Psalms 22

Although in this Psalm there are some things that may be applied unto David, as the type of Christ, yet it appeareth by the main drift and substance of it, as also by the new Testament, that David by a Prophetical Spirit, principally introduced Christ here, speaking of his bitter suffering for his Church, together with his exaltation and the future spreading of his spiritual Kingdom all the world over, and the stedfastness thereof; relating withal the benefit, which we receive thereby, to serve and honour and thank him for the same.

1. A Psalm of David, for the chief Song-master, [See Psa.4.on.v.1.] upon Aijeleth Hasshachar. [Or according of the hind, of the day-break. Some hold it to have been a musical Instrument, wherein this Psalm was to be played: Others, that they were the first words of a certain Song, well known in those days, of the same musical air or meeter. There are some likewise, which render it, in, or against the power, or strength of the day-break; being of opinion, that this excellent prophesy of Christ his suffering, death, resurrection, etc. Was given unto the Priests and Levites to be sung every morning in the house of God, by break of day. Others apply it to Christ, who is compared to an Hart, Cant.2.9,17. And 8.14. and rose up very early in the morning out of the grave, according as the Resurrection is termed the Morning, Psa.49.15. where of the judicious reader may judge.]

2. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. [Though there be some passages in this Psalm, which may conveniently be applied unto the person of David as he was the type of Christ: yet it doth plainly appear by the four Evangelists, that most and neer all of them, are principally and peculiar fulfilled in the person of our Saviour Christ himself, our only Messiah and consequently that David did purposely, through the spirit of prophesy, introduce or represent Christ here, in his own words and bespeaking of his Father] being far from my salvation (from) the words of my roaring? [This implyeth a most terrible trouble and grief of heart, causing strong and mighty out cries. Compare Job 3:24. Psa.32.3. and 38.9. and see Matth.27.46. Heb.5.7. all this our Saviour Christ suffered, as our surety, undergoing the wrath of God for our sins, and perfectly satisfying for them.]

3. My God I cry by day, but thou answerest me not: and by night, and I have no silence. [Or, there is no stillness for me, i.e. I do not cease nor rest from complaining; or yet I get no stillness, i.e. no rest; although I call and cry never so much, my suffering ceaseth not.]

4. Yet thou art holy, dwelling (among) the praise-songs of Israel [i.e. in thy house, which is the place, where thy people do praise thy name, for the gracious help and deliverances, which thou doest use to shew them. Oth. Yet art thou holy, sitting, (i.e. abiding, continuing) O ye praise-songs (the manifold or perfect praise) of Israel. Compare Deut.10.21. Jer.17.14.]

5. In thee our Fathers have trusted; they have trusted and thou hast helped them out.

6. Unto thee they have cried, and are rescued, in thee they have trusted and were not made ashamed.

7. But I am a worm, [i.e. like unto poor worm, i.e. very weak and void of strength, not regarded at all and as trodden under foot, as followeth. Compare Job 25:6. Isa.41.14.] and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. [Heb. A despised (one) of the people.]

8. All that see me, mock me; they thrust out the lip. [Oth. They draw the lip. Heb. Properly they open with the lip] they shake the head; [See 2 Kings 19.on 21.] (saying:)

9. He hath rolled (it) upon the LORD. [Heb. Winding or rolling upon the LORD, i.e. he hath committed given up, resigned himself, or his way, (as Psa.37.5.) or his cause the issue of his sufferings unto the LORD, confidently relying on him, as when one rolleth a thing to such a place, or windeth it on such support, where it may lie, or be kept safe; or when one doth remit, put over a matter to such a one, as is well able to undertake it, or to bear it out , or to rescue and deliver it. Compare Psa.55.23. Prov.16.3. 1 Pet.5.7. where the like sweet and elegant expressions are to be found] let him help him out (now) let him rescue him, because he hath pleasure (or delighteth) in him, [maketh his boast and brag of it, thus they speak ironically, or jeeringly.]

10. Sure thou art he that hath drawn me forth out of the belly; [This is a reply upon the precedent mockery and scoffing speeches of the wicked, full of holy trust and confidence] that hath made me to trust [Oth. Put me in safety or preservation] being on my Mothers breast.

11. On thee I am cast from the womb, [i.e. commended and committed to thy care and keeping; a comparison taken from a midwife or nurse, which taketh up or receiveth the new-born babe upon her knees, or into her lap to tend it] from off the belly of my mother art thou my God.

