Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 116

PSAL. CXVI.

I Love, because Iehovah heareth my voice, my supplications. Because he bowed his eare unto me, and in my daies I will call. The pangs of death compassed me, and the straight afflictions of hell found me: I found distresse and sorrow. And I called on the name of Iehovah: O Iehovah, deliver my soule. Gracious is Iehovah, and just: and our God is mercifull. Iehovah keepeth the simple; I was brought low, and he saved me. Returne, O my soule, unto thy rest, for Iehovah hath bounteously rewarded unto thee. Because thou hast released my soule from death, mine eie from teares, my foot from sliding. I will walke on before Iehovah, in the lands of the living. I beleeved, therefore did I speake; I was afflicted vehemently. I did say in my hastening away, every man is a lier. What shall I render to Iehovah, for all his bountifull rewards unto me? I will take up the cup of salvations, and will call on the name of Iehovah. My vowes to Iehovah I will pay, in the presence now of all his people. Precious in the eies of Iehovah, is the death of his gracious Saints. O Iehovah, surely I am thy servant, I am thy servant, the son of thine hand-maid; thou hast unloosed my bands. To thee will I sacrifice a sacrifice of confession, and will cal on the name of Iehovah. My vowes to Iehovah will I pay, in the presence now of all his people. In the courts of the house of Iehovah; in the middest of thee, O Ierusalem; Halelu-jah.

Annotations. I Love] to wit, the Lord: or, I am lovingly affected, and well pleased. The Greeke here beginneth the 114. Psalme; see the note on Psal. 10. 1. and after, vers. 10. heareth] or will heare, to wit, continually. Vers. 2. and] that is, therefore will I call, or, when I did call. my daies] that is, whiles I live: or daies of affliction, as Iob 30. 16. See Ps. 119. 84. & 37. 12. Vers. 3. pangs] or paines: compare Psa. 18. 5. &c. hell] the state of death, or grave: see Ps. 16. 10. found] that is, came upon me. So 1 Chron. 10. 3. Nehem. 9. 32. Esth. 8. 6. Psal. 119. 143. Vers. 5. Oh] or, I beseech thee, O now! The Hebrew Anna and Na, are words of intreating; as the Greeke Nai, Philem. 1. 20. Rev. 1. 7. Vers. 6. brought low] drawns drie, weakened, and afflicted: see Psal. 41. 2. and 79. 8. Vers. 7. thy rest] thy quiet comfortable estate in God, without trouble of conscience. This Christ giveth, Matth. 11. 29. but sinne taketh away, Deu. 28. 65. rewarded] or, as the Greeke saith, been beneficiall; the Chaldee explaineth it, the word of the Lord hath rewarded good unto thee: See Psal. 13. 6. Vers. 8. sliding] or thrust, fall: See Psal. 56. 14. 1 Sam. 2. 9. Vers. 9. walke on] to wit, pleasingly, as the Greek explaineth; or, pleasingly administer: so 1 Sam. 2. 30, 35. Psal. 86. 14. the living] in this world: see Psal. 27. 13. Vers. 10. therefore] the Hebrew Ki, For, is here used for therefore, as the Greek translateth, and the Apostle alloweth, 2 Cor. 4. 13. So may it also be taken, 1 Sam. 2. 21. so the Greeke ho[illegible: 2 letters]; as Luke 7. 47. for she loved, that is, therefore she loved much. Here the Greek version beginneth the 115 Psalm. Vers. 11. my hastening] through feare; in Greek my extasie (or trance:) see Psal. 31. 23. hereto is opposed his quietnesse, Psal. 30. 7. every man] even the Prophets, which have promised mee the kingdome, &c. and thus it might be Davids infirmity: or indeed, every man (in respect of God) is alier, and unable to helpe in time of need, Numb. 23. 19. Rom. 3. 4. Psal. 33. 17. Vers. 12. for all] so the Greeke supplieth the word for: and by rewards, he meaneth benefits, as vers. 7. Compare 1 Thes. 3. 9. 2 Chron. 32. 25. Vers. 13. the cup of salvations] or, of healths, that is, of thanksgiving for Gods saving health and deliverance of me. For mercies received, the Israelites used to offer peace (or thanke) offerings; whereof they did eat, and rejoyce before the Lord; and at their bankers, tooke up the cup of wine in their hands, and blessed God: called thereupon the cup of blessing, 1 Cor. 10. 16. So our Lord, at the feast of the Passeover, tooke the cup, and gave thankes, Luk. 22. 17. call on] that is, pray, and praise God: or call in, that is, proclaime and preach Gods mercies: so vers. 17. Vers. 15. Precious, &c.] that is, God will not easily suffer his Saints to be slaine: see Psal. 72. 14. So the soule is said to be precious, when the life is spared, 1 Sam. 26. 31. 2 King. 1. 13. Vers. 16. handmaid] borne thy servant in thy house: see Psal. 86. 16. bands] that is, hast set me at liberty; (as Iob 39. 8.) from afflictions, Esa. 28. 22. a similitude taken from captives, Esa. 52. 2. Vers. 17. confession] that is, a thanke-offering: see Psal. 50. 14.