PSALM 34 A Psalm made upon that occasion, though not at that time. HIS BEHAVIOUR; or, _his habit_ or _posture_, or his _reason_, as this word is taken, 1 SAMUEL 25:33 PSALMS 119:66 PROVERBS 11:22. When he counterfeited madness. Wherein, whether he sinned or not, is matter of dispute; but this is und... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a Lord and Master. The HUMBLE; or, the _meek_, i.e. the godly, oft called in Scripture by that title; and particularly my friends and favourers in Israel, whom he thus calls in opposition to his proud and furious adversaries in Sau... [ Continue Reading ]
Join your praises with mine, O all ye humble ones. TOGETHER; not in place, for David was now banished from the place of God's public worship, but in affection and work: let our souls meet, and let our praises meet in the ears of the all-hearing God. Or, _alike_, i.e. with equal zeal and fervency; le... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LOOKED; the humble, PSALMS 34:2; or they that fear him, PSALMS 34:7, when they were in distress. Or it is an indefinite expression. UNTO HIM; either, 1. _Unto the Lord_, expressed PSALMS 34:4, i.e. they sought and expected help from him. Or rather, 2. Unto _this poor man_, as it follows, PSALMS... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. David, of whom they that _looked_, &c., PSALMS 34:5, spake these words.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL, i.e. the angels; the singular number being put for the plural, as it is PSALMS 78:45, PSALMS 105:33,40; for it is both improper and unusual to ascribe ENCAMPING, and that round about all good men, to one created angel. And we find many angels employed in this work, GENESIS 32:1,2 2 KINGS... [ Continue Reading ]
TASTE, i.e. consider it seriously, and thoroughly, and affectionately; make trial of it by your own and others experiences. This is opposed to those slight and vanishing thoughts which men have of it. GOOD, i.e. merciful and gracious, to wit, to all his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Reverence and serve him, and trust in him; for fear is commonly put for all the parts of God's worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG LIONS; either, 1. Properly: see JOB 4:11. Or, 2. Metaphorically so called, the great potentates of the earth, who are oft so called, as JEREMIAH 2:15 EZEKIEL 38:13 NAHUM 2:13. SHALL NOT WANT ANY GOOD THING, which is necessary and truly good for them, all circumstances considered; of which... [ Continue Reading ]
_ Ye children_; whom I love as mine own children, and who own me as your civil father, your prince; see 2 KINGS 5:13; and as your spiritual father, a prophet; for the disciples of the prophets were called their _sons_, 2 KINGS 2:3. _The fear of the Lord_, i.e. the true and principal way of worshippi... [ Continue Reading ]
DESIRETH, to wit, seriously and in good earnest, so as to be willing to use any endeavours which shall be prescribed to him: for otherwise the question were needless; for there is no man but desires it, at least coldly and faintly. LIFE; a long and happy life, begun in this world, and continued for... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM EVIL; from all manner of evil-speaking, from all opprobrious, injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; which, though men commonly use to ease and gratify their own minds, or to compass their designs, do frequently fall upon their own heads, by provoking both God and men against them. GUILE; or... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPART FROM EVIL, i.e. from all sin, and especially from all wicked and injurious acts and practices against try neighbour. DO GOOD; be ready to perform all good and friendly offices to all men, as thou hast opportunity. SEEK PEACE; study by all means possible to live peaceably and quietly with all... [ Continue Reading ]
This is added to prove his last assertion, to wit, that the practice of these duties, PSALMS 34:13,14, is the true and best, and indeed the only, way to see that good proposed and promised PSALMS 34:12; both because such righteous persons, howsoever they may meet with affronts and injuries from men,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FACE OF THE LORD, i.e. his anger, oft called his _face_, as LEVITICUS 17:10, LEVITICUS 20:5 JEREMIAH 44:11 LAMENTATIONS 4:16, because anger discovers itself in the face. THEM THAT DO EVIL, i.e. whose common course, and study, arid business it is to do evil; for else _there is not a just man upon... [ Continue Reading ]
Heb. _They cry, _ to wit, the righteous, as is manifest both from the nature of the thing, and from PSALMS 34:15, where they are so called, and with which this verse is to be continued, the 16th verse coming in by way of parenthesis, as is very usual in many places of Scripture.... [ Continue Reading ]
NIGH; ready to hear and succour them; though by the severe course of his providence towards them he seems to themselves and others to stand afar off, as David complains, PSALMS 10:1. SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT; by which he understands either, 1. Those whose spirits are oppressed, and even brok... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS BONES, i.e. all the parts and members of their bodies, which are synecdochically expressed by the bones, which are the stay and strength of the rest. God will not suffer any mischief to befall him; though he may be oft afflicted, yet he shall not be destroyed. But these words, though they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL; either, 1. The evil of sin. His own wickedness, though designed against others, shall destroy himself. Or, 2. The evil of misery. When the afflictions of good men shall have a happy issue, theirs shall end in their total and final destruction. THAT HATE THE RIGHTEOUS; that persecute them, an... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Their lives or their persons, from the malicious designs of all their enemies, and from desolation or utter ruin, as it follows.... [ Continue Reading ]