Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 119
PSALM CXIX.
Verſ. 1. BLeſſed are the undefiled in the way, &c.] This is another of the Alphabeticall Pſalms: ſee the Note Pſal. 25.1. But here, the Pſalm being divided into 22. ſections, according to the number of the Hebrew letters, & each ſection conſiſting of eight verſes, all the verſes in the firſt ſection begin with the firſt letter in the Hebrew Alphabet, all in the ſecond with the ſecond letter, & ſo it is in all the ſections on to the end of the Pſalm. And as for the matter of the Pſalm, it ſeems to be a collection, which David made of the ſeverall meditations that he had had concerning the Word of God, upon his experience of the great benefit he had found thereby in all the various changes of condition that had befallen him. And hence it is that there is not above two verſes at the moſt, wherein there is not ſome mention made of the word of God, though it be under different tearms; as namely the 90. & 122. verſes.
Verſ. 3. They alſo doe no iniquity, &c.] That is, They do not wittingly allow themſelves to live in any ſinfull way.
Verſ. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy commandements.] That is, When not regarding what mine own reaſon, or other men ſhall ſuggeſt, I ſhall only mind what thy word enjoyneth, reſolving in all things to follow the direction thereof; then shall I not be ashamed: to wit, of any thing I have done, (which is indeed the ſure effect of ſin, What fruit had ye then in thoſe things whereof ye are now ashamed?) but being free from an evil conſcience, I ſhall be able with comfort to look God & man in the face, yea though I meet with many croſſes & afflictions; & (for this alſo may be included) I shall not at the day of judgement be of the number of thoſe, who having flattered themſelves with vain hopes of ſalvation, ſhall be caſt off with eternall ſhame & confuſion, Dan. 12.2.
Verſ. 7. I will praiſe thee with uprightneſſe of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements.] To wit, ſo as to practiſe them, according to that Joh. 6.45. Every man that hath heard & hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me: & indeed there is no true praiſing of God, unleſſe men praiſe him by the righteouſneſſe of their lives, as well as by their words. As for thoſe words, righteous judgements, ſee the Note Pſal. 19.9.
Verſ. 8. I will keep thy ſtatutes: O forſake me not utterly.] To wit, neither 1. by withdrawing thy grace utterly from me, though to try me thou ſhalt ſee fit to leave me for a time to my ſelf; nor 2. by hiding thy ſelf over-long from me in any time of trouble, leſt I ſhould be overcome by ſo ſore a temptation.
Verſ. 9. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanſe his way? by taking heed therto according to thy word.] The Pſalmiſt doth particularly here inſtance in young men, 1. becauſe youth is the time when men do uſually make choice what courſe of life they will take, whether to live piouſly or profanely; & therefore it is fit that they ſhould eſpecially conſider of this, that if they will addreſſe themſelves to live holily & righteouſly, the only way to doe this is in all things to take direction from the word of God: & 2. becauſe young men, through their folly and weakneſſe, & want of experience, & through the violent impetuouſneſſe of their luſts, are hardlieſt reſtrained from their ſinfull courſes; ſo that if the word may be effectuall to cleanſe them from ſin, then much more others.
Verſ. 11. Thy word hauehave I hid in my heart, &c.] Which is done by getting the knowledge of it, by committing it to mind & memory, by thinking ſeriouſly of it upon all occaſions, by having alwaies a full purpoſe of heart to keep cloſe thereto, as the only rule of mans life; & by doing all this out of a high eſteem of it, & dear affection to it, as to ſome precious treaſure.
Verſ. 12. Bleſsed art thou, O Lord; teach me thy statutes.] Either by bleſſed here is meant, that God is praiſed & bleſſed of all his creatures, to wit, for his goodneſſe & mercy to them, & becauſe he filleth all things with his bleſſings; & then the argument that David uſeth here is, that ſince God was ſo good & gracious, & ready to give all his creatures occaſion to bleſſe him, therefore he would alſo deal ſo with him, by teaching him his ſtatutes: or elſe that God is abſolutely bleſſed & happy in & of himſelf, & conſequently the fountain from whence all bliſſe is derived unto the creatures; & ſo upon this account he deſires God to teach him his ſtatutes, that thereby he might become a ſharer of his bleſſedneſſe.
Verſ. 17. Deal bountifully with thy ſervant, that I may live & keep thy word.] Two things therefore David here deſires of God: 1. that God would preſerve his life, which ſeemed to be in extreme danger; & 2. that being ſo preſerved he might conſecrate his life wholly to God ſervice, not deſiring to live for any other cauſe, but that he might keep his word. And to this ſome adde, that under theſe words, that I may live, he deſires of God the ſpirituall life of grace; or that he might live chearfully & comfortably, as being aſſured of Gods favour, which is indeed only worthy the name of living.
Verſ. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law.] This may be meant of the wonderfull wiſedome, holineſſe, righteouſneſſe & equity, &c. which do ſhine forth in Gods law; of the wonderfull rewards there promiſed to the righteous, & the puniſhments denounced againſt the wicked; the wonderfull works of God recorded in his word; but eſpecially of the wonderfull & incomprehenſible myſteries of the Goſpel; for the diſcovery whereof David had the more cauſe to deſire the illumination of Gods ſpirit, becauſe they were only made known by dark types & ſhadows in thoſe times of the Law.
Verſ. 19. I am a stranger in the earth, &c.] See the Note Gen. 47.9. This is laid down as the ground of the following petition, hide not thy commandements from me; that is, ſuffer not thy commandements, for want of the illumination of thy ſpirit, to be hidden from me: & that 1. becauſe being but a ſtranger upon earth, & having but a while to continue here, it was fit that his chief care ſhould be for heaven, the land of reſt where he was to dwell for ever & ever; & 2. becauſe being therefore here alwaies travelling towards heaven, he had need of continual direction from the word of God, to guide him in the way thither, & that the rather, becauſe naturally he knew no more of the way that leads to heaven, then men do know the way that leads from one place to another, when they are in a ſtrange countrey: ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 39.12.
Verſ. 20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times.] That is, My ſpirit fails or faints within me; or, my ſoul, in her eager deſires after thy judgements, is as the broken & chawned earth when it gapes after the rain; or, I do ſo earneſtly long after thy judgements, that my heart doth even break through grief when I cannot come to enjoy them.
