Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 102 – Psalm 103
PSAL. CII.
Title. of] Or, for.
of the afflicted] Whereby is signified, that albeit we be in never so great miseries, yet there is ever place left for prayer, Psal. 130. 1. Jon. 2. 1.
Vers. 1. LEt my cry come unto thee] He declareth, that in our prayer we must ever feel the want of that which we desire.
V. 2. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble,
encline thine ear unto me] Psal. 27. 9.
V. 3. For my dayes are consumed like smoke] These excessive kindes of speech shew how much the affliction of the church ought to wound the hearts of the godly.
like smoke] Or, (as some read) into smoke.
and my bones are burnt as an hearth] Job 30. 30. Psal. 32. 3.
4. so] Or, because, or, while.
so that I forget to eat my bread] My sorrows were so great, that I passed not for mine ordinary food.
V. 5. my bones cleave to my skin] Job 19. 20. Lam. 4. 8.
skin] Or, flesh.
V. 6. I am like a pelicare of the wildernesse] Ever mourning and solitary, casting out fearfull cries.
an owl of the desert] Job 30. 29.
V. 7. I watch] My sorrows will not suffer me to sleep, Psal. 77. 4.
as a sparrow alone] That hath lost his mate: So are good men solitary, being out of the church.
V. 8. are sworn against me] They have conspired my death by a joynt oath.
V. 9. I have eaten ashes like bread] Sitting in the ashes, he could not but eat some with his meat.
mingled my drink with weeping] Psal. 80. 5. Heb. drinks. Noting a continuall act.
V. 10. Because of thine indignation] He sheweth, that his affl…ctions did not so much move him, as Gods displeasure.
thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down] As in wrestling, one takes the other up to give him the greater fall: so affliction after prosperitie is the more dreadfull, Psal. 73. 18.
V. 11. My dayes are like a shadow that declineth] Isai. 40. 6. Jam. 1. 10.
like a shadow that declineth] Rather, is stretched out, as Exo. 6. 6. for shadows at evening are longest, and then suddenly vanish, Jere. 6. 4.
V. 12. thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever] Lam. 5. 19. Howsoever we be frail, yet thy promise is sure, and the remembrance thereof shall confirm thy people in all adversities.
thy remembrance unto all generations] Psal. 135. 13.
V. 13. shalt] Or, wilt.
yea, the set time is come] That is, the seventy yeers appointed, Jere. 29. 10, 12. or, some such time appointed for their deliverance, Revel. 2. 10. and 3. 10.
V. 14. in her stones] The more that the church is in misery and desolation, the more do the faithfull love and pitie it.
V. 19. For] Or, When
V. 20. those that are appointed to death] Heb. the children of death, Psal. 79. 11. Who now in their banishment could look for nothing but death.
V. 21. To declare] Or, That they may declare.
V. 22. When the people are gathered] He sheweth that Gods Name is more praised, then, when religion flourisheth, and the church increaseth, which is chiefly accomplished in the new Testament.
V. 23. wrakened] Heb. afflicted.
V. 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth] Heb. 1. 10.
V. 26. perish, but thou shalt endure] Isai. 51. 6.
endure] Heb. stand.
V. 27. same, and thy yeers shall have no end] Mal. 3. 6. Heb. 13. 8.
V. 28. The children of thy servants] The scope is, that though God as a Creatour, hath not communicated everlasting continuance to his creatures, yet as a father he hath given it to his church, Hab. 1. 12. Mutt. 22. 32.
shall cominue, and their feed shall be established before thee] Psal. 69. 36. Joel 3. 20.
continue] Heb. dwell.
PSAL. CIII.
Vers. 1. BLesse Lord, O my soul] He awakeneth his soul to praise God, shewing that both understanding and affections, minde and heart, are too little to set forth his praise.
V. 2. all] Or, any of.
V. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities] Remission of sins is the chief of all benefits, Psal. 32. 1, 2.
who healeth all thy diseases] Cureth thy bodily diseases.
V. 4. Who redeemeth thy life] Freeth thee out of deadly dangers.
destruction] Or, the pit, as Psal. 30. 3. and 107. 20.
crewneth] Or, encompasseth, as Psal. 5. 10. and 32. 10.
V. 5. satisfieth thy mouth with good things] Ps. 36. 8. and 146. 7.
so that thy youth is renewed like the …agles] As the eagle is renued in strength by sucking blood when she cannot feed, as some say, or, by casting her feathers, as others say: so God miraculously giveth strength to his people, above all mans expectation: or, he makes thee vigorous, as in thy youth, and active, like an eagle, Isai. 40. 31.
V. 6. The Lord executeth righteousnesse] Heb. righteousnesses, and judgements: That is, all sorts of them, or, the greatest.
judgement for all that are oppressed] Psal. 146. 7.
V. 7. He made known his wayes] That we should walk in: o…, that he walketh in, that is, his proceedings.
unto Moses] As to his chief minister, and next to his people, Psal. 147. 19.
V. 8. The Lord is mercifull and gracious; slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy] Exod. 34. 6, 7. Num. 14. 18. Deut. 5. 10. Nehem. 9. 17. Psal. 86. 15. Jere. 32. 18.
plenteous in mercy] Heb. great of mercy.
V. 9. He will not alwayes chide] God sheweth first his severe judgement, but so soon as the sinner is humbled, he receiveth him to mercy.
V. 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins] We have proved by continuall experience, that his mercy hath ever provailed against our offences.
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities] Ezra 9. 13.
V. 11. as the heaven is high] Heb. according to the height of the heaven]
V. 13. as a father pirieth his children] Mal. 3. 17.
V. 14. dust] Gen. 3. 19.
V. 15. As for man, his dayes are as graffe] He declareth that man hath nothing in himself to move God to mercy, but onelyonly the confession of his infirmity, and misery.
grasse] Psal. 90. 5. and 102. 11. Isai. 40. 6.
V. 16. it is gone] Heb. it is not.
the place thereof shall know it no more] So the scripture useth to expresse a totall abolition of a thing out of its place, Job 7. 10. and 20. 9.
V. 17. his righteousnesse unto childrens children] His just, and faithfull keeping of his promises.
V. 18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them] Deut. 7. 9.
To] Or, of.
To such as keep his covenant] That fear him, and obey his word.
V. 20. ye his angels] Psal. 148. 2. In that that we, who naturally are slow to praise God, exhort the angels, which willingly do it, we stir up our selves to consider our duty, and to awake out of our sluggishnesse.
that excell in strength] Heb. mighty in strength.
V. 21. ministers of his that do his pleasure] Heb. 1. 14.
V. 22. Blesse the Lord, all his works] This Psalm begin…, and ends, with the praise of God.