Psalms 31:1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. _A Psalm of David_] Made, say Vatablus and others, at that time when Saul pursued David in the wilderness of Maon, 1 Samuel 23:24. But by many circum... [ Continue Reading ]
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Ver. 2. _Bow down thine ear to me, deliver me_] This repetition of his petition is no vain babbling, as Matthew 6:9, but an effect and an evidence of greatest earnestness, as Matthew 26:44 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Ver. 3. _For thou art my rock and my fortress_] Such places David had been forced to fly to; but still he trusted in God. _ Lead me, and guide me_] _Duc me, et deduc me._ A metaphor from captains and gener... [ Continue Reading ]
Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength. Ver. 4. _Pull me out of the net_] That noted net, as the Hebrew hath it; _Nam Zu denotat rem notam omnibus,_ saith Kimchi. David was not caught in it; but the enemies presumed he would be, so selling the hide bef... [ Continue Reading ]
_Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth._ Ver. 5. _Into thine hand I commit my spirit_] So did our Saviour, so did St Stephen, and divers of the dying martyrs, with these very words, most apt and apposite surely for such a purpose. But what a wretch was that... [ Continue Reading ]
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. Ver. 6. _I have hated them that regard lying vanities_] _i.e._ Idols, or aught else besides the living God, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, 1 Timothy 6:17 John 2:8. _See Trapp on "_ Jon 2:8 _"_ _Vanitates vanitatis,_ V... [ Continue Reading ]
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; Ver. 7. _I will be glad and rejoice_] In the midst of trouble faith will find matter of joy; as extracting abundance of comfort in most desperate distresses from the precious promis... [ Continue Reading ]
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. Ver. 8. _Thou hast not shut me up, &c._] _i.e._ Not given me into their power. See Psalms 27:12 . _ Thou hast set my feet in a large room_] So that I can freely and fearlessly go in and out. See Psalms 25:15... [ Continue Reading ]
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly. Ver. 9. _Have mercy upon me, O Lord_] _Antiquum obtine,_ Do now, Lord, as thou hitherto hast done. _ For I am in trouble_] Overwhelmed with the terrors of death, and ready to sink, _animu... [ Continue Reading ]
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. Ver. 10. _For my life is spent with grief, &c._] Which threateneth the thread of life, and soon snappeth it in sunder, 2 Corinthians 7:10. See Proverbs 17:22; Proverb... [ Continue Reading ]
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. Ver. 11. _I was a reproach among all mine enemies_] Such as Shimei, who now insulted lustily; _Leoni mortuo vel mus insultat._ But especially amo... [ Continue Reading ]
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. Ver. 12. _I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind_] How soon dead men are forgotten, even by those that promise to remember them longest of all, experience teacheth; trust not to protestations of best friends in that case. _ I a... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. Ver. 13. _For I have heard the slander of many_] Or, as Calvin, Mollerus, and others render it, _magnorum,_ of the great ones, such as take counsel (so it... [ Continue Reading ]
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God. Ver. 14. _But I trusted in thee, O Lord_] In this distress I acted my faith upon thy power and promises; this was right, and that which God aimed at; for we can no way more honour him. Hence it is that he is very jealous of our trust; neithe... [ Continue Reading ]
My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Ver. 15. _My times are in thy hand_] Both the time of my abode on earth and all those various occurrences of that time, all is predetermined by thee; particularly how long I shall suffer, and when... [ Continue Reading ]
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. Ver. 16. _Make thy face to shine, &c._] Which by reason of the clouds of affliction clustering about me, I cannot for present perceive. _See Trapp on "_ Psa 4:6 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Psa 30:7 _"_ Save me, &c.] _i.e._ Deliver me... [ Continue Reading ]
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave. Ver. 17. _Let me not be ashamed_] _i.e._ Disappointed of my hopes. _ Let the wicked be ashamed_] For they call not upon God, but shame those that do, Psalms 14:4; Psalms 14... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. Ver. 18. _Let the lying lips be put to silence_] Heb. the lips of a lie, mendaciorum artifices, as Jeremiah 9:3; Jeremiah 9:5. Among the Persians it was αιχιστον το φευδεσθαι, held a... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 31:19 [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Ver. 19. _Oh how great is thy goodness_] The prophet venteth himself by way of exclamation, as finding it unspeakable; fitter... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Ver. 20. _Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence_] In the golden cabinet of thy gracious providence, where they shall be as safe as if they w... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Ver. 21. _Blessed be the Lord_] This should always be in a Christian's mouth, as _Deo gratias_ was in Austin's. He can never want matter, and should, therefore, ever find a heart. _ For he hath shewed me his mar... [ Continue Reading ]
For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. Ver. 22. _For I said in my haste, I am cut off, &c._] A frightful and sinful saying, doubtless, full of diffidence and despair. See the like Psa 116:11 Job 9... [ Continue Reading ]
O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Ver. 23. _O love the Lord_] Let not your hasty discontent beget in you hard thoughts of God or heavy thoughts against yourselves, as it hath done in me; but love him, trust him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Ver. 24. _Be of good courage, &c._] Bear up, be stout, and steadfast in the faith under trials. See Psalms 27:14, with the note. Thus good courage cometh not but from the true love of God, Psalms 31:23 .... [ Continue Reading ]