INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 36 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, [A PSALM] OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD. This title, which the psalmist takes to himself, regards him not only as a creature, every man being the servant of the Lord as such, of right, though not in fact; but as a king, he being a minister of God... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE WICKED SAITH WITHIN MY HEART,.... Which is represented as a person speaking within him; not that the transgression of the wicked was really in him; sin was in him, and sin of the same kind and nature with the wicked man's; but he taking notice of and considering the wicked m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE FLATTERETH HIMSELF IN HIS OWN EYES,.... There are many self-flatterers; some on account of their worldly estate, that they are out of the reach of God and men, and regard neither; and that as they have much goods laid up, they shall enjoy them many years, and so never think of dying, nor of a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH [ARE] INIQUITY AND DECEIT,.... Not only sinful, but sin itself; his mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, of filthy and unchaste words, of corrupt communication, lying, deceit, and flattery; out of the abundance of the wickedness of his heart his mouth speaketh; and which s... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DEVISETH MISCHIEF UPON HIS BED,.... He casts about in his mind on his pillow, when at leisure from all employment; and consults and contrives schemes how to compass his lusts, and to do injury to others, without doing which he cannot sleep; HE SETTETH HIMSELF IN A WAY [THAT IS] NOT GOOD, in an e... [ Continue Reading ]
THY MERCY, O LORD, [IS] IN THE HEAVENS,.... Meaning either the general mercy of God the earth is full of, and extends to all creatures; to which it is owing that wicked men before described are not consumed; and which reaches "up to the heavens" d, as the words are by some rendered, as their sins do... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS [IS] LIKE THE GREAT MOUNTAINS,.... Or, "the mountains of God"; so called for their excellency, as the cedars of God, Psalms 80:10; or, as Gussetius e observes, the greatest and highest mountains, which are here meant, reaching above the clouds and the region of the air, are the pil... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW EXCELLENT [IS] THY LOVINGKINDNESS, O GOD,.... Which has appeared to men and not angels, to some and not others; to the chief of sinners, who are by nature children of wrath as others; in choosing, redeeming, and calling them, taking them into his family, and making them heirs of eternal glory; a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL BE ABUNDANTLY SALLIED WITH THE FATNESS OF THY HOUSE,.... By his "house" is meant the church of God, of his building, and where he dwells; by the fatness of it the provisions there, the word and ordinances, and the blessings of grace which they hold forth; and especially Christ, the fatted... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WITH THEE [IS] THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE,.... Or "lives" f: God himself is the fountain of living waters; this is a reason proving the happiness of those that trust in the Lord, and that they shall enjoy the above things; because with God the object of their trust is the fountain of life; not only of... [ Continue Reading ]
O CONTINUE THY LOVINGKINDNESS TO THEM THAT KNOW THEE,.... That is, spiritually and experimentally; and such are they that trust in him and love him: and these are the objects of the love of God; not that their knowledge, faith, or love, are the cause of his love to them; but these things describe an... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THE FOOT OF PRIDE COME AGAINST ME,.... Meaning some proud enemy, such an one as Ahithophel, of whom R. Obadiah expounds, it, who lifted up his heel against him; and is applicable to any haughty enemy of Christ and his people, and particularly to antichrist, the man of sin, that exalts himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE ARE THE WORKERS, OF INIQUITY FALLEN,.... Either in the pit they dug for others; or into hell, where they shall be turned at last; Psalms 5:5 and Psalms 6:8; THEY ARE CAST DOWN, AND SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO RISE; which will be the case of Babylon when fallen, Revelation 18:21, and this distinguis... [ Continue Reading ]