Geneva Study Bible < <<{a} Maschil of Asaph.>> Give ear, O my people, to my {b} law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
(a) Read Ps 32:1. (b) The prophet under the name of a teacher calls the people his, and the doctrine his, as Paul calls the gospel his, of which he was but the preacher, as in Rom 2:16,16:25. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. Which we have heard and known, and our {c} fathers have told us.
(c) Who were the people of God. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: For he established a {d} testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
(d) By the testimony and law, he means your law written, which they were commanded to teach their children, De 6:7. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That the {e} generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
(e) He shows how the children would be like their father's: that is, in maintaining God's pure religion. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: That they might {f} set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
(f) He shows where the use of this doctrine exists: in faith, in the meditation of God's benefits, and in obedience. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. And might not be as their {g} fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
(g) Though these fathers were the seed of Abraham and the chosen people, yet he shows by their rebellion, provocation, falsehood, and hypocrisy, that the children should not follow their examples. The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. The children of {h} Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
(h) By Ephraim he means also the rest of the tribes, because they were most in number: whose punishment declares that they were unfaithful to God, and by their multitude and authority had corrupted all others. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their {i} fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
(i) He proves that not only the posterity but also their forefathers were wicked and rebellious to God. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they {k} sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
(k) Their wicked malice could be overcome by no benefits, which were great and many. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. And they tempted God in their heart by {l} asking meat for their lust.
(l) Then to require more than is necessary, and to separate God's power from his will, is to tempt God. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God {m} furnish a table in the wilderness?
(m) Thus when we give place to sin, we are moved to doubt God's power, unless he is always ready to serve our lust. Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Because they believed not in God, and {n} trusted not in his salvation:
(n) That is, in his fatherly providence, by which he cares for his, and provides sufficiently. Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, Though he had commanded the {o} clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
(o) So that they had that which was necessary and sufficient: but their lust made them cover that which they knew God had denied them. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He caused an {p} east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
(p) God used the wind to show them that all the elements were at his command, and that no distance could restrain his working. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, They were not estranged from their {q} lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
(q) Such is the nature of concupiscence, that the more it has the more it lusts. The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. The wrath of God came upon them, and slew {r} the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
(r) Though others were not spared, yet chiefly they suffered, who trusted in their strength against God. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. For all this they {s} sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
(s) Thus sin by continuance makes man insensible, so that by no plagues they can be amended. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. When he {t} slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
(t) Such was their hypocrisy, that they sought God out of fear of punishment, though in their heart they did not love him. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. For their {u} heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
(u) Whatever does not come from the pure fountain of the heart is hypocrisy. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. But he, being full of compassion, {x} forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
(x) Because he would always have some remnant of a Church to praise his Name in earth, he did not permit their sins to overcome his mercy. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. Yea, they {y} turned back and tempted God, and {z} limited the Holy One of Israel.
(y) That is, they often tempted him. (z) As they all do who measure the power of God by their capacity. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. They {a} remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
(a) The forgetfulness of God's benefits is the root of rebellion and all vice. How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He sent {b} divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
(b) This word signifies a confused mixture of flies and venomous worms. Some take it for all sorts of serpents: some for all wild beasts. He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. He {c} gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
(c) He does not repeat here all the miracles that God did in Egypt, but certain which might be sufficient to convince the people of malice and ingratitude. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending {d} evil angels among them.
(d) So called either for the effect, that is, of punishing the wicked: or else because they were wicked spirits, whom God permitted to vex men. He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the {e} chief of their strength in the tabernacles of {f} Ham:
(e) The firstborn are so called, as in Ge 49:3. (f) That is, Egypt: for it was called Mizraim, or Egypt of Mizraim that was the son of Ham. But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he led them on safely, so that they {g} feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
(g) That is, they had no opportunity to fear, even as God destroyed their enemies and delivered them falsely. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. And he brought them to the border of his {h} sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
(h) Meaning, Canaan, which God had consecrated to himself and appointed to his people. He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. But turned back, and dealt {i} unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
(i) Nothing more displeases God in the children, than when they continue in that wickedness, which their fathers had begun. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. For they {k} provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
(k) By serving God other than he had appointed. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; So that he {l} forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
(l) For their ingratitude he permitted the Philistines to take the Ark which was the sign of his presence, from among them. And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. And delivered his {m} strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
(m) The Ark is called his power and beauty because by this he defended his people, and beautifully appeared to them. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. The fire {n} consumed their young men; and their maidens were not {o} given to marriage.
(n) They were suddenly destroyed, 1Sa 4:10. (o) They had no marriage songs: that is, they were not married. Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. Their priests fell by the sword; and their {p} widows made no lamentation.
(p) Either they were slain before or taken prisoner by their enemies, and so were forbidden. Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that {q} shouteth by reason of wine.
(q) Because they were drunk in their sins, they judged God's patience to be slumbering, as though he were drunk, therefore he answering their beastly judgment, says, he will awake and take sudden vengeance. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: Moreover he refused the tabernacle of {r} Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
(r) Showing that he did not spare the Israelites altogether, though he punished their enemies. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. And he {s} built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
(s) By building the temple, and establishing the kingdom, he declares that the signs of his favour were among them. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. So {t} he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. (t) He shows where a kings charge stands: that is, to provide faithfully for his people, to guide them by counsel, and defend them by power. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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