209 lines
15 KiB
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209 lines
15 KiB
XML
<div2 id="Ps.cxxi" n="cxxi" next="Ps.cxxii" prev="Ps.cxx" progress="66.07%" title="Chapter CXX">
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<h2 id="Ps.cxxi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
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<h3 id="Ps.cxxi-p0.2">PSALM CXX.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxi-p1">This psalm is the first of those fifteen which are
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here put together under the title of "songs of degrees." It is well
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that it is not material what the meaning of that title should be,
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for nothing is offered towards the explication of it, no, not by
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the Jewish writers themselves, but what is conjectural. These
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psalms do not seem to be composed all by the same hand, much less
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all at the same time. Four of them are expressly ascribed to David,
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and one is said to be designed for Solomon, and perhaps penned by
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him; yet <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.1-Ps.126.6 Bible:Ps.129.1-Ps.129.8" parsed="|Ps|126|1|126|6;|Ps|129|1|129|8" passage="Ps 126:1-6,129:1-8">cxxvi. and
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cxxix.</scripRef> seem to be of a much later date. Some of them are
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calculated for the closet (as <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.1-Ps.120.7 Bible:Ps.130.1-Ps.130.8" parsed="|Ps|120|1|120|7;|Ps|130|1|130|8" passage="Ps 120:1-7,130:1-8">cxx. and cxxx.</scripRef>), some for the
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family (as <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.127.1-Ps.127.5 Bible:Ps.128.1-Ps.128.6" parsed="|Ps|127|1|127|5;|Ps|128|1|128|6" passage="Ps 127:1-5,128:1-6">cxxvii. and
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cxxviii.</scripRef>), some for the public assembly (as <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.122.1-Ps.122.9 Bible:Ps.134.1-Ps.134.3" parsed="|Ps|122|1|122|9;|Ps|134|1|134|3" passage="Ps 122:1-9,134:1-3">cxxii. and cxxxiv.</scripRef>), and
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some occasional, as <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.124.1-Ps.124.8 Bible:Ps.132.118" parsed="|Ps|124|1|124|8;|Ps|132|118|0|0" passage="Ps 124:1-8,132:118">cxxiv.,
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and cxxxii.</scripRef> So that it should seem, they had not this
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title from the author, but from the publisher. Some conjecture that
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they are so called from their singular excellency (as the song of
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songs, so the song of degrees, is a most excellent song, in the
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highest degree), others from the tune they were set to, or the
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musical instruments they were sung to, or the raising of the voice
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in singing them. Some think they were sung on the fifteen steps or
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stairs, by which they went up from the outward court of the temple
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to the inner, others at so many stages of the people's journey,
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when they returned out of captivity. I shall only observe, 1. That
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they are all short psalms, all but one very short (three of them
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have but three verses apiece), and that they are placed next to
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<scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.1-Ps.119.176" parsed="|Ps|119|1|119|176" passage="Ps 119:1-176">Ps. cxix.</scripRef>, which is by
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much the longest of all. Now as that was one psalm divided into
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many parts, so these were many psalms, which, being short, were
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sometimes sung all together, and made, as it were, one psalm,
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observing only a pause between each; as many steps make one pair of
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stairs. 2. That, in the composition of them, we frequently meet
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with the figure they call climax, or an ascent, the preceding word
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repeated, and then rising to something further, as 120, "With him
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that hated peace. I peace." 121, "Whence cometh my help; my help
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cometh." "He that keepeth thee shall not slumber; he that keepeth
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Israel." 122, "Within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is
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builded." 123, "Until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon
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us." And the like in most of them, if not all. Perhaps for one of
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these reasons they are called songs of degrees.</p>
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<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxi-p2">This psalm is supposed to have been penned by
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David upon occasion of Doeg's accusing him and the priests to Saul,
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because it is like 52, which was penned upon that occasion, and
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because the psalmist complains of his being driven out of the
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congregation of the Lord and his being forced among barbarous
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people. I. He prays to God to deliver him from the mischief
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designed him by false and malicious tongues, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p2.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.1-Ps.120.2" parsed="|Ps|120|1|120|2" passage="Ps 120:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. He threatens the judgments
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of God against such, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p2.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.3-Ps.120.4" parsed="|Ps|120|3|120|4" passage="Ps 120:3,4">ver. 3,
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4</scripRef>. III. He complains of his wicked neighbours that were
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quarrelsome and vexatious, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p2.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.5-Ps.120.7" parsed="|Ps|120|5|120|7" passage="Ps 120:5-7">ver.