Verſ. 21. Thou haſt rebuked the proud that are curſed, &c.] That is, Thou haſt deſtroyed the proud contemners of thee & of thy laws: (for the word rebuked ſee the Note Pſal. 6.1.) which do erre from thy commandements; that is, that out of pride & ſtubbornneſſe refuſe to walk in the waies that God hath enjoyned them. Now the drift of the Pſalmiſt in alledging this was, to imply, that even by the judgements of God upon thoſe that deſpiſed his laws, he might well be quickned in a holy endeavour carefully to obſerve them.
Verſ. 22. Remove from me reproach & contempt, &c.] That is, Free me from that reproach & contempt which wicked men have caſt upon me; for I have kept thy teſtimonies, & therefore have I no way deſerved thoſe foul aſperſions; but indeed it is for my keeping ſo cloſe to thy teſtimonies, that they have reproached me: or, for I have kept thy teſtimonies, that is, I have not been aſhamed of thee & thy ſervice, I have not abandoned thy truth, & thy waies, becauſe of their reproaches; & therefore I hope thou wilt clear mine innocency againſt thē that falſly accuſe me.
Verſ: 23. Princes alſo, &c.] As if he had ſaid, Not only the meaner ſort of people, but even Princes did ſit & ſpeak againſt me; to wit, not only as they caſually met together in private, but eſpecially when they ſat in counſell together, yea when they ſat in the ſeat of judgement, (for ſo much thoſe words did ſit & ſpeak againſt me ſeem to imply:) but thy ſervant did meditate in thy ſtatutes; to wit, thereby to comfort my ſelf, to ſtrengthen my faith, & to learn how to carry my ſelf in ſuch a condition. And hereby he would imply alſo, that their ſpeaking againſt him did no way beat him off from the waies of piety, but rather encouraged him in them.
Verſ. 24. Thy teſtimonies alſo are my delight, & my counſellors.] David ſeems to ſpeak here as a prince, that doth nothing without the advice of his privy counſell. And this he oppoſeth to that in the foregoing verſe, as if he had ſaid, Whilſt princes ſat together, & took counſell againſt me, I betook my ſelf to thy teſtimonies, & they were the men of my counſell, as it is in the Originall.
Verſ. 25. My ſoul cleaveth unto the duſt, &c.] To wit, through extreme diſtreſſe & danger, or through grief & terrours of conſcience: but ſee the Note Pſal. 44.25. quicken thou me according to thy word; ſee the Notes Pſal. 71.20, and 80.18.
Verſ. 26. I have declared my waies, &c.] That is, all my ſtreights and ſorrows, temptations & ſins, every ſtate & condition wherein I was, all my buſineſſes and undertakings, I have ſtill made them known to thee: & thou heardeſt me; to wit, in doing for me what withall I then deſired of thee: teach me thy ſtatutes; as if he had ſaid, hear me therefore in this, as thou haſt done formerly for other things.
Verſ. 27. Make me to underſtand the way of thy precepts; ſo shall I talk of thy wondrous works.] That is, the wonderfull works that thou ſhalt work in doing this for my poor ſoul, how herein thy power hath been magnified in my weakneſſe; or, the wonderfull works recorded in the word, for which ſee the Note above verſ. 18. And the drift of this is, to ſet forth, either 1. that if God would teach him, then he would be ready upon all occaſions to teach others; or 2. how it would chear him in his afflictions, making him with great joy to talk of the wonders of Gods word, if the Lord would effectually teach him the way of his precepts. And indeed unleſſe men underſtand Gods word, it is not poſſible they ſhould take any delight in talking of it.
Verſ. 28. My ſoul melteth (or, as it is in the Hebrew, droppeth) for heavineſse.] The meaning is, either that his ſoul did melt away, as it were, into tears, drop by drop; or that his ſtrength did by little and little waſt and paſſe away like water.
Verſ. 29. Remove from me the way of lying, &c.] This may be meant either of the way of errour in doctrine, or of the way of ſin, which may be called the way of lying, becauſe it deceives thoſe that walk in it, & men are uſually drawn thereinto by the falſe impoſtures of the world & the devil. And this he deſires may be removed from him, becauſe he knew that his own corrupt nature was inclinable thereto, though for the preſent he walked in the way of truth, as he profeſſeth in the next verſe. And accordingly we muſt underſtand the following clauſe, & grant me thy law graciouſly; that is, let me have that ſtill to be the rule of my life, imprint it in my heart, that I may live according to the directions thereof.
Verſ. 31. I have ſtuck unto thy testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame.] That is, ſay ſome Expoſitours, Suffer me not to fall into any ſuch ſinfull courſe, as may expoſe me to ſhame amongſt men, & likewiſe fill mine own conſcience inwardly with confuſion. But rather his deſire is, that God would not by denying his requeſts, or hiding himſelf from him in his troubles, fruſtrate the hopes that he had in him, & ſo overwhelm his ſpirit with ſhame & confuſion, & give occaſion to wicked men to inſult over him; but rather that he would give him cauſe ſtill to perſevere in the waies of his commandements, with full aſſurance of his love & favour. Or elſe his requeſt in theſe words may be only this, that God would not ſuffer wicked men to reproach him for his care & endeavour to keep his commandements.
Verſ. 32. I will run the way of thy commandements, &c.] That is, I will chearfully & zealouſly obſerve thy commandements: when thou shalt enlarge my heart; which is meant of working in him 1. a greater meaſure of knowledge; for ſo in regard of his great knowledge it is ſaid of Solomon 1 Kings 4.29. that God gave Solomon wiſedome & underſtanding exceeding much, & largeneſſe of heart, &c. ſee the Note there; 2. more ſtrong degrees of love to God & to his word, &c. as Paul expreſſeth his ardent love to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 6.11. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged; & 3. & eſpecially, an encreaſe of comfort & joy through the aſſurance of Gods love & favour in Jeſus Chriſt; for thus alſo the joy of the Church is ſet forth upon the converſion of the Gentiles Iſa. 60.5. thine heart shall fear, to wit, with admiration, & be enlarged, to wit, with joy, becauſe the abundance of the ſea shall be converted unto thee, &c. And indeed, as ſorrow ſtreighteneth the heart, ſo joy doth dilate & enlarge it: & this ſpirituall joy is the true well-ſpring of all free, forward & chearfull obedience.
