PSALM 44 THE ARGUMENT There is no certainty, either concerning the author or the particular occasion of this Psalm. This is evident, that it was composed with respect unto the calamitous condition of the church and people of Israel, whom it supposeth to be in a state of captivity and persecution. Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEATHEN; the Canaanites. PLANTEDST THEM, to wit, our fathers, easily understood both from the matter, and from PSALMS 44:1, where they are expressed; the pronoun being referred unto the remoter antecedent, as it is GENESIS 10:12, GENESIS 19:13 PSALMS 18:5, and oft elsewhere. CAST THEM OUT: so _t... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THEIR OWN SWORD, i.e. by their arms or valour. THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE, i.e. thy favour, as the next words explain it; thy gracious and glorious presence, which went along with us.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY KING; Jacob's or Israel's King, in a peculiar manner. The whole people speak like one man, as being united together in one body. COMMAND, i.e. effectually procure by thy commanding word.... [ Continue Reading ]
PUSH DOWN, Heb. smite with the horn, i.e. subdue and destroy. The phrase is taken from DEUTERONOMY 33:17, and is borrowed from horned beasts. Compare 1 KINGS 22:11. THROUGH THY NAME, i.e. by the help of thy power.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I will trust in thee only, as the next verse implies; and therefore do not frustrate my hope and confidence fixed upon thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
In God we boast, as in a most sure rock, and our only refuge.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST CAST US OFF; but now thy countenance and course is quite changed to us. PUT US TO SHAME; made us ashamed of our boasting, and trust in thee, which we have oft professed to the face of our enemies. GOEST NOT FORTH WITH OUR ARMIES, to lead them, and fight for them, as this phrase signifies,... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MAKEST US TO TURN BACK FROM THE ENEMY, by withdrawing thy help and our courage, according to thy threatenings, LEVITICUS 26:36. SPOIL FOR THEMSELVES, i.e. take away our estates to their own use, and for their only benefit, not in compliance with thy will, which was to punish us for our sins, no... [ Continue Reading ]
Those of us who were not slain are carried into captivity, and dispersed in several places.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOUGHT; for a thing of nought. Or, _without money_, and _without price_, as it is said, ISAIAH 55:1; for a very small, or for no price; for a pair of shoes, as we read, AMOS 2:6. DOST NOT INCREASE THY WEALTH BY THEIR PRICE; thou hast not advanced thy honour and service thereby; for thy enemies d... [ Continue Reading ]
They contemn our persons, and sport themselves in our miseries.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BY-WORD, or _a proverb_. They used to say proverbially, _More despicable_ or _miserable than an Israelite_. A SHAKING OF THE HEAD; a gesture of scorn and insultation. SEE POOLE ON "PSALMS 22:7".... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE ME; before the eyes of my mind and body too. They vilify me, not only behind my back, but even before my face. THE SHAME OF MY FACE HATH COVERED ME, i.e. I am filled with shame of my face on every side, being ashamed to show my face in any place or company.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT REPROACHETH AND BLASPHEMETH; that doth not only reproach me, which I could better bear; but blaspheme God and our religion for our sakes, which is intolerable to me. THE ENEMY AND AVENGER; who executeth both God's and his own vengeance upon me, persecuting me with a despiteful hatred, and with... [ Continue Reading ]
Although we cannot excuse ourselves from many other sins for which thou hast justly punished us, yet this we must say for ourselves, that through thy grace we have kept ourselves from apostacy and idolatry, notwithstanding all the examples and provocations, rewards proposed and promised, or punishme... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT TURNED BACK, to wit, from thee, or thy worship and service, unto idols, as it follows, PSALMS 44:20. NEITHER HAVE OUR STEPS DECLINED FROM THY WAY: because it is easy and ordinary falsely to pretend sincerity of heart, which men cannot discern nor confute, they prove it from the unblamableness... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ In the place_: or rather _into_, as others render it; which seems much more emphatical. And so this verb may be rendered, _thou hast humbled_, or _brought us down_, as all the ancients rendered it. Or this is a pregnant verb, as they call them, or one verb put for two; of which there are many inst... [ Continue Reading ]
We appeal to the heart-searching God, concerning the sincerity of this profession of ours.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA; or, _but_. We do not suffer for our apostacy, but because we will not apostatize from thee. FOR THY SAKE; because we are thy people, and continue constantly and resolutely in the profession and practice of thy worship, which they abhor, and from which they seek to draw or drive us.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIDEST THOU THY FACE, i.e. dost not regard our miseries, nor affordest us any pity or help. FORGETTEST OUR AFFLICTION AND OUR OPPRESSION, when we have not forgotten thee. This seems not well to become thy faithfulness and goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR SOUL, i.e. either our lives or persons; or rather bodies, as it is explained in the next clause, and as the soul is oft taken by a synecdoche, as NUMBERS 11:6 PSALMS 16:10, PSALMS 106:15, &c. TO THE DUST; either to the ground, where we lie prostrate at our enemies feet, or to the grave. OUR BELL... [ Continue Reading ]
We mentioned our sincerity and constancy in thy worship only as an argument to move thee to pity, and not as a ground of our trust and confidence, or as if we merited deliverance by it; but that we expect and implore only upon the account of thine own free and rich mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]