Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 28 – Commentary on psalm 29
PSAL. LXIX.
David (the father and figure of Christ) complaineth of his great afflictions. 14 He prayeth for deliverance 23 He devoteth his enemies to destruction. 31 He praiseth God for the salvation of his Church.
To the Master of the Musicke, upon Shoshannim, a Psalme of David.
SAve me, O God, for waters are entred even to the soule. I sinke downe in the mud of the gulfe, where no standing is; I am entred into the deeps of waters, and the streaming floud overfloweth me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is burnt, mine eyes faile, I attentively waiting for my God.
Many are, moe than the haires of my head, they that hate me without cause; mighty are they that would suppresse me, mine enemies falsly: that which I tooke not away, then I restored. O God, thou knowest my foolishnesse, and my guiltinesses are not concealed from thee. Let not them be abashed for me that hopefully expect thee, Lord Iehovih of hosts: let them not be ashamed for mee that seeke thee, O God of Israel. For, for thy sake doe I beare reproach, shame covereth my face. I am become a stranger to my brethren, and a forreiner to my mothers sonnes.
For the zeale of thine house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. And I wept, with fasting afflicted my soule, and it was for reproache… to me. And I made my rayment sacke cloth, and I was to them for a Proverbe.
They that sit in the gate spake against me, and they that drinke strong drinke made melodies. And I, my prayer is to thee, Iehovah, in time of acceptation; O God, in multitude of thy mercy answer thou me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let mee not sinke downe: let mee bee delivered from my haters, and out of the deeps of waters. Let not the streaming floud of waters o…erflow me, neither let the gulfe swallow me, neither let the pit shut her mouth upon me. Answer mee, Iehovah, for thy kinde mercy is good; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies turne the face unto me. And hide not thy face from thy servant, for distresse is on me; make haste, answer me. Draw neere to my soule▪ redeeme it; because of mine enemies, ransome thou me.
Thou hast knowne my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour; before thee are all my distressers. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heavinesse; and I looked for some to mone me, but none came; and for comforters, but I found none. But they gave me gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vineger to drinke. Let their table be before them for a s…are, and for recompences for a trap-fall. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and make their loines to shake continually. Powre out upon them thy detesting ire, and let the burning wrath of thine anger take them. Let their Castle be desolate; within their tents let there not be a dweller. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and they tell of the sorrow of thy wounded ones. Give thou iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into thy justice. Let them bee wiped out of the Booke of the living, and let them not be written with the just. And I, poore afflicted and sorrowing; let thy salvation, O God, lift me up. I will praise the Name of God with a song, and magnifie him with confession. And it shall be better to Iehovah, than a young Bull that hath hornes, that parteth the hoofe. The meeke shall see it, they shall reioyce; the seekers of God, and your heart shall live. For Iehovah heareth the needy, and despiseth not his prisoners. Praise him let heavens and earth, seas, and all that creepeth in them. For God will save Sion, and build the Cities of Iudah; and they shall dwell there, and have it for inheritance.
And the seed of his servants shall possesse it: and they that love his name, shall dwell therein.
Annotations.
SHoshannim] that is, six-stringed instruments, or, Lilies: see Psal. 45. 1.
Vers. 2. Save me, &c.] David in his troubles, being a figure of Christ, prayeth for deliverance from tentations and persecutions, under the similitude of waters, mud, myre, pit, deeps, streames, &c. and that this Psalme had accomplishment in Christ, the Evangelists shew, Mat. 27. 48. Ioh. 19. 29. that the use hereof is for us, the Apostle sheweth, Rom. 15. 3, 4. that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. waters] The Chaldee expoundeth these, armies of sinners, which beset him like waters. the soule] to wit, of me, as the Greeke explaineth it, that is, are ready to drowne and choke me: so Ion. 2. 5. see also Psal. 45. 4.
