Psalms 16:3 [But] to the saints that [are] in the earth, and [to] the excellent, in whom [is] all my delight.
Ver. 3. But to the saints] The family of faith were, by a specialty, the object of David's bounty. Socrates, seeing a certain man giving alms to all he met, whether they were good or bad, said, male pereas qui ex gratiis cure sint virgines, facias scorta. David, the better to persuade with God to preserve him safe to the kingdom, promiseth two things: first, that he will cherish and countenance the godly party; secondly, that he will cashier and cast out all kinds of idolatry, and maintain to his utmost the sincere service of God, Psalms 16:4 .
And to the excellent] Or, noble, glorious, wonderful, magnificent. The saints are princes in all lands, Psalms 45:16; of an excellent spirit, Proverbs 17:27; more excellent than their neighbours, dwell they wheresover, Proverbs 12:26. They are styled the glory, Isaiah 4:5, a crown of glory, Isaiah 62:3, a royal diadem, ibid., a kingdom of priests, Exodus 19:6, higher than the kings of the earth, Psalms 89:27, greater than the four famous monarchies, Daniel 7:18, worthies of whom the world is not worthy, Hebrews 11:38, fitter to be set as stars in heaven. And surely as stars, though seen sometimes in a puddle or stinking ditch, though they reflect there, yet have they their situation in heaven; so the saints, though here in a low condition, yet are they fixed in the region of happiness.
In whom is all my delight] Heb. Cheptsibam. So the Church is called God's Hephzibah, Isaiah 62:4. Next to communion with God the communion of saints is most delectable. It is the very being bound up in the bundle of life, which was the blessing of Abigail upon David. Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, saith Seneca, the very sight of a good man (morally good) delighted; what, then, of a saint? Ezra 10:3. This the heathen persecutors knew, and, therefore, banished and confined the Christians to isles and mines, where they could not one come at another, as Cyprian observeth.