Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 5

1. GIve [illegible: 1+ letters]ar to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation .

(i. e.) My prayer, as the words foregoing and following shew. Which he calls his Meditation, to note that it was not a lip-prayer only, but that it proceeded from, and was accompanied with the deepest thoughts and most fervent assections of his Soul.

2. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King , and my God: for unto thee will I pray .

It is the part and duty of a King to answer the just and humble desires of his Subjects.

To thee alone I will direct all my Prayers, and therefore from thee alone I expect succour and relief.

3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning , O LORD, in the morning will I direct my Prayers , unto thee, and will look up .

Either 1. metaphorically, (i. e.) early, seasonably, in a time when thou wiltst be found, and art ready to hear. Or 2. properly, every morning. As soon as I awake, I am still with thee, as he saith, Psal. 139. 18. The first thing that I do is to pray to thee, I neither neglect nor delay that work. But this is not spoken exclusively as to his other times of Prayer, as appears from Psal. 55. 17. but only eminently▪ to shew his constancy, diligence, and eagerness in the work.

Or, mint eyes▪ Which may be well understood out of the following word; which is usual in Scripture. Or, it, (So it is only a defect of the Pronoun, which is most frequent) to wit, my voice, last mentioned; or, which is equivalent, my words, which is also understood with this very Ver[illegible: 1+ letters], [illegible: 1 word] 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. 5. and is expressed with it, [illegible: 1 word] 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. 14. And the Verb here and there used is very emphatical, and notes his great care and exactness so to direct or [illegible: 1 word], or compose himself and his Prayers in such a manner as was most pleasing to God▪

To wit, unto thee (as he now said) for help. The word implies a confident▪ and withal, a pa[illegible: 1+ letters]ient expectation of relief, as Psal. 130. 6. Mic. 7. 7. H[illegible: 1+ letters]b. 2. 1. See also Psal. 145. 15. Acts 3. 4.

Marginal references: Psal. 130. 6.

4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness : neither shall evil dwell with thee .

Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]t, or Surely.

Or, in wicke[illegible: 1+ letters] men: Thou dost not approve of, nor delight in them, or in their Prayers, but dost [illegible: 1+ letters]ate and wil[illegible: 1+ letters]st destroy them, as it here follows, comp. Prov. 17. 15. And this he saith partly for the conviction and discouragement of his Enemies, who were such; and partly for his own vindication, to shew that he was not such a wicked man, as they [illegible: 1+ letters]alsly and maliciously represented him.

(i. e.) Have any friendship or fellowship, or quiet abode with thee, as those that dwell together usually have one with another.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight : thou hatest all workers of iniquity .

Or, the mad men, as the word properly signifies, as Eccles. 2. 2, 12. and 7. 7. and 10. 13. Isa. 44. 25. (i. e.) Wicked men, as the next words explain it: who are indeed morally and really mad men in fighting with the Lord God Almighty, and in exposing themselves to such dreadful Hazards and Mischiefs, for such mean and momentary Advantages.

Either in battel against thee, as this Phrase is used, Deut. 7. 24. Ios. 1. 5. and 7. 12. Or, in judgment at thy Tribunal; of which see on Psal. 1. 5. Compare 1. Sam. 6. 20. Iob 41. 10.

(i. e.) Such as make Sin their choice, design, and business, giving up themselves to the constant, or customary practice of it. Compare Mat. 7. 23. Otherwise, in a general sence, there is no man that doth not sin▪ or work in[illegible: 1+ letters]quity, Eccles. 7. 20.

Marginal references: H[illegible: 1+ letters]b▪ 1. 13.; [illegible: 1 span].

6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing : the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man .

Or, lies, that make it their business to raise and scatter Calumnies and Reproaches concerning me; as many did.

Those who design Mischief against me or my Friends under a pretence of kindness: of whom he oft speaks.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

7. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy : and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple .

To wit, with holy boldness and confidence, as becomes thy Son and Servant: Whereas mine Enemies cannot appear in thy presence with any comfort and safety, v. 5.

To wit, the Tabernacle: from which, tho I be now excluded through the malice and power of mine Adversaries, yet thou wiltst, I doubt not, r[illegible: 1+ letters]store me to my former opportunities of coming thither to worship thee, which was my constant custom and chief joy.

Or, [illegible: 1 word] thy great Mercy, (i. e.) Trusting only to thy great Mercy for admittance thither, and acceptance there. Or, for or because of thy many Mercies to me: for which I will come to pay my thanks and service unto thee.

