Psalms 139
DOYLYPsalms 139:3
- Thou compassest my path &c.] That is, Thou watchest and siftest all my actions, both by day and night. Travell.
Psalms 139:5
- — laid thine hand upon me.] That is, hast so re-Vol. II.
Psalms 139:6
- — but the proud he knoweth afar off.] As to the proud, God “knoweth” and He detesteth them; He beholdeth and keepeth them at a distance. Bp. Horne.
In the former part of this hymn, the fervent zeal which animates true believers appears in a strong light; it inclines them to rejoice in God, to worship Him, to sing his praises, and to declare his loving-kindness before all men, even before the great men of the earth, that they may learn to fear God, and shew forth his glory. Ostervold. From the last verse we learn, that in troublous times, and the days of affliction, we must look back on that which God hath already done for us, and from thence draw an argument, that He will perfect that which remains, and not leave his work unfinished: we must remember that his mercies fail not after a time, but endure for ever the same; and when we call to mind, that we are the work of his own hands, how can we think He will forsake us, unless we utterly and finally forsake Him? Bp. Horne.
Psalm CXXXIX. It seems evident, from the latter part of this noble and instructive Psalm, that the author penned it at a time when he was persecuted and calumniated, as an appeal to the all-seeing Judge between him and his adversaries. Bp. Horne.
Ver. 2. — afar off.] From Heaven thy dwelling-place. Green. “Long before;” that is, Long before they are uttered, is the rendering in the old translation.
Psalms 139:8
- — if I make my bed in hell.] That is, if I lie down in the grave. Abp. Secker.
Psalms 139:9
- If I take the wings &c.] Could I be transported, with the swiftness of light, to the regions of the farthest east; or could I make my dwelling in the remotest western sea. Travell.
— the sea:] That is, the Mediterranean sea, which was west of Judea. Dimock.
Psalms 139:13
- For thou hast possessed my reins:] Or rather, Because Thou hast created my reins. This verse contains the reason why darkness could not screen him from the Lord, because He who fashioned the heart and reins, would in every place be able to search them. Dimock, Green.
Psalms 139:14
- I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:] Those who were skilled in anatomy among the ancients, concluded from the outward and inward make of the human body that it was the work of a Being transcendently wise and powerful. As the world grew more enlightened in this art, their discoveries gave them fresh opportunities of admiring the conduct of Providence in the formation of a human body. Galen was converted by his dissections, and could not but own a Supreme Being upon a survey of this his handy-
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