Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/4_200.lzh/4_203.TXT

Text File | 1994-09-08 | 6KB | 117 lines

KIMCHI says their Rabbins are divided about this
psalm. Some understand it of David; others of the
Messiah: but, with us Christians, there ought to be
no doubt of its belonging to the Messiah; since our
I. ord has quoted a passage out of it, and applied it to
himself, vet. 22, 23. see Matt. xxi. 42. and so has the
Apostle Peter, Acts iv. 11. Nor did the Jews of those
times object thereunto, which doubtless they would
have done, had the psalm respected any other but the
Messiah; yea, the common people that artended Christ
when he entered into Jerusalem, and the children in
the temple, took their hosannah from hence, ver.
26. see Matt. xxi. 9, 15. It is generally thought to be
written by David, after he was established in the king-
dom, and had brought the ark of the Lord into the
city. It concludes the great Hallel, or hymn sung at the
Jewish festivals; particularly at the feasts of tabernacle
and the passover.
Ver. 1. 0 give thanks unto the Lord, &c.] For all
his mercies, temporal and spiritual; as all should, who
are partakers of them: thiSshould be done always, and
for all things, in the name of Christ; it is but reason-
ableservice. For he is good; in himself, and to others:
is essentially and diffusively good; the fountain of all
goodness, and the author of all good things. Because
his mercy endurethfor ever; in his own heart, and in
his covenant; his grace and loving-kindness displayed
in Christ; the blessings and promises of it, which are
the sure mercies of David: these always remain, not-
withstanding the unworthiness of his people; and
though he hides his face sometimes from them, and
chastises them; see Psal, cvi. 1. and cvii. 1. the good-
ness and mercy of God were seen in setting David on
the throne; and abundantly more in giving Christ to
be the SaySour of his people; for both which thanks
should be given, and the kindness acknowledged, by
the persons mentioned in the following verses.
Ver. 2. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth
for ever.] Let such who have had an experience of it
acknowledge and declare it to others; not only believe
in it with their hearts, and privately give thanks for it,
but with the mouth make confession of it to the glory
of divine grace; not only literal Israel, whom the Lord
brought out of Egypt, led and fed in the wilderness,
and settled in the land of Canaan; and to whom the
law and the' services of God, the covenants and pro-
mises, word and ordinances, belonged; and who now
were so happy under the government of such a king as
David; but also the spiritual Israel of God,. the whole
Israel of God, Jews and Gentiles, under the Gospel
dispensation; the Israel whom God has chosen, Christ
has redeemed, and the Spirit etYectua!ly calls and
sanctifies; such who are Israelites indeed, who have
been encouraged to hope in the Lord, and in his
mercy, and are made partakers of it; these should
speak of the grace and mercy of God, and the con-
tinuance of it, for the encouragement of others.
Ver. 3. Let the house of Aaron now 'say, that his
mercy endurethfor ever.]. The priests and Levites that
blessed the people, and taught them the knowledge of
divine things; but not these literally, at least not only
these, since the priesthood of Aaron is changed, and
the law of it abrogated, and all believers are now
priests unto God, and offer up spiritual sacrifices to
him; and particularly the sacrifice of praise for his
grace and mercy, the perpetuity of which they should
publish and proclaim all abroad.
Ver. 4. Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his
mercy endurethfor ever.] Not the proselytes to the
Jewish religion only, but all that feared the Lord
among all people, as A ben Ezra observes; such as fear
the Lord and his goodness, and have had anexperiencc
of his grace and mercy, which has caused them to fear
him; and to whom the mercy of God is great, and on
whom it is from everlasting to everlasting; and there-
fore should speak well of it, and set their seal to it,
that it abides for ever; see Psal. ciii. 11.17.
Ver. 5. I called upon the Lord in distress, &c.] Or
out of that ,trait{q}; when David was encompassed by
Saul and his men, or when at the court of Achish, or
when his own people talked of stoning him. As this
may respect the Messiah, it may design his distresses
in the garden, when surrounded with sorrow, and being
in an agony prayed the more earnestly, and his sweat
was as it were great drops of blood; and may be applied
to his members, as it often is their case to be in distress,
straits and difficulties, through outward afflictions and
pressures, inward corruptions, temptations, and de-
sertions, and through 'the low exercise of grace; when
they are as it were imprisoned, and so straitened they
cannot come forth in the free exercise of it; at all
which seasons prayer is necessary; and nothing is more
proper than to call upon the Lord, which 'is both duty
and privilege, and often artended with success, as
follows. The Lord answersd me, and set me in a large
place; as he did David, when he delivered him from
all his troubles, placed him on the throne of Israel, and
gave him rest from all his enemies round about; see
Psal. xxxi. 8. And so he did the Messiah, when he
raised him from the dead, received him to heaven,
where he sits at the right of God in human nature: this
is a large place indeed, large enough for the innumera-
ble company of angels, and for all the saints, for
whom everlasting habitations and mansions of bliss are
preparing by him; and which is the glories liberty of
the children of God; see Psal. xviii. 19. and these also,
upon calling on the Lord in distress, are heard and-
answered, and brought into large places, where they
walk at liberty; so at first conversion, when distressed
about their souls, and cry for help, they are answered
and brought out of the pit, and have their feet set upon
a rock and their goings established; and when at other
times their grace is drawn forth into exercise, their
souls are enlarged in duty, are favoured with large

{q} \^rumh Nm\^ ex ipso angore, Junius & Tremellius; ex illa angustia, Michaelis.