With an holy dread and reverence of thy Majesty and of thy House, and a due care to please thee in my religious Worship, and in the whole course of my Life. Which he opposeth to the carelesness of his Enemies who came thither so rudely and presumptuously, and with the conscience of such wicked Hearts and Lives.

Looking towards it, when I cannot come to it: Compare Dan. 6. 10. Or, at thy holy Temple, (i. e.) the Tabernacle, which is sometimes called by that name.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

8. Lead me O LORD in thy righteousness , because of mine enemies ; make thy way straight before my face .

Direct my heart and counsels, and affairs, and all the course and actions of my Life.

In thy righteous Laws: which sometimes are called righteousness, as Psal. 119. 172. Mat. 3. 15. Or for or because of, or according to thy righteousness; which is a Phrase and Argument frequently used in this book of Psal[illegible: 1+ letters]s.

Either, 1. That I may give them no occasion of slandering me or Religion for my sake. Or rather 2. Because they are most malicious and mischievous, and withal cunning and treacherous, as he describes them in the next Verse (which he u[illegible: 1+ letters]eth as an Argument to enforce this Petition) and they lay Sn[illegible: 1+ letters]res for me, and if thou dost not assist me, will be too hard for me, and will triumph over me; which will reflect dishonour upon thee also.

(i e) The way wherein thou wouldest have me to walk, or the course which thou wouldest have me to take: son God's Precepts or Counsels are most commonly called his way.

Or, plain or smooth that I may clearly discern it, and readily walk in it without mistake or lett, or stumbling, or offence. This was a needful request, because many good men are oft at a loss what their Duty is in several Circumstances. And God granted this request to David, as in many other things, so in this, that he should not cut off Saul when he had opportunity and instigation to do it, 1. Sam. 24▪ and 26. but that he should wait till God took him away.

To my view and for my walk: For men walk forward, not backward.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].; [illegible: 1 word]. 25. 4. and [illegible: 1+ letters]6. 11.

9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very wickedness ; their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter with their tongue .

They speak one thing and mean another, and under a pretence of kindness they seek my Destruction: which makes it difficult for me to know how I should carry my self to them; wherein therefore I have begged thy direction.

Either 1. Metonymically; Their speech coming out of their Throat, tho smooth and subtil, yet is most pernicious. Or 2. Properly: Their Throat and Mouth are wide opened ready to devour all that come within their reach. A Metaphor from wild Beasts gaping for the Prey.

They make shew of piety and friendship, that they may more easily deceive and destroy me.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 span].; Heb. wick[illegible: 1+ letters] nesses.; Rom. 3. 13.

10. Destroy thou them , O God; let them fall by their own counsels : cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee .

Heb. hold th[illegible: 1+ letters] guilty, (i. e.) Condemn and punish them: Or, make them to offend, to wit, in their Counsels, as it follows: so as they may either be given up to bad and foolish Counsels; or fail in the execution of their wise or crafty Counsels. Or, make them desolate, as the word is used Ezek. 6. 6. Ioel. 1. 18.

(i. e.) Make their Counsels not only unsuccesful against me, but also destructive to themselves. Or, from their, &c. (i. e.) Let them fall short of their aims and designs. Or, because of their Counsels, which are ungodly and unjust, and so deserve destruction:

Out of thy Land, and from among thy People, whom they either infect or molest by their wicked courses.

Or, for or because of, as before.

Against thy Authority and declared Will concerning my advancement to the throne: which divers Israelites opposed against their own Consciences. See 2. Sam. 3. 8, 9, 10.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] them [illegible: 1 word].; Or, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] counsels.

11. But let all those that put their trust in thee , rejoyce : let them ever shout for joy: because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

That dare rely upon thy word and promise when all humane hopes and refuges fail; which was oft the case of David and his followers.

Let them have cause of great joy from thy love and care of them, and because thou defendest them, as it follows.

(i. e.) Thy Majesty, thy Word and Worship, and Glory; all which is called God's name in Scripture. David doth not confine his Prayer to his Party, but prays for all good men, though by their own mistakes, or other mens artifices, some of them might now be in a s[illegible: 1+ letters]ate of opposition against him.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].

12. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous: with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield .

(i. e.) Thou art resolved, and hast engaged thy self by promise and covenant to bless them. And therefore my Prayer for them is agreeable to thy will.

With thy Love and gracious Providence.

(i. e.) Keep him safe on every side.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].