CONTENTS This Psalm is so very peculiar and distinguished from every other, that it would form a long chapter of contents to give the summary of it. Before the Reader enters upon it, I beg him to remark some of its most striking particulars. As, first, its great length, being more than double in poi... [ Continue Reading ]
I beg the Reader very particularly to remark the alteration here made in the manner of expression, from what it was before. Here it is said, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies: implying numbers, namely, the people of the Lord. In the former verse the word are is in Italics, and might more pr... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a precious verse. The new creature in Christ lives upon Christ; and as long as the soul thus lives upon him as his life and source, he walks in him, and is living to him and with him. 1 Peter 2:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
If we accept the word precepts in the first and most obvious sense of it, the diligent attention to the commandments of God will be, living to Christ. For when the Jews demanded of our Lord what they must do, that they might work the works of God? the Lord Jesus gave this answer, This is the work of... [ Continue Reading ]
Here again, we cannot possibly conceive that the word statutes hath a reference to the statutes of Moses. The law (saith an apostle) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the com... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we find what confidence the truly regenerated soul is put in possession of, when living upon Jesus as Jehovah hath appointed. All the commandments will be alike the delight of such a soul. And the holiness of Jehovah will be as dear and precious to the believer as any other of the divine perfec... [ Continue Reading ]
If by judgments were meant the strict letter of God's law, how is it possible to conceive that the Psalmist should express himself, as he hath in this Psalm, in love with them? My soul (saith he) breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times, Psalms 119:20. But if by judgment... [ Continue Reading ]
The sum and substance of all this divine meditation, here folds up in this pious resolution, formed by grace; seeing that in Jesus, his people are undefiled, are enabled to keep his testimonies, to love his precepts, to delight in his statutes, and have respect unto all his commandments: Oh! the hap... [ Continue Reading ]
BETH. Psalms 119:9 The question here put, and with which this second part opens, is not simply intended for the youthful part, but for all. And the answer, in referring to Christ the uncreated word, and to the scriptures of Christ the written word, plainly manifests its reference to be universal.... [ Continue Reading ]
After the explanation which I endeavored very humbly to offer in the first part, concerning the several words there made use of and which we meet with again here: it will only be necessary to examine the terms with reference to these devout breathings, to see their correspondence. And I pray the gre... [ Continue Reading ]
GIMEL. Here are again many very gracious and fervent breathings after divine favor, which need nothing explanatory by way of comment. Some of them very highly correspond with what might be supposed to be the language of Jesus as the great head and surety of his people. And when we consider the grac... [ Continue Reading ]
DALETH. These verses compose the fourth part of this divine Psalm. Whether David, the supposed writer of it, thus complains in himself; or whether it means the Son of David, who in another part declares, that he is brought into the dust of death, I am not able to determine; Psalms 22:15. But if, as... [ Continue Reading ]
HE. How very beautiful is this portion of the psalm, considered as descriptive of the work of the Holy Ghost. It is his blessed province, and from his great love to the persons of Christ's people, he delights in it, to teach, and to lead to Christ, and to give us a spirit of wisdom and understanding... [ Continue Reading ]
V A U. The Reader will not need information that Jesus is Jehovah's salvation unto the ends of the earth; Isaiah 49:6. And the answers of Jesus to those that reproached him, are fully set forth in the gospel; Psalms 69:7. Christ is not only the law-fulfiller; but the law of God was in his very heart... [ Continue Reading ]
ZAIN. While we contemplate the ever-blessed Jesus thus hanging upon the promises of the Father, we may in him, and through him, humbly adopt the same language, and remind God our Father of all his covenant promises in Christ. See particularly Psalms 22:7. Jesus always cast himself thus upon his Fath... [ Continue Reading ]
CHETH. This eighth part of this lovely Psalm opens most beautifully, in which we clearly behold Jesus as the speaker. The royal Prophet, under the Spirit's influence (as Peter was commissioned to explain) in the person of Christ, declared Jehovah to be his portion in another Psalm. And here the same... [ Continue Reading ]
TETH. As the first verse of the foregoing portion proved that Jesus was the speaker; so the last verse of this portion as plainly points to the same. None but the ever-blessed Jesus had such testimony to give as this. But of him the Prophet sang, The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was n... [ Continue Reading ]
JOD. With most peculiar reference to the ever-blessed Jesus must we read the opening of this portion. A body hast thou prepared me, was said by Christ when beholding the redemption work he came to perform. Hebrews 10:5, compared with Psalms 40:6. And in another scripture the same truth is expressed,... [ Continue Reading ]
CAPH. The opening of this portion is also very beautiful, in reference to the Lord Jesus, who waited with longing expectation for the time of his being manifested unto Israel. Hence we find him, in the days of his flesh, longing for the time of his baptism, as he graciously called it and as being st... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMED. Here is a beautiful address to Jehovah, in contemplation of his own eternal nature, the everlasting purposes and unchangeableness of his councils, and all his ordinances, providences, and dispensations, as purposed in Jesus, the uncreated Word, before the world began! And in the contemplation... [ Continue Reading ]
MEM. Reader! let us listen to these sweet words, as the words of Jesus. Let us beg of God the Holy Ghost to give us grace to feel and know our interest in what he here saith, from our interest in him. And let us look up to God our Father, while we hear Jesus thus expressing, in our nature, his love... [ Continue Reading ]
NUN. I pass over several very interesting observations which might be offered on the verses in this portion, (for there is not a part of them but is well calculated to make our meditation sweet); but I pass them over to call the Reader's attention, and my own, to that very precious thought, containe... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMECH. After the observations which have been proposed upon the foregoing portions of this most blessed Psalm, the Reader will not be surprised, neither, I hope, offended, if I go on to accept this portion also as having respect to the person of Jesus, first speaking himself, and then as the proper... [ Continue Reading ]
AIN. How sweetly do these words become Christ! but who, except Christ, could ever use them? One might be led to conclude, from the very many similar examples we meet with in the book of Psalms, that this precious book of God would be more generally regarded than it is, by those who are in the habit... [ Continue Reading ]
PE. The verses in this portion form a beautiful reduplication of the same delightful truths. It is Jesus speaking through the whole of them, in his human nature, as the Head and Representative of his people. And when we consider that it is herein he comes home so very sweetly end eared to our hearts... [ Continue Reading ]
TZADDI. In this portion is that memorable verse which throws a light upon the whole Psalm, and fully authorizes us to apply many parts of it directly to the person of Jesus. The passage is, My zeal hath consumed me. Independently of the royal prophet, David, in another Psalm, applying it to Christ ... [ Continue Reading ]
KOPH. These verses give us an interesting view of Jesus, and are descriptive of some of those conflicts, under which he was constrained to lift up his voice to God his Father, with strong cryings and tears. Learning as a Son (saith the apostle) obedience by the things which he suffered. When we cons... [ Continue Reading ]
RESH. The same cries of soul are continued through this portion as in the former; and we may, without any forced construction of the words, consider what is here said as peculiarly applicable to the meek and suffering Jesus. Indeed, without respect to Him, the language would lose all its energy; for... [ Continue Reading ]
SCHIN. Still prosecuting the same subject of suffering, here are the same petitions lodged before the throne. The apostle to the Hebrews was commissioned by the Holy Ghost to teach the church some very sweet and leading truths, by way of accommodating the example of Jesus to his people: It became hi... [ Continue Reading ]
TAU. There is but little variation in this portion from the former. Jesus taught his disciples, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint, Luke 18:1; and here he sets the example. I do not think it necessary to enlarge upon this portion, nor indeed, after what hath been said, to detain the Rea... [ Continue Reading ]