Psalms 27

It is apparent from the Body of this Psalm, that David was not yet fully delivered from the Trouble which his Enemies gave him, both by their Slaunders and other ways. But whether it belong to that History which is recorded, 2 Sam. 21. 15, 16, 17. as the Jews conceive, whom some others follow, is wholly uncertain, and not necessary for us to know.

THe LORD is my light (i. e.) My Counsellor in all my Difficulties, and my Comforter and Deliverer in all my Distresses., and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life (i. e.) The supporter and preserver of my Life., of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes came upon me to... at up my flesh Greedy to devour me at one Morsel. Comp. Iob. 19. 22 and 31. 31., they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this In that which I have now said, that God is my light, &c. v. 1. and in the Experience of his Favour and Protection, v. 2. will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD Though I am exercised with many Troubles, there is but one thing that I am very solicitous for, or of, and that is not Victory, and Triumphs over all mine Enemies, assured Peace and Settlement in my Throne, the Wealth and Pleasure, and Glory of enlarging, or Ruling my Empire: Or, i... I have any desire to any of those things, it is chiefly for sake of that which... ere follows., that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my Life That I may not be di... in driven from the Sanctuary, and worship of as I have been, but may have Opportunity of constant upon God., to behold the beauty of the LORD That there I may Exercise and De... my self, in the Contempl... tion of thy amiable and glo..., and of thy Wisdom, Holiness, Justice, Grace and Mercy, and other Perfections, which, in a great measure from the World, are clearly in thy Church, and Ordinances., and to enquire Or, diligently, God's face and Favour: Or his Mind and Will, and my own Duty: Or, the Lords beauty, last mentioned, which is discovered more or less, as men are diligent, or negli... ent in seeking or enquiring into it. in his temple (i. e.) In his; which he here and elsewhere calls his Temple, because it was the same thing for Substance; and because his Thoughts and Affections did constantly and eagerly run out upon the Temple, and since he was not permitted to build the thing, he would at least take occasion to solace himself with the Name, and thereby to enter his Protest, of his earnest desire to build it, if God had seen it fit..

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me Or, has hid me: Or, useth to hide me. Justly do I prize the House and Service of God so highly, both because I have such vast Obligations to him, for his former Protection and Favours, and because all my Hope and Confidence, and security depends upon him. in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle In his Tabernacle, into which mine Enemies cannot come, and a secret place in it, where, if they come, they cannot find me. Or, as it were (for the Note of... imilitude is oft understood) in the secret of his Tabernacle, (i. e.) In as safe a place, as the Holy of Holies, which is called Gods secret, Ezek. 7. 22 where none might come but the High-Priest, and he but one day in a year. He alludes to the antient Custom of Offenders, who used to flee to the Tabernacle or Altar, where they esteemed themselves safe, 1 Kings 2. 28. shall he hide me, he shall set me up upon a rock A place high and inaccessable, strong and impregnable..

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies He will advance me above them, and give me a complete Victory over them. round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy, Or, of shouting or resounding; (i. e.) Of Thanksgiving: Which were accompanied with the sound of Trumpets and other Instruments, Numb. 10. 10. 1 Chron. 16. 41, 42. Psal. 33. 3. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voyce: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst Either by thy Word, Commanding aud inviting me so to do: Or by thy Spirit, directing and inclining me to it., seek ye my face (i. e.) Seek my Presence and Favour, and Help, by Fervent and faithful Prayer.; my heart said unto thee My heart readily and thankfully Comp... ed with the Motion; and upon the Incouragement of this Command, or Invitation and Promise couched in it, I resolved I would do so, and do so at this time. But this Verse is a little otherwise rendred by divers learned Men. And the words lye in another Order, in the Hebrew Text, which runs thus: To thee my Heart said, Thou hast said, (Which Verb may well be understood here, as it is also, 1 Kings 20. 34. and as divers other Verbs are understood in the sacred Text, as Levit. 24. 8. 2 Sam. 18. 12. and 23. 17. Compare with 1 Chron. 11. 19. and in many other places: which is not strange in so Conci... e and short a Language, as the Hebrew is) Seek ye my Face, (This is thy great Command, so oft and so Vehemently urged, as containing the very Substance and Foundation of all true Piety) Thy face Lord I will seek. I cheerfully do, and will Obey thy Command therein: Or the Verse may be thus translated without any Supplement, which, where it can be done, is Confessedly the best way of Translation, Concerning thee (as the Particle Lamed is oft used: Or, For; or, Instead of thee, as it is unquestionably used, Gen. 11. 3. Exod. 13. 16. Prov. 21. 18. (i. e.) In thy Name and Words, and according to thy Mind) My Heart said, (To wit,... o, or within my self, as the Word said, is frequently taken, (i. e.) I seriously consider within my self, this following Command of thine oft Inculcated in thy Word, and press it upon my own Conscience) Seek ye my Face; Thy Face Lord will I seek. Thou commandest it, and I will Obey thee therein., thy face, LORD will I seek.

