Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 31 – Psalm 34
PSAL. XXXI.
Vers. 1. IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust] Psal. 22. 5. and 71. 1. Isai. 49. 23.
deliver me in thy righteousnesse] For then God declareth himself just, when he preserveth his, according as he hath promised.
V. 2. be thou my strong rock] Though David made use of rocks in distresse, yet he trusted not in them, but in God, Psal. 18. 2, 31.
my strong rock] Heb. to me for a rock of strength.
defence] Heb. defences.
V. 4. that they have laid privily for me] Preserve me from the crafty counsells, and subtill practices of mine enemies.
V. 5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit] Luke 23. 46. Secing his soul was Gods by redemption, he committeth it to him to take care of it, 1 Pet. 4. 19.
V. 6. but I trust in the Lord] Not in lying vanities, that is, idols, Jon. 2. 8.
V. 7. thou hast known my soul in adversities] Taken notice of it, and care for it, Psal. 1. 6. as a true friend.
V. 8. thou hast set my feet in a large room] Largenesse signifieth comfort, and freedom from difficulties, as straitnesse doth sorrow and trouble, Psal. 4. 1. and 18. 19. and 119. 33.
V. 9. mine eye is consumed with grief] Psal 6. 7. Meaning, that his sorrow and torment had continued a great while.
V. 10. my bones are consumed] Psal. 32. 3. and 102. 3.
V. 11. I was a reproach among all mine enemies] As if I had been smitten of God with some great judgement, Isai. 53. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 9, 13. Psal. 41. 8.
especially among my] Heb. most of all to my.
especially among my neighbours] John 19. 13. Psal. 38. 11. and 88. 8, 18. Mine enemies had drawn all men to their parts against me, even my chief friends.
a fear to mine acquaintance] They were afraid to shew me any token of friendship.
fled from me] Psal. 38. 11. Matth. 26. 56.
V. 12. as a dead man out of minde] Psal. 88. 4, 5. Heb. out of heart: For things we love not, are quickly forgotten.
like a broken vessel] Like an earthen vessell broken, that cannot be mended, and is not regarded.
a broken vessel] Heb. a vessel that perisheth.
V. 13. fear was on every side] Jere. 6. 25. and 20. 4.
V. 14. But I trusted in thee] Job 13. 15, 16.
Thou art my God] I had this testimony of conscience, that thou wouldst defend mine innocency.
V. 15. My times are in thy hand] Whatsoever changes come, thou governest them by thy providence: and no trouble can befall me before thy appointed time, John 7. 30.
V. 16. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant] Psal. 4. 6. Numb. 6. 25.
V. 17. Let me not be ashamed] Psal. 25. 3.
let them be silent in the grave] Or, let them be cut off for the grave. Let death destroy them, that they may hurt no more.
V. 18. grievous things] Heb. a hard thing.
V. 19. O how great is thy goodnesse] Isai. 64. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 9.
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee] As men lay up treasures safe, so doth God lay up good things for his children, though they do not alwayes enjoy them here, 2 Tim. 4. 8.
before the sons of men] That their innocency may appear by thy miraculous deliverance of them.
V. 20. shalt hide them] Psal. 27. 5.
in the secret of thy presence] A place where they shall have thy comfort, and be safe from their foes. An allusion to kings closets, which are sacred and inviolable in mens account, Psal. 91. 1. and 27. 5.
V. 21. shewed me his marvellous kindnesse] Psal. 17. 7.
in a strong citie] Meaning, there was no citie so strong to preserve him, as the defence of Gods favour.
strong citie] Or, fenced citie.
V. 22. I said in my haste] And so by my rashnesse and infidelity, deserved to have been forsaken, Psal. 116. 12. Jere. 8. 16.
I am cut off from before thine eyes] Isai. 38. 11, 12. Lam. 3. 54.
V. 23. love the Lord, all ye his saints] Psal. 34. 9.
V. 24. Be of good courage] Psal. 27. 14. Be constant in your vocation, and God will confirm you with heavenly strength.
PSAL. XXXII.
A Psalm of David, Maschil] Or, a Psalm of David giving instruction.
