Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 37

1. FRet not thy self, because of evil doers , neither be thou envious , against the workers of iniquity.

Because they prosper in their wicked Enterprizes, whilst thou art sorely afflicted.

Esteeming them Happy, and secretly wishing that thou wert in their Condition.

Give not way to immoderate Grief or Anger, or impatience.

Marginal references: Psal. 73. 3. Prov. 23. 17. & 24. 1. 9. 19.

2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb .

For their Happiness, the matter of thy Envy, is but short-lived.

3. Trust in the LORD , and do good , so shalt thou dwell in the land , and verily thou shalt be fed .

Depend upon God's Providence, and Promise for thy Protection and Sustentation: or their Infidelity is the Root of their wickedness.

Continue in the Practise of that which is good and well-pleasing to God.

(i. e.) Upon this Condition, shalt dwell safely and quietly in Canaan; as God had oft Promised. In the Hebrew it is, dwell in the Land, as if it were a Command, to abide in Canaan when Troubles come, and not to flee to the Philistins, or other Heathens for shelter, as he had foolishly done. But it is rather a Promise, by Comp. this with v. 27. 29. such Promises being oft expressed by Imperative Verbs put for Futures, as Gen. 12. 2. and 42. 18. Psal. 128. 6. Amos 5. 4.

Heb. Thou shalt be [illegible: 1+ letters]ed (i. e. every way provided for) in Truth, (i. e.) Truly or assuredly; Or, with, or by Faith, as this Word signifies. (i. e.) By thy trusting in the Lord, thou shalt Live by thy Faith, as is said, Habak. 2. 4.

Marginal references: Heb. in Truth▪ Or, stableness.

4. Delight thy self also in the LORD ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart ▪

In his Favour and Service, and in the study of his Word and Promises.

(i. e.) Thy just Desires, or whatsoever is truly desirable and good for thee. Which Limitation is necessarily to be understood, both from divers places of Scripture, and from the Nature of the things; for it is unreasonable to imagine that God would engage himself to grant their sinful and inordinate Desires, and it would also be a Curse to them, to have them granted.

5. Commit thy way unto the LORD: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass .

(i. e.) All thy Cares and Business, thy Desires and Necessities. Commend them to God by fervent Prayer, referring them to his good Will, and expecting an Happy issue of all from him.

Heb. He shall do, or work, to wit, for thee, or what is fit to be done, or what thou desirest, in the Sence given on v. 4.

Marginal references: Heb. Roll thy way upon the LORD.; Psal. 55. 22. Prov. 16. 3. Mat. 6. 25. Luk. 12. 22. 1 Pet. 5. 7.

6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light , and thy judgment as the noon-day.

To the view of the World; from which it hath hitherto seemed to be hid, or Eclipsed by Reproaches, and by grievous Calamities, which most men are apt to mistake for Tokens, and Punishments of great Wickedness.

It shall be as visible to Men, as the Light of the Sun, and that at Noonday, as it is in the next Branch. So effectually will I plead thy Cause.

The same thing with Righteousness, as this Word is used here below, v. 28. and 99. 4. and oft elsewhere.

7. Rest in the LORD p, and wait patiently for him: fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way , because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Heb. Be silent unto, Or, for, Or, because of the Lord; (i. e.) Do not murmur nor repine at his dealings, bur silently and quietly submit to his Will, and adore his Judgmentss, and as it follows, Wait for his Help. This Advice and Command is pressed again and again, to teach us how hard it is, to Learn and practise this Lesson.

(i. e.) In his Evil way, as it is limited in the following Words.

Marginal references: Heb. be silent to the LORD.

8. Cease from anger s, and forsake wrath: fret not thy self in any wise, to do evil .

Or, at least so far as to do Evil. If any such Anger, or Grief, do secretly arise in thee, take Care that it do not Transport thee; Either, to Reproach, or distrust God's Providence, or to the dislike of his ways, or to an Approbation, or Imitation of the wicked Practices of those Men, in Hopes of the same success.

t Either against the sinner for his Success; Or against God, for so disposing of things, as Ionah was, Ch. 4. 1.

9. For evil doers shall be cut off : but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the Earth .

To wit, from the Earth, by Comparing this with the next Clause, and with Psal. 34. 16. Their end shall certainly be most miserable.

According to God's Promise, oft made to such; which also for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the Church; and if it was not, it was fulfilled with far greater Advantage, in spiritual and Eternal Blessings.

