Psalms 129:1 «A Song of degrees. » Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Ver. 1. _Many a time_] Or, much, and long. _ Have they_] _i.e._ The persecutors that deserve not a name. The rich man is not named (as Lazarus is), because not worthy, Luke 16:19. They shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. Ver. 2. _Many a time, &c._] _Anadiplosis ad exaggerationem,_ _q.d._ They have done it and done it again, but could never achieve their design, viz. to supplant and eradicate me; which might not be. _Oppugnarun... [ Continue Reading ]
_The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows._ Ver. 3. _The plowers plowed upon my back_] Which was never without some cross upon it, yea, some plough passing over it. The Church is God's husbandry; and he will be sure to plough his several, whatever becometh of the wild waste. Sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The LORD [is] righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked._ Ver. 4. _The Lord is righteous_] That is a ruled case, and must be held for a certain truth, whatever we are, or our persecutors. _ He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked_] That is, their harness, their plough traces (_na... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. Ver. 5. _Let them all be confounded, &c._] And if those that hate Zion, how much more those that hurt her with their virulent tongues or violent hands!... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: Ver. 6. _Let them be as the grass, &c._] They are cursed with a witness whom the Holy Ghost thus curseth in such an emphatic manner, in such exquisite terms.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. Ver. 7. _Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand_] As holding it not worth gathering in. Wicked men are useless creatures; as Stratonicus, in Athenaeus, saith, that the hill Haemus was for eight months in the year ver... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. Ver. 8. _Neither do they which go by say, &c._] As they use to do to harvestmen, Ruth 2:1,23. Christianity is no enemy to courtesy; yet in some cases saith not, God speed, 3 John 1:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]