__ Psalms 50:1 _« A Psalm of Asaph. » The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof._ A Psalm of Asaph] Who was both a music master, 1 Chronicles 25:2, and a psalm composer, 2 Chronicles 29:30. The most are of the opinion... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Ver. 2. _Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty_] Heb. the whole perfection, or the universality of beauty, _Perfectissimae pulchritudinis locus_ (Trem.); because there especially was God's glory set forth in his holy ordinances, and more clear... [ Continue Reading ]
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. Ver. 3. _Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence_] He doth daily come and sit upon the tribunal in his Church by the ministry of his servants, Matthew 18:17, who... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Ver. 4. _He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth_] That these dumb creatures may be as so many speaking evidences against an unworthy people, and witnesses of God's righteous dealings against... [ Continue Reading ]
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. Ver. 5. _Gather my saints together unto me_] This seemeth to be spoken to the angels, those active instrumeuts and executioners of God's judgments. By saints here understand professors at large, all that live i... [ Continue Reading ]
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah. Ver. 6. _And the heavens shall declare his righteousness_] Those catholic preachers, whose voice goeth out aloud to the end of the world, Psalms 19:4; Psalms 50:4 . _ For God is Judge himself_] And from him is no ap... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I [am] God, [even] thy God. Ver. 7. _Hear, O my people, and I will speak, &c._] What sweet and winning language is here for a preface! God's proceedings against sinners, whom he might confound with his terrors, is with... [ Continue Reading ]
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me. Ver. 8. _I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices_] _i.e._ For thy neglect of them, but for thy resting in them, sticking in the bark, bringing me the bare shell without the kernel, not referr... [ Continue Reading ]
I will take no bullock out of thy house, [nor] he goats out of thy folds. Ver. 9. _I will take no bullock out of thy house, &c._] _q.d._ Keep them to thyself, I need them not; thou settest a high price upon them, and thinkest to ingratiate with me by them; I value them not, nay, I loathe them, _Sor... [ Continue Reading ]
For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills. Ver. 10. _For every beast of the forest is mine_] God is the great proprietary; and all is his by primitive right. It is but of his own, therefore, that any man giveth him aught; as David freely acknowledgeth, 1 Chroni... [ Continue Reading ]
I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field [are] mine. Ver. 11. _I know all the fowls of the mountains_] _i.e._ _In numerato habeo,_ saith Vatablus, they are always before me ready at my service. _ And the wild beasts of the field_] R. Solomon interpreteth it reptiles,... [ Continue Reading ]
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof. Ver. 12. _If I were hungry, I would not tell thee_] I would not employ thee to cater or purvey for me. But it befalls not God to be hungry, as not only heathens held, and, therefore, said that their Jove was... [ Continue Reading ]
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Ver. 13. _Will I eat the flesh of bulls, &c.?_] _q.d._ Are you so thick brained as to think so? _ Vervecum in patria, crassoque sub aere nati?_ No; "He that killeth an ox" (unless he kill his corruptions too) "is as if he slew a man; he... [ Continue Reading ]
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: Ver. 14. _Offer unto God thanksgiving_] That pith of your peace offerings, that sacrifice more acceptable to God than an ox that hath horns and hoofs, Psalms 69:31. Oh cover God's altar with the calves of your lips, giving thanks to... [ Continue Reading ]
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Ver. 15. _And call upon me_] These two, praising God for what we have, and praying for what we want, do take up the whole duty of man; a holy trade is hereby driven between heaven and earth, and sweet intercours... [ Continue Reading ]
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? _Ver. 16 But unto the wicked God saith_] To the fair professor, but foul sinner, to the hypocrites in Sion, Isaiah 33:14, to the sacrificing Sodomites, Isaiah 1:10,11,... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. Ver. 17. _Seeing thou hatest instruction_] Or discipline, thou wilt not be brought to live strictly, to exercise godliness; thou refusest to be reformed, hatest to be healed. Bucer and Melancthon framed a form of reformation, with ap... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Ver. 18. _When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him_] _Mala opera hic memorata sunt in secreto,_ saith Kimchi. These evils hereafter mentioned are secretly acted by those that pretended... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit._ Ver. 19. _Thou givest thy mouth to evil_] Heb. Thou sendest, the devil borroweth thy mouth, and thou lettest him have it. _ And thy tongue frameth deceit_] Heb. joineth, knitteth, compacteth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. Ver. 20. _Thou sittest_] In the seat of the scornful, on the ale bench, &c. _ And speakest against thy brother_] Thy slanderous tongue, like a mad dog, biteth all it meeteth with; not thy near allies excepted:... [ Continue Reading ]
These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes. Ver. 21. _These things hast thou done, and I kept silence_] I suffered them, seemed to wink at them, bearing with... [ Continue Reading ]
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver. Ver. 22. _Now consider this, ye that forget God_] That cast him and his counsels behind your backs, before he awaken your drowsy consciences, and rouse up the lion that lieth sleeping in your bosoms,... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I shew the salvation of God. Ver. 23. _Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me_] So his praise be cordial, oral, real, with recognition of my benefits, estimation, retribution; this is the best sacrifice he c... [ Continue Reading ]