Verſ. 36. Encline my heart unto thy teſtimonies, & not unto covetouſneſse.] And ſo conſequently not unto any other ſinfull luſts. Only covetouſneſſe is particularly expreſſed, becauſe that doth in a ſpeciall manner take men off from the love & ſtudy of Gods law, & is the root of all evil: & hereby alſo is implyed, that Gods teſtimonies are better then all riches.
Verſ. 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, &c.] That is, from looking ſo after vain things, as for them to neglect thy law, from beholding them ſo, as thereby to be brought inordinately to affect them, & to be intangled in any ſinfull practiſe: & quicken thou me in thy way; that is, direct me ſo in thy way, that I may live thereby; or, cauſe me to live according to thy laws; or (which I like the beſt) cauſe me to walk on with all livelineſſe & chearfulneſſe & zeal in the way of thy commandements.
Verſ. 38. Stablish thy word unto thy ſervant, &c.] That is, By thy ſpirit aſſure me that thy promiſes ſhall be made good to me; or, Perform what thou haſt promiſed to thy ſervant: who is devoted to thy fear; that is, who am only deſirous & carefull, that I may continually perſevere in thy fear, & who am therefore one of thoſe to whom thoſe promiſes are made.
Verſ. 39. Turn away my reproach, which I fear, &c.] I conceive that this is much the ſame with that which he had ſaid before verſ. 31. O Lord, put me not to shame; for which ſee the Note there. Yet ſome Expoſitours do limit this to the reproach of looſing the kingdome promiſed, or the reproaches which he feared would befall him for the ſin which he had committed in the matter of Uriah: & again others, with more probability, becauſe of thoſe words, which I fear, do underſtand it of the reproach which ſhall be the portion of the wicked at the day of judgement; as if he had ſaid, The reproaches of men I fear not, but that which I fear is, leſt I ſhould be caſt off with ſhame before thy tribunal; let not that, I beſeech thee, Lord, be my portion: or elſe, of his fear leſt the word & truth of God ſhould ſuffer reproach by his means, as if he had in vain made his boaſt of them. And accordingly we muſt underſtand the following clauſe, for thy judgements are good, that is, they are holy & juſt, righteous & faithfull, profitable & delightfull to thoſe that obſerve them: as if he ſhould have ſaid, Therefore let them be ſo to me, let me not be aſhamed of the hope I have placed in them; or, Therefore cauſe me ſtill to cleave cloſe to them, and not to bring reproach upon my ſelf by any ſinfull ſwerving from them; or, Therefore it is not ſit that I ſhould be erproached by men as an evil doer, as long as I obſerve theſe good judgements, and make them my rule in all things whatſoever.
Verſ. 40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts; quicken me in thy righteouſneſſe.] That is, quicken me in thy law, which is exactly righteous, & the only rule of true righteouſneſſe; ſee the Note above verſ. 37: or, quicken me according as thou art a righteous God; ſee the Note Pſal. 5.8: & what is meant by quickning, ſee in the Note above verſ. 25.
Verſ. 42. So shall I have wherewith to anſwer him that reproacheth me, &c.] That is, to confute & ſtop the mouths of them that reproach me, for being ſo ſtrict in my waies, & for truſting in thy word; namely, by ſhewing how God hath made good his promiſes to me: for I truſt in thy word; it is as if he had ſaid, & therefore let me have wherewith to anſwer thoſe that reproach me for my confidence therein.
Verſ. 43. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, &c.] As if he had ſaid, Whereas I have hitherto made profeſſion of thy truth, & gloried of thy promiſes, bring me not now into ſuch a condition, either by withholding thy grace, or by not affording the help thou haſt promiſed me in my trouble, that I ſhould now be afraid to profeſſe thy truth, or to glory of thy promiſes, as I have done; at leaſt though thou mayeſt, to try me, leave me in ſuch a condition for a time, yet let it be but for a time, take not the word of truth utterly, that is, for ever, out of my mouth: for, ſaith he, I have hoped in thy judgements, that is, thy word & promiſes; or the judgements thou haſt threatned againſt wicked men, & which thou haſt ſaid thou wilt execute on the behalf of thy faithfull ſervants.
Verſ. 45. And I will walk at liberty.] That is, chearfully, willingly, ſecurely, as being delivered from the bondage of ſin, & freed from thoſe doubts & fears and terrours, wherewith wicked men are perplexed. It is in the Hebrew, I will walk at large, for which ſee the Notes Pſal. 4.1.
Verſ. 48. My hands alſo will I lift up unto thy commandements, &c.] That is, I will with all earneſtneſſe endeavour to doe what is therein enjoyned: or, I will with all eagerneſſe embrace and ſtudy them; as men reach forth their hands to thoſe things they do moſt earneſtly deſire. Yet ſome conceive that in theſe words the Pſalmiſt alludes to the lifting up of the hands in ſwearing or prayer, & that he deſired to imply thereby, that he would bind himſelf by an oath to the obſervation of Gods laws, or that he would addreſſe himſelf to the ſtudy of them, with prayer to God for aſſiſtance therein.
Verſ. 51. The proud have had me greatly in deriſion, &c.] That is, They have derided me with all poſſible bitterneſſe, & that continually day by day: And who he means by the proud, ſee in the Note above verſ. 21. Yet have I not declined from thy law; that is, from the ſtudy of thy law, from the waies of piety therein preſcribed, or to ſeek redreſſe or comfort in my troubles any other way then from thy word.
Verſ. 52. I remembred thy judgements of old, O Lord, & have comforted my ſelf.] Some by Gods judgements here underſtand the laws of God, which were written in mens hearts from the firſt creation. But though theſe may be included, yet it is clear that the righteous acts of the Lord, recorded in the Scriptures, which God as a juſt judge had executed in all ages, according to the threatnings annexed to his laws, both in the puniſhments of the wicked, & the deliverances of his righteous ſervants, are the judgements wherewith David is ſaid here to have comforted himſelf.
Verſ. 53. Horrour hath taken hold upon me, becauſe of the wicked that forſake thy law.] That is, it cauſeth a grievous terrour & trembling to ſeize upon me; to wit, out of zeal for Gods glory, & indignation againſt ſuch wicked wretches, for their preſumptuous and grievous ſins; & partly alſo out of grief for the ſore puniſhments which he knew their wickedneſſe would bring upon them, & haply the common calamities they might alſo bring upon others. And ſome adde alſo that their wickedneſſe made him afraid of his own falling into the like enormities.
