me not, neither forsake me, O God of my sal∣vation. Though my father and my mother [unspec 10] should forsake me, yet Iehovah would gather me. Teach me, Iehovah, thy way, and lead [unspec 11] me in the path of righteousnesse, because of my enviers. Give me not to the soule of my [unspec 12] distressers, for witnesses of falshood doe stand up against me, and he that breatheth violent wrong. Except I had beleeved to see the [unspec 13] goodnesse of Iehovah in the land of the living. Earnestly expect thou for Iehovah, be con∣firmed, [unspec 14] and let thine heart wax strong; and earnestly expect thou for Iehovah.
Annotations.
OF David] the Greeke addeth, before hee was [unspec 1] anointed. my light] that is, my comfort, joy, &c. So God and Christ are often called the light or illumination of his people, Mic. 7. 8. Esas. 16. 19, 20. and 10. 17. Luk. 1. 79. and 2. 32. Rev. 21. 23. Ioh. 1. 4. and 8. 12. The Chaldee expoun∣deth it, The word of the Lord is my light. the strength] or strong fort, fortification: see Psal. 28. 8.
Vers. 2. made battell] or came neere against me, to wit, in fight. So this word is used for battell, [unspec 2] Psal. 55. 19, 22. my enemies to me] a vehement manner of speech (as 2 Sam. 22. 2. my deliverer to me:) noting against whom in speciall their ha∣tred was bent.
Vers. 3. if war] that is, warriers, or an-armie, [unspec 3] as the word is used, Iosh. 8. 11. See also Psal. 76. 4.
Vers. 4. One thing] or One request, as is expres∣sed, [unspec 4] 1 King. 2. 20. 1 Sam. 2. 20. For such want of words to be supplied, see the notes on Psal. 10. 10. that I may sit] that is, dwell, or abide. to view the pleasantnesse] to see the pleasantnesse or ame∣nitie of Iehovah, and consequently to enjoy it. The Tabernacle had the figure and patterne of heavenly things in Christ, Hebr. 8. 5. which David in spirit here desireth to contemplate. The Hebrew phrase is, view in the pleasantnesse; and after in the 13. vers. see in the goodnesse; which signifieth to have the frui∣tion, use, and enjoying of pleasure and goodnesse, Eccles. 2. 1. And as to seeke in Iehovah, 2 Chron. 34. 26. is to seeke Ichovah, 2 King. 22. 18. so to see in the good, is to see the good, and enjoy it. So in Psal. 106. 5. and 128. 5. and 50. 23. to inquire] or seeke early, that is, diligently.
Vers. 5. will keepe privily] or hide me, that is, keepe [unspec 5] me safe as in the most holy of his Sanctuary, into which none might enter, Levit. 16. 2. called therefore Gods hidden place, Ezek. 7. 22. and his Saints are his hidden ones, Psal. 83. 4.
Vers. 6. sacrifices of shouting] or of triumph, of [unspec 6] joyfull sounding and alarme. This hath respect to the law, which appointed over the sacrifices, trum∣pets to be sounded, Numb. 10. 10. whose chiefest, most loud, joyfull and triumphant sound was called Trughnah, Triumph, alarme or Iubilation; Numb. 10. 5, 6, 7. So to other instruments this triumphant noise is adjoyned, Psal. 33. 3. and is applied some∣time to mans voice or shouting, Ios. 6. 5. 1 Sam. 4. 5. Ezra 3. 11. See also Psal. 89. 16. and 47. 6. and 81. 2. and 100. 1.
Vers. 8. seeke yee my face] an unperfect speech, [unspec 8] which wee may supply and explaine thus, (thou saidest) seeke yee my face; and this thy commande∣ment my heart minded, and spake of to thee in my ten∣tations; and I made it a ground of my action and re∣quest following. See a much like defect of a word, in 1 King. 20. 34. To seeke the face, is of desire to see, heare, and know, 1 King. 10. 24. and to pray and aske counsell in doubts and distresses, &c. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Hos. 5. 15. So Psal. 105. 4.
Vers. 10. Though my father &c. should] see the [unspec 10] like in Esay 49. 15. Or, For my father &c. have for∣saken me, but Iehovah will gather me, that is, receive and take me to him. So the word gathering is also used, Judg. 19. 15. Ios. 20. 4. Mat. 23. 37. He mea∣neth that God would be a father unto him.
Vers. 12. to the soule] that is, to the will, lust, or [unspec 12] desire. So Soule is for will, Psal. 41. 3. and 105 22. Ezek. 16. 27. and for lust, Psal. 78. 18. the Chal∣dee expoundeth it the will. that breatheth] or puffeth out. See Psal. 10. 5.
Vers. 13. Except I had beleeved] an unperfect [unspec 13] speech; where we may understand, I should have fainted, or They had overthrowne me, if I had not be∣leeved: but the Greeke saith, I beleeve to see the good things of the Lord. Land of the living] that is, where men live in this world, and in speciall, the land of Canaan, the seat of Gods Church, Ezek. 26. 20. So Psal. 52. 7. and 116 9. and 142. 6. Iob 28. 13. For by death, men are said to be cut out of the land of the living, Esay 53. 8. and 38. 11. Jer. 11. 19. but the Chaldee expounds it, the land of life eternall: and that was figured by the land of Canaan.
Vers. 14. be confirmed] be comfortable, hold fast, [unspec 14] (as the Greeke hath) be manly, or, quit thee as a man; which word the Apostle useth, 1 Cor. 16. 13. These are the words of incouragement against remisnesse, feare, faintnesse of heart, or other infirmities, as Deut. 31. 6, 7. Ios. 10. 25. 1 Chron. 22. 13. Dan. 10. 19. let thy heart wax strong] so also the Greeke turneth it: or we may reade it, he will strengthen thy heart. So after in Psal. 31. 25.