Psalms 22

Psalms 22:1

That - The secret sins which I cannot discover, manifest thou to me.

Psalms 22:2

Should it be - Doth God need thy advice how to govern the world, and whom, and when to reward or punish? Refuse - To submit as is expressed, ver.32. Therefore - If thou canst say any thing for thyself, I am ready to hear thy defence.

Psalms 22:3

Let - I am content that any wise man should judge of my words, and let such consider what I say.

Psalms 22:5

End - Throughly and exactly, ’till the cause be brought to an issue. Wicked men - On their behalf; he hath put arguments into their mouths against God and his providence.

Psalms 22:6

Addeth - He sinned before, by impatience under his afflictions, now he is grown obstinate, and instead of humbling himself for his sins, justifies himself, and accuses the blessed God. Clapped - Insulting and triumphing. Against God - In effect, though not directly.

Psalms 22:8

Addeth - He sinned before, by impatience under his afflictions, now he is grown obstinate, and instead of humbling himself for his sins, justifies himself, and accuses the blessed God. Clapped - Insulting and triumphing. Against God - In effect, though not directly.

Psalms 22:9

Thou saidst - Not that Job said this in express terms, but he said those things from which this might seem to follow, as that God had punished him more than he deserved.

Psalms 22:10

Thou saidst - Another imputation upon God. Unto thee - Unto me; such changes of persons being frequent in the Hebrew language. What profit, &c. - God does not reward so much as I deserve. But it was not fair to charge this upon Job, which he had neither directly nor indirectly affirmed.

Psalms 22:12

Clouds, &c. - They are far above us, and God is far above them. How much then is he out of the reach either of our sins or our services?

Psalms 22:16

Cry - Thus one man’s wickedness may hurt another.

Psalms 22:17

None - Few or none of the great numbers of oppressed persons. God - They cry out to men, but they seek not God, and therefore if God do not hear their cries it is not unjust. Maker - Who alone made me, and who only can deliver me. Who when our condition is ever so dark and sad, can turn our darkness into light, can quickly put a new song in our mouth, a thanksgiving unto our God.

Psalms 22:18

Who - This is an aggravation of mens neglect of God in their misery. God hath given men, what he hath denied to beasts, wisdom to know God and themselves. Therefore they are inexcusable, for not using that wisdom, by calling on God in the time of trouble.

Psalms 22:19

Because - God doth not answer their cries, because they are both evil, wicked and impenitent, and proud, unhumbled for those sins for which God brought these miseries upon them.

Psalms 22:20

Vanity - Vain persons, that have no wisdom or piety in them.

Psalms 22:21

See him - Thou canst not understand his dealings with thee. Here Elihu answers another objection of Job’s: and tells him that though God may for a season delay to answer, yet he will certainly do him right. Judgment - Justice is at his tribunal, and in all his ways and administrations. Trust - Instead of murmuring, repent of what is past, humble thyself under God’s hand, wait patiently in his way, ’till deliverance come; for it will certainly come if thou dost not hinder it.

Psalms 22:22

Because - Because Job doth not acknowledge God’s justice and his own sins. He - God. Anger - Hath laid grievous afflictions upon him. He - Job is not sensible of it, so as to be humbled under God’s hand.

Psalms 22:27

Afar - From remote times, and places, and things. I will not confine my discourse to thy particular case, but wilt justify God by declaring his great and glorious works of creation and providence both in the heaven and in the earth, and the manner of his dealing with men in other parts and ages of the world. Ascribe - I will clear and maintain this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways.

Psalms 22:28

He, &c. - Thou hast to do with a God of perfect knowledge, by whom all thy words and actions are weighed.

Psalms 22:29

Despiseth - His greatness doth not make him (as it doth men) despise, or oppress the meanest. Wisdom - His strength is guided by wisdom, and therefore cannot do any thing unbecoming God, or unjust to his creatures.

Psalms 22:30

But - He will certainly in his time deliver his oppressed ones.

Psalms 22:31

He - Never ceases to care for and watch over them. Exalted - They continue to be exalted; they are not cast down from their dignity, as the wicked commonly are.