Annotations on Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, Annotations 2 · Psalm 1
PSAL. I.
IT is put down without any Inscription or Title, and therefore it is uncertain byPrinceps hoc carmen foreign. Quin auctorem tamen ha…es idem suum cum …lii; p…e…sque Davidem re…em & prophetam nulli dubitamus. Ser…nertus. Hujus Psalmi paraphrasis Psalmus 119. Here are three gradations concerning sins, Subject…, Qualities, Actions: 1. The subjects, Ungodly, sinners scornfull. 2. Qualities, Counsell, way, seat. 3. Actions Walk, stand, sit. They rise by steps like a ladder, one round above another. Tres hîc gradus describuntur malè v…ven…ium, eorum qui incipiunt, eorum qui pe…stant, eorum qui planè jam in mala Vita acquiescunt. Grotius. In …inu… istis tota hominum conversatio consi…it, aut enim ambulat, aut stat, aut sedet. Kimcbius in loc. Mr. Gataker is Cinno l. 1. c. 1. opposeth the gradation, yet many both Jews and Christians, are for it. whom it was penned, whether by David, as most like it was, or by Ezra, who is rather thought to have gathered them together, and joyned them thus in one Volume, as now we have them. Quidam dicunt hunc Psalmum quasi praesationem esse Spiritus sancti, & ideo titulum non habere. Hieron.
The scope of the first Psalm is to direct men unto true happiness. It begins and ends with blessedness.
It consists of two parts, Proposition and Confirmation, Junius. Doctrine and Use.
First, Doctrine, describing a righteous man with his happiness, and the wicked with his misery.
The Doctrine hath two heads.
I. Concerning good men, the summe of which is, a good man is happy. He and his happiness are described:
1. Negatively, shewing what he doth carefully shun.
2. Affirmatively, shewing what he doth embrace and follow.
1. A description of a good man from the things he doth not, viz. sinne; set out in three degrees, which are,
1. He doth not walk in, that is, practise the counsell of evil or ungodly men; that is, the evil which men of corrupt natures do in their own mindes like of and advise to do, and also perswade others to do. He neither approveth and liketh of sinne to practise it out of that liking himself hath to it, nor yet is ruled by the ill perswasions of evil men seeking to approve such bad courses.
2. He doth not stand in the way of sinners, that is, he doth not go on in the practise of those evils which corrupt men habituating themselves in the waies of wickedness, do with constancy and greediness follow. Evil men notes the naturall corruption, sinners the habit of evil by constant practise.
3. He doth not sit in the seat of scorners, he is not so setled in sinne, as to mock, scorn and deride admonitions, reproofs and threatnings, as the wicked which have attained the highest degree of sinfulness are accustomed to do, neither is he a companion with such sinfull men.
2. His description from what he doth, viz. all good, set out in two principall parts.Doth meditate, or shall meditate. That is, usually meditateth the whole revealed will of God not as opposed to Gospel. Meditatio legis est, non solum in legendis scripturis, sed etiam in his quae scripta sunt faciendis. Hieron.
1. For his affections, and particularly that of Joy, they are rectified by Gods Word. His delight is in the Law of the Lord, that is, he placeth his comfort and felicity in the Word of God, in the knowing and following of it, and injoying the fruit of obedience to it.
2. For his practise, he exerciseth himself in that Law day and night, that is, he useth all means to conform himself unto it constantly, by meditating, conferring, reading, hearing. Vide Mas. Comment. in 1 c. Jos. p. 25.
2. A description of his happiness, both
1. Allegoricall and figurative, under comparison of a tree, in which are three things.
1. Planting by the rivers of water, so is he grounded and planted in thePsal. 92. 8. John 15. 2. Church, the body of Christ, where are rivers of water of life flowing continually.
2. Bringing forth fruit in season, that is, abounding with the fruits of righteousness, for the very doing good is a part of a good mans felicity.
3. Freedom from fading, he never dieth, he looseth oot the sap and life of grace which is in him.
2. Plain and express, all that he doth shall prosper, every thing shall succeed well with him, and work for his good.
II. Concerning bad men to illustrate the former point the more, which is
1. Briefly propounded by way of opposition, not so the wicked, howsoever men judge, yet they shall not, neither do prosper.
2. More at large discovered in regard of theirEst autem Mots minutissima palea unde nullam prorsus utilitatem homines capiunt, sed ventus dispellit eam ocius citius suaque agitatione damnum infert, eò quod laedendo verberat facicm & oculos hominum ultro citroque migrantium. Kimchiu… in loc.
1. Sinfulness and present misery, by a similitude, they are the chaff which the winde blows up and down, that is, they are tossed to and fro by sinfull lusts and temptations, as also by the judgements and curses of Gods hand.
2. Unhappiness future, in that
1. They shall not stand in judgement, see Rev. 6. three last verses, whereSinners shall not stare in judicio, so Rab. Kimchi in loc. Vide Gatakeri Cinnum & Grotium: Stare in judicio, is to be quit in triall, to be found upright. there is an ample description of this judgement. That is, they shall not at the last day stand with boldness, not acquitted nor absolved when they appear before Gods judgement seat.
2. Nor stand in the Congregation of the righteous, that is, shall not have a place among the godly, when they shall be gathered together and assembled unto Jesus Christ.
Secondly, The Use, v. 6.He is well pleased with their way, and they shall have good success in what they go about. See Job 23. 10.
Vers. 6. For the Lord knoweth, that is, loveth, the way of the righteous.] That is, their godliness, and their practising it, therefore they must needs prosper.
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.] He hates the way of the wicked, which must be understood and therefore that way, that is, they in the way shall perish, they shall be cut off in their sinfull courses.