Psalms 72

Verse 1. Asaph. See Psalms 49. We shall not undertake to decide whether he composed or only sung this psalm; (Bert.) or whether he lived under David or Josaphat, or rather during the captivity. Those who attribute all the psalms to David, get rid of many such inquires: but they are involved in other difficulties, ( Calmet.) which are not insurmountable. Bible.—How. Hebrew “Surely,” as if an answer was given to what had long troubled the author. Bert.—God is more excellent and beneficent ( Bible.) than any tongue can express. Worthington.

Verse 2. Slipt. I had almost yielded to temptation ( Menochius.) by denying Providence, ( Bible.) and following the broad road. Worthington.—Upon more mature reflection, ( Bible.) I am perfectly convinced that God is not indifferent about those who serve him, though he may have treated Israel with severity. Calmet.

Verse 3. Zeal. I was grieved, ( Menochius.) or even inclined to imitate the wicked; (see Matthew 3:14. Psalms 36. Jeremiah 12 and 21:7) though the whole book is intended to clear up this difficulty respecting the treatment of the good and bad in this life.

Verse 4. Regard. They are not restrained by the thoughts of death, ( Bible.) which they banish ( Worthington.) as much as possible. Prot. “There are no bands (“of pain.” Munst.) in,” and so forth Bible.—Stripes. They quickly remove their light afflictions. Worthington.—“And their halls are strong.” Saint Jerome—“Their strength is firm;” (Prot.) “fat.” Marg. Bible.—Septuagint follow another derivation, which is equally accurate. Bert.—The wicked die with content and ease, in an advanced age, falling off like ripe apples, without being torn violently away or bound. They look not on all sides to see if there be no escaping. Menochius.—Having enjoyed all the luxuries of life unto satiety, they are resigned to die, little suspecting what will follow. Bible.—They are like victims fattened for slaughter. Proverbs 7:22. Saint Augustine—A noted English deist had the assurance to say on his death-bed, and to have place on his tomb-stone, Dubius, sed non improbus vixi: securus morior, haud perturbatus! Bible.

Verse 5. Other men, who follow a more virtuous course ( Worthington.) than themselves. Their prosperity encourages their pride, and they indulge in every excess. Worthington.

Verse 7. Fatness. Abundance, and temporal prosperity, which have encouraged them in their iniquity; and made them give themselves up to their irregular affections. Challoner.—This sense is better than the modern Hebrew affords. Bert.—“Their eyes stand out with fatness.” Prot. Bible.—Into. Hebrew “the thoughts of the heart,” or their utmost expectations; ( Bible.) or “they have executed the devices of their heart;” which come to the same. Bert.—They have done what mischief they could. Worthington.

Verse 8. High. With impudence; ( Menochius.) boldly despising others, ( Worthington.) from their exalted station. Bert.—They even dare to contend with the Almighty. Bible.

Verse 9. Earth. Attacking men as well as God. Bert.

Verse 10. Return here; or hither. The weak among the servants of God will be apt often to return to this thought, and will be shocked when they consider the full days, that is, the long and prosperous life of the wicked; and will be tempted to make the reflections against Providence which are set down in the following verses. Challoner.—Prot. “his people return hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out for them.” S. Jerom saw nothing of waters. “And who among them shall be found full?” He also reads my people ( Bible.) better. It is difficult to understand the present Heb.: whereas the Septuagint is plain; as they found imi, days, instead of ume, “and who,” or “the waters.” Bert.—We may explain this of the sentiments which the captives should entertain ( Calmet.) at their return. Theod.—Asaph, seeing the impiety of the Babylonians, concluded that they would surely be punished, and Israel, being converted, would be put again in possession of their delightful country. Calmet.—The prosperity of the former will cause some to fall away, and their days will be full of misery, ( Worthington.) or they will ponder whole days on these things. Bert.

Verse 11. They. The weak, ( Worthington. Bert.) under this perplexity, or the wicked, said. Calmet.

Verse 13. And I said, is added by the Septuagint to connect the sentence. Bert.—Hebrew “truly in vain.”—Innocent. Keeping company with them, and avoiding evil. Psalms 25:6.

Verse 14. Mornings. Every day, ( Menochius.) or it comes quickly upon me. Bible.

Verse 15. If I said, and so forth That is, if I should indulge such thoughts as these. Challoner.—I should. Hebrew “the generation of thy children will say, that I have prevaricated.” Pagn.—Or, “I should offend against the,” and so forth Prot. Bible.—I should not be in unison with Abraham. Saint Augustine—I seem to declare them reprobates, and thy providence unjust. Calmet.—It was not thus that they thought and acted, when they were under trials; ( Bible.) or God chastiseth every son whom he receiveth. Worthington.—The psalmist begins thus to enter into himself, and to correct his mistake. Bert.

Verse 17. Sanctuary. The Church, which teaches all truth; or heaven, ( Menochius.) or the holy Scriptures, (Lyran.) or rather the counsels of God, which were disclosed to him, (verse 24) when he was sensible that the question was not to be answered satisfactorily by human reason. Calmet.—The last judgment will explain all. Bible.—In this life, we cannot know the particular causes why the just are afflicted. Worthington.—None but the high priest could enter into the Mosaic sanctuary. Calmet.—Religion alone, or the future world, can unfold these mysteries. There we shall learn, that the just require to be purified, and the the sinner’s conversion is expected to be the fruit of his reprieve, and of his temporal felicity, (Bert.) to which he may perhaps have had some title, for the few good works which he may have done. Bible.

Verse 18. Thou hast put it to them. In punishment of their deceits, or for deceiving them, thou hast brought evils upon them in their last end, which in their prosperity they never apprehended. Challoner.—Septuagint and so forth add, “thou hast placed evils.” Saint Ambrose reads, “goods.” Calmet.—Dolos, seems to form part of both sentences, “for deceits thou hast put deceits.” (Bert.—With the perverse, thou wilt be perverted. Psalms 17:27. Prot. “surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou callest them down into destruction;” ( Bible.) or, “when they were lifted up.” Do the rich think, that their prosperity may be an effect of God’s indignation? Calmet.—We are here informed, in general, that evils are prepared to punish sins. Worthington.—The wicked have risen by their crimes to such a slippery situation. Menochius.

Verse 20. City. In heaven. Calmet.—Hebrew also, “when thou shalt awake,” (Chal. Houbig. Bert.) and come to judge, after waiting a long time. Calmet.—Image. The splendour of worldlings is a mere phantom. Death will shew its vanity. Bible.—Their felicity is only imaginary. Worthington. Job 20:8. Isaiah 29. Psalms 75:6. Calmet.—Thou the wicked may live to a great age, (verse 4. Bible.) yet all time is short. Menochius.