Maschil] Heb. instructer, Vers. 8. To give instruction out of his own experience, concerning remission of sins, and a godly life, verse 1, 8, 9.
Vers. 1. BLessed is he whose transgression is forgiven] To be justified by faith, is to be reputed just for Christs merits, and by consequence to have our sins freely remitted to us.
transgression is forgiven] Rom. 4. 7. Psal. 85. 2.
V. 2. in whose spirit there is no guile] Who hath dealt sincerely with God in the confession of his sins, Prov. 28. 13.
no guile] John 1. 47.
V. 3. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old] While I hid my sin, I roared through pangs of conscience, verse 5. Psalm 22. 1.
V. 4. drought] Heb. droughts.
V. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee] He sheweth that as God in mercy forgives sins, so the means of obtaining remission, are repentance, and confession proceeding from faith.
I said, I will confesse my transgressions unto the Lord] Prov. 28. 13. Isai. 65. 24. 1 John 1. 9.
V. 6. For this shall every one that is godly, pray unto thee] Because thou hast pardoned my sins, upon my acknowledgement.
in a time when thou mayest be found] Heb. in a time of finding. When necessitie causeth him to s…ek to thee for help, Isai. 55. 6. then will God be found, for mans necessitie is Gods opportunity.
they shall not come nigh unto him] The waters of great dangers shall not hurt him, Isai. 43. 2.
V. 7. Thou art my hiding-place] Psal. 9. 9. and 119. 114.
V. 8. I will instruct thee] David promiseth to make others partakers of his knowledge, and that he will diligently look, and take care to direct them in the way of salvation. See v. 1. Psal. 51. 13.
I will guide thee with mine eye] Heb. I will counsell thee, mine eye shall be upon thee.
V. 9. Be ye not as the horse] Prov. 26. 3.
whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle] Which will not serve thee, but hurt thee, if they be not kept in by force. He would have us to yeeld our selves to God willingly, so as may be for our own good.
V. 11. Be glad in the Lord] Psal. 64. 10. Because God doth compasse his with mercy, verse 10.
PSAL. XXXIII.
Vers. 1. PRaise is comely] The word noteth a fair and comely grace, for which a thing is to be liked and desired, Psal. 93. 5. and 147. 1.
for the upright] Praise sounds not well in the mouth of an hypocrite, Psal. 50. 16.
V. 4. the word of the Lord is right] Psal. 19. 7, 8.
V. 5. the earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord] Psal. 119. 64. He is bountifull to good men and bad, Matth. 5. 45. 1 Tim. 4. 10. yea, to the beasts, Psal. 36. 6.
goodnesse] Or, mercy.
V. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made] Gen. 1. 6, 7.
V. 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together] He layes up the waters in deep places, that they may not drown the earth, Gen. 1. 9. Job 26. 10. and 38. 8, 16. Prov. 8. 28, 29.
he layeth up the depth in store-houses] Or, he layeth them up in the store-houses of the deeps.
V. 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord] By the creation of the heavens, and beautifull ornament, with the gathering of the waters to one place, he setteth forth the power of God, that all creatures might fear him, Jere. 5. 22.
V. 9. he spake, and it was done] Psal. 148. 5, 6.
V. 10. The Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to nought] Isai. 19. 3. No counsell c…n prevail against God, but he defeateth it, and it shall have an evill successe.
bringeth, &c.] Heb. maketh frustrate.
V. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever] Prov. 19. 21. Isai. 46. 10. Shall take effect, whatsoever men plot to the contrary, Isai. 14. 24, 27.
to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation.
V. 12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord] Psal 65. 4. and 144. 15. He sheweth that all our felicity standeth in this, That God is our God by covenant, Gen. 17. 5. Exod. 19. 5.
V. 13. The Lord looketh from heaven] He teacheth us, that all things are governed by Gods providence, and not by fortune, Psal. 14. 2. and 94. 7, 9.
V. 15. He fashioneth their hearts alike] He that made all their hearts, knows all their wicked enterprises, Psal. 94. 9.
V. 16. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host] If kings and the mighty of the world cannot be saved by worldly means, but onelyonly by Gods providence, what have others to trust in, that have not like means?