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5-7</scripRef>. In singing this psalm we may comfort ourselves in
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reference to the scourge of the tongue, when at any time we fall
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unjustly under the lash of it, that better than we have smarted
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from it.</p>
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<scripCom id="Ps.cxxi-p2.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120" parsed="|Ps|120|0|0|0" passage="Ps 120" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="Ps.cxxi-p2.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.1-Ps.120.4" parsed="|Ps|120|1|120|4" passage="Ps 120:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.120.1-Ps.120.4">
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<h4 id="Ps.cxxi-p2.6">Confession and Complaints.</h4>
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<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxi-p2.7">
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<p id="Ps.cxxi-p3">A song of degrees.</p>
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</div>
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<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxi-p4">1 In my distress I cried unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxi-p4.1">Lord</span>, and he heard me. 2 Deliver my soul,
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<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxi-p4.2">O Lord</span>, from lying lips, <i>and</i>
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from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given unto thee? or
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what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 4 Sharp
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arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p5">Here is, I. Deliverance from a false tongue
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obtained by prayer. David records his own experience of this.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p6">1. He was brought into distress, into great
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distress, by <i>lying lips and a deceitful tongue.</i> There were
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those that sought his ruin, and had almost effected it, by lying.
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(1.) By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions
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and protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and
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service to him, that they might the more securely and without
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suspicion carry on their designs against him, and might have an
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opportunity, by betraying his counsels, to do him a mischief. They
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smiled in his face and kissed him, even when they were aiming to
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smite him under the fifth rib. The most dangerous enemies, and
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those which it is most hard to guard against, are such as carry on
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their malicious designs under the colour of friendship. The Lord
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deliver every good man from such lying lips. (2.) By telling lies
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of him. They forged false accusations against him and <i>laid to
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his charge things that he knew not.</i> This has often been the lot
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not only of the innocent, but of the excellent ones, of the earth,
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who have been greatly distressed by lying lips, and have not only
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had their names blackened and made odious by calumnies in
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conversation, but their lives, and all that is dear to them in this
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world, endangered by false-witness-bearing in judgment. David was
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herein a type of Christ, who was distressed by lying lips and
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deceitful tongues.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p7">2. In this distress he had recourse to God
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by faithful and fervent prayer: <i>I cried unto the Lord.</i>
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Having no fence against false tongues, he appealed to him who has
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all men's hearts in his hand, who has power over the consciences of
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bad men, and can, when he pleases, bridle their tongues. His prayer
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was, "<i>Deliver my soul, O Lord! from lying lips,</i> that my
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enemies may not by these cursed methods work my ruin." He that had
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prayed so earnestly to be kept from lying (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.29" parsed="|Ps|119|29|0|0" passage="Ps 119:29">Ps. cxix. 29</scripRef>) and hated it so heartily in
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himself (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.163" parsed="|Ps|119|163|0|0" passage="Ps 119:163"><i>v.</i> 163</scripRef>)
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might with the more confidence pray to be kept from being belied by
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others, and from the ill consequences of it.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p8">3. He obtained a gracious answer to this
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prayer. God heard him; so that his enemies, though they carried
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their designs very far, were baffled at last, and could not prevail
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to do him the mischief they intended. The God of truth is, and will
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be, the protector of his people from lying lips, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.6" parsed="|Ps|37|6|0|0" passage="Ps 37:6">Ps. xxxvii. 6</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p9">II. The doom of a false tongue foretold by
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faith, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.3-Ps.120.4" parsed="|Ps|120|3|120|4" passage="Ps 120:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. As
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God will preserve his people from this mischievous generation, so
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he will reckon with their enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.12.3 Bible:Ps.12.7" parsed="|Ps|12|3|0|0;|Ps|12|7|0|0" passage="Ps 12:3,7">Ps. xii. 3, 7</scripRef>. The threatening is addressed
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to the sinner himself, for the awakening of his conscience, if he
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have any left: "Consider <i>what shall be given unto thee, and what
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shall be done unto thee,</i> by the righteous Judge of heaven and
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earth, <i>thou false tongue.</i>" Surely sinners durst not do as
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they do if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be
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in the end thereof. Let liars consider what shall be given to them:
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<i>Sharp arrows of the Almighty, with coals of juniper,</i> that
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is, they will fall and lie for ever under the wrath of God, and
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will be made miserable by the tokens of his displeasure, which will
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fly swiftly like arrows, and will strike the sinner ere he is aware
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and when he sees not who hurts him. This is threatened against
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liars, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.64.7" parsed="|Ps|64|7|0|0" passage="Ps 64:7">Ps. lxiv. 7</scripRef>. <i>God
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shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be
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wounded.</i> They set God at a distance from them, but from afar
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his arrows can reach them. They are sharp arrows, and arrows of the
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mighty, the Almighty; for they will pierce through the strongest
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armour and strike deep into the hardest heart. The terrors of the
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Lord are his arrows (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.6.4" parsed="|Job|6|4|0|0" passage="Job 6:4">Job vi.
