Psalms 30
DOYLYA Psalm and Song at the dedication &c.] An ode on taking possession of the house built for David. Street.
Ver. 3. O Lord, thou hast brought &c.] When I was just at the point of death, Thou hast preserved me from the very brink of the grave. Travell.
Psalms 30:4
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— give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.] The meaning is, Celebrate his holy name. Green.
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— is life: Life is often put for a long and happy time, as in Psalm xxxiv. 12; and for an eternal and immortal duration, 2 Tim. i. 10; James i. 12. Poole.
Psalms 30:6
6, 7. And in my prosperity &c.] There should not be a full stop at the end of the sixth verse; but after the words “stand strong” in the seventh. The word rendered “prosperity” denotes peace and tranquillity, arising from an affluent prosperous condition. When God had settled him quietly on the throne, he thought all his troubles were over, and that he should enjoy uninterrupted happiness; that God had “made his mountain so strong, that it should never be moved:” that is, had placed him secure from all danger. Dr. Chandler.
Psalms 30:7
- — thou didst hide &c.] He means, that when God withdrew his protection, displeased with his presumption, and the security he had fondly promised himself, he was immediately disturbed by fresh troubles, and his dream of uninterrupted tranquillity vanished. Dr. Chandler.
Psalms 30:8
- — the wilderness of Kadesh.] The wilderness of Kadesh was part of that wilderness through which the Israelites passed in their way to Canaan. See Numb. xiii. 26. Bp. Horne. It was the frontier of Idumca and Paran. Calmet.
Psalms 30:9
- The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve.] The terrour of this voice causeth the hinds to cast their calves for fear. Bp. Hall.
— and discovereth the forests: and in his temple &c.] The storm strips the trees of their leaves, and opens the recesses of the forest. Travell.
While his temple remaineth unshaken by these tempestuous blasts, and all his pious worshippers there securely sing the praises of his glorious majesty and power. Bp. Patrick.
Other commentators explain this difficult verse differently: The voice of Jehovah maketh the oaks to tremble; and maketh bare the trees of the woods. Bp. Louth, Abp. Secker.
And in his temple every thing proclaimeth his glory. By “his temple” may be meant the heavens. Bp. Hare.
The practice of the great duty of praising God for his works, and for his mercies, will preserve in our souls a constant and lively sense of his glorious perfections; which will be a means of making us truly religious, and will make all other religious duties easy and pleasant to us. His almighty power will make us dread offending Him; the sense of our dependence upon Him, and his continual care over us, will incline us to love Him with all our heart and soul; and the grateful remembrance of his past mercies will make us put our whole trust in Him for the time to come. Bp. Wilson.
Psalm XXX. This Psalm of David is plainly expressive of his gratitude to God for delivering him from his foes, and rescuing him from his distresses. And as it appears, 2 Sam. v. 11, and 1 Chron. xiv. 1, that Hiram king of Tyre, sent materials and workmen to build an house for David about the time when the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, I apprehend that
- What profit is there &c.] What service, said I, can I do Thee, when I am dead? Shall my ashes be able to please Thee, or to declare the truth of thy promises? Bp. Patrick.
This religious song of thanksgiving is particularly adapted to persons who have escaped great danger. Those whom God has thus delivered ought to celebrate his goodness, and invite all men to celebrate it with them. But, above all, we ought to take notice of the instructions here given us concerning the usefulness of afflictions. Even the best of men sometimes forget themselves in prosperity: but God makes use of adversity to inspire them with a holy fear, to bring them to a sense of their duty, and to oblige them to have recourse