Vers. 3. mud of the gulfe] or, of the deepe, that is, the deepe or gulfie mud in the bottomes of the sea, as Psal. 68. 23. Ion. 2. 4. another signe of great calamitie, as also in Psal. 88. 7. wherefore Babylon that held captive Gods people, is called a Gulfe, or Deepe, Isa. 44. 27. no standing] no stay or ground, but I sinke more and more. deepes of waters] in Greeke, deepes of the see.
Vers. 4. is burnt] that is, parched, dried, or (as the Greeke explaineth it) hoarse. eyes faile] or, are consumed, to wit, with teares and earnest expectation, as Lam. 2. 11. and 4. 17. This was a curse of the Law, Lev. 26. 16. Deu. 28. 65. but Christ became a curse for us, Gal. 3. 13. So after, Psa. 119. 82.
Vers. 5. falsly] in Greek, uniustly. rocke not away] or, which I robbed not, tooke not by force a… rapine. This though it may be taken for all …r just criminations, whereof David and Christ were innocent, yet in speciall it was verified in Christ, who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God, Phil. 2. 6. notwithstanding for witnessing himselfe to be the Sonne of God, hee was put to death by the Iewes, Ioh. 19. 7.
Vers. 6. my foolishnesse] that is, my sinne: see the note on Psal. 38. 6. In David were sinnes properly; in Chrst, by imputation: for God made him sinne for us, which knew no sinne, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Or this may be meant of false imputation, O God thou knowest my foolishnesse, if any such be, as my …oes charge me with: So Psal. 7. 4, 5.
Vers. 7. abashed for me] for my sake, to wit, If I be not delivered. So of Christ, his Disciples hoped that he should be the Saviour of Israel; but when he was killed, they began to doubt and feare, Satan winnowing their faith to make them ashamed; but Christ prayed for their confirmation, Luk. 24. 20, 21. and 22. 31, 32. So great are Christs afflictions, that blessed is he that is not offended in him, Mat. 11. 6. Iehovih] or, God, it hath the vowels of Aelohim: see Psal. 68. 21.
Vers. 8. beare reproach] that is, are reproached: contrary hereunto is, to beare grace and favour, that is, to be favoured and well liked, Esth. 2. 15, 17. Compare herewith Psal. 44. 23. 16.
Vers. 9. forreinour] to wit, in their estimation and carriage towards me. This also was the case of Iob and others, Iob 19. 13. Gen. 31. 15. & of Christ the Iewes said, they knew not whence he was, Ioh. 9. 29. and his brethren beleeved not in him, Ioh. 7. 5.
Vers. 10. zeale of thine house] or jealousie, indignation for the polluting of thine house, and studious fervent care to have it conserved holy. See this performed by Christ, when he whipped buyers and sellers out of the temple, Ioh. 2. 15, 16, 17. eaten me up] devoured, or consumed. For love and jealousie are a fire and vehement flame, Song. 8. 6. See also Psal. 119. 139. are fallen on me] that is, I have taken them on me, and willingly beare them, as the Apostle gathereth from these words, that Christ pleased not himselfe, (that is, sought not his owne pleasure or profit) but for his Fathers sake & his brethrens did beare all things: and this is an example for us to do the like: See Rom. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Vers. 11. afflicted my soule] the word afflicted is here supplied from Psal. 35. 13. for often there is want of a word to be understood, which the Hebrew text sometime sheweth; as 2 Chron. 10. 11, 14. I, with Scorpions, for which in 1 King. 12. 11, 14. is written, I will chastise you with Scorpions: see the notes on Psal. 18. 7, 29. and 27. it was for] or, it was turned to reproaches, that is, to much reproach and opprobrie. So Iohns fasting turned to his reproach; they said, he had a Devill, Luk. 7. 33.
Vers. 12. And I made] or, when I gave, that is, made, or put on. So giving is for putting, Psal. 8. 2.
