PSALM 78 THE ARGUMENT The scope of this Psalm is plainly expressed PSALMS 78:6, and is this, that the Israelites might learn to hope and trust in God, and steadfastly to keep his laws and covenant; which great lesson he presseth upon them, from the sad effects of the contrary practices in their fore... [ Continue Reading ]
OPEN MY MOUTH, speak to you with all freedom and plainness, in a parable; uttering divers and weighty sentences (for such are oft called PARABLES in Scripture) or passages of great moment for your instruction and advantage. DARK SAYINGS; so he calls the following passages, not because the words and... [ Continue Reading ]
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THE PRAISES, i.e. his glorious and praiseworthy actions, as the following words explain it.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ESTABLISHED: this is justly put in the first place, as the chief of all the following mercies, and the foundation both of their temporal and of their eternal felicity. A TESTIMONY, i.e. his _law_, as it is called in the next clause; which is very oft called a _testimony_, because it is a witness... [ Continue Reading ]
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THAT THEY MIGHT SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD; that by the consideration of God's gracious promises, and wonderful works wrought by God for his. people, they might be encouraged to trust in him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SET NOT THEIR HEART ARIGHT; who though they outwardly and seemingly complied with the forms of worship which God had prescribed, yet DID NOT DIRECT OR PREPARE THEIR HEARTS to the obedience and service of God. WHOSE SPIRIT WAS NOT STEDFAST WITH GOD; who quickly discovered their hypocrisy by thei... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM: this passage concerns, either, 1. The tribe of Ephraim, and some exploit of theirs, wherein they met with this disaster; whether it were that mentioned 1 CHRONICLES 7:21, or some other not particularly related in any other place of Scripture. For we must not think that all... [ Continue Reading ]
Their disobedience was accompanied with obstinacy and contempt of God's laws.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORGAT; not historically, but practically. They did not so remember them, as to love, and serve, and trust that God of whose infinite power and goodness they had such ample experience. Words of knowledge, such as knowing, remembering, &c., in Scripture use frequently comprehend affection and practic... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIELD, i.e. in the territory or jurisdiction, not excluding the city itself. In the like sense we read of _the field of Edom, and of Moab_, GENESIS 32:3, GENESIS 36:35 NUMBERS 21:20. ZOAN; an ancient, and eminent, and the royal city of Egypt. See NUMBERS 13:22 ISAIAH 19:11, ISAIAH 30:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
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A CLOUD; which was very comfortable, both for a shadow from the scorching heat of the climate and season, and for a companion and director in their journey.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCKS; he useth the plural number, because it was twice done; once in Rephidim, EXODUS 17:6, and again in Kadesh, NUMBERS 20:1,11. THE GREAT DEPTHS; in great abundance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which did miraculously follow them in all their travails even to the borders of Canaan. See DEUTERONOMY 9:21 PSALMS 105:41 1 CORINTHIANS 10:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Where they had such strong and singular obligations to obedience, both from the great things which God had then and there done for them, and from their dependence upon God's favour and help for their safety and subsistence. This was a great aggravation of their sin and folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPTED; desired a trial and proof of God's power, as the next verse plainly showeth. See NUMBERS 11:4. FOR THEIR LUST; not for their necessary subsistence, for which they had manna, but out of an inordinate and luxurious appetite.... [ Continue Reading ]
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THE WATERS GUSHED OUT; which, all things consider seems not so wonderful, since fountains of water something break forth unexpectedly from or through rocks. But it is far more difficult to give us bread and flesh, which we know not whether he can do. Or at least we have just cause to doubt of his go... [ Continue Reading ]
A FIRE was kindled; either properly, as it was NUMBERS 11:1; or figuratively, the fire of God's anger, as it follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
That he both could and would save them from the famine and destruction which they feared.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which he compares to a granary or store-house, where God keeps the key, and either shuts or opens the doors it, either gives or withholds provisions, as he sees fit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was made in heaven, or the air, and sent down thence to the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGELS FOOD; manna, so called, either, 1. Because was made by the ministry of angels. Or rather, 2. Because of its excellency, such food as might befit the angels they could cat food, and such as hath some resemblance with the blessed angels in regard of its heavenly origin; its pure and spirituou... [ Continue Reading ]
