Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 42 – Psalm 43
PSAL. XLII.
Maſchil for the ſons of Korah] Korah and his complices were ſwallowed up quick by the earth in the Wilderneſſe for their gain-ſaying, Num. 16. but ſome of his ſons diſliking his practice, eſcaped, and of them came Heman (the Nephew of Samuel) a chief ſinger, 1 Chron. 6.23. Now to him, and his Brethren,foreign Nocumenta documenta. was this and ſome other of Davids Pſalms committed, both to be kept as a treaſure; and to beſung in the Sanctuary, for comfort and inſtruction under affliction, according to the ſignification of the word Maſchil; whereof See Pſal. 3…. title.
Verſ. 1. As the Heart panteth after the water-brooks] Heb. As the Hind. Greek, foreign, for in females the paſſions are ſtronger, ſaith an Interpreter here, quicquid volunt, valde volunt. This Creature is naturally hot and dry,De nat. ani… 1.6. cap. … about Autumn eſpecially (as Ariſtotle teſtifieth)) but when hunted, extream thirſty. Chryſoſtom and Baſill ſay, that ſhe eateth Serpents, and ſo is further inflamed by their poyſon. Now as the hunted and heated Hind glocitat, breatheth and brayeth after the water-brooks,
Sopanteth my ſoul after Thee, O God] He ſaith,Amo te D… mine plus quam … mos, me. Ben not after my former dignity and greatneſſe, before Abſolens diſturbed mee, and drove mee out (though he could not but be ſenſible of ſuch a loſſe; we know what miſerable moans Cicere made, when fent into baniſhment; how impatient Cato and many others were in like caſe, ſo that they became their own deathſmen) but after Thee Lord, and the enjoyment of thy publick ordinances; from which I am now alaſſe hunted and hindred. After that Gods holy Spirit hath once touched a ſoul, it will never be quier untill it ſtands pointed God-ward.
Verſ. 2. My Soul thirſteth for God] More than ever it did once for the wa…er of the Well of Bethelem; and that, becauſe he is the living God, the fountain of living waters, that only can cooll and quench my deſires, Jer. 2.13. & 17.13. ſo as I ſhall never thirſt again, Joh. 4.14. whereas of all things elſe we may ſay Quo plus ſunt pota, plus ſitiuntur aqua.
The Rabbines note here,Ovid. Kimchi. Aben-Ezra. that David ſaith not ſo hungreth, but ſo thirſteth my ſoul; becauſe men are more impatient of thirſt, than of hunger; they can go diverſe dayes without meat,Curt: ex Diodoro. but not without drink. Alexander loſt a great part of his army marching through the Wilderneſſe of the Suſitans by want of water.
When ſhall I come and appear before God?] Heb. And ſee the face of God? viz. in his Tabernacle. Eheu igitur quando tandem mibi miſerrimo dabitur, ut te in aede tua conspiciam? Theſe earneſt pantings, inquietations, and unſatisfiable deſires after God and his ordinances, are ſure ſignes of true grace. But woe to our worſhip-ſcorners, &c.
Verſ. 3. My tears have been my meat day and night] Hunters ſay, the Hart ſheddeth tears, or ſomething like tears, when he is purſued, and not able to eſcape. Hereunto David might allude. Sure it is, that as Hinds by calving, ſo men by weeping, caſt out their ſorrowes, Job 39.3.
Expletur lachrymis egeritur que dolor.
And,Act. and Mon. 1457. Affert ſolatium lugentibus ſuſpiriorum ſociet as ſaith Baſil, ſighs are an eaſe of ſorrow. Of Mr. Bradford the Martyr it is reported, that in the midſt of dinner he uſed oft to muſe, having his hat over his eyes, from whence came commonly plenty of tears dropping on his trencher. — foreign, The better any are,So Pſal. 80.5. the more inclined to weeping; as David than Jonathan, 1 Sam. 20. Here we have him telling us that his tears were his meat, or his bread, as Gregory readeth it; and he giveth this reaſon, that like as the more bread wee eat, the dryer we are, and the more thirſty; ſo the more tears of godly ſorrow we let fall, the more we thirſt after that living fountain ſpringing from above. Davids greateſt grief was, that he was baniſhed from the Sanctuary; and next to that, the reproachfull blaſphemy of his enemies hitting him in the teeth with his God, as if not able or not willing to relieve him now in his neceſſity, and bitterly upbraiding him with his hopes as altogether vain.
