--- title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible" author: "John Wesley" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 157 of 398 url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/157/ cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 157. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/157/" --- # John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible *John Wesley* Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse. ## 157. Psalms · 24 of 29 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/157/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/157/#p-N [¶0] Is good - Above the mercy of all the creatures. [¶1] When - Towards the evening, when the sun is setting. The locust - Which is easily driven away with every wind. [¶2] The Lord - God the father. Said - Decreed it from eternity, and in due time published this decree, and actually executed it; which he did when he raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion. Unto - Unto his son the Messiah, whom David designedly calls his Lord, to admonish the whole church, that although he was his son according to his human nature, yet he had an higher nature, and was also his Lord, as being God blessed for ever, and consequently Lord of all things. The Hebrew word Adon is one of God's titles, signifying his power and authority over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messiah, to whom God hath delegated all his power Matt 28:18. Sit - Now take thy rest and the possession of that sovereign kingdom and glory, which by right belongeth to thee; do thou rule with me with equal power and majesty, as thou art God; and with an authority and honour far above all creatures, as thou art man. Make - By my almighty power communicated to thee as God by eternal generation, and vouchsafed to thee as mediator. Enemies - All ungodly men, sin and death, and the devil. Footstool - Thy slaves and vassals. [¶3] The rod - Thy strong or powerful rod, and the rod is put for his scepter, or kingly power: but as the kingdom of Christ is not carnal, but spiritual, so this scepter is nothing else but his word. Zion - From Jerusalem. [¶4] People - Thy subjects, shall offer thee as their king and Lord, not oxen or sheep, but themselves, their souls and bodies, as living sacrifices, and as freewill - offerings, giving up themselves to the Lord, 2Cor 8:5, to live to him, and to die for him. The day - When thou shalt take into thy hands the rod of thy strength, and set up thy kingdom in the world. In the beauties - Adorned with the beautiful and glorious robes of righteousness and true holiness. The dew - That is, thy offspring (the members of the Christian church) shall be more numerous than the drops of the morning dew. [¶5] Sworn - That this priesthood might be made sure and irrevocable. [¶6] The Lord - God the son; the Lord, who is at thy right - hand. Strike - Shall destroy all those kings who are obstinate enemies to him. [¶7] Judge - Condemn and punish them. The places - Or, the place of battle. Dead bodies - Of his enemies. Heads - All those princes who oppose him. But this and the like passages are not to be understood grossly, but spiritually, according to the nature of Christ's kingdom. [¶8] Drink - He shall have a large portion of afflictions, while he is in the way or course of his life, before he comes to that honour of sitting at his father's right - hand. Waters in scripture frequently signify sufferings. To drink of them, signifies to feel or bear them. Therefore - He shall be exalted to great glory and felicity. [¶9] Sought - Diligently meditated upon. [¶10] Work - Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people. Righteousness - His justice or faithfulness in performing his word. [¶11] Remembered - By their own nature, and the lasting benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten. [¶12] Meat - All necessary provisions for their being and well - being. [¶13] The works - All that he doth on the behalf of his people, or against their enemies. Truth - Are exactly agreeable to his promises, and to justice. Commandments - His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law. Sure - Constant and unchangeable. [¶14] Done - Constituted or ordered. [¶15] Redemption - The deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type of that higher redemption by Christ. Commanded - Appointed, or established firmly by his power and authority. For ever - Through all successive generations of his people to the end of the world. Reverend - Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his peoples eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men. [¶16] The fear - True religion. Beginning - Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom. [¶17] Generation - The posterity. [¶18] Righteousness - The fruit or reward of his righteousness, which is God's blessing upon his estate. [¶19] Darkness - In the troubles and calamities of life. He - The upright man. [¶20] Lendeth - Gives freely to some, and lends to others according to the variety of their conditions. Affairs - His domestick affairs. Discretion - Not getting his estate unjustly, nor casting it away prodigally, nor yet withholding it from such as need it. [¶21] Moved - Though he may for a season be afflicted, yet he shall not be eternally destroyed. [¶22] Evil tidings - At the report of approaching calamities. [¶23] Dispersed - His goods, freely and liberally. Righteousness - His liberality, or the reward of it. Ever - What he gives is not lost, but indeed is the only part of his estate, which will abide with him to all eternity. [¶24] The desire - Either of the misery of good men; or of his own constant prosperity. [¶25] Humbleth - Who is so high, that it is a wonderful condescention in him to take any notice of his heavenly host, and much more of sinful and miserable men upon earth. [¶26] Princes - As he did Joseph, David, and others. His people - Who in God's account are far more honourable than the princes of Heathen nations. [¶27] Judah - Or Israel, one tribe being put for all. Judah he mentions as the chief of all the tribes. [¶28] The mountains - Horeb and Sinai, two tops of one mountain, and other neighbouring mountains. [¶29] Tremble - The mountains did more than what was fit at the appearance of the great God. [¶30] Are like them - As void of all sense or reason as their images. [¶31] Their - Who trust in him. [¶32] Aaron - You priests and Levites. [¶33] Ye that fear - All of you who worship the true God, not only Israelites, but even Gentile proselytes. [¶34] Mindful - In our former straits, and therefore we trust he will still bless us. [¶35] Both small - Of whatsoever quality, high and low, rich and poor. [¶36] The Lord's - In a peculiar manner, where he dwelleth in that light and glory, to which no man can approach. Given - As the foregoing verse declares, that God was the creator of heaven and earth, so this asserts that he is also their Lord and governor to dispose of all men and things as he pleases. [¶37] Silence - Into the place of silence, the grave. CHAPT. CXVI. This psalm is a solemn thanksgiving to God. Wherein the psalmist professes his love to God, for delivering him out of great straits and dangers, ver. 1 - 8. Prays for his future protection, and promises to praise him, and to walk holy before him, 9 - 19. [¶38] Nations - The neighbouring nations, Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, who were stirred up, by the overthrows which David had given some of them, by their jealousy at his growing greatness, and by their hatred against the true religion. [¶39] Yea - The repetition implies their frequency and fervency in this action. [¶40] Bees - ln great numbers. Thorns - Which burns fiercely, but quickly spends itself. [¶41] Thou - O mine enemy. The singular word is here put collectively for all his enemies. [¶42] Salvation - My Saviour. [¶43] Doth valiantly - These are the words of that song of praise now mentioned. [¶44] Exalted - Hath appeared evidently, and wrought powerfully and gloriously.