Verſ. 54. Thy ſtatutes have been my ſongs in the houſe of my pilgrimage.] That is, in the daies of my pilgrimage here in my earthly tabernacle; ſee the Note Gen. 47.9: or, whilſt I lived in exile, wandring up and down from one place to another. And by ſaying that Gods ſtatutes were his ſongs he means, either that he made or ſung Pſalms & ſongs concerning Gods ſtatutes; or elſe that the remembrance & meditation of Gods ſtatutes was as delightfull to him as ſongs, and that in his exile: though he were then ſubject to many miſeries, griefs & fears, & were deprived of the comfort of Gods Ordinances, & of ſerving God in his Sanctuary; yet then the meditation of Gods ſtatutes yielded him much refreſhing comfort: as travellers uſe to delight themſelves, & to take away the weariſomeneſſe of their journey, by ſinging ſongs together as they goe along; ſo did he delight himſelf in the time of his exile, by thinking on Gods ſtatutes.
Verſ. 55. I have remembred thy Name, O Lord, in the night, &c.] To wit, when others ſlept, & when men do uſually take greateſt liberty to ſin againſt thee; or, when ſorrow doth ordinarily lye heavieſt upon men, then did I remember thee, to wit, with joy, ſee the Note Job 35.10. And then thoſe words are added, & have kept thy law, becauſe indeed they that do often and ſeriouſly keep God in their thoughts, they muſt needs be rendred carefull to obſerve his commandements.
Verſ. 56. This I had, becauſe I kept thy precepts.] To wit, all theſe benefits before mentioned; or more particularly with reference to what he had ſaid in the two foregoing verſes, this, that I have been thus comforted in my greateſt afflictions, that Gods ſtatutes were my ſongs in my pilgrimage, &c. Yea ſome refer this both to his comforts & to his afflictions; This I had, that is, thus I was perſecuted, & thus I was comforted, becauſe I kept thy precepts.
Verſ. 57. Thou art my portion, O Lord, &c.] See the Note Pſal. 16.5: I have ſaid, that I would keep thy words; to wit, that I may be ſure to keep mine intereſt in thee, which I have choſen as the only happineſſe I deſire.
Verſ. 59. I thought on my waies, &c.] That is, the waies wherein I was to walk; before I did any thing, I conſidered ſeriouſly with my ſelf whether it were warrantable or no: & turned my feet unto thy teſtimonies; that is, I was carefull to doe that only which was agreeable to thy word. Or thus rather, I thought on my ways; that is, on my former courſe of life: & turned my feet unto thy teſtimonies; that is, where I found that I had gone awry, I reformed my life according to thy teſtimonies.
Verſ. 62. At midnight I will riſe to give thanks unto thee, &c.] Where I can have no reſpect to the applauſe of men, but only to approve my ſelf unto thee, who ſeeſt in ſecret; but ſee alſo the Note above verſ. 55: becauſe of thy righteous judgements; ſee the Note above verſ. 43, & Pſal. 19.9.
Verſ. 66. Teach me good judgement & knowledge, &c.] To wit, that I may not only know thy law, but alſo may be able thereby to judge rightly of things that differ, & may not miſtake errour for truth, & evil for good: for I have believed thy commandements; that is, I have been fully perſwaded that they were thine, and have accordingly embraced them as worthy to be obeyed: as if he ſhould have ſaid, Teach me therefore to underſtand them more fully, that I may more fully believe, embrace & obey them.
Verſ. 69. The proud, &c.] See the Note above verſ. 21: have forged a lie against me; ſee the Note Job 13.4: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart; as if he ſhould have ſaid, their lies ſhall not beat me off from the obedience of thy laws; or, thereby I ſhall be beſt able to ſtop their mouths, or at leaſt I ſhall be ſure that their lies & plots againſt me ſhall never doe me any hurt.
Verſ. 70. Their heart is as fat as greaſe.] That is, it is groſſe and carnall, and through outward pomp & plenty puffed up with pride & arrogance, ſottiſh & ſtupid & unteachable (as indeed when mens hearts are overgrown & oppreſſed with fat, ſuch men are uſually noted to be dull & fooliſh,) ſenſeleſſe & void of feeling, (ſee the Note Job 15.27.) ſtiffe & hard & obſtinate, according to that Iſa. 6.10. make the heart of this people fat, which is expreſſed by the Evangeliſt Joh. 12.40. in theſe words, He hath blinded their eyes, & hardened their heart.
Verſ. 73. Thy hands have made me & fashioned me, &c.] See the Note Job 10.8. Some conceive that the firſt words, Thy hands have made me, are particularly meant of the creation of his ſoul, & the next, & fashioned me, of the forming his body. However the ground whereon he infers the following requeſt, give me underſtanding, that I may keep thy commandements, may be twofold: 1. becauſe being Gods creature, he was thereby obliged to ſerve him, & therefore deſires herein aſſiſtance from God; & 2. becauſe God is indeed the readier to doe good unto man, becauſe he is the work of his hands.
Verſ. 74. They that fear thee will be glad when they ſee me, &c.] That is, when they ſhall ſee that thou haſt inſtructed me in the knowledge of thy law, and that hereby I am brought to keep thy commandements, & (we may adde too) when they ſhall ſee that all thy promiſes are in the concluſion made good to me, they ſhall rejoyce not only on my behalf, but alſo on their own; ſee the Note Pſal. 34.2: becauſe I have hoped in thy word; that is, conſidering that this befell me becauſe I hoped in thy promiſes, this ſhall encourage them to expect the ſame grace.
Verſ. 75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right, &c.] That is, all thoſe judgements wherewith thou doſt either puniſh the wicked, or correct thy righteous ſervants; as is evident by the following clauſe, & that thou in faithfulneſse hast afflicted me. Yet if by judgements here be meant Gods precepts, then we muſt underſtand this place thus; as if he had ſaid, Though thou haſt ſorely afflicted me, yet I know that every paſſage of thy word is juſt & right, & that it is in faithfulneſſe that thou haſt afflicted me.
Verſ. 76. Let, I pray thee, thy mercifull kindneſſe be for my comfort.] That is, Though thou doſt afflict me, yet by teaching me, and cauſing me to believe thy mercifull kindneſſe revealed in thy word, ſupport, I beſeech thee, & comfort me in mine afflictions: or rather, Let thy mercifull kindneſſe be for my comfort, to wit, by giving me grace to keep thy precepts; or, by delivering me out of my diſtreſſes and troubles.