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4</scripRef>), and his wrath is compared to burning coals of
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juniper, which do not flame or crackle, like thorns under a pot,
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but have a vehement heat, and keep fire very long (some say, a year
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round) even when they seem to be gone out. This is the portion of
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the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie shall have their
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portion in the lake that burns eternally, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.15" parsed="|Rev|22|15|0|0" passage="Re 22:15">Rev. xxii. 15</scripRef>.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxxi-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.5-Ps.120.7" parsed="|Ps|120|5|120|7" passage="Ps 120:5-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.120.5-Ps.120.7">
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<h4 id="Ps.cxxi-p9.7">Mournful Complaints.</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxi-p10">5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,
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<i>that</i> I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul hath
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long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 7 I <i>am for</i>
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peace: but when I speak, they <i>are</i> for war.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxi-p11">The psalmist here complains of the bad
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neighbourhood into which he was driven; and some apply the
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<scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.120.3-Ps.120.4" parsed="|Ps|120|3|120|4" passage="Ps 120:3,4">two foregoing verses</scripRef> to
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this: "What shall the deceitful tongue give, what shall it do to
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those that lie open to it? What shall a man get by living among
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such malicious deceitful men? Nothing but <i>sharp arrows</i> and
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<i>coals of juniper,</i>" all the mischiefs of a false and spiteful
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tongue, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.57.4" parsed="|Ps|57|4|0|0" passage="Ps 57:4">Ps. lvii. 4</scripRef>. <i>Woe
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is me,</i> says David, that I am forced to dwell among such,
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<i>that I sojourn in Mesech and Kedar.</i> Not that David dwelt in
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the country of Mesech or Kedar; we never find him so far off from
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his own native country; but he dwelt among rude and barbarous
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people, like the inhabitants of Mesech and Kedar: as, when we would
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describe an ill neighbourhood, we say, We dwell among Turks and
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heathens. This made him cry out, <i>Woe is me!</i> 1. He was forced
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to live at a distance from the ordinances of God. While he was in
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banishment, he looked upon himself as a sojourner, never at home
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but when he was near God's altars; and he cries out, "<i>Woe is
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me</i> that my sojourning is prolonged, that I cannot get home to
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my resting-place, but am still kept at a distance!" So some read
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it. Note, A good man cannot think himself at home while he is
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banished from God's ordinances and has not them within reach. And
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it is a great grief to all that love God to be without the means of
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grace and of communion with God: when they are under a force of
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that kind they cannot but cry out, as David here, <i>Woe to me!</i>
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2. He was forced to live among wicked people, who were, upon many
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accounts, troublesome to him. He <i>dwell in the tents of
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Kedar,</i> where the shepherds were probably in an ill name for
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being litigious, like the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. It is a very
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grievous burden to a good man to be cast into, and kept in, the
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company of those whom he hopes to be for ever separated from (like
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Lot in Sodom; <scripRef id="Ps.cxxi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.8" parsed="|2Pet|2|8|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:8">2 Pet. ii. 8</scripRef>);
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to dwell long with such is grievous indeed, for they are thorns,
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vexing, and scratching, and tearing, and they will show the old
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enmity that is in the <i>seed of the serpent</i> against the
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<i>seed of the woman.</i> Those that David dwelt with were such as
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not only hated him, but hated peace, and proclaimed war with it,
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who might write on their weapons of war not <i>Sic sequimur
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pacem—Thus we aim at peace,</i> but <i>Sic persequimur—Thus we
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persecute.</i> Perhaps Saul's court was the Mesech and Kedar in
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which David dwelt, and Saul was the man he meant that hated peace,
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whom David studied to oblige and could not, but the more service he
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did him the more exasperated he was against him. See here, (1.) The
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character of a very good man in David, who could truly say, though
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he was a man of war, <i>I am for peace;</i> for living peaceably
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with all men and unpeaceably with none. <i>I peace</i> (so it is in
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the original); "I love peace and pursue peace; my disposition is to
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peace and my delight is in it. I pray for peace and strive for
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peace, will do any thing, submit to any thing, part with any thing,
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in reason, for peace. <i>I am for peace,</i> and have made it to
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appear that I am so." <i>The wisdom that is from above is first
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pure, then peaceable.</i> (2.) The character of the worst of bad
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men in David's enemies, who would pick quarrels with those that
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were most peaceably disposed: "<i>When I speak they are for
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war;</i> and the more forward for war the more they find me
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inclined to peace." He spoke with all the respect and kindness that
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could be, proposed methods of accommodation, spoke reason, spoke
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love; but they would not so much as hear him patiently, but cried
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out, "To arms! to arms!" so fierce and implacable were they, and so
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bent to mischief. Such were Christ's enemies: for his love they
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were his adversaries, and for his good words, and good works, they
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stoned him. If we meet with such enemies, we must not think it
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strange, nor love peace the less for our seeking it in vain. <i>Be
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not overcome of evil,</i> no, not of such evil as this, <i>but,</i>
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even when thus tried, still try to <i>overcome evil with
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good.</i></p>
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</div></div2> |