Vers. 13. that sit in the gate] that is, great men in the publike assemblies. The rulers of the Iewes, Deut. 25. 7. Ruth 4. 1, 2, &c. spake] or talked and meditated, communed how to worke me evill, Luk. 22. 2, 4. strong drinke] Heb. S…eker, which is all manner strong drinke which will make drunken, as ale, beere, wine, sider, methaglin, &c. The Greeke here turneth it wine. melodies] or songs sung with instruments of musicke of me. So Iob also complaineth, Iob 30. 9.
Vers. 14. And I] that is, And (or but) as for me. time of acceptation] that is, an acceptable time, as the Apostle interpreteth this phrase, 2 Cor. 6. 2. from Esay 49. 8. in truth of thy salvation] that is, for thy saving truths sake, or faithfull salvation.
Vers. 15. mire] the Chaldee expoundeth it, captivity, which is like unto mire.
Vers. 16. shut her mouth] so that I cannot get out of miserie; as Dathan, Abiram, &c. went downe alive into the pit, and the earth covered over them, that no hope was left of their returne, Numb. 16. 33. But Christ in all troubles had comfort, even in the grave his flesh rested in hope, Psal. 16. 9, 10. The Chaldee expoundeth this verse thus, Let not the strong king, which is li…e to a floud of waters, captivate me, neither let the mighty prince swallow me, &c.
Vers. 17. turne the face] or, respect, regard mee with favour: See, Psal. …5. 16.
Vers. 20. dishonour] or ignominie, slander, calumnie: See Psal. 4. 3.
Vers. 21. full of heavinesse] or, sicke, sorrowfull; of this word in Hebrew man hath his name Aenosh: see Psal. 8. 5. to mone] to pitty, and solaoe me, or, to shew compassion: So Iob 42. 11. found none] in Christs greatest need, all his Disciples forsooke him and fled; Mat. 26. 56. and all his acquaintance stood a farre off, Luk. 23. 49.
Vers. 22 gall] in Hebrew Rosh, an Herbe bitter as wormewood, with which it is often joined, Deut. 29. 18. Am. 6. 12. Lam. 3. 19. It groweth in Corne fields, Hos. 10. 4. the water or juice hereof signifieth bitter affliction, Ier. 9. 15. These things were also actually done to Christ, whom the Iewes refreshed with gall and vinegar, Mat. 27. 34. Ioh. 19. 28, 29, 30.
Vers. 23. and for recompences] that is, and for a full recompence of that which they did to me (let their table be) a trap unto them. Or, and for peaces, that is, and the things which they expect peace and welfare by, let become a trap unto them. But the first sense agreeth with the Apostles interpretation, Rom. 1…. 9. These are Davids imprecations against the Iewes, and prophesies of their rejection, as the Apostle sheweth; and by their table we are to understand all meanes of comfort and refreshing both of body and soule, which turne to the ruine of the wicked, even an odour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16.
Vers. 24. that they see not] so the Apostle explaineth the Hebrew phrase, from seeing Rom. 11. 10. The like is in Esa. 44. 28. And hereby is meant the eyes of their understanding, that seeing they see and perceive not, because a veile is over their hearts, Ioh. 12. 39, 40. Act. 28. 26, 27. 2 Cor. 3. 14, 15. make their loines to sha…e] bow downe their backs, saith the Apostle, Rom. 11. 10. and this meaneth bondage and miserie, as appeareth by the contrary blessing of going upright, which God once vouched safe unto that people, Lev. 26. 13.
Vers. 26. their castle] or their tower, palace, habitation, faire and orderly builded, Gen. 2…. 16. Numb. 31. 10. Song 8. 9. This which David speaketh of all Christs enemies, Peter applieth to Iudas that betraied him, Let his habitation be desart, Act. 1. 20. but Christ threatneth the like to them all, Mat. 23. 38. Castle here is for Castles or Palaces, as Chariot for Chariots, Psal. 68. 18.
Vers. 27. whom thou hast smitten] Christ the shepherd, who was smitten of God, and wounded for our sinnes, Esa. 53. 4, 5. Mat. 26. 31. they tell of the sorrow, that is, tell one another vauntingly, of the sorrow (smart or paine) of thy wounded, thy servants who are wounded for thy sake; or, they preach hereof: see the like phrase, Psal. 2. 7. or, they tell to the sorrow, that is, adde unto and increase it, as the Greeke turneth it.
