_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ This is the third of those Psalms called MASCHIL, and the second of those directed to the sons of Korah; but it does not seem to have been composed by David, as the two foregoing were. For, in his days, the Israelites were not oppressed by foreign enemies, as the psalmist he... [ Continue Reading ]
We have _heard with our ears_, &c. “We have been certainly informed, O Lord, by our fathers, and we believe what they have told us, not only concerning the wonderful works thou didst in their times, but in the ages long before them; as our ancestors, who lived in those days, have recorded.” It is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_How thou didst drive out the heathen_, &c. The seven nations of the Canaanites out of Canaan, and settled in their stead thy people Israel, whom thou didst transplant thither from Egypt. _Didst afflict the people_ The heathen; _and cast them out. They got not the land, &c., by their own sword_ That... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou art my king, O God_ And thou, O God, who didst such astonishing things for them, art still the very same almighty Being, whom I honour as my sovereign, my governor, and protector. The whole people speak as one man, being united together in one body. _Command_ That is, effectually procure by th... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou hast cast us off_ Now thy countenance and course are quite changed to us; _and hast put us to shame_ Hast made us ashamed of our boasting and trust in thee, which we have often professed to the face of our enemies. _And goest not forth with our armies_ To lead them and fight for them, as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast given us like sheep_, &c. Some of us they killed in the pursuit, without any mercy, like sheep appointed for the shambles. _And hast scattered us among the heathen_ Those of us who were not slain have been carried into captivity, and dispersed in several places. _Thou sellest thy people f... [ Continue Reading ]
_My confusion is continually before me_ I cannot open my eyes but the tokens of our disgrace present themselves before me; _and the shame of my face hath covered me_ These things have made me so ashamed, that I do not willingly show my face. _For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth_ I... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this is come upon us_ All the evils before mentioned, and certainly we have deserved them all; _yet have we not forgotten thee_ Although we cannot excuse ourselves from many other sins, for which thou hast justly punished us, yet, through thy grace, we have kept ourselves from apostacy and idol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons_ By inflicting upon us one breach after another, thou hast at last brought us to this pass; that we are become like a place extremely desolate, such as dragons love, (Isaiah 13:21,) and therefore full of horror and danger; _and covered us with the sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea_, or _but, for thy sake we are killed all the day_ We do not suffer for our apostacy, but because we will not apostatize from thee. We are persecuted and put to death because we are thy people, and continue constantly and resolutely in the profession and practice of thy worship, which they abho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore hidest thou thy face?_ Dost not regard our miseries, nor afford us any pity or help? _and forgettest our affliction_ Actest as if thou didst forget, or overlook it, when we have not forgotten thee? Does this become thy faithfulness and goodness? _For our soul is bowed down to the dust_ Un... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, &c., redeem us for thy mercies' sake_ For though we are conscious of being sincere and constant in thy worship and service, we know our obedience and duties have been attended with so many imperfections, that we cannot lay them as the ground of our trust and confidence, as if we merited thy... [ Continue Reading ]