_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._ The design of this Psalm, which was written by David in his old age, is to vindicate the providence of God, and satisfy the minds of men with respect to the seeming inequality of his dispensations, in afflicting good men, and giving prosperity to the bad; and to instruct God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fret not thyself_ Give not way to immoderate grief, or anger, or impatience; _because of evil-doers_ Because they prosper in their wicked enterprises, while thou art sorely afflicted. _Neither be thou envious_, &c. Esteeming them happy, and secretly wishing that thou wert in their condition. _They... [ Continue Reading ]
_Trust in the Lord_ Depend upon God's promise for thy protection and support, for their infidelity is the root of their wickedness. _And do good_ Continue in the practice of that which is good and well- pleasing to God. _So shalt thou dwell in the land_ That is, upon this condition thou shalt dwell... [ Continue Reading ]
_Delight thyself also in the Lord_ In his favour and service, and in the study of his word and promises; _and he shall give thee the desire of thy heart_ Thy just desires, or whatsoever is truly desirable and good for thee. This limitation is necessary to be understood, both from divers places of Sc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Commit thy way unto the Lord_ All thy cares and business, thy desires and necessities. Commend them to God by fervent prayer, referring them to his good-will, and expecting a happy issue of all from him. _And he shall bring it to pass_ Hebrew, _he shall do_, or _work_, namely, for thee, or what is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rest in the Lord_ Hebrew, דום, _dom, Be silent unto_, or _for_, or _because of, the Lord:_ that is, do not murmur or repine at his dealings with thee, but silently and quietly submit to his will, and adore his judgments, and, as it follows, _wait_ for his help. This advice and command is urged agai... [ Continue Reading ]
_For evil-doers shall be cut off_ Namely, from the earth, as appears by comparing this with the next clause, and with Psalms 34:16. Their end shall certainly be most miserable. _But those that wait, &c., shall inherit the earth_ According to God's promise, often made to such; which also generally wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked plotteth against the just_ There is a rooted enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed: their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness; if that fail, then to destroy them. To this end they _plot_, or act with a great deal of policy and contrivance; _and g... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked have drawn out the sword_, &c. They are furnished with all sorts of arms, and are ready to give the deadly blow. _To slay such as be of upright conversation_ Those against whom they have no quarrel, for any injury they have done them; but only for their integrity and righteousness, or be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is better than the riches of many wicked_ Because he hath it with many great and glorious advantages; with God's favour and blessing, with great serenity and satisfaction of his own mind, which is infinitely more desirable and comfortable than all earthly possessions, with the consolations of God's... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord knoweth_ Observeth with singular care and affection; _the days of the upright_ Their condition, and all things which do or may befall them; their dangers, and fears, and sufferings from ungodly men; and therefore will watch over them, and preserve them from all the designs and attempts of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked borroweth and payeth not again_ Either through covetousness, or injustice; or, rather, because of that great penury into which God brings him; while the righteous is not only provided for sufficiently for himself, but hath abundance and to spare for others. For the psalmist is here compa... [ Continue Reading ]
_The steps of a good man_ Hebrew, _of man_, namely, of the righteous, or blessed man, mentioned Psalms 37:21; _are ordered by the Lord_ Or, _directed_, or _disposed_, that is, so governed as to attain the end at which he aims; or _strengthened_, or _established_, so as he shall not stumble and fall... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have been young, and now am old_, &c. As if he had said, “I say nothing but what I can confirm by my own long observation: when I was young I began to take notice of it; and I have continued so to do, till now that I am grown old: and I cannot remember that in all my life I ever saw a truly pious... [ Continue Reading ]
_Depart from evil and do good_ Having therefore these glorious promises and privileges, let no man do any evil or unjust thing, to enrich or secure himself, nor abstain from any pious or charitable action, for fear of empoverishing himself thereby: but let every man live in a conscientious discharge... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom_ And that freely, customarily, and from his heart, as the next verse shows. Having showed, in divers verses, God's singular care over and respect to the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them, and withal to assign one reason of the great differ... [ Continue Reading ]
_The law of his God is in his heart_ According to God's command, Deuteronomy 6:6, and promise, Jeremiah 31:33. His thoughts, and meditations, and affections are fixed upon it. He doth not talk religiously with design, or with ostentation, but out of the abundance of his heart, Matthew 12:35. _None o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked watcheth the righteous_ To find out a fit season or occasion to destroy him. _The Lord will not leave him in his hand _ That is, will not give him up to his power and rage; _nor condemn him when he is judged_ Will not give his consent to the sentence of condemnation, which the wicked hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wait on the Lord_ Seeking and trusting to him, and to him only, for help and deliverance. _And keep his way_ Continue in the practice of thy duty, or in those ways which God hath prescribed to thee in his word, and do not use indirect and irregular means to deliver thyself. _When the wicked are cut... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen the wicked in great power_ Hebrew, עריצ, _gnaritz, violent_, or _formidable:_ not only himself out of danger, as it seemed, but terrible to others; _and spreading himself_ And therefore firmly and deeply rooted; _like a green bay-tree_ Which is continually green and flourishing, yea, ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mark the perfect man_, &c. Behold now a very different character, a man who is upright before God, who sincerely desires and endeavours to please and glorify him, and therefore makes it his care to walk in his ordinances and commandments blameless: mark him, keep your eye upon him, and observe the... [ Continue Reading ]