10. For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be : yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place , and it shall not be .

Their Time and Prosperity is very short, and therefore no matter of Envy.

To wit, in the Land of the Living. He shall be dead and gone, as this Phrase is commonly taken.

Industriously seeking to find him.

(i. e.) His place and Estate, and Glory shall be goue. Or, he shall not be, as before.

Marginal references: Job 7. 10. & 20. 9.

11. But the meek , shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace .

(i. e.) The Godly, who are frequently thus called, as Psal. 22. 26. and 149. 4. those who Patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries from ungodly men.

Partly, of outward Peace and Prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: and principally of inward Peace, and satisfaction of Mind, in the Sence of God's Favour, and the assurance of his own endless Happiness.

Marginal references: Psal. 25▪ 9. Mat. 5. 5:

12. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth .

Out of Malice and Rage. See on Psal. 35. 16.

Marginal references: Or; Practis [illegible: 1+ letters]h.

13. The LORD shall laugh at him , for he seeth that his day is coming.

(i. e.) Shall despise and deride all their Hopes, and indeavours against the good, as most vain and foolish.

Either, 1. God's day, which is an usual Phrase, as Isa. 2. 12. and 13. 9. or 2. His own day, as 1 Sam. 26. 10. Ezik. 21. 25. 29. Both signifie the same thing, the day appointed by God, for his Punishment or Destruction, as Isa. 9. 4. Ier. 50. 27.

Marginal references: Psal. 2. 4.

14. The wicked, have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation .

They are furnished with all sorts of Arms, and are ready to give the deadly blow.

Such against whom they have no Quarrel, for any injury they have done them, but only for their Integrity and Righteousness, or because they are better than themselves, and will not comply with their wicked Counsels and Courses.

Marginal references: Heb. T[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1+ letters] right of way.

15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart , and their bows shall be broken.

God will not onely defend the upright from their Mischievous De[illegible: 1+ letters]igns, but will make them to fall upon their own Heads.

16. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked .

Because he hath it with many great and glorious Advantages, with God's Favour and Blessings, with great Serenity and Satisfaction of his own Mind. which is infinitely more Desirable and Comfortable than all Earthly Possessions, with the Consolations of God's Spirit, and the assurance of everlasting Felicity: whilst wicked mens Riches are loaded with many Incumbrances, with the Wrath and Curse of God, the Torment of their own Consciences and Passions, and the dreadful Expectation of an after-reckoning, and of endless Miseries.

17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous .

This is a Proof of what he said, v. 16: For what the wicked have, shall suddenly be lost and gone, but God will maintain the righteous in their happy Estate.

Marginal references: Psal. 10. 15.

18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright : and their inheritance shall be for ever .

Observeth with singular Care and Affection.

(i. e.) Their Condition and all things, which do or may besal them, their Dangers and Fears, and suffering from ungodly men; and therefore will watch over them, and preserve them from all the Designs and Attempts of their Enemies. Days or Years, or Times, are oft put for things done, or Events happening in them, as Deut. 32. 7. Psal. 31. 15. and 77. 5. and 143. 5. Isa. 63. 11.

To them and to their seed for ever: Comp. v. 29. And when they dye their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.

Marginal references: Psal. 1. 6: & 31. 7.

19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied.

For the disappointment of their Hopes, but their Hopes and Desires shall be satisfied, as it follows.

Marginal references: Psal. 33. 19.

20. But the wicked shall perish, and the Enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs , they shall consume: into smoke shall they consume away.

Which in an instant melteth before the Fire.

(i. e. Utterly and irrecoverably.

Marginal references: Heb. The preciousness of Lambs.

21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again : but the righteous sheweth mercy and giveth.

Either through Covetousness and injustice; Or rather, because of that great penury into which God shall bring him, whilst the righteous is not onely provided sufficiently for himself, but hath abundance and to spare for others. For he is here Comparing the wicked and the righteous, not so much in their Vertues or moral Qualities, as in their outward Conditions, which also appears from the following Verse, which gives the reason of this.

Marginal references: Psal. 112. 9.

22. For such as be blessed of him , shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him, shall be cut off.

(i. e.) Of the Lord, as appears both from v. 20. where he is named, and from the Nature of the thing, this being God's Prerogative to Bless or to Curse men. And this he mentions, both as the Foundation, and as the Proof of the Certainty, of their future Happiness.

