_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._ Dr. Delaney has given it as his opinion that David wrote this Psalm for the instruction of those men who resorted to him at Adullam, after his departure from Gath. It contains, says he, the noblest encouragements to piety and virtue, from an assurance that all such as are so... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will bless the Lord at all times_ I will never forget to bless God for this miraculous deliverance. _My soul shall make her boast_, &c. Shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and gracious a Lord and Master. _The humble shall hear_ Or the meek, that is, the righteous; _and be glad _ Both fro... [ Continue Reading ]
_O magnify the Lord with me_ Join your praises with mine, O ye humble ones. _And let us exalt his name together_ If not in one place, yet in affection and work: let our souls meet, and let our praises meet in the ears of the all-hearing God. Or the word יחדו, _jachdav_, may be rendered, _alike;_ tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_I sought the Lord, and he heard me_ David now proceeds to give reasons why God should be praised and glorified; he himself and others had found by experience, that he was a God hearing and answering prayer. He first mentions his own case. God had heard and answered him, and _delivered him from all... [ Continue Reading ]
_The angel of the Lord_, &c. This is another reason why men should praise and glorify God. The singular number is here put for the plural; for the psalmist does not speak of one single angel, but of a guard of angels, as unanimous, however, in their service as if they were but one; _Encampeth round... [ Continue Reading ]
_O taste and see that the Lord is good_ That is, kind, merciful, and gracious, namely, to all his people. The goodness of God, here spoken of, includes both the amiableness and benevolence of his nature, and the bounty and beneficence of his providence and grace; and, in calling us to taste and see... [ Continue Reading ]
_O fear the Lord, ye his saints_ Reverence, serve, and trust in him: for _fear_ is commonly put for all the parts of God's worship and service. _For there is no want to them that fear him_ They shall so far have all good things, as to have no reason to complain of the want of any. As to the things o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come, ye children_, &c. Come hither, then, all ye, who, by considering the advantages described above, which attend true religion, are become desirous of obtaining it, and, therefore, are willing to be instructed; _hearken unto me_ In simplicity and humility of mind, seriously resolved to comply wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_What man is he that desireth life_ A long and happy life, begun in this world and continued for ever in the next: namely, who is he that seriously and in good earnest desires it, so as to be willing to use any endeavours which shall be prescribed to him? for otherwise the question would be needless... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep thy tongue from evil_ From all manner of evil speaking, from all injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; _and thy lips from speaking guile_ Or, guileful words, contrary to truth and sincerity, and the real thoughts and intentions of thy heart, and used with a purpose of deceiving others by t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous_ This is added to show that the practice of these duties (Psa 34:13-14) is the true and best, and, indeed, the only way to see that good proposed and promised; both because such righteous persons, howsoever they may meet with affronts and injuries from me... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart_ Ready to hear and succour them; though, by the course of his providence toward them, he may sometimes seem to themselves and others to stand afar off. “God is near to all men; for in him they live: but he is near to the broken in heart, in a pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Many are the afflictions of the righteous_ In the world they may have tribulation, and their afflictions and troubles may be many, (for they must not promise themselves such prosperity as will exempt them from the trial of their faith and patience;) _but the Lord delivereth him out of them all_ Tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evil shall slay the wicked_ Either, 1st, The evil of sin: his own wickedness, though designed against others, shall destroy himself. Or, 2d, The evil of misery. While the afflictions of good men shall have a happy issue, theirs shall end in their total and final destruction. _They that hate the rig... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants_ That is, their lives, or their persons, _from the malicious designs of all their enemies_, from the power of the grave, and from the sting of every affliction. He keeps them from sinning in their troubles, which is the only thing that could do them a rea... [ Continue Reading ]