvation, or perfect deliverance: So the Chaldee saith, for the redemption which is from his face. of his face] that is, which his face, favour, and gracious presence giveth unto me. The Greeke readeth thus; the salvation of my face and my God; transplacing the Hebrew letters, as in the last verse. Compare Psal. 59. 10, 18.
Vers. 7. for that I remember] and cannot come before thee; as, vers. 3. or, therefore I will minde thee, seeing I have no way else to comfort mee in my absence from thee. The Chaldee referreth it to others, therefore they remember thee which dwell on the other side of Iordan. the land of Jordan] which lay eastward from Ierusalem where Gods Sanctuary was, and Hermonim] that is, the inhabitants, (or the mountaines) of Hermon, which was a high mount in the North parts of the land, called also mount Shirjon: See Psal. 29. 6. the little mount] so is the Greeke: others make it a proper name, Mount Mitsar. Hee may meane the southerne mountaines, that were small in respect of Hermon. Mount being put for mounts, as chariot, for chariots, Psal. 20. 8. But the Chaldee much differeth, saying, and the people which received the law at mount Sinai (wich is) low and little. But that seemeth not to be meant here.
Vers. 8. Deepe unto deepe calleth] that is, one Affliction (or temptation) followeth and occasioneth another, without intermission of trouble. A deepe abisme, or Gulfe, is a place of many waters, signifying great afflictions, Ezek. 26. 19. Ion. 2. 5. The Chaldee translateth, the higher deepe calleth the lower deepe. billowes] such are most dangerous to drowne: they have their name of breaking as the next word waves, of wallowing or tumbling; both signifie afflictions. So Psal. 88. 8. Ion. 2. 3.
Vers. 9. command his mercy] that is, appoint, or send it with speed, power, and authoritie: a phrase taken from the Law, and often used for more vehemencie: or because God by his Angels procureth good to his people, Deut. 28. 8. Levit. 25. 21. 2 Sam. 17. 14. So after, in Psal. 44. 5. and 133. 3. and 71. 3. and 68. 29. and 7. 7. and 91. 11. his song] that is, cause and matter for me to sing him praise. So God is said to give songs in the night, Iob 35. 10. See also Isa. 30. 29. a prayer] to wit, I shall make a prayer. And some Psalmes are intituled prayers, as Psal. 17. 1. and 90. 1. and 102. 1. and 142. 1. Habak. 3. 1.
Vers. 10. sad] mournfull. See Psal. 35. 14.
Vers. 11. with a murdering weapon] Retsach, murder, seemeth here to be a sword or weapon of murdering; (as pride is a proud person, Psalm. 36. 12.) meaning that his adversaries words did sorely affect and grieve him, as if a dagger had beene thrust into his bones. For, reproachfull words are piercing like swords, Psal. 57. 5. and 59. 8.
Vers. 12. salvations of my face] that is, he which giveth me full manifest and apparant salvation, or present deliverance. See before, vers. 6. according to which the Chaldee translateth it here, for the redemption which is from his face.
PSAL. XLIII.
He prayeth to be delivered from the wicked, and restored to Gods Sanctuary. 5 He encourageth his … trust in God.
IVdge me O God, and plead my plea, from the nation unmercifull, from the man of deceit, and injurious evill, do thou deliver me. For thou art the God of my strength, why thrustest thou me away: why goe I still sad, for the oppression of the enemie? Send thy light and thy truth, let them lead me, let … bring me unto the mountain of thy holinesse, and unto thy dwelling places. And I will come unto the Altar of God; unto God, the joy of my gladnesse; and confesse thee with harpe. O God my God. Why bowest thou downe thy selfe, my soule, and why makest thou a tumultuous stirre within me? wait hopefully for God, for yet I shall confesse him; the salvations of my face, and my God.
Annotations.
IVdge me] This meaneth an examination of the cause, giving sentence, and executing of it, by delivering the oppressed: so judging is used for delivering, 1 Sam. 24. 15. 2 Sam. 18. 19, 31. Iudg. 3. 10. Pleading also ones plea is of like meaning: see Psal. 35. 1. The Chaldee paraphraseth, Judge me O God with judgement of truth, for it is thy part to plead my plea.
Vers. 2. my strength] or my strong fort, as Psal. 28. 8. for which in Psal. 42. 10. hee useth the word Rocke.
Vers. 3. dwelling places] meaning the holy Tabernacle or Sanctuary, which had severall roomes, holy and most holy, parted by veiles; as also the Apostle observeth, Hebr. 9. 2, 3, 6, 7. or, the high place at Gibeon where the tabernacle was, & in Ierusalem where the Arke was, 2 Chro. 1. 3, 4. for in both those places God dwelt, and was worshipped. But the first seemeth most proper, because of Psal. 132. 5. See also Psal. 46. 5. and 84. 2. The Chaldee explaineth the former to be the mount of the house of thy Sanctuary; and these latter, the Schooles of the house of thy divine Majestie. By Schooles meaning such places about the Sanctuarie as the Doctors sate in, Luk. 2. 46.
Vers. 4. And I will come] or, That I may come, for so the Hebrew phrase may often be resolved; and the new Testament useth both indifferently in the Greeke, as Luk. 6. 37. and ye shall not be judged; for which in Matth. 7. 1. it is, that yee be not judged. to the Altar] Chaldee, to offer an offering upon the Altar. the joy of my gladnesse] that is, author of my gladsome joy, meaning inward joy, outwardly shewing it selfe in gladsome gesture.
Vers. 5. why bowest &c.] This verse is the same with Psal. 42. 12. of my face] the Chaldee explaineth it, for the redemption which is from his face, for he is my God.