1David fleeth to God for preservation, disclaiming all merit, and professing hatred of idolatry: 5he rejoiceth in having God for his portion: 8he confideth in God's present protection, and in a future resurrection, and life everlasting.
0Michtam1 of David.
1 Or, a golden psalm; that is, which is made of the best and finest gold. This title is likewise prefixed to Psalm 56 title; 57 title; 58 title; 59 title; 60 title. This is because of their singular preciousness and excellence. Some do hold it for a certain musical instrument, or the beginning of some song.
1PRESERVE me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2O my soul, 2thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art 3my Lord: mya4goodness extendeth not to thee;
2 These words David speaks as a type of Christ, or (as some think) Christ Himself unto His soul in the state of His humiliation, as the Hebrew word shows; elsewhere the word soul is expressed, Psalm 103:1.
3 Other, the Lord.
a Job 22:2; 35:7; Psalm 50:9, etc. Rom. 11:35.
4 That is, benevolence. The sense is: I cannot, O God, bring any of my benefits unto Thee; I can bring Thee no virtue (since Thou art perfect in Thyself, and the Author of all good) but I may do this to the godly who live here on earth, as follows.
3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the 5excellent, in whom is all my delight.
5 Or, glorious, eminent; thus he calls the saints and believers, as being God’s children and heirs. See of the Hebrew word Psalm 8 on verse 1.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that 6hasten after 7another god: 8their drink offerings of blood will I not 9offer, nor take up their names 10into my lips.
6 Understand with a marriage or wedding gift, and see of the rage of this spiritual whoredom Ezek. 16:31, 32, 33, 34.
7 Not the true and only God, but an idol.
8 Of the idols.
9 Or, pour out, as the idolaters were wont to do in their drink offerings. Of the lawful drink offerings wherein wine or strong drink was used, see Exod. 29:40; Num. 15:5, 7, 10; 28:7.
10 That is, into my mouth, as Psalm 50:16, implying, that he wants to have nothing to do with idolatry at all and anything attached to it; he has an abhorrence to it. See Exod. 23:13.
5Theb LORD is the 11portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou 12maintainest my lot.
b Lam. 3:24.
11 There are two similitudes made use of here, the first taken from inheritances, which were measured out by lines or cords and divided by lot. See Deut. 3 on verse 4; 32:9; Joshua 13, etc. The latter is from the order in the family, where the father dispenses unto everyone his share of drink into his cup. Compare Psalm 11 on verse 6.
12 That is, preserve, or keep the same in safe custody for me. Compare 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Peter 1:4, 5.
6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have 13a goodly heritage.
13 Hebr. the heritage is become fair to or over me.
7I will 14bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my 15reins also instruct me 16in the night seasons.
14 Or, praise.
15 That is, my most inward thoughts and stirrings excite me to my duties. See Job 19 on verse 27.
16 Hebr. in the nights. See Psalm 1 on verse 2.
817Ic have set the LORD always 18before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be 19moved.
17 That this is spoken of our Lord Christ, appears by Acts 2:25.
cActs 2:25.
18 Hebr. over against me.
19 As Psalm 15:5.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my 20glory rejoiceth: my 21flesh also shall rest 22in hope.
20 See Gen. 49 on verse 6.
21 That is, body.
22 Or, securely. Hebr. properly: with or in confidence, namely, that the resurrection shall follow assuredly on the third day.
10Ford thou wilt not leave my 23soul in 24hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine 25Holy One to 26see 27corruption.
dActs 2:31; 13:35.
23 That is, My person, as frequently elsewhere, whereby there is again understood the dead body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Compare Lev. 19 on verse 28; Psalm 94:17, and see hereof Acts 2:31; 13:35, etc.
24 That is, the grave. Or, understand with some persons those hellish pains and pangs which Christ has suffered in our behalf. See of the Hebrew word, Gen. 37 on verse 35.
25 Namely, I, Christ. Other, gracious, benevolent, favorite. Compare Deut. 33 on verse 8; Psalm 4 on verse 3.
26 That is, undergo and be subject to it, abiding and putrefying in the grave as other men. Compare Psalm 34:12; John 3:36; 8:51, and see Job 7 on verse 7 of the word corruption, otherwise rendered ditch or pit.
27 See Psalm 7 on verse 15.
11Thou wilt shew me the 28path of life: in thy 29presence is fulness 30of joy; at thy 31right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
28 Leading and conducting me in this life, and afterwards raising me up from the dead, and bringing me into glory of life everlasting.
29 Compare Psalm 4:6; 17:15, and see 1 John 3:2.
30 Or, delights, in the plural.
31 Wherewith Thou givest and bestowest the same upon Thy children. Compare Prov. 3:16. Other, in thy right hand; where I (Christ) shall sit, when I shall be gone up again into heaven, and where David and all the elect shall be placed there, Mat. 25:33.