Verse 1. Of the sons of Jonadab. The Rechabites, of whom see Jeremias 35. By this addition of the seventy-two interpreters, we gather that this psalm was usually sung in the synagogue, in the person of the Rechabites, and of those who were first carried away into captivity. Challoner.—This first captivity happened under Joakim, A.Menochius. 3398, the second, under Jechonias, 3405, and the last, when the city was destroyed and Sedecias w as taken, 3416. Usher.—The Rechabites entered Jerusalem a little before the first of these events, and set the people an example of obedience by submitting to Nabuchodonosor, as Jeremias directed. Bellar. Menochius.—S. Jerom considers their being confined within the walls, as their first captivity. Ep. ad Paul. and ad Rust.—But there is nothing in this title in Hebrew Euseb. and so forth and several copies of the Septuagint acknowledge the same; ( Calmet.) so that it is of no great authority. Bert.—The psalm contains the sentiments of the captives, (Theod.) or of David, persecuted by his son: and in a more sublime sense, of Jesus Christ, complaining of treason and cruelty. Calmet.—All the saints, under persecution, may adopt the same language. Bert.—Hoped. These three verses are almost exactly the same. Psalms 30. Bias “being asked what was sweet to men, answered, hope.” Laert. 1.—Vain is the salvation of man. But hope confoundeth not. Psalms 59:13. Romans 5:5. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 2. Justice. Or mercy. Psalms 30:1. I have not injured Absalom, and so forth Calmet.—God avengeth the injuries done to his servants. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 3. Refuge. The parallel passage seems more complete ( Calmet.) in Hebrew, some letters of which may have been altered, since the time of the Septuagint Yet the sense is nearly the same. Bert.—“Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort. Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” Prot. Bible.
Psalms
Verse 4. Unjust. Achitophel and Absalom. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 5. Patience. Confiding on thee, I lost not patience; (Saint Augustine Worthington.) or rather, (Amama) all my expectations are from thee. Psalms 61:6. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 6. Art my. Hebrew “hast taken me,” ( Bible.) or “cut the navel string.” Ezekiel 15:4. Thou hast acknowledged me for thy son, by taking me upon thy knee, as soon as I was born. Genesis 50:22. Psalms 21:11.
Psalms
Verse 7. Wonder. My exaltation, ( Calmet.) and present misery, ( Worthington. Menochius.) fill all with astonishment. Bible. Isaiah 8:18 and 11:10.—God often made his prophets bear about the signs of his vengeance on others. Isaiah 19:20. Calmet.—Christ was a sign of contradiction, which shall be contradicted. Lu. 2:34. Bible.—He was looked upon as a prodigy. Euseb. Saint Augustine—Helper. He gives all the glory to God. Calmet.—None can persevere without his grace. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 9. Old age. Absalom rebelled when his father was grown old. Calmet.—Against the dangers of our last conflict, ( Bible.) Christ has instituted Extreme Unction. Worthington.
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Verse 10. Watched. My guards, (Ferrand) or rather my enemies. Calmet.
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Verse 11. Him. Thus the world commonly judges of those in distress. It was known that David sinned; but none could tell that God was now punishing him rather than putting his virtue to the trial. “Upbraid not the miserable,” said Thales.
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Verse 13. Detract. Hebrew “are satans,” or “adversaries,” during my trial. The Fathers say these are predictions. Psalms 34:4. Calmet.—David certainly wished to spare the chief of the rebels, and host probably speaks of his spiritual enemies. Bert.
Psalms
Verse 14. Praise. To perform good works, and to praise God, is the best way to advance in virtue. Worthington.
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Verse 15. Learning. As much as to say, I build not upon human learning, but only upon the power and justice of God. Challoner. Worthington.—I have not leisure to write a canticle at present, as the word known intimates. Psalms 13:3 and 73:9. But I will do it hereafter, and record the praises which I now proclaim. Some would translate, “I know not the number” of thy mercies. Bert.—This sense is adopted by the Chal. Theod. and so forth See Psalms 39:6. Yet it seems more probable, that David acknowledges his inability to speak to God as he deserves, though he promises to do his best to shew the utmost respect. So Solomon confessed his ignorance, (Proverbs 30:2) and Socrates asserted, that all his knowledge consisted in the conviction of his complete ignorance. If this be true with respect to human science, how much more so is it, when we speak of God, ( Bible.) and attempt to dive into the holy Scriptures? Geneb.—David meditated on the law continually. Psalms 1:2. Calmet.—Yet he admits, that he stands in need of a guide ( Bible.) and must enter into the sanctuary, to penetrate such high mysteries. Psalms 72:17. Saint Augustine and Eusebius understand, that the letter of the Mosaic law is incapable of insuring salvation. Calmet.—This text has been abused, to encourage ignorance, as Amama (p. 502.) complains with respect to the Prot. pulpits and colleges abroad. Know gives a dreadful picture, of their universities in England. Bible.—“With the unlearned Anabaptists and fanatics, such may perhaps conclude, that they will thus more easily approach to God,” (Tarnov.) and “may boast, that they have been instructed in the school of the holy Spirit,” θεοδικατοι, “when they boldly ascend the pulpit, and adduce texts from Scripture, it matters not whether right or wrong.” Amama.—Is not this generally the case among those who broach new religions? Bible.—Septuagint Vat. reads, πραγματειας, “mercantile affairs.” But the Vulg. follows the edition of Aldus, and so forth γραμματειας. Bert.—A similar variation occurs, 1 Ezra 8. The former reading is adduced by the Fathers, and by Gelasius, (dist. 88.) who hence condemns clergymen engaging in merchandise, (Amama) as it was contrary to their calling: and formerly at least, very dangerous for any honest man. Bible.—David had not received a polite education, and he disapproved of Achitophel’s worldly prudence. Menochius.
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Verse 17. Till now. Here the stop should be placed. Bert. Calmet.—The verb may also be explained in the past time, “till now I have declared.” Bert.
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Verse 19. The great things. Thou hast even punished the rebel angels. Menochius.
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Verse 20. Me. Hebrew “us.” Yet Prot. and so forth retain the singular, as the context requires. Bert.—Earth. To which I seem to be consigned, ( Bible.) being in the greatest distress. It may be understood of Christ’s return from hell, and from the grave. Psalms 68:17. Calmet.
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Verse 21. Thy. Hebrew and Syr. “my.” Thou hast raised me to the highest honours. Saint Augustine and so forth read “thy justice.” Calmet.—Houbigant prefers the Vulg. Bert.
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Verse 24. Meditate. Or, utter my most serious reflections. Calmet.