Vers. 28. Give thou iniquity, &c.] that is, Adde sinne unto their sinne, give them over to a reprobate minde, which was Gods heavie judgement first on the Gentiles, Rom. 1. 24, 28. afterward on the Iewes, who fulfilled their sins when wrath came on them to the utmost, 1 Thes. 2. 16. Rom. 11. 8. Mat. 23. 32. Or by iniquitie, may be understood punishment for it, as Psal. 31. 11. not come into thy justice] that is, not beleeve thy Gospell, and so come to the justice of God, which is by faith; as the Scriptures shew, Rom. 10. 3, &c. Phil. 3. 9. Ioh. 12. 39, 40. The Chaldee expounds it, let them not enter into the Church of thy just ones.
Vers. 29. booke of the living] or, Booke of life, wherein the just that live by saith are written, that is, let them be cut off from being any longer counted thy people, or registred in the writing of the house of Israel, as Ezek. 13. 9. Rom. 11. 20. Phil. 3. 2, 3. Psal. 87. 6.
Vers. 30. lift me up] or, set me on a high place, that is, safely defend me.
Vers. 32. better to] that is, more pleasing and acceptable. a young bull] so the Greeke explaineth the Hebrew phrase, a bull a bullocke, that is, a bull which is but young, or a bullock. So Iudg. 6. 25. where the order is changed, take the bullock of the bull, that is, the young bull or bullock. Some understand it here of two, better than bull or bullock. that hath hornes] Hebr. horneth, that is, brings forth or beareth hornes, and parteth the hoofe▪ for such were fittest for sacrifice; but confession and thankes are more pleasing to God, specially Christs obedience: see Psal. 50. 13, 14, 15. and 40. 7.
Vers. 33. the seekers] or, ye seekers of God, to wit, shall see it, and your heart shall live; yee shall have inward life, joy and consolation: See Psalme 22. 27.
Vers. 34. his prisoners] such as are persecuted and bound in prisons for his truth: Thus Paul calleth himselfe the prisoner of Christ, Ephes. 3. 1.
Vers. 35. heavens] the Chaldee saith, Angels of Heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth.
Vers. 36. save Sion] that is, his Church, figured out by Sion and Iudah: see Psal. 2. 6. and this building of Iudahs cities is by preaching of the Gospell, 1 Cor. 3. 9, 10. a figure of this worke was done by Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 17. 9. 12, 13. and Isaiah prophesieth the like, Isa. 44. 26.
PSAL. LXX.
David prayeth for speedy helpe, to the shame of the wicked, and joy of the godly.
To the Master of the Musicke, a Psalme of David for to record.
O God, for to deliver me; Iehovah, to mine helpe make haste. Let them be abashed and ashamed that seeke my soule; let them be turned backward and blush that delight mine evill: Let them turne backe for a reward of their shame, that say, aha, aha. Let all that seeke thee be joyfull and rejoyce in thee; and let them say continually, magnified bee God; they that love thy salvation. And I, poore afflicted and needy, O God, make haste to me; thou art mine helpe and my deliverer; Iehovah, delay not.
Annotations.
TO record] or to cause remembrance: see Psal. 38. 1.
Vers. 2. to deliver] or, to rid me free; understand, make haste, or vouchsafe, as is expressed in Psal. 40. 14. for this Psalme is the same in substance, and almost in words with the end of that Psalme: see the annotations there.
Vers. 3. that seeke my soule] to make an end of it, as Psal. 40. 15.
Vers. 4. turne backe] desolate or wasted, as Psal. 40. 16.
Vers. 5. be God] in Psal. 40. 17. it is written, be Iehovah.
Vers. 6. O God, make haste to me] for this, in Psalm. 40. 18. is, the Lord thinketh on me. Iehovah] in Psal. 40. 18. my God.