The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 101
PSALM CI.
A Pſalm of David.
ARGUMENT.
The Title tells us who made this Pſalm; and the matter of it is ſo plain, that any body may ſee it is a pious reſolution of David to govern firſt himſelf, and then his Court, and then his Kingdom, with ſo much care; that the good might expect all favour from him, but no wicked man, of any ſort, have the leaſt countenance or incouragement.
The onelyonly difficulty is to know, when he compoſed it; whether before, or after he was ſettled in his Kingdom. The firſt words of it ſeem to countenance thoſe, who think he was poſſeſſed of it; and newly entred upon the Government: which he thankfully acknowledges. But the words that follow, verſe 2. O when wilt Thou come unto me, ſeem to juſtifie their opinion who think he was now under Saul's perſecution: yet, having confidence in God's promiſes (which he long'd to ſee fulfilled) made this religious Vow, of being a good King; and propoſed to himſelf an excellent form and manner of life, when God ſhould be pleaſed to perform them. To reconcile both theſe, there is a middle way lies open to every ones view, that reads his hiſtory. For upon the death of Saul he was immediately promoted to the Kingdom; though not intirely: but reſolved then with himſelf how well he would govern; when God ſhould make him King over all Iſrael, as He had done over Judah. And ſo I ſhall order my Paraphraſe, ſuppoſing him to reign now in Hebron, (2 Sam. II. 1, 2, 3, 4.) and expecting to reign in Jeruſalem, (2 Sam V. 3, 4, 5.) which I preſume he here calls the City of God, Ver. 8. becauſe there he intended to ſettle the Ark, as well as to fix his Court; when he ſhould be poſſeſſed of it.
That paſſage indeed hath induced ſome to think, that he compoſed this Pſalm, after he had made an attempt to bring the Ark thither; but failing in it, (2 Sam. VI. 9, 10.) ſighs here for its enjoyment. Which I ſhall not diſpute; becauſe I would not prolong this preface unneceſſarily. It is ſufficient in my judgment to ſay; that it doth not ſeem likely, he would defer this reſolution ſo long after he was inſtalled in his Kingdom. For it required time, to prepare a place for the reception of the Ark, ſutable to the Majeſty it repreſented.
1. I Will ſing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I ſing.
1. I Will never forget, but celebrate with perpetual praiſes, that mercy which hath raiſed me from a low condition, unto the Throne; and that juſt puniſhment, which I ſee inflicted upon all my oppoſers: both which I aſcribe, O Lord, to Thee alone, and not to my vertue or valour; and therefore to Thee will I ſing my gratefull Hymns.
2. I will behave my ſelf wiſely in a perfect way; O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my houſe with a perfect heart.
2. Nor will I ſatifie my ſelf merely with Songs of praiſe; but ſtudy, with all diligence, integrity of life, and purity of manners: O when wilt Thou perfect, what Thou haſt begun for me? and ſettle me peaceably in my Kingdom? Then I ſhall be able to live more regularly, then now in this ſtate of war and confuſion, (2 Sam. III. 1, 39.) and ſo I reſolve to doe; ſincerely indeavouring to make my ſelf an abſolute pattern of piety, and vertue to all my Court.
3. I will ſet no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aſide, it ſhall not cleave to me.
3. No pretended reaſons of ſtate and politick ends, ſhall make me ſo much as project any thing againſt the Law; to which I will ever tie my ſelf: For I abhor the practices of thoſe, who decline that Rule, to purſue their own private deſires; no ſuch corrupt principles ſhall be entertained in my mind.
4. A froward heart ſhall depart from me: I will not know a wicked perſon
4. I will turn him inſtantly out of my ſervice, who ſhall dare to ſuggeſt to me any crooked counſels: I will have no familiarity with him, much leſs make him my favourite; who makes no conſcience how he compaſſes his ends.
5. Whoſo privily ſlandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look, and a proud heart, will not I ſuffer.
5. I will be ſo far from liſtening to their private whiſpers, who, by ſecret calumnies and detractions, indeavour to ſupplant their fellow-ſervants; that I will ſeverely puniſh, and baniſh them my Court: nor will I indure thoſe, whoſe pride makes them overlook all others, as if they were another ſort of Creatures; or whoſe unſatiable covetouſneſs and ambition, makes them ſtudy their own advancement, more then the publick good.
6. Mine eyes ſhall be upon the faithfull of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he ſhall ſerve me.
6. I will look out for truſty perſons, men fearing God, and of clear integrity; and, in what part of the Country ſoever I find them, make them of my Privy Council: and no man ſhall bear any other Office in my Court, but he that lives unblameably.
7. He that worketh deceit ſhall not dwell within my houſe: he that telleth lies, ſhall not tarry in my ſight.
7. No ſubtil knave, that is made up of ſhifts and tricks, or that deviſes cunning cheats to oppreſs my ſubjects, ſhall remain in my ſervice: Though he have craftily got into it, under a guiſe of ſimplicity; yet no falſe informer, flatterer, or any other ſort of Liar, ſhall continue in my favour.
8. I will early deſtroy all the wicked of the land: that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
8. As ſoon as ever I am ſettled in my Throne, I will uſe my utmoſt diligence to reform the whole Nation; eſpecially the place of thy peculiar reſidence, which ought to be an example to the reſt of the Kingdom: taking care that all offenders be ſeverely puniſhed in the Courts of Juſtice; and, if there be no other remedy, cutting off thoſe evil members, who have got an incurable habit of doing wickedly.