Bible Commentaries

Psalms 119:37 — Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity — Lest looking cause liking and lusting, 1 John 2:16 . In Hebrew the same word signifieth both an eye and a fountain; to show that from the eye, as from a fountain, floweth much mischief and by that window Satan oft winds himself into the soul. This David found by experience, and therefore prays

Psalms 130:3 — Extremity of justice he deprecateth; he would not be dealt with in rigour and rage. Extrema, fateor; commeritus sum, Deus; Quid enim aliud dixero? It is confessed I have deserved the extremity of thy fury; but yet let me talk with thee, as Jeremiah 12:1 or reason the case. O Lord, who shall stand? — Stand in judgment, as Psalms 1:5 , and not fall under the weight of thy just wrath, which burneth as low as hell itself? How can any one escape the damnation of hell, which is the just hire of

Psalms 46:4 — shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High. There is a river, … — Interea civitas Dei, amidst all these garboils and hurly-burlies abroad the Church shall be helped with a little help, as Daniel 11:34 , that, through weaker means, she may see God’s greater strength. That contemptible brook Kidron (whereof read John 18:1 , compassing some part only of the city Jerusalem, or passing through the middle of it, as some write), together with

Psalms 5:6 — the bloody and deceitful man. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing — Whether in jest or earnest, those that lie in jest will, without repentance, go to hell in earnest. And for the officious lie some think it no fault; whereas, Galatians 1:10 , we must not speak truth to please men, much less may we lie. The truth is, all lies are pernicious, all liars will be destroyed, but especially those that have taught their tongues to speak lies, Jeremiah 9:5 , that take fast hold of deceit, Jeremiah

Psalms 51:16 — For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering. For thou desirest not sacrifice — This is the reason why David restipulateth praise, if God will pardon his great sin, Psalms 51:15 , viz. because he well understood that God preferred praise before all sacrifices whatsoever, provided that it came from a broken spirit, Psalms 51:17 , rightly humbled for sin, and thankfully accepting of pardon. See Psalms 50:14-15 ; Psalms 50:23

Psalms 68:4 — style. Extol him that rideth upon the heavens — Exalt him so, as when a heap is made up unto a great height. Beza rendereth it, Sternite viam equiti deserti, Cast up or pave the way for him that rideth in the desert. Confer Isaiah 40:3-4 Malachi 3:1 Matthew 3:3 . The Septuagint render it, οδοποιησατε , Raise up the way, and make it ready (as they use to do before kings that ride in triumph), that the King of glory may come into your

Psalms 76:1 — De Assyriis ( περι των Aσσυριων . In Hexaplo), of Sennacherib and his host; and surely the matter of the psalm is such as very well agreeth with that overthrow. Confer Psalms 46:1-11 Psalms 48:1-14 In Judah is God known — Nobilis est, saith Tremellius; Notior est, saith another interpreter; i.e. Better known he is now than ever; not by his word only, which is preached in Judah, but by his wondrous works; this especially

Proverbs 16:11 — just weight and balance [are] the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag [are] his work. A just weight and balance are the Lord’s, — i.e., Are commanded and commended by him. Proverbs 2:1 Deuteronomy 25:14-16 See Trapp on " Deuteronomy 25:14 " See Trapp on " Deuteronomy 25:15 " See Trapp on " Deuteronomy 25:16 " All the weights of the bag are his work, — i.e., His ordinance, and therefore not to be

Proverbs 22:21 — That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? That I might make thee know the certainty. — And so find firm footing for thy faith. Luke 1:3 ; Luke 1:5 "These words of God are true," saith the angel. Revelation 21:5 These words are "faithful and true" Revelation 22:6 - void of all insincerity and falsehood. How can it be otherwise, whenas they are, as Gregory Greg.,

Proverbs 28:10 — the blind," … See Trapp on " Proverbs 26:27 " But the upright shall have good things in possession. — They shall not be so "led away with the error of the wicked as to fall from their own steadfastness," 2 Peter 3:17 or to forfeit their hereditary right to the kingdom, because "both the deceived and the deceiver are with the Lord," Job 12:13 ; Job 12:16 and it is impossible for the elect to be fundamentally and finally seduced, Matthew 24:24 since they

Isaiah 28:9 — teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. Whom shall he teach knowledge? — Quem docebit scientiam? Doceo governeth two accusative cases. Ministers must have (1.) Quem, Whom to teach; and (2.) Quid, What to teach - sc., knowledge. Isaiah had no want of knowledge, as being apt and able to teach; but he wanted a fit audience, as having to do with a sort of drunken sots that were unteachable, incapable. So, Ezekiel