Verſ. 77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, &c.] See the Note above verſ. 41: that I may live; to wit, chearfully & comfortably in the aſſurance of thy love; without which indeed men are but as dead men, even whilſt they live.
Verſ. 78. Let the proud, &c.] See the Note above verſ. 21. be ashamed, ſee the Note Pſal. 6.10: for they dealt perverſely with me without a cauſe; that is, unjuſtly, & wickedly, out of mere malice & perverſeneſſe of ſpirit: but I will meditate in thy precepts; ſee the Note above verſ. 23.
Verſ. 79. Let thoſe that fear thee turn unto me, &c.] That is, ſay ſome Expoſitours, Let ſuch as theſe be mine acquaintance: I care not for the ſociety of wicked men. But there are two other expoſitions that are more probable: to wit, 1. that David deſires that ſuch godly men as had forſaken him or been eſtranged from him, being miſled by deluſions & falſe reports, or beaten off by the troubles & low condition whereinto he was fallen, might again be brought to joyn themſelves with him in a way of amity & friendſhip, & take his part, & (ſome adde too) embrace him as their king, being convinced of the equity of his cauſe, by the judgements of God upon his enemies; or rather, 2. that he deſires the godly would turn to him, that is, look towards him, that beholding in him an example of Gods faithfulneſſe to his righteous ſervants, they might be ſtrengthened and comforted concerning themſelves. See the Note above verſ. 74.
Verſ. 82. Mine eyes fail for thy word, &c.] That is, with waiting for that ſalvation & mercy which thou haſt promiſed in thy word; ſee the Notes Deut. 28.32. & Job 11.20: ſaying, When wilt thou comfort me? to wit, by affording me the deliverance & mercies I have long waited for.
Verſ. 83. For I am become like a bottle in the ſmoke.] That is, my body is ſcorched & black with extreme miſery, ſee the Note Job 30.30; or, my skin through my leanneſſe is withered, wrinkled, and ſhrunk up, & ſo it is every day more and more with me, as it is with a skin bottle or bladder hung up in the ſmoke; yea I am no more eſteemed & regarded amongſt men, then ſuch a bottle would be.
Verſ. 84. How many are the daies of thy ſervant? &c.] That is, the daies allotted to me, wherein I muſt continue under this oppreſſion & miſery? or, the daies of my life? as if he ſhould have ſaid, They are but few, I have not long to live; therefore let me not ſpend thoſe few daies I have to live, without ſeeing thy promiſe made good to me. When wilt thou execute judgement on them that perſecute me? But ſee the Note Pſal. 89.47.
Verſ. 85. The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.] Some conceive that there is an alluſion in theſe words to that law Exod. 21.33, 34. concerning digging of pits, & that hereby he ſeeks to aggravate the wickedneſſe of his enemies, that whereas Gods law provided for the ſecurity of beaſts, that no pits ſhould be digged & left uncovered to the endangering of them, their wickedneſſe muſt needs be very great, that did ſecretly digge pits purpoſely that men might fall into them. But whether it be ſo or no, doubtleſſe the drift of this clauſe was to repreſent his enemies to the Lord, as worthy for their wickedneſſe to be deſtroyed; The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law: which is as if he had ſaid, They regard not thy law, but what they pleaſe they will doe, though it be never ſo contrary to thy commands.
Verſ. 86. All thy commandements are faithfull, &c.] That is, All thy laws, together with all thy promiſes & threatnings annexed, are moſt true & faithfull: and whereas therefore they favour innocency & righteouſneſſe, & are againſt all injuſtice & wrong, they that depend on the ſalvation promiſed therein to thoſe that obſerve them, ſhall doubtleſſe never be deceived. And hereupon he infers, they perſecute me wrongfully, help me: as if he had ſaid, they therefore that perſecute me for keeping theſe thy righteous laws muſt needs doe it wrongfully; & therefore thou that art a faithfull God help me againſt mine unjuſt oppreſſours.
Verſ. 87. They had almoſt conſumed me upon earth, &c.] By adding thoſe words (upon earth) he implyes, that however they had dealt with him here, he had hope of a better life in heaven, whereof he was ſure they could never deprive him.
Verſ. 88. Quicken me after thy loving kindneſse.] See the Note above verſ. 25.
Verſ. 89. For ever, O Lord, thy word is ſettled in heaven, &c.] That is, thy promiſes ſtand firm for ever with thee in heaven, though they may ſeem to fail upon earth, when things come to paſſe, which ſeem to be contrary to what thou in thy word haſt ſaid ſhall be. Or elſe the meaning may be, that the eternall certainty & efficacy of Gods word is clearly to be ſeen in the permanency of the heavens: for why do the heavenly lights, & orbes, & all things therein continue in their beings & motions from their firſt creation, but becauſe God hath ſaid that it ſhall ſo be? from whence the Pſalmiſt would imply, that accordingly alſo the promiſes that God hath made to his people in the written word muſt needs be of the ſame eternall efficacy & certainty, & ſure to be accompliſhed in their ſeaſons, notwithſtanding all the ſtrange alterations & confuſion that ſeem to be in the things that are here below. And this expoſition may ſeem the more probable, becauſe in the following verſes he alledgeth likewiſe the ſtability of the earth by the ſame word of God verſ. 90. Thy faithfulneſſe is unto all generations; thou haſt eſtablished the earth & it abideth, & the continuance of all the creatures both in heaven & earth in their ſeverall ſtations and operations, as from the beginning God did appoint, verſ. 91. They continue this day according to thy ordinances &c. & all this to prove, that therefore he might ſafely build upon the ſure accompliſhment of Gods promiſes, which he expreſſeth verſ. 92. Except thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine afflictions.
