CONTENTS
This Psalms opens with prayer, then an address showing the folly, as well as danger, of pursuing vanity; the close of the Psalm determines that the happiness of man must be alone found in the favor of God.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm of David.
Before I enter upon the Psalm itself I would beg the Reader's attention to the title of it. Some have thought that this Psalm was used in the temple service, and sung there. And they that have drawn this conclusion suppose also, that Neginoth meant stringed instruments, similar to what is said Habakkuk 3:19. But while I do not presume to say otherwise, I venture to throw out a conjecture, that this Psalm was addressed to an infinitely greater person, than any among the sons of men. The Septuagint read the word which we have rendered in our translation 'chief Musician Lamenetz, instead of Lamenetzoth; the meaning of which is unto the end. From whence the Greek and Latin Fathers imagined, that all the Psalms which bear this inscription refer to the Messiah, the great end. If so, is not this Psalm, and indeed all the Psalms that are so addressed to the chief Musician, directed to Jesus? I ask the question, let the Reader remember; I do not determine it. But if there be any foundation for the idea, surely it is an interesting one, to take with us in our searching for him through the whole book of Psalms, from whence we know, as well as other parts of scripture, the Lord Jesus spake to his disciples concerning himself. Luke 24:44
Is not this holy cry to God founded on the plea of him and his merit, who is truly called the Lord our righteousness; and who is made of God to his people, both wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption? If the prayer be thus read with an eye to Jesus, it becomes a blessed argument indeed. And the other part of the motive for redress is also very sweet and important. We take the most effectual method to obtain new mercies, when we remind God of his past favors. What indeed can be more grateful to the Lord, than, by thus acting faith upon what the Lord will give, to tell him what he hath before bestowed upon us? But is there not even a higher sense to be put upon this verse? May we not without violence consider the prayer as the supplication of the God-man Christ Jesus? Hebrews 1:7-8.