Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 22:29

29. All they that be fat upon the earth , shall eat and worship , all they that go down to the dust , shall bow before him, and none can keep alive his own soul .

1. Many of them, as the word all is oft used, as Psal. 72. 11. Mat. 3. 5. and 17. 11. Luk. 6. 26. Ioh. 3. 26. 2 [illegible: 1 word]. 3. [illegible: 1+ letters].

(i. e.) Kings and Princes, and the great Men of the World, who are oft described by this Metaphor, as Psal. 78. 31. Isa. 10. 16. Compare Iob 15. 27. Psal. 17. 10. and 73. 7. Whose Conversion to Christ is also foretold in other places, as Psal. 45. 12. and 72. 10, 11. Isa. 60. 3. 5. 10. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. Revel. 21. 24. These are opposed to the poor and miserable part of the World, of whom he speaks in the next Words, as also v. 26. where see the first note. So the Sence of the place is, That both poor and rich should embrace the Gospel. But the Syriack Interpreter renders these Words otherwise, the hungry of the Earth. And another, to the same purpose, those that are turned to Ashes (for which I should rather say, they that lye down in Ashes, which is an usual Description of poor, afflicted, and humbled Persons) on the ground. For the first Hebrew word, rendred [illegible: 1+ letters]t, with the change, but of one point, signifies Ashes.

And be satisfied, as it was more fully expressed, v. 26. shall feed upon the bread of Life, Christ and all his benefits.

This is added to explain the former Word, and to shew what kind of Eating he spoke of, not of a Carnal, but of a spiritual Feast.

They that languish and draw [illegible: 1+ letters]igh to Death, through Poverty or Misery, or anguish of Mind and Conscience: For such are oft said to go down into, or to sit in the D[illegible: 1+ letters]st, as Iob. 30. 19. Psal. 44. 25. and 113. 7. Isa. 29. 4. and 47. 1. These may be opposed to the [illegible: 1+ letters]at ones mentioned in the first Clause of the Verse.

This may seem to be a further Description of the same Persons, and an aggravation of their miserable Condition, from this Circumstance that it was not in their Power to help themselves, their Soul was going down to the Dust, as he said in the last foregoing Clause, and now he adds that none of them could stop it, or keep himself alive; so that their Case was wholly desperate as to themselves; and this drove them out of themselves, to seek relief from God, and to receive Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Salvation gladly. Heb. and he who (the Pronoun Relative being here understood, as it is in very many places) doth not, or cannot quicke[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ or enliven his own Soul, (i. e.) himself, as the Soul is oft taken. And quickening may be put either for Nourishing, as Isa. 7. 21. or for Comforting, as here v. 26. or preserving Life, whether Temporal or Spiritual, and Eternal, as Gen. 19. 19. Ezek. 13. 19. and 18. 2[illegible: 1+ letters]. But these words are and may be rendred otherwise, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew Text, and the Scope of the place. Having said that all Nations should bow before him, (i. e.) before Christ and unto Christ, whom they should own as their Lord and Saviour, he now adds these Words, Either 1. As a Reason why they did receive him, or believe in him, because (for so the Particle Vau is frequently rendred, as 1 Kings 1. 21. and 18. 3, 4. Psal. 60. 12. Isa. 16. 2. and 64. 5. and [illegible: 1 word] elsewhere) he did not keep alive his own Soul, as he could easily have done, by his divine Power in spight of all that his Enemies could do, but freely gave himself to Death for them. Because he laid down his Life for sinners, which the father had Commanded him, and he had promised to do, therefore God loved him, Ioh. 10. 17, 18. and glorified him, and performed his Promise made to him upon that Condition, that if he did make his Soul an offering for sin, he should see his seed, &c. Isa. 53. 10. Or, 2. As an Amplification or Commendation of the Faith of the Gentiles, in coming and bowing to Christ, although (for so also the Hebrew Vau is oft used, as Psal. 99. 8. Prov. 26. 24. Eccles. 9. 16.) [illegible: 1+ letters]e did not keep alive his own Soul, but laid down his own Life, and suffered himself to be killed by wicked men: Which was one principal Reason, why the Iews would not believe on him, as is noted, Mat. 27. 40. 42, 43. and therefore was a just Commendation to the Gentiles, that notwithstanding this great stumbling Block believed on him. But this I propose with Submission. Only it may be observed that this last Clause of the Verse in the Hebrew, is in the singular number, and therefore more likely to belong to him, immediately going before it, which is of the same number, than to the other preceding Clauses, which are all expressed in the plural number. And though I know Enallage of numbers, be very usual, yet they are not to be supposed without necessity.