Psalms 37:1 «[A Psalm] of David. » Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Ver. 1. _Fret not thyself because of evil-doers_] Who prosper in the world when better men suffer many times. This made good David sick of the fret, as himself testifie... [ Continue Reading ]
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Ver. 2. _For they shall soon be cut down like the grass_] _Faenea quadam felicitate temporaliter florent,_ as Austin phraseth it, but their felicity is short-lived; this proud grass shall be mowed down ere long, Psalms 92... [ Continue Reading ]
Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ver. 3. _Trust in the Lord, and do good_] These and the following are excellent means and medicines against the fret. True faith will trust in God where it cannot trace him; it will also work by love, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Ver. 4. _Delight thyself also in the Lord_] While others delight in riches and pleasures; as if there were no other happiness but to have and to hold, no sport unless men may have the devil their playfellow. The li... [ Continue Reading ]
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. Ver. 5. _Commit thy way unto the Lord_] Heb. Roll thy way, &c. That is, depend wholly upon him for direction and success in all thine undertakings and affairs; easing thy mind to him by prayer, and casting thyself by... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Ver. 6. _And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light_] God will so oil thy good name that infamy shall not stick to it. Dirt will stick upon a mud wall, not so upon marble. But say thou be aspersed... [ Continue Reading ]
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Ver. 7. _Rest in the Lord_] Heb. Be silent to the Lord; _Digito compesce labellum,_ lay thine hand upon thy mouth when chafing ripe, when... [ Continue Reading ]
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Ver. 8. _Cease from anger, and forsake wrath_] _Repetitio est, ut magis iuculcet,_ saith Vatablus; This precept is doubled and redoubled, that we may the better retain and practise it. Angry a man may be, and must be at e... [ Continue Reading ]
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Ver. 9. _For evildoers shall be cut off_] Yea, they shall soon be cut off, Psalms 37:10, and so shall all such as, having a while fretted at them, do at length revolt to them; as David was ready to do,... [ Continue Reading ]
For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be]. Ver. 10. _For yet a little while and the wicked, &c._] _Tantillum, tantillum, adhuc pauxillum; _ wait, therefore, and fret not. See Psalms 37:9, the same in effect with t... [ Continue Reading ]
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Ver. 11. _But the meek shall inherit the earth_] Our Saviour (and probably from hence) saith the same, Matthew 5:5. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:5 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Psa 37:9 _"_ And shall delight themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. Ver. 12. _The wicked plotteth against the just_] Plotteth and practiseth, being set on by that old manslayer, who lendeth the wicked man his seven heads to plot, and his ten horns to push. _ And gnasheth upon him with his... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. Ver. 13. _The Lord will laugh at him_] See Psalms 2:4. The righteous also shall have a time to laugh at him, Psalms 52:6, and meanwhile comforteth himself with this, that God laughed at him, and that therefore himself had no great ca... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, [and] to slay such as be of upright conversation. Ver. 14. _The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow_] That they may assault the righteous, both _cominus,_ nearer hand, and _eminus,_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Ver. 15. _Their sword shall enter into their own heart_] As did Saul's, and his armourbearer's, 1Sa 31:4-5 see Psalms 7:1 . _ Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur et ipse._ _ And their bows shall be broken_] Neither t... [ Continue Reading ]
A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked. Ver. 16. _A little that the righteous man hath, &c._] Whereas it was said before, the meek shall inherit the earth, some man might object that sach are commonly poor enough; and that is no small affliction, as the heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. Ver. 17. _For the arms of the wicked shall be broken_] _i.e._ His power, valour, all that wherein they think their strength and help standeth. See Psalms 37:15; the strongest sinew in the arm of flesh cracks. _ But t... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. Ver. 18. _The Lord knoweth the days of the upright_] _In bonum novit,_ Psalms 1:6 _id est prolongat,_ saith Kimchi; he knoweth, that is, he acknowledgeth, approveth, hath a gracious regard unto, their days and the ev... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Ver. 19. _They shall not be ashamed_] They shall hold up their heads when others droop; neither shall they be without comfort in times of common calamity, as Noah was - _media tranquillus in unda._ And i... [ Continue Reading ]
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Ver. 20. _But the wicked shall perish_] In tbe midst of their wealth and greatest abundance; their money shall perish with them. _ And the enemies of the... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. Ver. 21. _The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again_] Either because he cannot, he is so unable; or because he cares not, he is so unconscionable, _Non sunt reddendo._ But in the midst of his wealth he is many... [ Continue Reading ]
