Annotations upon the five books immediately following the historicall part of the Old Testament (commonly called the five doctrinall or poeticall books) to wit, the book of Iob, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon ... / by Arthur Jackson ...

PSALM CI.

Vers 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgement, &c.] Two severall waies this promise of David is expounded by Interpreters, and both seem very probable: to wit, 1. that David doth here promise to praise God for his goodnesse and mercy to his penitent servants, and for his judgements executed upon the obstinate and rebellious; or more particularly for the judgement which God had executed upon Saul, (for some conceive that this Psalm was composed when Saul was newly cut off by the Philistines) or which he knew God would execute upon him, and the mercy which he had shewn to himself, in preserving him from the rage of Saul, and haply for opening such a fair way for the settling of him in the throne of Israel; or at least the mercy which he knew God would shew him, in bringing him to the kingdome long since promised him: and then the follow∣ing clause is clear; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing, that is, I will speak of these things to thy praise and glory: Or 2. that David doth here undertake, that he would in this Psalm, as it were by way of a vow to God, and a solemn protestation before all the Church, declare with what clemency and justice he meant to govern the kingdome, when he should be settled in the throne; how gentle and good every way he would be to the good, and how zealous to punish the wicked. And if we take it thus, which seems most agreeable to the sequele of the Psalm, then the mea∣ning of the following clause seems to be this; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing, that is, I will in my song thus engage my self, out of a desire thereby to glorify thee, by whom only I was appointed to so great honour, and by whose grace only I hope to be enabled thus to govern the kingdome.

Vers. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way, &c.] To wit, by avoiding what ever is evil with all possible circumspection. And indeed this is expresly af∣firmed of David in his private life, 1 Sam. 18.14. And David behaved himself wisely in all his waies.

O when wilt thou come unto me?] To wit, to assist me with thy grace herein; or rather, to settle me in the kingdome promised me, that I may then make good

what I now promise. As for the following clause, I will walk within mine house with a perfect heart, that which is intended thereby seems to be this, that he would walk holily and righteously, not in publick only, but even within his own walls, his court or his private house, so that even those of his own family should not be a∣ble to lay any evil to his charge; yea and that he would be watchfull to keep his own houshold too from every scandalous way.

Vers. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.] That is, say some, I will not make any evil course of other men a pattern for me to follow. But rather I take it thus, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes, to wit, neither by desire, nor purpose, no, nor by suffering it, so near as I can, to come into my thoughts.

Vers. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me, &c.] The meaning of this may be, that he would not allow in himself that perverse, rebellious spirit, whereto na∣turally he was enclined; or else, that he would not converse with those that were of a froward spirit; which indeed agrees best with the following clause (according to our translation) I will not know a wicked person, that is, I will not own any such, nor shew them the least respect or favour.

Vers. 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off, &c.] To wit, by casting them out of his house, or out of his court, yea and in some cases by put∣ting them to death, according as was by Gods law appointed, Deut. 19.16, 21. And though David speaks here only of some particular vices, which he would not endure in those that were about him; (and he instanceth in those that are most pernicious in such persons as are about kings) yet under these all other wicked men are comprehended.

Vers. 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land, that they may dwell with me, &c.] That is, say some Expositours, I will be watchfull over such for their defence, that they may dwell safely with me in my kingdome. But rather the meaning of these words is, that he would be very circumspect not to take any, but such as were known faithfull men, to be his familiar friends, his counsellors, officers of state, or houshold-servants: not resting merely in the choice of these upon the report of others, but diligently observing himself who were such; and then taking them, of what parentage and condition soever they were, to be imployed by him, both in his publick and domestick affairs. For hereto agrees the following clause, he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Vers. 7. He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house, &c.] That is, Though such may get into my court or private family, yet being discovered they shall not stay there.

Vers. 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, &c.] To wit, all such ma∣lefactours as commit wickednesse worthy of death; I will not only banish such out of my court, but will utterly destroy them: that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord; that is, from the Church of God; or, if we understand it of Jerusalem, then doubtlesse the drift of these words is to imply, that his chief end in resolving to cut them off was, that such vile wretches might not pollute Gods dwelling-place, when all Israel was to resort thither from all places of the land, and so bring a reproach upon the Name of God, his truth and people. And

indeed some think that expression, I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, is used in allusion to the custome of womens sweeping their houses every morning, or to that of magistrates sitting in the judgement-seat betimes in the morning, of which some understand that place Jer. 21.12. O house of David, saith the Lord, execute judge∣ment in the morning, &c.