Hide not thy Which I in Obedience to thy Command am now seeking. from me,... ut not thy servant away To wit, from thy Face or Presence, or the place of thy Worship: 1. From which he either now was, or formerly had been driven two ways, God and he might be parted, either by God's departure, or withdrawing from him, which he might... o even in the plcce of Worship or by God's putting him away from Presence. Against the first he seems to his Prayer in the first Clause, and against the Latter in. i...: tho... hast been my help, leave me not, me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me Or, me, as being unable to Help me, and rather a Burden than an Help to me; f... r which Reason, D... id desired them to leave him, and disposed of them in another place, 1 Sa.... 22. Or, his Father and Mother were now Dead. Or, by his Father and Mother he may signifie his near Relations and Friends, which forsook him in the time of Trouble, as men usually do. Or, the Words may be rendred, Though my Father and Mother should forsake me., then Or, yet, as the Hebrew frequently signifies. the LORD will me up Or, will receive m..., to wit, to himself, as this Verb is used. Io.... 20. 4. Iudg. 19. 15. Mat. 23. 37..

Teach me thy way (i. e.) What Course I shall take to please thee, and to discharge my Duty, and to save my self from Ruine., O LORD, and lead me in a plain path Of which see the Note, on Psal. 26. 2 where the Hebrew words are the same., because of mine enemies That I may neither open their Mo... hs against me or Religion, by my Miscarriages, nor fall into their Hands, by my folly, nor give them any Occasion of Triumphing ouer me..

Deliver me not over unto the will Or, Lust or Desire: Heb. Soul: which is so taken, Psal. 41. 2. and 78. 18. Ezek. 16. 2.... of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breath out cruelty He presseth his Request from the quality of his Enemies, who were both fal... e and Cruel, and in both Respects hateful to God, and Men..

I had fainted These words are added to complete the Sense: For the Speech is abrupt and Imperfect, as is very usual, not only in the Holy Scripture, but in many other Authors, in all vehement Passions or Commotions of mind, such as David was in at this time. Having declared what perfidious and cruel Enemies, did now assault and encompass him, he now subjoyns what impression the Thoughts thereof made upon him, and speaks like one that wanted Words to express, how sad and desperate his Condition would have been, if he had not been supported by Faith in God's promises., unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD To enjoy (which is oft expressed by seeing) the Mercy which God has promised me. in the land of the living (i. e.) In this World, which is oft so called, as Iob 28. 13. Psal. 52 5. and 116. 9. and 142. 5. Isa. 38. 11. and 53. 8. Ier. 11. 19. Ezek. 32. 32. and is opposed to the Grave, which is the place of the Dead. And David was thus earnestly desirous of this Mercy in this Life, not because he placed his Portion in these things, which he so solemnly Disclaims, Psal. 17. 14. but because the Truth and Glory of God, were highly concerned in making good the Promise of the Kingdom made to him..

Wait on the LORD O my Soul: to which he now turneth his Speech; as he frequently does in this Book.: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart He will uphold thee, and keep thee from fainting and sinking under thy Burdens.: wait, I say, on the LORD.