For [such as be] blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and [they that be] cursed of him shall be cut off. Ver. 22. _For such as be blessed of him, &c._] See Psalms 37:9; Psalms 37:11 . _ Shall be cut off_] _In hoc saeculo et future,_ saith Kimchi. Or this verse may be taken as a reason of the fo... [ Continue Reading ]
The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Ver. 23. _The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord_] Heb. The steps of a man; for good men only are reckoned of by God, Jeremiah 5:1. So a wife is put for a good wife, Proverbs 18:22. A bad wife is but (accordin... [ Continue Reading ]
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand. Ver. 24. _Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down_] See Proverbs 24:16. If he fall, yet he falleth forward; and if he be cast down, yet be continueth not, _Quum ruit non corruit_ (Vat.); so 2 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Ver. 25. _I have been young, &c._] Here he recordeth an experiment of his (such as whereof Psa 119:1-176 is mostly made up), and if other men's experiences agree not altogether with his, it... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 37:26 [He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed. Ver. 26. _He is ever merciful, and lendeth_] Heb. Every day, according to others' necessity and his own ability; for to stretch beyond the staple were to mar all. But he is ever "ready to distribute, willing to communicate,... [ Continue Reading ]
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. Ver. 27. _Depart from evil, and do good_] See Psalms 34:14 . _ And dwell for evermore_] _Sine indigentia,_ saith Kimchi, without such indigency and poverty as may drive thee abroad, and make thee beg thy bread. Universal righteousness secureth... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Ver. 28. _For the Lord loveth judgment_] See Psalms 11:7 . _ But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off_] See Job 18:19, _See Trapp on "_ Job 18:19 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. Ver. 29. _The righteous shall inherit, &c._] This verse hath been expounded before, and is here repeated for more assurance, _Verba toties inculcata viva sunt, vera sunt, sana sunt, plana sunt._... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment._ Ver. 30. _The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom_] Having spoken of the privileges of the righteous, he now describeth them, _Tales autem sunt non quicunque nomen iustorum praetexunt, &c._ Such are not all they th... [ Continue Reading ]
The law of his God [is] in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Ver. 31. _The law of his God is in his heart_] He hath a Bible in his head and another in his heart; he hath a good treasure within, and there hence bringeth good things; he speaketh not by rote, and as a bungler, or as a philosop... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. Ver. 32. _The wicked wateheth the righteous_] See Psalms 10:8,10, _See Trapp on "_ Psa 10:8 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Psa 10:9 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Psa 10:10 _"_ _Speculatur,_ he accurately observeth, looking this way and that, as a watchman in... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Ver. 33. _The Lord will not leave him in his hand_] For he knoweth how to deliver his, 2 Peter 3:9, as that apostle could say by good experience, Acts 13:50, when he was _inter saxum et sacrum,_ as they say. _ Nor condemn... [ Continue Reading ]
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it]. Ver. 34. _Wait on the Lord_] Bind him not to a day, wake not the Beloved till he please. _ Keep his way_] For, out of God's precincts out of his protection. _ When th... [ Continue Reading ]
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Ver. 35. _I have seen the wicked in great power_] Or, formidable to others; first, a terror, and, shortly after, a scorn. _ And spreading himself like a green bay tree_] Or, cedars of Lebanon, as the Greek hath it,... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Ver. 36. _Yet he passed away, &c._] The Greek and Latin have it, I passed by. See Psalms 37:10. How soon and utterly withered and wasted the fig tree Christ cursed! so forcible is his curse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace. Ver. 37. _Mark the perfect man, &c._] As we must treasure up experiences ourselves; so we must stir up others to do the like. There is a woe to such as consider not the operation of God's hands, Isaiah 5:12 . _ F... [ Continue Reading ]
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. Ver. 38. _But the transgressors, &c._] Here the end is worse than the beginning. Sin ever ends tragically. _ The end of the wicked shall be cut off_] Their end is not death, but destruction; they are killed... [ Continue Reading ]
But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble. Ver. 39. _But the salvation of the righteous, &c._] _Etenim ut paucis omnia complectar,_ their salvation, temporal and eternal, is of the Lord; so is also the destruction of the wicked, as is here ne... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Ver. 40. _And the Lord shall help them, &c._] He shall, he shall, he shall. Oh the rhetoric of God! the safety of the saints! the certainty of the promises!... [ Continue Reading ]