Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/4_200.lzh/4_266.TXT

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with a foil his glory; being like the apple-tree among
the trees of the wood, Cant. ii. 3.
Ver. 7. lVe will go into his tabernacles, &c.] The
tabernacles of him that was heard of at Ephratah;
born in Bethdehem, and found in the ministry of the
word among the Gentiles: enter into his churches,
raised and formed there, which are the tabernacles or
dwelling-places of Christ; where he has his residence,
takes his walks, and dwells; and which are very lovely,
amiable, and pleasant, and so desirable by believers to
go into; because of the presence of God in them, the
provisions there made for them, the company there
enjoyed; the work there done, prayer, praise, preach-
ing, and hearing the word, and administration of all
ordinances. Some render it as a mutual exhortation,
let us go into his tabernacles {w}; see Isa. ii. 2, 3. We
will worship at his footstool ; any place of worship on
earth may be called the footstool of God, with respect
to heaven his throne, Isa. lxvi. 1. particnlarly the ark
is so called, 1 Chron. xxviii. 2. in which the law was;
over which was the mercy-seat, and over that the che-
rubim of glory, and between them the Majesty of
God dwelt; so that the ark was properly his footstool:
and all this being typical of Christ may direct us to
observe, that all religious, spiritual, and evangelic
worship, is to be performed in his name, and in the
faith of him, and by the assistance of his grace and
spirit; see Psal. xcix. 5.
Ver. 8. Arise, 0 Lord, into thy rest, &c.] Which
words, and what follow, were used by Solomon at the
dedication of the temple; and with which he con-
cluded his prayer, 2 Chron. vi. 41, 42. and so may be
a request to the Lord, that he would take up his re-
sidence in the temple built for him, where he would
have a firm and stable place of rest; who, fi'om the time
of Israel's coming out of Egypt, had not dwelt in a
house; but had walked in a tent or tabernacle from
place to place, 2 Sam. vi. 6. and that he would take
up his abode in his church, the antitype of the temple,
and rest. in his love there, and cause his people to rest
also; see yet. 13, 14. Thou, and the ark of thy strength;
the Targum is," thou, and the ark in which is thy
"law." This is sometimes called the strength of the
Lord; because by it he shewed his great strength in
destroying the enemies of his people, the Philistines
and others; see Psal. lxxviii. 61. and cv. 4. It was a
type of Christ, who is the power of God, and the
mighty God; and, as man, made strong by the Lord;
and, as Mediator, has all strength in him for his peo-
ple. And so the words may be considered as a request
to him, either to arise and enter into his rest in hea-
ven, having done his work of redemption and salva-
tion here on earth, for which he became incarnate;
or to grant his presence with his church, and take up
his rest there, and give them spiritual peace and rest
for their souls.
Ver. 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness,
&c.] In 2 Chron. vi. 41. it is, with salvation, as in
ver. 16. Either the ministers of the word; who may
be said to be clothed with righteousness when they
perform their work righteously, and faithfully dis-
pense the word, keep back nothing that is profitable,
and administer the ordinances according to the rules
of Christ; and when their lives and conversations are
agreeable to the Gospel they preach; see Job xxix. 14.
or else all true believers; who are priests as well as
kings unto God; and who are clothed with the robe of
Christ's righteousness; and with the internal graces of
the spirit, the new man created in righteousness and
true holiness; and with conversation-garments, be-
coming the Gospel, and their profession of it. And
let thy saints shout for joy; the Levites; thy holy ones,
as the Targum; so Kimchi, Arama, and others; the
singers in the temple: but rather the Lord's sanctified
ones, true believers under the Gospel dispensation,
are meant; who shout for joy, and have reason so to
do, at the incarnation of Christ, at his ascension to
heaven, at the Gospel preached by Iris ministers, and
at the robe of righteousness with which they are
clothed. In 2 Chron. vi. 41. it is, rejoice in goodness;
iu the goodness of the Lord; in the good things
stowed on them, or promised to them.
Vet. 10. For thy servant David'S sake, &c.] Not
for any virtues, or excellencies or merits, of David,
literally traderstood; rather for the sake of the cove-
nant and promises made with him: but for the sake
of the antitypical David, the Messiah, the son of
David according to the flesh, and the servant of the
Lord as Mediator; for whose sake, and in whose name,
prayers and supplications are made and presented.
Turn not away the face of thine anointed; not David;
rather Solomon, as the Targum expresses it; so
Jarchi: but any of the Lord's anointed, every Chris-
tian, or believer in Christ, is an anointed one;
and has received the unction from the holy One,
the oil of true grace. And the request is, that
God would not turn such away from him, and cause
them to depart from his throne of grace, ashamed
and disappointed; but hear and answer their pe-
titions, for his son's sake. In e Chron. vi. 4S. it is
added, remember the mercies of David thy servant;
the kind and good things promised to him, and per-.
form them.
Ver. 11. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David,
&c.] By Nathan the prophet; when he assured him
that his house, kingdom, and throne, should be esta-
blished for ever, 2 Sam. vii. 5, l2, 16. and though there
is no mention made of the oath of God, no doubt
there was one; or however his word was his oath., as
Kimchi observes: besides, the Apostle Peter is ex-
press for it that there was one, which was added to
his word for the confirmation of it; who is said to
swear by himself, because there is no greater; and
sometimes by one or other of his perfections, as by
his holiness elsewhere; so here in or by his truth, his
faithfulness, being the God of truth that cannot lie.
Or it may be rendered, the Lord hath sworn truth unto
David"; that which is truth: and we may be assured
he could not possibly assert or swear any thing else;
see Psal. lxxxix. 3, 4, 35, 49. He will not turn from

{w} So Tigurin version, Vatablus, Musculus, Gejerus, Cocceius,
Michaelis.
{x} \^tma-ebvn\^ juravit veritatem, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigu-
rine version, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis.