Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 30
PSALM XXX.
The Title. A Pſalm and Song, &c.] That is, A Pſalm provided to be ſung, But ſeeing all the Pſalms were compoſed for that uſe, why this is expreſſed in ſome Pſalms and not in others, I find no ſufficient reaſon given by Expoſitours. At the dedication of the houſe of David. Some underſtand this of the dedication of his houſe, when the Ark of the Lord was brought into it. Again others think, that becauſe Abſalom had defiled Davids houſe with his inceſt and other wickedneſſe, therefore when David returned again to Jeruſalem in peace, the conſpiracy of Abſalom being brought to nought, before he would dwell in his houſe again, as he removed his concubines, and put them in ward, 2 Sam, 20.3. ſo he alſo cauſed his houſe to be dedicated anew, and ſo upon that occaſion this Pſalm was compoſed. And the chief reaſon why they hold this, is becauſe that which is ſaid verſ. 6, 7. concerning his growing ſecure by reaſon of his ſettled proſperous condition, and Gods hiding his face from him thereupon, and the troubles he then fell into, In my proſperity I ſaid, I shall never be moved, &c. doth better agree with that time, when, after ſome years ſpent in his exalted eſtate, he fell into that ſin with the wife of Uriah, and ſo fell into great troubles, eſpecially by the rebellion of Abſalom, then with that time when he firſt built his cedar houſe, 2 Sam. 5.11: for then, ſay they, he was but newly ſettled in the throne, &c. But becauſe we find expreſly, that their new built houſes they were wont to dedicate at their firſt coming to dwell in them, ſee the Note Deut. 20.5, and Nehem. 12.27. and that 1. to bleſſe God for the finiſhing of them; 2. thereby to teſtifie, as it were, that they acknowledged God to be the chief Lord of whom they hold their houſes, and that upon the condition of doing him homage by a holy converſation, and making their houſes as ſo many Sanctuaries for the worſhip of God all the time they dwelt therein; and 3. to pray to God to bleſſe them therein; but now of dedicating their houſes anew, when they had been polluted with any groſſe ſin, we find not the leaſt mention: therefore I rather conceive it is meant of the dedication of his new-built palace, 2 Sam. 5.11. for there it is ſaid verſ. 12. that David perceived that the Lord had eſtablished him king over Iſrael, and that he had exalted his kingdome, &c. becauſe he had taken the ſtrong fort of Zion, and had vanquiſhed his enemies round about, all the tribes had ſubmitted themſelves to him, and having built a fair palace, he was quietly ſettled in his throne; ſo that it is no wonder that he ſhould then begin to be puffed up with ſome thoughts of carnall confidence: and for thoſe troubles, which God hiding his face, did thereupon befall him, it might be ſome ſickneſſe he fell into whilſt his houſe was building, or that violent invaſion of the Philiſtines, which is related 2 Sam. 5.17: and ſo at the dedication of his houſe he bleſſed God for delivering him from this deſperate danger.
Verſ. 1. I will extoll thee, O Lord, for thou haſt lifted me up, &c.] As if he had ſaid, Becauſe thou haſt lifted me up, I alſo will endeavour to lift up or exalt thy name. What he means by Gods lifting him up, ſee in the Notes Pſal. 3.3, and 28.9.
Verſ. 2. I cryed unto thee, and thou haſt healed me.] See the Note Pſal. 6.3.
Verſ. 3. O Lord, thou haſt brought up my ſoul from the grave, &c.] That is, thou haſt delivered me from the very jaws of death; which may be meant of ſickneſſe, or any other deſperate dangers. See the Note 2 Sam. 22.6.
Verſ. 4, Sing unto the Lord, O ye Saints of his, &c.] That is, ye that are ſanctified of God, and whom alone God acknowledgeth for his peculiar people: and give thanks at the remembrance of his holineſſe, or, to the memoriall of his holineſſe; that is, when by his works, ſuch as this of his delivering me from this danger, you are put in remembrance of his holineſſe; or that the memoriall of his holineſſe may be for ever continued in his Church. Yet ſome make this to be the meaning of this laſt clauſe, give thanks at the remembrance of his holineſse, that is, at the remembrance of our moſt holy God; or to the name of Jehovah; which is the memoriall whereby he will be mentioned or remembred amongſt his people, as it was ſaid to Moſes Exod. 3.15. and likewiſe Hoſ. 12.5. Yea and ſome by the memoriall of his holineſſe underſtand the Tabernacle, becauſe therein the holineſſe of God was ſhadowed forth, into whoſe preſence no unclean thing might enter.
