Bible Commentaries

Psalms 106:27 — in the lands. To overthrow their seed also among the nations — This clause of God’s oath is not expressed in Numbers, but drawn there hence as a fearful consequence, both here by the psalmist, and also by the prophet Ezekiel, Ezekiel 20:1-49 And R. Solomon’s note upon this text is, Tunc erat decretum de desolando Templo, ut lachrymas pro re magna, sicut ante pro nihilo effunderent, Then was the desolation of the temple (though it fell out long after) determined, that those malcontents

Psalms 112:6 — by liberal things he shall stand." Not getting, but giving, is the way to wealth. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance — Namely, with the righteous. Demetrius hath good report of all good men, and of the truth itself, 3 John 1:12 . As for wicked men, Calumnias eorum nunquam effugit, there is no escaping their cavils and calumnies (Vatab.).

Psalms 116:2 — custom; Psalms 65:2 , "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." As long as I live — Heb. In my days, that is, say some, while I have a day to live. Others sense it thus, in the time of my affliction, confer Psalms 137:7 Lamentations 1:21 which by the word days he noteth to be of long continuance.

Psalms 118:27 — altar. God is the Lord who hath showed us light — By giving us "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Corinthians 4:6 , he "hath brought us out of darkness into his marvellous light," 1 Peter 2:9 . Bind the sacrifice with cords — Make them fast there, till the priests shall have time to offer them. Spare for no cost in showing your thankfulness for Christ and his benefits. Some render it, Obligate solennitates in frondosis; Austin

Psalms 118:4 — Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy [endureth] for ever. Let them now that fear the Lord say — See Psalms 115:11 , and observe that the psalmist beateth upon the το νυν (as doth also the apostle, 2 Corinthians 6:2 ), Now, now, now, saith he; because, for aught we know, it is now or never, today or not at all; the dead praise thee

Psalms 119:112 — my doing, for mine encouragement in thy service. Certum est nos facere quod facimus, sed Deus facit ut faciamus, saith Austin. Alway even to the end — For else I shall lose the things that I have wrought, and not receive a full reward, 2 John 1:8 .

Psalms 119:134 — besides his corruptions within, met with oppressions and persecutions without; so shall all that will live godly in Christ Jesus; let them never dream of a delicacy in religion. So will I keep thy precepts — Not say, as those miscreants, Jeremiah 7:10 , "We are delivered to do all these abominations"; but as good old Zechariah, Luke 1:74-75 , Servati sumus ut serviamus, We have been served so that we may serve. We are delivered that we might serve God without fear, …

Psalms 143:5 — remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I remember the days of old — Wherein I was delivered from the lion and the bear; yea, from the hand of all mine enemies, and from the hand of Saul, Psalms 18:1 , title. More than this, Saecula antiquitus praeterita recolo, I run over and ruminate all the ancient monuments of thy mercy to the patriarchs and others; since all that is written was "written for our instruction, that we through patience

Psalms 149:1 — Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints. Praise ye the Lord — See Psalms 148:1 . Sing unto the Lord a new song — A New Testament song, of a new argument, and for new benefits by the coming of Christ, whereof this psalm is prophetic. Old things are past, all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:16 ; new commandments,

Psalms 85:10 — are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. Mercy and truth are met together — As in God (his mercy is ever bounded by his truth), so in all his people, there is a sweet conjunction and concatenation of graces, 2 Peter 1:5 ; and this is an effect of Christ’s kingdom in men’s hearts, Romans 14:17 , Iam fides et pax, et honor pudorque Priscus, et neglecta redire virtus Audet; apparetque beata pleno Copia cornu (Horat.). Righteousness and peace have kissed

Psalms 85:13 — Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps. Righteousness shall go before him — Men shall walk before God in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives, Luke 1:75 ; they shall not rest in outward blessings, Psalms 85:12 , or be satisfied with such low things, but be led up thereby to the care of higher. And shall set us in the way of his steps — So that we shall go an upper (and therefore a better) way,

Psalms 91:2 — say it is so as I have said, said the psalmist (whom the Jews make to be Moses), and I will presently make proof of it in myself; Non verbis solum praedicans, sed exemplis. Some conceive that the believer having heard the former proposition, Psalms 91:1 , is here brought in professing his faith; and saying to the psalmist, Behold, I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and shall I abide under the shadow of the Almighty? The answer follows.

Psalms 91:5 — common destruction, yet from the common distraction. Nor for the arrow that flieth by day — Sudden ill occurrences quae nec praevident nec praecavent fideles, the arrows of death shall come whisking by thine ears, and not hit. (Hor. lib 2, Obadiah 1:13 .) Cautum est in horas - Improvisa lethi Vis rapuit, rapietque gentes. True faith is a target, and sayeth a man if not from the smart, yet from the hurt of evil accidents.

Proverbs 10:9 — precincts, he keeps under his protection: as the king undertakes to secure him that travels the highway, and between sun and sun. He is tutus sub umbra leonis, safe under the hollow of God’s hand, "under the shadow of his wing." Psalms 91:1 Shall be known. — All shall out to his utter disgrace. See Proverbs 10:7 . Or, He shall be known by some examplary judgment of God inflicted upon him, for a terror to others; as one that is hanged up in gibbets.

Proverbs 18:9 — also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. He also that is slothful in his work. — As he must needs be that goes peddling about with tales, and buzzing evil reports into the ears of those that will hear them. See 1 Timothy 5:3 , with the note there. Lata negligentia dolus est, saith the civilian. Is brother to him that is a great waster. — Est frater Domini disperditionis, will as certainly come to poverty as the greatest waster of good. A man dies no less

Proverbs 20:14 — reads it: as taxing that common fault and folly of slighting present mercies, but desiring and commending them when they are lost. Virtutem incolumen odimus, sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. Israel "despised the pleasant land," Psalms 106:24 and the precious manna, Numbers 11:6 and Solomen’s gentle government, 1 Kings 12:4 Our corrupt nature weighs not good things till we want them, as the eye sees nothing that lies upon it.

Proverbs 6:1 — his son to marry, rather than burn, and to nourish a family, rather than to haunt harlots’ houses, to the end that he may show himself a good economic, and provide for the comfortable subsistence of wife and children, he bids him here beware - (1.) Of unadvised suretyship; (2.) Of idleness, two great enemies to thrift, without which there can be no good house kept. The royalty of Solomon could not have consisted, for all his riches, without forecast and frugality.

Isaiah 13:5 — another sense, then, the apostle useth that expression concerning reprobates designed to destruction. To destroy the whole land. — Or, The whole world, for so the Chaldees, in the pride of their empire, styled it. The Romans did the like. Luke 2:1 The Turks do the same at this day, such is their ambition.

Isaiah 14:1 — on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. For the Lord will have mercy upon Jacob. — And therefore destroy Babylon. as Isaiah 13:1-22 Such is his love to his Church that for her sake, and in revenge of her wrongs, he will fall foul upon her enemies. Si in Hierosolymis fiat scrutinium, quanto magis in Babylon. Bernard. And the strangers shall be joined with them. — Proselyted,

Isaiah 21:4 — presso nihil desperatius est. Nothing is more hopeless and crest fallen than a wicked man in distress: for what reason? his life and hopes end together. The night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear. — That dreadful and dismal night, Daniel 5:1-31 intended for a revelling night, and dedicated to the honour of Shac: but the handwriting on the wall and the irruption of the Persians marred the mirth.