23. The steps of a good man , are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way .

Or, of that Man, to wit, the Righteous or Blessed Man, expressed, v. 21, 22.

Or, directed or disposed, (i. e.) So governed, as to attain the end and Happy issue at which he A[illegible: 1+ letters]ms. Or, strengthned or established so as he shall not stumble nor fall into Mischief. For still he seems to be describing not their Vertue, but their Felicity.

Or, and he favoureth his way, (i. e.) Succeeds and prospers his Counsels and Enterprizes.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

24. Though he fall , he shall not be utterly cast down ; for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Either, 1. Into sin, as this Word is used, Ier. 8. 4. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 12. Or rather, 2. Into Distress or Trouble, as Mic. 7. 8.

(i. e.) Not totally, nor irrecoverably Ruined.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 24. 16. 2 [illegible: 1 word]. 4. 9.

25. I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread .

This assertion seems to be Contradicted by many Experiences: nor can it be denied, that both good Men and their Children, have sometimes been reduced to great want: Quest. How then is this true? Ans. 1. Some render the last Clause thus, nor (did I ever see) his seed (to wit, forsaken, as was now said) though begging Bread. So the Sence is, I have s[illegible: 1+ letters]en him brought to beggery, yet even then God did not forsake him. But this Sence agrees not with the Context, nor Scope, which is to shew the Plenty and Prosperity, wherewith God blesseth him. 2. This is to be understood of the seed of the Righteous, treading in their Fathers steps, from which if they degenerate, they lose all their Priviledges, as many places of Scripture witness. 3. Some few Exceptions, do not destroy the Truth of a general Proposition. 4. These temporal Promises were more express, and particular to the Iews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians in the New, and therefore were more literally fulfilled. 5. He speaks not of any kind of wanting or desiring, or receiving Relief from others, for so David himself did, 1 Sam. 21. 3. and 25. 8. but of the Customary Practise and Trade of begging, which was threatned as a Curse to the disobedient, Deut. 28. Psal. 109. 10. 6. Not begging, to wit, in vain, Or, so as to be forsaken, as was now expressed, and may very well be here understood, Or, so as not to be sustained or relieved by others. 7. David speaks onely of his own Experience, which if since that time it be Contradicted by other mens Experiences, it is no more than what happens in all the Concernments of humane Life.

26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth : and his seed is blessed .

He is so far from begging from others, that he hath Ability as well as Inclination, to give or lend to others, as need requires.

Not onely with Spiritual, but with Temporal blessings. So far shall he be from wasting his Estate, and undoing himself, and Family by his Bounty and Charity, as Covetous Worldings objected or feared.

Marginal references: Psal. 112. 9.; Heb. all the [illegible: 1 word].

27. Depart from evil, And do good : and dwell for evermore .

Having therefore these glorious Promises and Priviledges, let no man do any Evil or unjust thing, to enrich or secure himself, nor abstaining from Pious and Charitable Actions, for f[illegible: 1+ letters]ar of undoing himself by them, but let every man Live in the Conscionable discharge of all his Duties to God and Men, committing himself and all his Affairs to God's fatherly Care and Providence, and Confidently expecting his Blessing thereupon.

(i. e.) Thou shalt dwell, as before, v. 3. to wit, in the Land, as is expressed, v. 3. and afterwards in Heaven.

Either Properly: Or for a long time; of which that Word is oft used.

Marginal references: Psal. 34. 14.

28. For the LORD loveth judgment , and forsaketh not his Saints , they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

(i. e.) Just judgment, or Righteousness, as that Word is oft taken, as hath been shewed again and again; Either, 1. In himself, (i. e.) He loveth to execute Judgment upon the wicked, and for the Righteous; which he doth in the manner expressed in this Psalm. Or, 2. In the Righteous themselves, whose Justice and Piety, and Charity he sees and Loves, and will reward it.

Or, his Favourites, or they to whom be hath a good [illegible: 1+ letters]ill: Or, his bountiful Ones, who exercise Benignity and Charity to others.

Marginal references: Psal. 102. 28.

29. The righteous shall inherit the land , and dwell therein for ever .

See on v. 3.

See on v. 18.

Marginal references: Prov. 2. 21▪

30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom ; and his tongue talketh of judgment .

And that Freely, and Customarily, and from his Heart, as the next Verse shews. Having shewed in divers Verses, God▪s singular Care over, and Respect to the Righteous, he proceeds to give a Character of them, and withal to assign one Reason of the great Difference of God's dealings with them, and with other Men.