Either he brought in first an eastern, and afterwards a southern wind, or the wind was south-east; from which quarter these quails might come as well as from the west, where their more common abode is; this work being confessedly miraculous.... [ Continue Reading ]
FEATHERED FOWLS, Heb. _winged fowl_; which is noted to show that it was a supernatural work, whereby God took away from them the use of their wings, and made them to fall into the hands of the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THEIR CAMP, Heb. _of his camp_; either Israel's camp, or God's camp; for seeing Israel was God's people, and he dwelt among them, their camp was his camp.... [ Continue Reading ]
What they desired both for quality and quantity.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense is either, 1. Whilst their greedy appetite yet continued, and was not fully satisfied, before, they began to loathe it, as they did afterwards, NUMBERS 11:20. Or, 2. Before they were deprived or destitute of their desired food, whim they enjoyed it, and were still feeding upon it, as the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATTEST OF THEM; the most healthy and strong, who probably were most desirous of this food, and fed most eagerly upon it, and grew fatter by it, and least suspected their own danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
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IN VANITY; in tedious and fruitless marches hither and thither, sometimes forward, and sometimes backward, which they knew would never bring them in their own persons to their promised and much-desired land. IN TROUBLE; in manifold diseases, dangers, perplexities, and horrors of their own minds and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SOUGHT HIM; they prayed to him to deliver them from their deadly dangers; which even Pharaoh frequently did. THEY RETURNED, to wit, from their idols, unto the outward worship of God; or being moved with fear, they ceased for the present from their grossly wicked courses, which they might easily... [ Continue Reading ]
They considered that God, and God alone, had preserved them in all their former exigences, and that he only could now help them, and not those idols or creatures which they had preferred before him; and therefore being driven by absolute necessity, they fled to him for relief.... [ Continue Reading ]
They made glorious but false professions and protestations of their sincere resolutions of future obedience, if God would spare them.... [ Continue Reading ]
All their confessions and petitions were but hypocritical and forced, and did not proceed from an upright heart truly grieved for their former offences, and firmly resolved to turn unto the Lord. They discovered their hypocrisy by their apostacy from God as soon as their danger was past.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORGAVE THEIR INIQUITY; not simply and absolutely, for so it is undeniably certain from the Holy Scriptures that God pardons none but true penitents, such as these were not; but respectively, and so far as not to destroy them at that time, which he threatened, and was about to do, as the next words... [ Continue Reading ]
FLESH; which here notes either, 1. The corruption of their natures, which was perpetually inclining them to sin, and consequently exposing them to God's wrath, which must needs have consumed them utterly and speedily, if God had let loose his anger upon them. See the same argument used to a like pu... [ Continue Reading ]
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They limited either, 1. God's power, as above, PSALMS 78:19,20. Or, 2. God's will, directing and prescribing to him what to do, and when, and in what manner, and murmuring at him if he did not always grant their particular and various desires.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HAND; the great and glorious works of his hand on their behalf. NOR THE DAY; nor that remarkable and never to be forgotten day, that _self-same day_, as it is called, EXODUS 12:41, which God had fixed four hundred years before, GENESIS 15:13, in which God delivered them from their greatest enemy... [ Continue Reading ]
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The several branches and streams of the river Nilus, and those many rivulets which they brought from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVOURED THEM; or, _destroyed them_; which they might do by their cruel and numerous stings, for these flies were doubtless extraordinary in their nature and quantity, and poisonous and hurtful qualities. And the like is to be thought concerning the frogs here following, which also might destroy the... [ Continue Reading ]
The herbs and grains which were come up by their care and diligent labour.... [ Continue Reading ]
SYCOMORE TREES; or, _wild fig trees_, which were there in great plenty. Under these and the vines all other trees are comprehended. And this hail and frost did destroy the fruits of the trees, and sometimes the trees themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GAVE UP, Heb. _he shut up_, as in a prison, that they could not escape them.... [ Continue Reading ]