12. Be not thou far from me, for distress is hard by, for there is no helper.

13. Many Bulls have surrounded me; [Or great, mighty Bulls. Understand the great ones and chief rulers of the Jews, being like unto strong, well fed and fat Oxen and fierce pushing bulls] strong (stears) [the Hebrew word doth properly signify strong ones, mighty ones, but is likewise used for Oxen, Stears, Bulls, as is to be gathered by Isa.34.7. See also Psa.50.13. and 68.31. Jer.47.3. (where it is taken for strong horses) and 50.11.] of Basan [See Deut.32.on v.14. and Ezek.39.18. Hos.4.16. Amos 4:1.] have compassed me about. [Heb. As if one should say girt or beset me round.]

14. They have gaped with their mouths against me; [Compare Job 16:10. Lam.2.16. and 3.46.] like a tearing and roaring Lion.

15. I am poured out like water, [i.e. all my strength and vigour is spent and gone like water that is poured out] and all my bones have dis-united themselves; my hearts is like wax, it is molten in the midst of my bowels. [See Deut.1.on v.28. and 20.8. and Jos.7.5. and 14.8. Psa.68.3,etc.]

16. My vigour is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my palate; [So that I am scarce able to speak. See Job 29:10. Psa.137.6. Ezek.3.26. or by reason of drought and great thirst. See John 19:28.] and thou layest me in the dust of death. [i.e. reducest me to such a condition, that I am little differing from a dead man, ready to be carried to his grave. Some hold it to be a comparison taken from Champions or Wrastlers, who when they have fought and wrestled long, till they be tired, do faint at last and fall down the ground in to the dust like dead men.]

17. For dogs have encompassed me; [Understand the high Priests and Scribes, or scripturists, together with the vile crew of Jews and Souldiers, whom our Saviour here compareth unto dogs, by reason of their vileness, pollution and raging madness against him. Compare Job 30:1. Psa.59.7,15. Prov.26.11. Matth.7.6. Phil.3.2. Rev.2.15. See also 2 Sam.3.on v.8.] a Congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me, they have digged through my hands and my feet. [i.e. they have nailed them through.]

18. I might number all my bones: [Being so stretched out upon the cross (standing out as it were) that I might tell them one by one all over] they regard it, they see upon me. [or at me, viz. Their wish and desire, i.e. they take their pleasure and recreation therein, that they may see my suffering with their own eyes. Compare Psa.35.21. and 37.34. and 54.9. and 59.11. and 92.12. and 118.7.]

19. They divide my garment among them, and cast the lot over my raiment.

20. But thou, LORD, be not far: my strength make hast to my help.

21. Rescue my soul [i.e. my self, my person, or life, and so in the sequel. See Gen.12.on v.5. and 19.17.] from the sword, [i.e. from this sharp and smart encounter, this hostile and mortal combat, this fierce and cruel persecution, this piercing and wounding and murdering of me, and death it self, like as the word sword is sometimes taken for any such effects or consequences of the sword and wars or combats. See Jer.25.16,27,29. Ezek.38.21.&c.] my solitary (one) [or my one, my onely one, i.e. my soul, which like an onely child (whereof this word is elsewhere taken as Gen.22.2. Jud.21.34, &c.) is all alone and destitute of all help. So the Hebrew word is likewise used, Psa.35.17. Compare withal Psa.25.16. and 68.7.] from the violence of the dog [Heb. From the band, etc. See Job 5.on v.20. of the dog i.e. of the dogs. Look back on v.17.Otherwise the Devil may be understood here, and in the next verse, who is called a Prince of this world, and compared to fierce and roaring Lion, John 14:30. Ephes.6.13. 1 Pet.5.8. See the next verse.]

22. Save me out of the Lions mouth: and hear me from the horns [i.e. hear and deliver me from the, &c. So there are often two words understood under one, with the Hebrews. Compare Gen.12.on v.15. Num.17.5. Oth. For thou hast heard me, etc. Or yea thou hast, etc.] of the Unicorns. [which are very strong, savage, fierce, untameable beasts, Numb.23.22. Job.39.v.9. &c.]

