A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, [and] all his afflictions: Ver. 1. _Lord, remember David_] Origen holdeth Solomon to have been penman of all these songs of degrees, as hath been before noted. But as that is not likely (see the titles of Psalms 122:1; Psalms 124:1; Psa 131:1), so divers int... [ Continue Reading ]
How he sware unto the LORD, [and] vowed unto the mighty [God] of Jacob; Ver. 2. _How he sware unto the Lord_] Out of the abundance of his affections, 1 Chronicles 29:3, _see _ Psa 119:106 he solemnly took God to witness; and this he did, say the Rabbis, at that time when he saw the punishing angel,... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; Ver. 3. _Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house_] _i.e._ Of my newly built house, 1Ch 15:1 2 Samuel 1:2. Those in Malachi were not so well minded, Psalms 1:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, [or] slumber to mine eyelids, Ver. 4. _I will not give sleep to mine eyes_] viz. With any good content; or, more than needs must.... [ Continue Reading ]
Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty [God] of Jacob. Ver. 5. _Until I find out a place for the Lord_] The Jewish doctors tell us, that as the earth is in the middle of the world, so is Judea in the middle of the earth, Jerusalem in the middle of Judea, the temple in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. Ver. 6. _Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah_] At Bethlehem Ephratah, David's birth place, there we heard of it long since by our progenitors. "Of it," that is, of the ark, saith Chrysostom; of God's resting place, saith Austin; of t... [ Continue Reading ]
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Ver. 7. _We will go into his tabernacles_] We will cheerfully and unanimously frequent his public worship, in the place he hath pitched upon (called his gates, and his courts, Psa 100:4), saying as Psalms 132:8,10 : επου τω θεω, fol... [ Continue Reading ]
Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Ver. 8. _Arise, O Lord, into thy rest_] The place of thy rest; for the ark was transportative till settled in Solomon's temple; so, till we come to heaven, we are in continual motion. _ Thou, and the ark of thy strength_] The ark in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. Ver. 9. _Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness_] _i.e._ With salvation, as Psalms 132:16. No surer sign of God's gracious presence with a people, than a powerful ministry, clothed with inward purity and holines... [ Continue Reading ]
For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. Ver. 10. For thy servant David's sake] For thy covenant's sake made with him, and for thy Christ's sake, who is oft called David, as Hosea 3:5, so for the Lord's sake, Daniel 9:17 . _ Turn not away the face of thine anointed_]... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD hath sworn [in] truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. Ver. 11. _The Lord hath sworn in truth_] The eternity of Israel cannot lie, 1 Samuel 15:29, yet tendering our infirmity, he sweareth and sealeth to us. _ Of the fruit of thy bo... [ Continue Reading ]
If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. Ver. 12. _If thy children will keep my covenant_] Although God's covenant is free, yet it is delivered under certain conditions on our part to be observed; whi... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired [it] for his habitation. Ver. 13. _For the Lord hath chosen Zion_] He chose it for his love; and loved it for his choice.... [ Continue Reading ]
This [is] my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. Ver. 14. _This is my rest for ever_] It was so because God was pleased to make it so; he rested in his love; he would seek no farther, Zephaniah 3:17 . _ For I have desired it_] This alone made the difference, as it also did bet... [ Continue Reading ]
I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. Ver. 15. _I will abundantly bless her provision_] Her stock and her store; so that she shall not want necessaries, which yet she shall hunt for (that is, labour for), as the Hebrew word importeth; and know how she comes by;... [ Continue Reading ]
I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. Ver. 16. _I will also clothe her priests, &c._] So that they shall save themselves and those that hear them, 1 Timothy 4:16. Thus God answereth his people's prayers both for temporals and spirituals; see Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. Ver. 17. _There will I make the horn of David to bud_] A metaphor from those living creatures, _quorum ramosa sunt cornua,_ which have snags in their heads (as deer have), which are unto them instead of boughs. Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish. Ver. 18. _His enemies will I clothe with shame_] Shame shall be the promotion of all such fools as set against Christ and his people; yea, they shall be clothed with it; so that it shall be conspicuous to all men. _ B... [ Continue Reading ]