PSALM 66 THE ARGUMENT The author and time of the composing of this
Psalm are uncertain. This is manifest, and sufficient for our
understanding of it. That it was made upon the occasion of some great
and glorious deliverance afforded to the Israelites, after and out of
some grievous and general calam... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Praise him in an extraordinary and eminent degree, so as he may
have much glory from you.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW TERRIBLE ART THOU IN THY WORKS! To wit to thine enemies, as it
follows. _Submit themselves unto thee_, Heb. _lie unto thee_, i.e.
profess subjection to thee, not sincerely and freely, but by
constraint, and out of a servile fear.... [ Continue Reading ]
Many people of divers nations shall be so affected with thy stupendous
works, that they shall worship and praise thee for them, and all
people shall do so, and shall have just cause to do so; and the time
will come when all nations will actually do so, to wit, in the days of
the Messias.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THE WORKS OF GOD; consider them wisely and seriously, for God's
glory, and for your own good. TOWARD THE CHILDREN OF MEN; to all his
enemies; whom he calls the children of men, partly in way of contempt,
to show how unable they are either to avoid or resist the great God;
and partly in oppositio... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FLOOD, or river, to wit, Jordan. _We_, i.e. our nation, or our
ancestors, in whose loins we then were, and the benefit of which
ancient deliverance we at this day enjoy. See the like expressions
PSALMS 81:5 HOSEA 12:4. The whole people of Israel are oft considered
as one body, continued through... [ Continue Reading ]
The same power which God had and put forth for his people in ancient
time, he still hath in as great vigour as ever, and is not at all
weakened by age, and is as able and ready to act for them now as ever
he was; which he hath showed by this late and glorious instance. HIS
EYES BEHOLD THE NATIONS; h... [ Continue Reading ]
YE PEOPLE of other nations, that have served or yet do serve other
gods.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HOLDETH OUR SOUL IN LIFE; who by a succession of miracles of
mercy hath kept us alive in the midst of a thousand deaths, to which
we were exposed, and hath restored us to life, when we were like dead
men, and dry bones scattered at the mouth of the grave. TO BE MOVED,
to wit, so as to fall int... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, or _yet_, or _nevertheless_. Though thou hast hitherto helped us,
and now delivered us, yet for a season thou hast sorely afflicted us.
TRIED US, AS SILVER IS TRIED, i.e. severely, as if it were in a
burning furnace; and with a design to try our sincerity, and to purge
out the dross, or the wic... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BROUGHTEST US INTO THE NET which our enemies laid for us, and
which could never have taken or held us but by the permission and
disposal of thy providence, which gave us into their hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN; weak, and mortal, and miserable men, as the word signifies, no
better nor stronger than we, if thou hadst not given them power over
us. TO RIDE OVER OUR HEADS; to ride upon our shoulders. By thy
permission they have used us like slaves, yea, like beasts, to carry
their persons or burdens. Compa... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hitherto he spoke in the plural number, but now he begins to speak in
the singular number; but still the speech is continued of the same
person or persons; only sometimes the whole body speaks, and sometimes
one man speaks in the name of all the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE INCENSE OF RAMS; with the fat of rams, which in these
peace-offerings was burnt upon the altar, and so vanished into smoke
like incense, and which is no less pleasing to God than incense.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD; whether Israelites, or Gentiles proselyted to
them. Let every Israelite take notice of what God hath done for the
nation in general, and let the Gentiles observe God's goodness to the
children of Israel. WHAT HE HATH DONE FOR MY SOUL; which he hath held
in life, as he said, PSA... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH MY MOUTH; with a loud voice and great fervency: or it is a
pleonasm, as PSALMS 44:1, _We have heard with our ears. Extolled_,
i.e. praised by me, to wit, for answering my prayers.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I REGARD, Heb. _if I have or had seen, or looked upon_, to wit,
with approbation and affection, as JOB 31:26 HABAKKUK 1:13. Men look
upon what they like, and turn away their face from what they loathe or
hate. INIQUITY; any sin whatsoever, and especially idolatry, which is
oft expressed by this w... [ Continue Reading ]
Which is a public vindication and a Divine testimony of my integrity
against all my false accusers.... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNED AWAY, or _rejected_, or _removed_, to wit, from his sight and
audience, but hath received and granted it. HIS MERCY: though he had
now asserted his own innocency and sincere piety, yet he imputeth not
God's hearing of his prayers to that, but solely unto God's grace and
mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]