Look on - Without affording me pity or help. Darling - My soul, Heb. my only one; which is now left alone and forsaken by my friends, and hath none to trust in but God.
I will - When I shall be restored to the liberty of the publick assemblies.
For - They breathe out nothing but threatenings and war; they use not open violence but subtile artifices, against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably.
Wide - To pour forth whole floods of scoffs and slanders. ha - An expression of joy and triumph. Our eye - What we have long desired and hoped for.
This - Thou also hast seen, all their plots and threats, and all my distresses and calamities. Keep not - Be not deaf, to my prayers. The same word signifies, both to be silent, and to be deaf.
Awake - To plead my cause against mine adversaries.
No fear - When I consider the manifold transgressions of ungodly men, I conclude within myself, that they have cast off all fear of the Divine majesty.
Flattereth - He deceiveth himself with vain persuasions, that God does not mind his sins, or will not punish them. Found - Punish, as the same phrase is used, Numb 32:23.
Left off - Once he had some degrees of wisdom, but now he is become an open apostate.
Deviseth - Freely, from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it.
Thy mercy - Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness. Heavens - Is infinite and incomprehensible. Faithfulness - The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men. The clouds - Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend.
Mountains - Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men. Judgments - The executions of thy counsels. Deep - Unsearchable, as the ocean. Man - The worst of men; yea, the brute - beasts have experience of thy care and kindness.
Loving - kindness - Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable.
Satisfied - Who trust in thee, as he now said. Fatness - With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven. The river - Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity.
Life - It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us. But - Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name. Light - In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face. Light - Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed.
The foot - Of my proud and insolent enemies. Come - So as to overthrow me.
There - He seems as it were to point at the place, as if it were already done.
Fret not - Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes.
Commit - All thy cares and business, and necessities, commend to God by fervent prayer.
Judgment - It shall be as visible to men, as the light of the sun, at noon - day.
Rest - Do not repine at his dealings, but quietly submit to his will, and wait for his help.
Fret not - Either against the sinner for his success; or against God. Do evil - If grief arise in thee, take care that it do not transport thee to sin.
The earth - This for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the church.
Not be - He shall be dead and gone. Diligently - Industriously seeking him. His place - His place and estate, and glory.
But - Those who patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries. Peace - Partly of outward peace and prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: but principally of inward peace, in the sense of God's favour and the assurance of endless happiness.
His day - The day appointed by God for his punishment or destruction.
Knoweth - Observes with care and affection. The days - All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering. For ever - To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.
Fat - Which in an instant melts before the fire.
Established - So that he shall not fall into mischief.
Fall - Into trouble.
Forsaken - These temporal promises, were more express to the Jews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians.
Blessed - Not only with spiritual, but with temporal blessings.
Dwell - Thou shalt dwell in the land, and afterwards in heaven.
The mouth - Having shewed, God's singular care over the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them. Judgment - Of God's judgment, word or law.
Heart - His thoughts, meditations and affections are fixed upon it. Slide - Slide, or swerve, from the rule, from God's law.
Bay - tree - Which is continually green and flourishing even in winter.
Yet - He was gone in an instant. But - There was no monument or remainder of him left.
Peace - Though he may meet with troubles in his way, yet all shall end well.
Together - All without exception.
Arrows - Thy judgments outward and inward.
Sin - Which hath provoked thee to deal thus severely with me.
Iniquities - Or, the punishment of mine iniquities, as this word is frequently used. Are gone - Like deep waters wherewith I am overwhelmed.
Foolishness - Sin.
Disease - The disease might be some burning fever, breaking forth outwardly in carbuncles, or boils. It is true, this and the other expressions may be taken figuratively, but we should not forsake the literal sense of the words without necessity.
Deceit - They design mischief, but cover it with fair pretences.