Whiles they continually ſay unto mee, Where is thy God?] Violenti certe impetus, ſaith Vatablus here; theſe were violent ſhocks indeed; and ſuch as wherewith Davids faith might have been utterly overthrown, had it not been the better rooted, and withall upheld by the ſpeciall power of the Spirit of grace. Other of Gods ſuffering Saints have met with the like meaſure. At Orleance in France, as the bloody Papiſts murthered the Proteſtants, they cryed out, where is now your God? what is become of all your prayers and Pſalms now? Let your God that you called upon ſave you if he can.Mr. Clarks Gen. Martyrol. P. 316. Others ſang in ſcorn, Judge and revenge my cauſe O Lord; Others, Have mercy on us Lord, &c. The Queen Mother of Scotland having received aid from France. forced the Proteſtants for a while to retire to the High-Lands, whereupon ſhe ſcoffingly ſaid, where is now John Knox his God? My God is now ſtronger than his, yea even in Fife; but her braggs laſted not long; for within a few dayes,Mr. Knox his life by Mr. Clark. ſix hundred Proteſtants beat above four thouſand French and Scots &c. Gods Servants fare the better for the inſolencies of their enemies; who when they ſay where is now their God? might as well ſay betwixt the ſpace of the new, and old Moon, where is now the Moon? when as it is never nearer the Sun, than at that time.
Verſ. 4. When I remember theſe things] viz. My preſent preſſures compared with my former happineſs,Cic. de Fin. 1. 2. Sen. deben. 1.4. c. 22. Miſerum ſanè eſt, fuiſſe felicem. The Epicures held (but I beleeve they did not beleeve themſelves therein) that a man might be cheerful amidſt the moſt exquiſite torments, Ex pr…teritarum upluptatum recordatione, by the remembrance of his former pleaſures and delights. David found this here but a ſlight and ſorry comfort, though he better knew how than any of them to make the beſt of it; and his delights had been farre more ſolid and cordial.
I pour out my ſoul] See Job 30.16. with the Note.
For I had gone with a multitude] Heb. A thick croud, or throng of good peole, frequ…ting the publick Ordinances, and David in the head of them. One rendreth it, In umbra vel umbrella, ſicut mos eſt Orientalium ambulare umbrellis contra ardorem ſolis accommodatis.
I went with them to the houſe of God] Lente Itabam, I went with a gentle pace, Greſſ… grallatorio. He ſpeaketh, ſaith Vatablus, of the order obſerved by the faithful when they went to the Sanctuary, viz. in comely equipage, ſinging praiſe to God,Kimchi in … Radi…. and confeſſing his goodneſs.
Verſ. 5. Why art thou …aſt down, O my ſoul?] Here David ſeemeth to be Homo diviſus in duas partes, ſaith Vatablus, a man divided into two parts, as indee devery new man is two men: and what is to be ſeen in the Shulamite, but as it were the company of two Armies? Cant. 6.13. David chideth David out of his dumps. So did Alice Benden the Martyr, rehearſing theſe very words (when ſhe had been kept in the Biſhops priſon all alone, nine weeks with bread and water) and received comfort by them in the midſt of her miſeries.Act. & Mon… 1797.
And why art thou diſquieted in me?] A good mans work lieth moſt within doors; he hath more ado with himſelf than with all the world beſides; he prayeth oft with that Ancient, Libera me Domine à malo homine meip ſo, Deliver me, Lord, from that naughty man my ſelf. How oft do we puniſh our ſelves by our paſſions, as the Lion, that beateth himſelf with his own tail? Grief is like Lead to the ſoul, heavie and cold, ſinking it downward, taking off the wheels of it, and diſabling it for duty; like as a Limb that is out of joynt, can do nothing without deformity and pain. Keep up thy ſpirit therefore, and watch againſt dejection,foreign whatſoever befalls thee, yea againſt all diſtempers; ſith they hinder comfortable intercourſe with God, and that Spiritual compoſedneſs, that Sabbath of ſpirit that we muſt enjoy, or elſe we cannot keep that continual Holy-day, 1 Cor. 5.8. How many are there who through unneceſſary ſadneſs, come to Heaven before they are aware?Dr. Sibbes.
Hope thou in God] Faith quieteth the ſoul firſt or laſt (ſaith a Reverend man on theſe words) there will be ſtirring at the firſt: As in a pair of Ballance, there will be a little ſtirring when the weight is put in, till it come to a poiſe; ſo in the ſoul, it comes not to a quiet conſiſtency till there be ſome victory of faith, till it reſt and ſtay the ſoul.
For I ſhall yet praiſe him for the help of his countenance] Heb.Homil. in Geneſ. The health… of his countenance, Adhuc confitebor ei ſalutes vultus ejus. Chryſoſtom bringeth in a man loaden with troubles coming into the Church, where when he heard this paſſage read, Why art thou caſt down? hope in God, &c. he preſently recovered.
Verſ. 6. O my God, my ſoul is caſt down within me] Though before he had ſchooled himſelf out of his diſtem pers, yet now he is troubled again: ſuch are the viciſſitudes and interchanges of joy, and ſorrow, that the Saints are here ſubject unto: as ſoon as the Spirit gets the better, as ſoon the Fleſh; ſometimes good affections prevail, ſometimes unruly paſſions. Affections are the wind of the ſoul, paſſions the ſtorm. The ſoul is well carried, when neither ſo becalmed that it moves not when it ſhould, nor yet toſſed with tempeſts to move diſorderly.
Therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Jordan] That is, ſaith one, I will call to minde former experiments there, and take comfort. Or, I will remember thee, as I may, here at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, under the mount Hermon, and that other little Hill (where I have found thee, in my meditations, and prayers, propitious unto me) though I cannot now worſhip thee in the beauty of holineſs, being driven out by my ungracious Son Abſolom, from the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Verſ. 7. Deep calleth unto deep] Vorago voraginom advocat, i.e. one calamity inviteth another: Aliud ex also malum, they come thick and three-fold,Gurges gurgitem excipit. Beza. the Clouds return after the rain, Eccleſ. 12.2. as one ſhower is unburthened, another is brewed. One affliction followeth and occaſioneth another, without ceaſing, or intermiſſion; ſo that they are grown as it were to an infiniteneſs, as Pſalm 40.12.
At the noyſe of thy water-ſpouts] i.e. Thy Clouds pouring down amain, in a ſtorm at Sea eſpecially, by a Cataclyſm of waters falling at once out of the Clouds, ſometimes to the overwhelming and breaking of a ſhip. This, Mariners call a ſpout, Pſal. 18.4. The flouds of Belial made me afraid.
All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me] Fluctou fluctum trudit; yet not, without the Lord: the enemies and the evils that befell him are called Gods waves or breakings.Propter peccata noltra à te immiffa. Kimchi.
Verſ. 8. Yet the Lord will command his loving kindneſs] He will after all this miſery ſend forth a Commiſſion, and a command to ſet me free: and his Mandamus will do it at any time.
And in the night his Song ſhall be with me] When others that are without God in the World have reſtleſs nights, the gnats of cares and griefs moleſting them, a Saint can ſing away care, and call his ſoul to reſt, as Pſal. 116.7. being filled with peace, and joy through beleeving; ſuch as ſetteth him a ſinging to Gods glory.
And my prayer unto the God of my life] i.e. My Praiſes, which are a chief part of prayer, 1 Tim. 26.1. Thankſ-giving is an artificial begging, Gratiarum actio eſt adplus dandum invitatio.
Verſ. 9. I will ſay unto my God, nay Rock, why haſt thou forgotten me?] Tenè ve… mei immemoremeſſe? Thus I will in a familiar manner expoſtulate with him, and lay my caſe open unto him, as to a friend. The fleſh ſuggeſteth that he is forgotten, but faith holdeth its own, faſtning on the Rock of ages.
Why go I mourning] Heb. Black, as one that is in mourning weeds: or, that had lain among the pots.
Verſ. 10. As with a ſword in my bones] Heb. A murthering weapon, which when thruſt into the bones cauſeth moſt exquiſite pain: ſo deeply was good David affected with the diſhonour done to God by his blaſphemous enemies; it went to the very heart of him as a dagger.
While they ſay daily] See the Note on verſ. 3.
Verſ. 11. Why art thou caſt down] See verſ. 5.
Who is the kealth of my countenance] i.e. The Author of my manifold, preſent and apparent ſafety: ſuch as ſhall make me look blithe and beautiful, cheery, and chirp.
PSAL. XLIII.
VErſ. 1. Judge me O God] This Pſalm is as it were an Epitome, or an Appendix to the former, and little differing in words or matter.
Plead my cauſe] See Pſal. 35.1.
Againſt an ungodly Nation] Heb. A Nation not mild, or merciful: ſo he calleth Abſoloms Complices, who ſought and would have ſuckt his bloud. Such are a people of Gods wrath, and of his curſe.
O deliver me, &c.] From Abſolom, or Abitophel, or the whole Faction.
Verſ. 2. For thou art the God of my ſtrength] As being in Covenant with me both offenſive and defenſive: In the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages, or everlaſting ſtrength, Iſa. 26.4. for God of my ſtrength, Pſa. 42.9. is my Rock.
Why go I mourning] See Pſal. 42.9.
Verſ. 3.Lux & veritas piorum comites. O ſend out thy light] i.e. thy comforting grace, oppoſed to that verſ. 2. I go mourning, or in black.
And thy truth] i.e. Thy faithfulneſs, oppoſed to the deceitful man, verſ. 1. The Rabbines interpret Light and Truth, by Chriſt and Elias; the Arabick maketh it a prayer for the Jews converſion.
Let them bring me unto thy holy bill] Zion, the place of holy aſſemblies for Gods ſervice. Iterum commendatur hic dignit as miniſterii Publici: Vaeigitur illis qui caducorum bexeruns uſum redimunt ſacri, miniſterii jacturâ, qui conciones …acras & Sacramenta ultro negligunt, &c.
And to thy Tabernacles] Socalled, either becauſe it was ſet up at ſundry times in ſundry places, whilſt it was tranfportative; or elſe becauſe it was parred by veiles into ſeveral rooms, Heb. 9.2, 3.
Verſ. 4. Then will I go muto the Altar of God] Not without ſtore of Sacrifices. Gods ſervice is now nothing ſo coſtly; and ſhould therefore be more chearfully performed. Heathens had their Altars, &c. all ſave the Ferfiaus.
Verſ. 5. Why art thon bowed down, &c.] See Pſal. 42.9. & 11.