INDIGNATION AND TROUBLE; other most grievous plagues, which were mixed with and were the effects of his anger and wrath; whereby their miseries were greatly aggravated, and distinguished from the afflictions which God sent upon the Israelites in Egypt, which were only fatherly chastisements, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE A WAY, Heb. _He weighed a path or causeway_, i.e. he made a most smooth, and even, and exact path, as if he had done it by weight and measure, that so his anger might pass swiftly and freely without interruption. The phrase also seems to note the wisdom and justice of God in weighing out the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF OF THEIR STRENGTH; another expression noting the first-born, who are so called, GENESIS 49:3. OF HAM; of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham, GENESIS 10:6; which title he there gives them, to intimate that they were the cursed children of a cursed parent, Ham, GENESIS 9:25, and therefore w... [ Continue Reading ]
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THEY FEARED NOT. But it is said that _they were sore afraid_, EXODUS 14:10. ANSW. 1. They were afraid at first, but after Moses had encouraged them they grew bold and secure; one evidence whereof was, that they confidently went into the middle of the sea, and passed between the vast heaps of water... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIS SANCTUARY; or, _of his holiness_, or his holy place i.e. the land of Canaan, which is so called, EZRA 9:8 MALACHI 2:12, &c., as being separated by God from all other lands for his people and service, and sanctified by his presence and dwelling in it. THIS MOUNTAIN; either, 1. The mountain up... [ Continue Reading ]
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Which either breaketh when it is drawn, or shooteth awry, and frustrateth the archer's design and expectation So when they pretended, and both God and men expected, obedience and gratitude to their great Benefactor, they behaved themselves undutifully and unfaithfully towards him.... [ Continue Reading ]
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HEARD, i.e. perceived or understood, as _hearing_ is oft used, as GENESIS 11:7, GENESIS 41:15, &c. It is spoken of God after the manner of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLE OF SHILOH; which then was placed in Shiloh, from whence, as the Israelites fetched the ark, so God withdrew himself. WHICH HE PLACED AMONG MEN; whereby he insinuates both God's wonderful condescension and favour to such worthless and wretched creatures, and their stupendous folly and... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS STRENGTH, to wit, the ark, called God's strength, 1 CHRONICLES 16:11, _and the ark of his strength_, PSALMS 132:8, because it was the sign and pledge of his strength or power put forth on his people's behalf. HIS GLORY; so the ark is called, as being the monument and seat of God's glorious prese... [ Continue Reading ]
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Because the young men who should have married them were slain. Heb. _were not praised_, to wit, with marriage songs, which was usual at marriage solemnities among the Jews, as appears from JEREMIAH 7:34, JEREMIAH 16:9 25:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR PRIESTS, Hophni and Phinehas, and others. NO LAMENTATION; no funeral solemnities; either because they were prevented by their own death, as the wife of Phinehas was, or disturbed by the invasion of the enemy; or so overwhelmed with the sense of the public calamity, that the resentment of their... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKED AS ONE OUT OF SLEEP; for God, by giving up not only his people, but his ark, to the contempt and insolency of the Philistines, might seem to be asleep, and insensible of his own honour and interest, till by a sudden and unexpected blow he convinced his enemies of the contrary. SHOUTETH BY REA... [ Continue Reading ]
SMOTE HIS ENEMIES IN THE HINDER PART, with the disease of the emerods, which was both painful and shameful. He caused them to perpetuate their own reproach by sending back the ark of God with their golden emerods, the lasting monuments of their shame.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER; and as he smote his enemies for their sins, so he punished his own people for the same cause. HE REFUSED THE TABERNACLE OF JOSEPH; either, 1. He rejected the kingdom of the ten tribes, whereof Ephraim was the head. But this Psalm reacheth not so far as the erection of that kingdom. Or rat... [ Continue Reading ]
CHOSE THE TRIBE OF JUDAH; either, 1. For the seat of the kingdom. Or rather, 2. For the seat of the ark and of God's worship. OBJECT. Jerusalem was in the tribe of Benjamin, JOSHUA 18:28. ANSW. 1. It was so in part, and part of it was in Judah, as appears from JOSHUA 15:63; to which tribe Zion be... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SANCTUARY; the temple of Solomon. HIGH PALACES; magnificent and glorious. ESTABLISHED FOR EVER; not now to be removed from place to place, as the tabernacle was, but as a fixed place for the ark's perpetual residence, unless the people by their apostasy should cause its removal.... [ Continue Reading ]
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FOLLOWING THE EWES GREAT WITH YOUNG; by which employment he was inured to that care, and diligence, and self-denial which is necessary in a king or governor; and instructed to rule his people with all gentleness and tenderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
He commends David for the two necessary ingredients of a good prince. 1. INTEGRITY; whereby he sincerely sought the good and welfare of his people, avoiding and abhorring those counsels and courses which were contrary thereunto. 2. SKILFULNESS; whereby he managed all the public affairs with singular... [ Continue Reading ]