Either, 1. For the manner of it, with Wisdom and Judgment. Or rather, 2. For the Matter of it, Heavenly Wisdom, and God's judgment, or Word or Law, as it follows, v. 31. When the Discourses of other Men, are either Wicked or Vain, and useless, his are serious and Edifying, and Pious concerning the Word and ways of God.

Either, 1. For the manner of it, with Wisdom and Judgment. Or rather, 2. For the Matter of it, Heavenly Wisdom, and God's judgment, or Word or Law, as it follows, v. 31. When the Discourses of other Men, are either Wicked or Vain, and useless, his are serious and Edifying, and Pious concerning the Word and ways of God.

Marginal references: Prov. 10. 3[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

31. The law of his God is in his heart , none of his steps shall slide .

According to God's Command, Deut. 6. 6. and Promise, Heb. 8. 10. His Thoughts and Meditations, and Affections are fixed upon it. He doth not talk Religiously in Design, or with Ostentation, but out of the abundance of his Heart, Mat. 12. 35.

This passage describes, Either, 1. His Safety, Consequent upon his Piety; God will uphold and preserve him, from falling into that Mischief, which wicked men Plot against him. Or rather, 2. His Vertue or Piety: Which is evidenced by his Words, v. 30. by his Heart, in the former part of this Verse, and by his Actions in these Words. His steps or goings (i. e. his Actions) shall not (or rather, do not: For this Verb though Future, may and should be rendred by the present, as Futures frequently are in the Hebrew Language, and as the two foregoing Future Verbs are rendred, v. 30.) slide, or slip, or swerve, to wit, from the Rule, or from God's Law. Which is to be understood as that Passage, Psal. 119. 3. They do no iniquity; and some such Expressions, not simply and absolutely, as if all good Men were Sinless; which is abundantly Confuted, both by many Scriptures and by universal Experience▪ but Comparatively, and in Respect of his Design and Course, or Custome. His Conversation is ordinarily Regular and unblameable. He not onely begins well, but Constantly preseveres in God's ways, and will not be drawn to forsake God and Religion, upon any Terms.

Marginal references: Psal. 40. 8. & 119. 98. Isa. 51. 7.; Psal. 38. 17. & 40. 2.; Or, goings.

32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

To find out a fit season or occasion to destroy him.

33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand , nor condemn him when he is judged.

(i. e.) Not give him up to his Power and Rage.

(i. e.) Not give his Consent to the Sentence of Condemnation, which the wicked have pronounced against him, but will justifie him, and Vindicate his innocency and deliver him: For such Negatives do oft imply the contrary Affirmatives, as God's not holding a man Guiltless, commonly implies that he will severely punish him.

34. Wait on the LORD , and keep his way , and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it .

Seeking and trusting to him, and to him onely, for Help and Deliverance.

Continue in the Practise of thy Duty, or in those ways which God hath prescribed to thee in his Word, and do not use indirect and irregular means to deliver thy self.

Thou shalt not onely escape the Destruction which they Design for thee, but shalt Live to see their Ruin.

Marginal references: Psal. 119. 27. 32, 33. 35.; Psal. 91. 8.

35. I have seen the wicked in great power , and spreading himself like a green bay-tree .

Or, Formidable: Not onely himself out of Danger, as it seemed, but terrible to others.

And therefore firmly, and deeply Rooted.

Which is continually Green and flourishing, yea even in the Winter season. Or, like a Green Tree in its own Native soil; where Trees flourish much better, than when they are Transplanted into another soil.

Marginal references: Job. [illegible: 1+ letters]. 3.; Or, a green Tree that groweth in his ow[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word].

36. Yet he passed away , and lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found .

He was gone in an instant, like a Tree blasted and blown down, or cut off and Rooted out, and carried away in a Moment.

There was no Monument nor Remainder of him left.

37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace .

Though he may meet with Troubles in his way, yet all shall end well with him, he shall be happy at last.

38. But the transgressours shall be destroyed together , the end of the wicked shall be cut off .

Or, alike, one as well as another, all without any Exception or Respect of Persons.

(i. e.) He shall be cut off at last, or in the End. His Prosperity shall end in Destruction. Or, the Posterity (as this Word signifies, Psol. 109. 13. Ier. 31. 17. Ezek. 23. 25. Dan. 11. 4.) of the wicked, &c.

39. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD , he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And therefore it shall certainly come to them.