Isaiah 65:24 — Mirabilis certe promissio, a wonderful promise, verily, saith Scultetus. The prayers of the saints do sooner pierce from their hearts to heaven, than they can find way from their hearts to their mouths. So David found it; Psalms 32:5 and Daniel; Daniel 10:12 and that prodigal. Luke 15:18 ; Luke 15:20 Our Saviour, who came out of the bosom of the Father, gives two reasons (1.) "The Father himself loveth you," John 16:27 and love is liberal; (2.) "The Father knoweth before ye ask, that

Isaiah 9:5 — its way through a wood of men, in a minute of time, from the mouth of a murdering piece, when fire and sword waste at pleasure. The birth of Christ comforteth against all the miseries of war; whereunto therefore it is opposed both here, and Micah 5:1-2 ; See Trapp on " Micah 5:1 " See Trapp on " Micah 5:2 " Now, then, as the Israelites frighted and flighted the Midianites with saying, Hic Gideon, Here’s Gideon; so may we our spiritual enemies by crying Hic Iesus; Hoc in

Jeremiah 40:5 — of the guard gave him victuals, — i.e., Necessaries for his journey; for he came out of prison nudus tanquam ex mari, bare and needy. And a reward. — Or, A present, fit for a prophet, donum honorarium, such as they used to give the seers, 1 Samuel 9:8 1 Kings 14:3 and such as he might safely and comfortably take, as from God himself, who had promised it. Jeremiah 15:11

Jeremiah 6:1 — — These were the prophet’s countrymen, for Anathoth was in that tribe; so was also part of Jerusalem itself. He forwarneth them of the enemy’s approach, and bids them begone. The Benjamites were noted for valiant, but vicious. Judges 19:16 ; Judges 19:22-25 Hosea 9:9 ; Hosea 10:9 And blow the trumpet in Tekoah. — A place that had its name from trumpeting; so there is an elegance in the original. See the like, Micah 1:10 ; Micah 1:14 . It was twelve miles from Jerusalem, and

Ezekiel 11:3 — not near; let us build houses: this [city is] the caldron, and we [be] the flesh. Which say, It is not near, — sc., The evil day is not. The vision that he seeth is for many days to come; and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Ezekiel 12:22 ; Ezekiel 12:27 See Amos 6:3 Isaiah 29:1 2 Peter 3:4 . And this was likely the evil counsel they gave the king and people, lulling them asleep in the cradle of carnal security. Let us build houses. — Though Jeremiah hath counselled us to the

Ezekiel 24:13 — threateneth death. Because I have purged thee, — i.e., Called upon thee by my prophets to "cleanse thyself of all filthiness of flesh and spirit"; sought also to purge thee by the soap of afflictions, and by the cudgel of calamities. Isaiah 1:16 ; Isaiah 27:9 cf. Isaiah 1:5-7 And thou wast not purged. — From thy sin, which had gotten into thy very frame and constitution, was weaved into the texture of thine heart. Thou shalt not be purged. — But shalt perish in thy sins - which

Daniel 11:37 — that they are wrong; an ignorant and bigoted opponent of reform. ŒD nor the new sumpsimus, A correct expression taking the place of an incorrect but popular one ( mumpsimus ). ŒD as they say, but showing himself to be a rank atheist. See 1 Maccabees 1:43 . Nor the desire of women, — scil., In an honest lawful way of matrimony; but be addicted to vagrant lust, yea, and to the sin against nature with women, as some sense it, a Deo prohibito et perdito, in which case the Turkish women,

Jonah 2:5 — animae deliquium, till I laboured for life, and was as good as gone. The depth closed me round about — See Trapp on " Jonah 2:3 " and further observe, that God’s dear children may fall into desperate and deadly dangers, see Psalms 18:3 ; Psalms 88:3 ; Psalms 116:3 . And this for, 1. Prevention, 2. Purgation, 3. Probation, 4. Preparations to further both mercies and duties. Let us not therefore censure ourselves or others as hated of God, because greatly distressed; but encourage

Zephaniah 1:16 — day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. A day of the trumpet — With its horrid taratantara and alarm; not of those that shout and praise God, neither with a noise of joy and triumph, as Numbers 23:21 Psalms 67:5 Ezra 3:11-12 ; but of those that shout with broken sounds in the day of battle, as Amos 1:14 , in classico, in a war trumpet with a vociferation and horrible howling, such as the Turks to this day make when they storm a city. Against the