Verſ. 5. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life, &c.] This ſome Expoſitours underſtand thus; Gods anger laſts but a little while, but it is of his favour that we live; or, of his favour he deſires we ſhould live, and not periſh for ever. Others render the meaning of theſe words thus; Gods fatherly anger with his children is but for a very little while, he ſoon giveth them a taſt of his favour again, and this then is life to them, that is, this chears and revives their hearts again. But becauſe it ſeems clear, that life is here oppoſed to a moment, others do better, I conceive, give this ſenſe of the words; Gods anger with his continueth but a moment, but his favour to his continueth all their life long: yea and life eternall may be herein alſo comprehended, in compariſon whereof the longeſt afflictions are but momentary, as the Apoſtle ſaith 2 Cor. 4.17. our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory. And indeed we may well think that David had reſpect to this, that was ſo long in an afflicted condition, and yet could judge it but a moment of anger. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning: as if he had ſaid, As the darkneſſe of the night ſtayeth not long, but in the morning it groweth light again; ſo the afflictions and ſorrows of Gods children continue not long, but there ſoon comes a morning of joy again: which is according to that of the prophet Iſa. 17.14. behold at evening tide trouble, and before the morning he is not.
Verſ. 6. And in my proſperity I ſaid, I shall never be moved.] That is, When I was proſperouſly ſettled in the kingdome, I began to conclude within my ſelf, that now there was an end of all my troubles, I ſhould now live all my daies in a proſperous eſtate. See the Note upon the Title of this Pſalm.
Verſ. 7. Lord, by thy favour thou haſt made my mountain to ſtand ſtrong, &c.] That is, ſay ſome Expoſitours, Thou haſt ſtrengthened me ſo, that my condition is as firm and unmoveable as a mountain, or that I am as ſafe, as if I were in ſome fort built upon a mountain: and indeed they were wont to build their caſtles and forts upon hills and mountains, not only becauſe they were the more hardly to be aſſaulted, but alſo becauſe their ſtanding ſo aloft added the more majeſty and ſplendour to them. But becauſe kingdomes, in regard of their eminency of power, are uſually tearmed mountains in the Scripture, as Iſa. 2.2. the mountain of the Lords houſe shall be eſtablished in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, that is, Chriſts kingdome ſhall be exalted above all kingdomes, and Dan. 2.35. the ſtone that ſmote the image became a great mountain, that is, a great kingdome, and ſo in other places; therefore I rather conceive that by his mountain here David meant his kingdome; Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to ſtand ſtrong, that is, thou haſt by thy favour moſt firmly eſtabliſhed and ſtrengthened my kingdome, above danger of any oppoſition: and it is likely too that in this expreſſion he alluded to mount Sion, where he had built himſelf a palace, and had made it the chief ſeat of his kingdome. And this is here alledged as the occaſion of his growing ſo ſecure, namely, becauſe his kingdome was ſo ſettled, and become ſo ſtrong every way, that there ſeemed to be no fear of a change. Yet withall there ſeems to be likewiſe an intimation in theſe words, that ſeeing it was of Gods favour that his kingdome was ſo ſettled, it was a folly in him to grow ſo carnally ſecure, merely becauſe he ſaw himſelf ſo ſtrongly ſettled, ſince he might well think, that it was eaſie for him that had ſo ſettled him, to unſettle him again; as he acknowledgeth in the following words that God did. Thou didſt hide thy face; that is, thou wert offended with me for this my carnall confidence and ſecurity, and didſt withdraw thy wonted help and protection: and I was troubled; that is, I fell into great diſtreſſe, and thereby was oppreſſed with much ſorrow and anguiſh of mind.
Verſ. 9. What profit is there in my bloud, when I goe down to the pit? &c.] Becauſe the life of every living creature is ſaid to be in the bloud, Gen. 9.4. therefore ſome Expoſitours underſtand this clauſe thus, What profit is there in my bloud? &c. that is, What profit is there in my life? as if he ſhould have ſaid, Of what avail will it be that I have lived hitherto, if I be now cut off, when being ſettled in my kingdome I have more power to promote the cauſe of religion, and to doe good to thy people, then formerly? But doubtleſſe, by his bloud here is meant his death; and that which he intends in theſe words is, that if he ſhould be cut off either by his enemies, or by Gods immediate hand, he ſhould not then be able to praiſe his name, as he ſhould if his life were prolonged; ſee the Note Pſal. 6.5. which is evident in the following clauſe, shall the dust praiſe thee? shall it declare thy truth? that is, the truth of thy promiſes, or thy faithfulneſſe in performing thy promiſes? And it is like he mentioneth this purpoſely to intimate his hope, that God would perform his promiſe made to him concerning ſettling the kingdome upon him and his ſeed.
Verſ. 11. Thou haſt put off my ſackcloth, and girded me with gladneſse.] That is, Upon my prayer to thee, thou haſt turned my ſorrow into joy. Thou haſt put off my ſackcloth, which they uſed to wear in times of great ſorrow, eſpecially when with penitent hearts they humbled themſelves before God to beg mercy at his hands: and girded me with gladneſſe, that is, with garments of joy; or rather thou didſt compaſſe me with gladneſſe, giving me abundance of joy: as Pſal. 18.32. thou haſt girded me with ſtrength, that is, thou haſt made me very ſtrong.
Verſ. 12. To the end my glory may ſing praiſe to thee, &c.] See the Note Gen. 49.6.