23. Then shall I rehearse thy Name unto my brethren [i.e. record and magnify thy faithfulness, truth and goodness among my Disciples, and those that through their word shall believe in me. See Heb.2.10,11,12. And Compare John 20:19,26. Acts 1:4,6. 1 Cor.15.6.] in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

24. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him, all ye seed of Jacob, honour him, and stand in awe before him all the seed of Israel.

25. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the oppression of the oppressed, nor hid his face before him, but he hath heard, when the same called unto him. [Not with standing that my affliction was such that men despised me because of it, and turned themselves away from me loathing me; yet hath not God cast away or loathed me.]

26. My praise shall be of thee [Heb. Out of thee, i.e. thou shalt be the matter and subject of my praise] in a great Congregation I will pay my vows [of thankfulness to God] in the presence of those that fear him. [Heb. Over against those, &c.]

27. The meek [See above Psalm 10.on v.17.] shall eat and be satisfied, [i.e. they shall have communion with Christ and partake of his merits by Faith. Compare Psa.132.15. Cant.5.1. Luke 1:53. John 6:54.&c.] they shall praise the LORD, that seek him: your heart [i.e. ye meek ones, ye that seek the LORD] shall live forever. [being filled with spiritual joys and comforts. See Psa.69.33. John 16:22.]

28. All the ends of the Earth shall remember it, and turn themselves unto the LORD: and all generations of the heathen shall worship before thy face. [This is a prophesy of the conversion of the Gentiles, where by the word all there must be understood, not all the inhabitants of the Earth, rich and poor, by the head or pole (as we say) but of the spreading of the Church and the great multitude of Gods people under the Gospel, among all sorts and nations indifferently, as the effect and thing it self declareth it. Compare John 10:16. and 11.52. Acts 2:39. &c.]

29. For the Kingdom is the LORDS; [Or belongeth, apertaineth to the LORD] and he hath dominion among the heathen.

30. All the fat ones upon Earth shall eat, [i.e. the great, rich and mighty ones, as Psa.78.31. Isa.10.16.] Ezek.34.20.] all they that descend unto the dust shall bow down before his face, [i.e. the meaner sort, those of low rank and condition, or those that are brought exceeding low, or in great need and distress. Compare Job 30:19. Psa.44.26. and 113.7. Isa.29.4. and 47.1. Lam.3.29. The Meaning of these opposite expressions here is, that there shall be abundance of both sorts among the heathen that shall he converted unto the LORD, viz.not only rich and mighty ones (as Psa.45.13. and 72.10. Isa.49.23. &c.) but likewise poor and needy ones. See 1 Cor.1.26.&c.] and he that cannot keep his soul alive, [i.e. he that is in danger of his life, whether by starving and faminishing, sickness and diseases, and Enemies and persecution, or otherwise. He also, that finding in himself to have deserved nothing but death and destruction, by reason of his sinfulness, hath no power, and knoweth no means how to save his poor soul; such shall in all humility, sue and seek for comfort in Christ by faith, and cleave unto him, as to the onely refuge in all bodily and spiritual distresses and extremities.]

31. The seed shall serve him; [i.e. The children and generations, or posterity of the faithful, or a seed, the seed of Christ: So that there shall be always such as shall embrace, adhere unto and serve Christ; who are likewise called children, whom God doth give to Christ. Heb.2.13. out of Isa.8.18. and his seed, Isaiah 53:10.] it shall be written down unto the LORD [or, attributed, imputed, i.e. that seed shall be enrolled and accounted among Christ his Church and people; Compare Psalms 87:4,5,6.] into generations. [Oth. To Generation, i.e. to, or, for a people of the LORD. Compare Psalms 14:5. God is with the generation of the righteous generation, i.e. people. See also below Psalms 24:6. and 73.15. compare Mat.12.39. Acts 2:40.]

32. They shall come on, and declare his righteousness, [Revealed through the Gospel. See Rom.3.21,22, &c. Phil.3.9. or, his righteousness, i.e. his faithfulness, and truth, in keeping and making good his promises of the calling of the Gentiles] unto the people that is born; [Or, that shall be born, i.e. unto their children and posterity; who after their death, shall make up and constitute the people of God, and be born again by the spirit of God] because that he had done it. [i.e. wrought out and brought about this wonderful work of grace, this righteousness and salvation, all alone, and by himself. Oth. Because that he hath made (it) (the people namely) his people and sheep of his pasture.]