1The Psalmist in his prayer complaineth of the miseries of the church. 8God's former favours are turned into judgments: 14a prayer for deliverance.
0To1 the chief Musician upon 2Shoshannim -Eduth,3 A Psalm 4of Asaph.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
2 See the second annotation at Psalm 45 in the title.
3 See the second annotation at Psalm 60 in the title. A testimony, that is, a statement or declaration of faith in God’s gracious promise during the intense difficulty of His church.
4 Or, for Asaph, see Psalm 50 in the title.
1Give ear, 5O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest 6Joseph like a flock; 7thou that dwellest between the cherubims, 8shine forth.
5 Compare Psalm 23:1; 48:14; Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:12, 14, 15; John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25.
6Joseph, that is, the posterity of Joseph, namely, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who descended from Joseph. Holy Scripture sometimes comprehends under the name of Joseph all the rest of the tribes, and especially the ten, in regard that Joseph was the principal and most reputed among the sons of Jacob. See Gen. 49:26; Psalm 81:5.
7 Or, which was wont to sit upon the cherubims; for, after that the Chaldees had destroyed the temple, the Lord sat there no longer upon the cherubims. Of the cherubims see the annotation on 1 Sam. 4 on verse 4.
8 That is, show us Thy grace and favor by delivering us out of this long and loathsome captivity, wherein we have sat so long as in darkness.
2Before 9Ephraim and 10Benjamin and 11Manasseh 12stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
9 That is, before the tribes or descendants of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. These three tribes were camped together on the west side of the tabernacle, Num. 2:17, 18, 20, 22; 10:21, 22, 23, 24. Therefore they are both here, and in 1 Chron. 9:3, and elsewhere, named jointly together.
10 See the 9th annotation on Benjamin.
11 See the 9th annotation on Manasseh.
12 That is, show forth Thy might and let it appear, which was in a manner asleep all this while.
313Turn14 us again, O God, anda15cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
13 This verse is repeated in verses 7, 19.
14 Namely, to our former state and condition, or, out of our captivity and banishment, in the land from which we were carried forth. Other, restore us, as Psalm 23:3.
a Psalm 4:6; 31:16; 67:1; Dan. 9:17.
15 Namely, over us. See the annotations at Num. 6 on verse 25; and Num. 6 on verse 26.
4O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou 16be angry against the prayer of thy people?
16 Hebr. wilt thou smoke; that is, be angry, rejecting our prayer in great anger. It is a similitude or comparison taken from the face of those who are extremely angered. See Psalm 74:1.
517Thou feedest them 18with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in 19great measure.
17 That is, Thou feedest us. See Psalm 42:3.
18 The sense of these words is: that affliction is as common to them as their meat and drink, and that they are visited with very great and sensible grievances. Or, tear-bread, that is, bread dipped in tears, or tears instead of bread, as Psalm 42:3.
19 Or, a great measure. The Hebrew word signifies a certain measure, of either liquid, as here, or dry wares, as it seems to be used Isa. 40:12, which held three ordinary measures, of which size is unknown to us.
6Thou makest us 20a strife unto 21our neighbours: andb our enemies 22laugh among themselves.
20 That is, they contend with and thwart against us daily. Or, they contend among themselves who shall have the honor to subdue us.
21 Namely, the Edomites, as Psalm 79:4, and other wicked people.
bPsalm 44:13; 79:4.
22 Namely, about us, when they see us in troubles.
723Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
23 See verse 3.
8Thou hast brought a 24vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out 25the heathen, and planted 26it.
24 Thus he calls the church and the people of Israel, as also Isa. 5:1, 7; Jer. 2:21; Mat. 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9.
25 Understand here the seven nations of the Canaanites. See the book Joshua; Psalm 44:2; 78:55.
26 Namely, the vine, Exod. 15:17; Psalm 44:2.
9Thou 27preparedst room before it, and 28didst cause it to take deep root, and it 29filled the land.
27 That is, Thou hast driven and thrust out the Canaanites before their face, Exod. 23:28; Joshua 24:12. See the annotation on Gen. 24:31, touching the signification of the Hebrew word, which properly is to clean, to scour, to sweep out.
28 That is, to grow deep and firm in the ground.
29 Namely, with its branches.
1030The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly 31cedars.
30 The psalmist implies that the people of Israel was mightily multiplied throughout all the land of Canaan.
31 That is, cedar trees, very large and very tall. See the annotation Gen. 13:10. In Psalm 36:6 you have the great mountains, that is, very great and lofty ones. Or, the cedar trees of God signify here, cedar trees planted by God Himself, as Psalm 104:16.
1132She sent out her boughs 33unto the sea, and her branches 34unto the river.
32 Namely, the vine, that is, the people of God, the people of Israel.
33 Namely, unto the Mediterranean Sea, as Psalm 72:8.
34 Namely, Euphrates, as Psalm 72:8.
12Why hast thou then broken down 35her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
35 That is, his forts or strongholds, which are broken through, as such the entire land lies open to the prey of his enemies. See Psalm 89:40, 41; Isa. 5:5.
1336The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and 37the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
36 Thus he calls the enemies and persecutors of God’s people, as Psalm 68:30, which were then especially the Assyrians and the Babylonians, as we read 2 Kings 17:6; 25:1.
37 Hereby may be understood the wild beasts wherewith God threatened His people, Lev. 26:22. Or, the fierce and cruel tyrants, as likewise are implied by the wild boars before mentioned. See Job 4 on verse 11.
1438Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and 39visit this vine;
38 Namely, unto our assistance, which Thou, being enraged against us, hast withheld so long from us.
39 See the annotation Gen. 21 on verse 1; Job 5:24.
15And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the 40branch that 41thou madest strong for thyself.
40 Understand here the Son of God. Compare Psalm 2:7; Isa. 9:6; Dan. 9:17, and here below verse 17. Others understand by the branch here a young sprout, and apply it to Israel or the church of God.
41 Compare Isa. 49:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, etc. Other, (sprout) which thou madest great and strong for thy glory, and to enjoy the fruit thereof.
1642It is burned with fire, it is cut down: 43they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
42 Namely, the vineyard, verse 15, or the vine, as verse 8.
43 Namely, the people, notably Thy people Israel (of whom is spoken here) how they fared, when Thou dost set Thy face against them to pronounce the curse against them. See the annotation at Psalm 9 on verse 5.
17Let 44thy hand be 45upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
44 Understand this verse of the Son of God, the Messiah, of Whom was spoken in verse 15. Thy hand be upon him, that is, be with Him, support Him and promote His kingdom. See the like kind of expression Ezra 7:6, etc. and compare Psalm 118:25; Isa. 11:2, 3; 61:1; Acts 10:38.
45 That is, Him Whom Thou lovest as Thy right hand. See Gen. 35:18. Or, the Man that is Thy neighbour or Companion, Zech. 13:7 (as being Thine eternal Son) and by Whom Thou dost stretch forth Thy power, hast created, maintainest and governest all things, John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2, 3, and to Whom Thou hast said: Sit thou at my right hand, etc. Psalm 110:1, called the son of man Psalm 8:4; Heb. 2:6, 9, and throughout the entire New Testament, according as He appeared likewise, Dan. 7:13. By this man (as also by the son of man in the following words) some understand the people of Israel, whom is likewise called God’s first born son, Exod. 4:22.
18So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
1946Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, 47cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
46 See verse 3.
47 See verse 3.