PSALM 16 Divers render this word _Michtam, a golden Psalm_, because of the preciousness and excellency of the matter of it; for it treats of Christ's death and resurrection. But because this title is prefixed to PSALMS 56:1, PSALMS 57:1 58:1 59:1 60:1, wherein there is no such peculiar excellency, i... [ Continue Reading ]
O MY SOUL; which words are fitly understood; for it is manifest he speaks to one person of another. And it is usual with David to turn his speech to his soul, as PSALMS 42:6, PSALMS 43:5. THOU HAST SAID; thou hast ofttimes avowed and professed it, and dost still persist to do so. THOU ART MY LORD, b... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT, i.e. but my goodness extendeth, which is easily understood out of the former verse; from which also there may be fetched another supplement; _O my soul, thou hast said, to the saints_, &c. TO THE SAINTS THAT ARE IN THE EARTH, i.e. to those holy and righteous persons that live upon earth with me... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HASTEN AFTER ANOTHER GOD; or, that present or endtoo (as this verb signifies, EXODUS 22:16) another god, to wit, with oblations, as it follows. God is not expressed in the Hebrew text, but seems fitly and necessarily to be understood, because of the following offerings, which are made to none t... [ Continue Reading ]
OF MINE INHERITANCE, or, _of my division_, i.e. of that inheritance which God hath mercifully divided or distributed to me, and which I by his grace have chosen for myself. I envy not the vast riches and glory of idolaters, but do heartily rejoice in God as my portion, and desire no better nor no ot... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LINES, i.e. my portion, which was measured with lines. Compare JOSHUA 17:5 DEUTERONOMY 32:9. IN PLEASANT PLACES; in a sweet land flowing with milk and honey, and, above all, blessed with the presence, and knowledge, and service of the true God.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH GIVEN ME COUNSEL, Heb. _consulted for me_, i.e. by his wise and gracious counsel hath provided so good an heritage for me, and withal inspired that counsel and wisdom into me, by which I have chosen the Lord for my portion, and am so fully satisfied with him. MY REINS, i.e. my inward though... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. I have always presented him to my mind as my rule and scope, as my witness and judge, as my patron and protector, in the discharge of my office, and in all my actions. Hitherto David seems to have spoken in his own person, and with special respect to himself; but now he seems to have been trans... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE; upon this ground and confidence. My heart; the proper seat of joy, and of all the affections. MY GLORY; either, 1. My soul, which isindeed the glory of a man. Or rather, 2. My tongue, which also is a man's glory and privilege above all other living creatures, and the instrument of glorif... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL, i.e. my person, as this word is every where used by a synecdoche of the part, and then the person by another synecdoche of the whole is put for the body. _The soul_ is oft put for the body; either for the living body, as PSALMS 35:3, PSALMS 105:18, or for the carcass or dead body, as it is... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WILT SHOW ME, i.e. give me an exact and experimental knowledge of it, for my own comfort, and the benefit of my people. THE PATH OF LIFE, i.e. the way that leadeth to life; not to a temporal and mortal life here, for he is supposed to be dead and buried, PSALMS 16:10; but to an endless, and imm... [ Continue Reading ]