Verſ. 96. I have ſeen an end of all perfection, &c.] That is, I have found by clear reaſon, and partly by mine own experience, that the moſt excellent of all the creatures, & the greateſt perfection that is in them, are but finite: namely in that 1. they are ſubject to fail & vaniſh, & come to an end; & 2. all the good that is in them may be comprehended within certain limits; they are not able to give full contentment to a mans mind, or ſupport to his heart, at leaſt in all conditions & afflictions. But thy commandement is exceeding broad; to wit, in that 1. it comprehends infinite & incomprehenſible treaſures of wiſedome & knowledge; nothing pertaining to holineſſe or happineſſe is wanting in it, nothing requiſite for the direction of all men in all conditions; neither is it poſſible to expreſſe the innumerable benefits which it yields to thoſe that enjoy it: and 2. it is to be an eternall rule of truth & righteouſneſſe unto the Church, according to that Matth. 24.35. Heaven & earth shall paſſe away, but my words shall not paſſe away; & when all earthly things ſhall fail men, the word ſhall ſtill be a ſure counſellor and comforter to them: it ſhall ſupport them in all afflictions, even unto death, and the comforts thereof ſhall abide with them for ever.
Verſ. 98. Thou through thy commandements haſt made me wiſer then mine enemies, &c.] To wit, not only becauſe thereby he became wiſe unto ſalvation, which is the only true wiſedome, far above the worldly wiſedome of his enemies; but alſo becauſe this wiſedome of walking in Gods waies was more prevalent to preſerve him, then the craft & policy of his enemies was to inſnare & deſtroy him. And obſervable it is, that the great politicians in Sauls Court, that were advanced to high places for their great wiſedome & ſubtilty, were of the chief of thoſe enemies of whom David here profeſſeth, that he excelled them in wiſedome. For they are ever with me; that is, thy commandements are rooted in my heart; I do alwaies think & meditate on them, & make them my Rule in all things.
Verſ. 99. I have more underſtanding then all my teachers.] Through Gods abundant grace, the faithfull do many times outſtrip their godly teachers in knowledge & piety. Yet becauſe David ſpake not this by way of boaſting, but to ſet forth the great benefit of being taught out of Gods word, it is not improbably thought by ſome Expoſitours, either that David ſpake this of thoſe that had inſtructed him in humane learning, meaning that from the word of God he had learnt wiſdome farre excelling that which they had taught him; or elſe of thoſe that were publick teachers in the Church, but yet were in thoſe corrupt daies of Saul carried away, as well as others, with the common iniquity of the times, and haply in their very teaching complyed with the humours of Saul, his princes and courtiers.
Verſ. 104. I hate every falſe way.] That is, every way of errour & ſin; for theſe are called falſe waies, both becauſe they are not agreeable to the word of truth, and likewiſe becauſe they will ſurely deceive thoſe that expect any good from them.
Verſ. 108. Accept, I beſeech thee, the free-will-offerings of my mouth, &c.] That is, ſay ſome Expoſitours, the vows and promiſes before mentioned, that he would keep Gods laws, ſuch as that verſ. 106. I have ſworn, & I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements. But it is rather meant of his prayers & praiſes, the Pſalms which he compoſed & ſung to the praiſe of God, which are tearmed the calves of our lips Hoſ. 14.2. ſee the Notes alſo Pſal. 50.14, 15. And it may well be that in this requeſt he had reſpect unto his exile, deſiring, that ſeeing in that regard he could not offer any other ſacrifices, God would therefore accept of theſe free-will-offerings of his mouth.
Verſ. 109. My ſoul is continually in my hand.] That is, My life is continually in danger. The expreſſion ſeems to be taken from the condition of ſouldiers in battel, who may well be ſaid to have their ſoul in their hands, becauſe they are in ſuch continuall danger, that unleſſe they ſecure themſelves by a ſtrong hand, they are but dead men. But ſee the Notes Judg. 12.3, & Job 13.14.
Verſ. 111. Thy teſtimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever.] To wit, as chuſing & eſteeming them above all things whatſoever. See the Note Deut. 33.4.
Verſ. 113. I hate vain thoughts, &c.] That is, I hate not only the doing, but even the very thinking of evil; though I cannot wholy keep ſuch thoughts out of my mind, yet I hate & reſiſt them. But becauſe the following clauſe, but thy law do I love, is added as in oppoſition to this, therefore the moſt of Expoſitours do particularly underſtand this of all humane inventions, wherewith men merely out of their own carnal reaſon might think to ſerve & pleaſe God, or might flatter themſelves in any way not truly agreeable to Gods word; and that theſe they are which David here profeſſeth were hatefull to him, & that becauſe he only made the law of God the rule of his life.
Verſ. 116. Vphold me according to thy word, that I may live, &c.) That is, Uphold & preſerve me alive, maugre the rage of mine enemies; or uphold me in faith, and piety, & comfort, that ſo my ſoul may ſtill be quickned with the grace, & cheared with the comforts of thy ſpirit. And to the ſame purpoſe is the following verſe, Hold thou me up, and I shall be ſafe, &c.
Verſ. 118. Thou haſt troden down all them that erre from thy ſtatutes, &c.] To wit, though they were never ſo high, & did never ſo proudly exalt themſelves againſt thee: for their deceit is falſehood; that is, either 1. the ſhews of piety, wherewith ſuch men deceived the world, are falſe and counterfeit; or rather 2. there is nothing but falſehood in their fraudulent practiſes, wherewith they ſeek to ruine Gods faithfull ſervants, which muſt needs therefore make them hatefull to God, who is a God of truth; (& herein David might have reſpect to the falſe ſlanders which his enemies raiſed againſt him) or 3. all the ſubtle devices, wherewith they ſeek to prevail againſt the faithfull, do uſually fail them, and come to nothing, themſelves being often taken in the ſnares which they layd for others; or 4. (which moſt Interpreters do pitch upon) the imaginations & carnall confidences, wherewith they flatter themſelves to the deceiving of their own ſouls, either concerning any good they expect in their waies of wickedneſſe, or concerning their hopes of ſecuring themſelves, & eſcaping the judgements of God, prove alwaies in the concluſion lying vanities. However the Pſalmiſts drift here, in adding this concerning the dreadfull end of wicked men, is to imply, that for this partly he was the more carefull not to doe as they did, but to ſtudy Gods law, that he might walk in his waies & truſt in his goodneſſe, as is more evident in the following verſe.
Verſ. 119. Thou putteſt away all the wicked of the earth like droſse, &c.] That is, Though wicked men live a while mingled amongſt thy faithfull people, as droſſe is with gold & ſilver, yet at laſt thou art wont to take them away, even the greateſt as well as the meaneſt, as droſſy, worthleſſe things, that ſo thy Church may be the purer: through thy fiery indignation they ſuddenly vaniſh away like ſmoke, even as droſſe conſumes away in the fining of metals. Therefore I love thy teſtimonies; to wit, becauſe I am thereby taught ſo to live, that I may not thus periſh with the wicked; & becauſe this ſeverity of thine againſt the wicked makes me the more highly to prize that word, wherein thou haſt made known the riches of thy grace towards thy choſen people.