V. 17. An horse is a vain thing for safety] Prov. 21. 31.
V. 18. the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him] Job Psal. 34. 15. 1 Pet. 3. 12. God sheweth that toward his of his mercy, which man by no means is able to compasse.
them that fear him] Psal 147. 11.
V. 19. keep them alive in famine] Job 5. 20. psal. 37. 19.
V. 20. Our soul waiteth for the Lord] Psal. 62. 1, 5 and 130. 6. Thus he speaks in the name of the whole Church, which depends onelyonly upon Gods providence.
PSAL. XXXIIII.
Title. Abimelech] Or, Achish, 1 Sam. 21. 11. His name was Achish; but it seems Abimelech was a common name to those kings, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt.
Vers. 1. AT all times] He promiseth never to be come unmindfull of Gods great benefits for his deliverance.
V. 2. the humble shall hear thereof] They that are beaten down with the experience of their own evils.
be glad] That God hath preserved me for the kingdom.
V. 4. and delivered me from all my fears] Which I conceived, for the dangers wherein I was among the Philistines, Hebr. 5. 7.
V. 5. They] The humble, spoken of, v. 2.
looked unto him] By faith, hope and prayer.
were lightened] Or, they flowed unto him. They were delivered and comforted.
V. 6. This poor man cried] These are the words of the humble, raising up themselves up by the consideration of Gods favour shewed to David.
V. 7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him] Though Gods power be sufficient to govern us, yet, for mans infirmity, he appointeth his angels to watch over us, as souldiers encamped about us, psal. 91. 11. Hebr. 1. 14.
V. 8. O taste] Make triall of his bounty, by seeking to him for relief.
O taste and see that the Lord is good] 1 Pet. 2. 3.
blessed is the man that trusteth in him] Psal. 2. 12.
V. 9. O fear the Lord] Worship him according to his will, with reverence and awfull dread, Heb. 12. 28.
O fear the Lord ye his saints] Psal. 31. 23.
there is no want to them that fear him] The godly that trust in God, scape better then great men that trust in their greatnesse, psal. 84. 11. verse 10.
V. 11. Come ye children] Which acknowledge me for a spirituall father and teacher, Prov. 1. 8. and 10. 15.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord] Their whole duty to God, v. 9. Eccles. 12. 13.
V. 12. What man is he that desireth life] 1 Pet. 3. 10. Seeing all men naturally desire life and felicity, he wondereth why men take courses that lead into misery.
fee] Or, enjoy, Jer. 17. 8.
V. 14. Depart from evil] Psal. 37. 27. Isai. 1. 16, 17.
and pursue it] Take as much pains to do well, as hunters do to …atch the prey, Heb. 12. 14.
V. 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous] Job 36. 7. Psal. 33. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 12.
V. 16. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil] His open anger, Levit. 17. 10. Jer. 44. 11.
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth] Gods anger not onelyonly destroys the wicked, but also abolisheth their name for ever, psal. 37. 35, 36. Prov. 10. 7.
V. 17. The righteous crie, and the Lord heareth] Spoken of, v. 15. And if the sixteenth verse had a parenthesis about it, it might be read, they crie: or, the broken-hearted crie, v. 18. for so the antecedent is taken out of the verse following, psal. 87. 1, 2.
V. 18. unto them that are of a broken heart] Psal. 51. 17. Isai. 57. 15. Heb. to the broken of heart.
that are of a broken heart] When they seem to be swallowed up with afflictions, then God is at hand to deliver them.
such as be of a contrite spirit] Heb. contrite of spirit.
V. 20. He keepeth all his bones] And, as Christ saith, all the hairs of his head, Luke 11. 6, 7.
bones] Joh. 19. 36.
V. 21. Evil shall slay the wicked] Evil of punishment shall destroy wicked men, though not good men, v. 20. or, they shall perish for their sins, psal. 94. 23. and 145. 20.
shall be desolate] Or, shall be guiltie.
V. 22. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants] When they seem to be overcome with great dangers, then God delivereth them.