The Truly Blessed Man, Part 1 · Section 1
The Text Opened.
ON what occaſion this Pſalm was penned, we are not told. It evidently appears, by the matter of it, that it was when the Pſalmiſt had been under ſore diſtreſs of mind, by reaſon of the deep ſence of his Sin, and was relieved by God; and it is generally ſuppoſed, that it bears a reference to that great and complicated ſin of his, reſpecting the matter of Uriah; concerning which alſo ſeveral other Pſalms are thought to be written beſides the Fifty first.
The Title of the Pſalm is, Maſchil of David; the word ſignifieth, to Teach: Some think it here intends a ſort of Instrument that bare this name: Others, that it points to the kind of Song ſuited to ſuch a Tune, according to the numbers or meaſures of it. But generally it is ſuppoſed, that the matter of the Pſalm is pointed to in it; viz. that it is a Pſalm for teaching or inſtruction. There are ſome of Praiſe, others Petitionary, ſome Hiſtorical, &c. But this is Doctrinal; and the matter of it excellently ſuits to this interpretation; and there are ten others beſides this that bear the ſame inſcription.
The Doctrine that is laid down in this Pſalm is one: i. e. to point us to the way how we may come to be truly happy, where we have
1. A Bleſſed man deſcribed, verſ. 1, 2.
2. Exemplified by the Pſalmiſt in himſelf, by his own experience, verſe 3, 4, 5.
3. He directs how to improve the faith of this, verſe 6, 7.
4. He ſhews what manner of life men ought to lead, if they would maintain the ſence of their pardon, and bleſſedneſs in it, verſe 8, 9, 10.
5. Calls on theſe bleſſed men to rejoyce in it, verſe 11.
The firſt thing then in the Pſalm, is a deſcription given of a bleſſed man, verſe 1, 2. And it bears reſpect to the ſtate of Bleſſedneſs which is enjoyed in this life. There is an Inchoate Felicity which the Children of God are partakers of …ere, which ſhall arrive at perfection hereafter. The Topick from whence he argues or deſcribes …his Bleſſedneſs, is the ſtate of Pardon or Forgiveneſs in which ſuch do now ſtand.
In the words obſerve,
1. The bleſſedneſs of ſome is aſſerted; Bleſſed. Interpreters are at a loſs about the word. Some make it an Adverb, ſignifying, well: q. d. it ſhall …e well with ſuch an one. Others an Adjective of …he plural, ſignifying, That all manner of felicities …elong to ſuch an one, both in this life, and that to …ome. The word certainly denotes an happy …ate, and tells us, that there is in it the affluence …f all the good that is deſirable; and the Pſalmiſt gives us to underſtand that there are ſuch men as …heſe in the world.
2. This bleſſed man is characterized; he is a …ardoned man: where,
1. We have the nature of this pardon expreſſed in three particulars, in all of which Sin is conſidered as the thing about which this pardon …s applied, ſet forth in divers names which are given it in the Word of God; and when he mentions ſin indefinitely, it is to be underſtood of all ſin: for one ſin unpardoned, is enough to undermine and overthrow all the mans bleſſedneſs. Here …hen,
1. The pardoned man is one whoſe tranſgreſſion …s forgiven. The word, Tranſgreſſion, ſignifies a proud, rebellious, wilful breaking of the Law; or high-handed iniquity; and the word, Forgiven, ſignifies to take off from one; and is ſuppoſed to be a Metaphor from a burden which oppreſſeth one, by the removal whereof he is eaſed.
2. He is one whoſe ſin is covered; the word, Sin, ſignifies an erring, or turning out of the right way; and is applicable to all Sin whatſoever, which is Anomy, 1 Joh. 3. 4. the word, Covered, ſignifies, to hide a thing, by throwing ſomething over it, that it may not be ſeen; and is a metaphor from the covering of naſty dirty things, that one is not willing ſhould be taken notice of.
3. He is one to whom the Lord imputes not iniquity; the word, Iniquity, ſignifies that which i… crooked or perverſe; and is ſometimes uſed to expreſs Original Sin, which is the crookedneſs o… our nature; and is often alſo applied to Actu… Sin, which is called mans crooked way; and th… word tranſlated Impute, among many other ſignifications of it is often uſed for reckoning or cha… ging to ones account: and Sins are ſometim… called Debts in Scripture.
2. We have the evidence of this pardon ſ… down, with reſpect to the ſubject of it, he … one in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile; the word Guile, ſignifies, fraud, falſhood, and deceit; and … here taken for Hypocriſy, in oppoſition to tru… and integrity.
That there is a Bleſſedneſs which God ha… provided for, and will beſtow upon ſome … the Children of men, is a truth obſervab… from our Text: but I here ſuperſede any diſtinct …andling of it; having lately inſiſted on it from …nother Text: and paſs to ſome other Obſer…ations.