Verſ. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.] To wit, as being terrified with the judgements which God executed upon wicked men; of which he had ſpoken in the two foregoing verſes. See alſo the Note Pſal. 42.6.
Verſ. 121. I have done judgement & juſtice, &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, And it is therefore without cauſe that mine enemies perſecute me; & hereupon he infers, leave me not to mine oppreſſours.
Verſ. 122. Be ſurety for thy ſervant for good, &c] That is, Interpoſe thy ſelf betwixt me & mine enemies, & reſcue me from their tyranny & oppreſſion, (as ſureties do poor debtours out of the hands of their cruel creditours) & that by undertaking to plead my cauſe, & to aſſert mine innocency.
Verſ. 126. It is time for thee, Lord, to work, &c.] To wit, to doe that which is thy proper work, as thou art the juſt judge of the whole world; that is, to puniſh & ſuppreſſe the wicked, & to make good thy promiſes by helping thy poor ſervants out of their hands: as if he had ſaid, Whatever becomes of me, it is time for thee, Lord, to work, for the vindicating of thine own glory. For they have made void thy law; to wit, in that they had no reſpect to it, but did merely what they pleaſed themſelves, as if there had been no law, to which they were bound to ſubmit themſelves; yea in that they forced others to diſobey it, & perſecuted thoſe that would have made it their rule; & eſpecially too in that by their falſe gloſſes, & perverting of Gods laws, they made them of none effect. However it was not the purpoſe of the prophet hereby to preſcribe God a time; only he ſeeks to God for deliverance, by pleading how ſeaſonable it was to take vengeance on the wicked, when they were ſo ripe for judgement.
Verſ. 127. Therefore I love thy commandements above gold, &c.] That is, Becauſe I ſaw that wicked men did ſo generally ſlight & make void thy law, therefore admiring their blindneſſe and madneſſe herein, out of a holy indignation againſt them & that thy ſervice might not wholly fall to the ground, my love to thy law became the more fervent; or, Becauſe I was perſwaded that God would undertake the defence of the righteous, & would not let the wickedneſſe of the wicked go alwaies unpuniſhed, therefore I did the more affectionately love thy law. And to the ſame purpoſe is that which follows in the next verſe.
Verſ. 128. Therefore I eſteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, &c.] That is, For the ſame reaſons, (to wit, thoſe mentioned in the foregoing Note) I am the more aſſuredly perſwaded of the righteouſneſſe of thy whole law, and do the more heartily embrace it: and I hate every falſe way; ſee the Note above verſ. 104.
Verſ. 129. Thy testimonies are wonderfull, &c.] See the Note above verſ. 18: therefore doth my ſoul keep them; that is, even out of that reverence which in this regard I bear to them, I do willingly & heartily obſerve them.
Verſ. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light, &c.] That is, When thy words enter a mans heart, & make a ſanctifying impreſſion therein, then they enlighten his ſoul; or rather thus, When men do firſt enter upon the ſtudy of thy word, they ſhall preſently find their underſtandings enlightned thereby: it giveth underſtanding to the ſimple; ſee the Note Pſal. 19.7.
Verſ. 132. Look thou upon me, &c.] This David might ſay, either with reſpect to the falſe ſlanders that were raiſed againſt him by his enemies, from which to clear himſelf, he deſires that God would look upon him, & take notice of his innocency; or with reſpect to his apprehenſion that God had for a time ſeemed to turn his back upon him, which makes him therefore deſire that God would again look favourably upon him; &, ſaith he, be mercifull unto me, as thou uſeſt to doe unto thoſe that love thy name; which is as if he had ſaid, Though in this great miſery I am in thou ſeemeſt to hide thy ſelf from me, yet knowing that all thy faithfull ſervants have in all ages found thee mercifull to them, this emboldens me to begge of thee, that thou wouldeſt deale with me, as thou art wont to deale with thoſe that ſincerely love thee.
Verſ. 139. My zeal hath conſumed me.] See the Note Pſal. 69.9.
Verſ. 140. Thy word is very pure.] It is in the Hebrew tried or refined; for which ſee the Notes 2 Sam. 22.31. & Pſal. 12.6.
Verſ. 142. Thy righteouſneſse is an everlaſting righteouſneſſe, &c.] To wit, the righteouſneſſe of God revealed in his word, as it contains both an eternall rule of righteouſneſſe for men, and alſo promiſes and threatnings, that ſhall be alwaies found righteous & faithfull; which is evident by the following clauſe, & thy word is truth: ſee alſo the Notes Pſal. 111.7, 8.
Verſ. 143. Thy commandements are my delight.] He means the commandements with the promiſes annexed, or the whole doctrine of life & ſalvation revealed in the word.
Verſ. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.] Becauſe in the night there were ſeverall watches, (ſee the Note Judg. 7.19.) therefore the meaning may be, either that he was more carefull & ready to awake at ſeverall times in the night, to meditate on Gods word, then thoſe that were appointed to watch were to doe their duty therein (& yet we know the care of ſuch men is uſually very great, both to keep their times for watching, and to ſee that ſleep doth not overtake them) for which ſee alſo the Note Pſal. 63.6; or elſe, that he did uſually awake to meditate on Gods word at ſeverall times in the night, before the watchmen did call upon him, who were wont, it ſeems, to call upon men to tell them the ſeaſons of the night. But I rather think that by the night watches here are meant the laſt watch in every night, which is elſewhere called the morning watch, Exod. 14.24; and ſo that he ſaith here is the ſame with that which he had ſaid in the foregoing verſe, I prevented the dawning of the morning.
Verſ. 149. O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgement.] That is, according to thy word; ſee the Note verſ. 25. The ſame is meant after verſ. 154, 156, 159.
Verſ. 150. They draw nigh that follow after miſchief, &c.] That is, They draw nigh to me to doe me miſchief: they are far from thy law; that is, they mind not thy law, & therefore no marvell though they care not what miſchief they doe me.
Verſ. 151. Thou art near, O Lord, &c.] That is, As mine enemies are near to miſchief me, ſo thou art near to help me, & to deſtroy mine enemies: & all thy commandements are truth; to wit, the commandements, together with the promiſes & threatnings annexed; as if he ſhould have ſaid, & therefore I know thou art near unto me.
Verſ. 152. Concerning thy teſtimonies I have known of old, &c.] That is, from my tender years, or from the firſt time that I began to ſtudy them; or, I have known by experience of old, even in all foregoing ages: that thou haſt founded them for ever; that is, that thou haſt ordained them to ſtand firm for ever: ſee the Notes Pſal. 111.7, 8.
Verſ. 155. Salvation is far from the wicked; for they ſeek not thy precepts.] That is, ſo far they are from keeping them, that they do not ſo much as deſire to know them, nor endeavour to keep them: therefore I know that thou wilt not take part with my wicked enemies againſt me, but wilt protect me from their rage: or, ſeeing ſalvation is far from them that ſeek not thy precepts, therefore teach me thy law, that I may not be in this danger.
Verſ. 159. Conſider how I love thy precepts.] This may have particular reference to thoſe words in the foregoing verſe, I beheld the tranſgreſſours & was grieved, becauſe they kept not thy word; as if from hence he would deſire God to take notice how unfeignedly he loved Gods precepts.
Verſ. 160. Thy word is true from the beginning, &c.] That is, from the beginning of the world, or, ever ſince thou didſt make known thy word to thy people, it alwaies was unqueſtionably true. And then that it ſhould alwaies continue ſo to be, is affirmed in the next clauſe, and every one of thy righteous judgements endureth for ever; for which ſee the Notes above, verſ. 89. & 142. & Pſal. 111.7, 8.
Verſ. 161. Princes have perſecuted me without a cauſe, &c.] To wit, ſuch as by their power were able to cruſh him, & therefore are uſually moſt feared; & ſuch as by their place ſhould have been rather a refuge to him: & to be injured by ſuch, men can leaſt endure: but my heart ſtandeth in awe of thy word; to wit, in that I am afraid to doe any thing contrary to thy law for fear of theſe my perſecutours, & in that I dare not take liberty to doe evil to them, as they doe to me.
Verſ. 162. I rejoyce at thy word, as one that findeth great ſpoil.] The ground of this expreſſion is, becauſe the joy of ſuch men is indeed alwaies exceeding great, that having been a while before in danger of loſing their own lives, are ſuddenly not only advanced in their ſpirits with the honour of a glorious victory, but alſo greatly enriched with the ſpoils of their enemies. And the ſitter this expreſſion was for David, becauſe he had been a great warriour, and becauſe beſides he had found the word very advantageous to him in his ſpirituall warfare.
Verſ. 163. I hate & abhorre lying, &c.] That is, all falſe ſpeaking & hypocriſy, yea every falſe way contrary to the word of God; ſee the Note above verſ. 29: & hence is the next clauſe oppoſed thereto, but thy law do I love.
Verſ. 165. Great peace have they which love thy law, &c.] That is, All things ſhall goe proſperouſly with them: & nothing shall offend them; that is, nothing ſhall hurt them. Or thus, Great peace have they which love thy law; that is, they ſhall enjoy great quiet of mind & peace of conſcience, as knowing the filial affection which they bear to thy word, and being thereby aſſured of thy love and favour to them: & nothing shall offend them; that is, nothing ſhall trouble or diſquiet them. This laſt clauſe is in the Originall, they shall have no ſtumbling-blocks; & ſo the meaning may be, that thoſe things which prove ſtumbling-blocks to others to make them fall into ſin, ſhall not, by reaſon of the great reſpect which they bear to Gods law, prove ſo unto them. But then this muſt be underſtood of ſuch a ſtumbling & falling, as ends in a finall apoſtacy; for otherwiſe the beſt may fall into ſin.
Verſ. 168. I have kept thy precepts & thy teſtimonies; for all my waies are before thee.] This he addeth, either 1. by way of calling God to witneſſe concerning the truth of that which he had ſaid; or 2. as a reaſon why he was ſo carefull to keep Gods precepts; or 3. to ſet forth his ſincerity in keeping Gods commandements, to wit, that he did it, not that he might approve himſelf to the eye of man, but that he might approve himſelf to God.
Verſ. 172. My tongue shall ſpeak of thy word, &c.] That is, I ſhall not only ſing forth thy praiſe, but I ſhall alſo ſpeak of thy word to the edification of others: for all thy commandements are righteouſneſſe; that is, they are moſt righteous, even the only perfect rule of righteouſneſſe, & conſequently fit to be obſerved of all men, & the only means of reforming the unrighteouſneſſe of men; & from hence alſo he would imply, that therefore he would teach others therein, or that therefore he would extoll them, & declare to others how righteous they were: or, they are exceeding faithfull; & therefore I will declare the faithfulneſſe of thy word, and teach others to truſt in it.
Verſ. 173. Let thine hand help me, &c.] To wit, in my ſeeking to know & keep thy precepts; or by delivering me out of my dangers and miſeries, or out of the hands of my enemies.
Verſ. 175. Let my ſoul live, &c.] See the Note above ver. 116: & it shall praiſe thee; to wit, all my days: & let thy judgements help me; that is, by thy judgements executed upon mine enemies, help me out of my troubles & dangers. But becauſe in this Pſalm by Gods judgements Gods laws are uſually meant, the meaning of this clauſe may be this, Let thy judgements help me, that is, Let thy promiſes made to me in thy word be accompliſhed for my help; or, Let my integrity and ſincere endeavour to keep thy judgements be for my help; or laſtly, Let thy word help me in the praiſing of thy great name: for that indeed went immediately before this clauſe, Let my ſoul live, and it shall praiſe thee; and let thy judgements help me.
Verſ. 176. I have gone aſtray like a loſt sheep, &c.] To wit, in regard of his wandring up & down from one place to another in the time of his exile, when he was ſhut out, as it were, from the Church, the ſheep-fold of Gods people; or in regard of his going aſtray through infirmity from the ways of Gods commandements, whereupon he deſires the Lord, his ſhepheard, to ſeek him out, & bring him home again into the right way, whenever he ſhould thus goe aſtray, ſeek thy ſervant: and the reaſon he gives in the next words, for I do not forget thy commandements; that is, though I may ſin through frailty, yet my conſtant deſire is that I may keep thy commandements.