That sweareth by him ] It was customary to swear by the life of the king.

The Egyptians swore by the life of Pharaoh; and Joseph conforms to this custom, as may be seen in the book of Genesis, xlii. 15, 16. See also 1 Sam. i. x16: xvii. 55, and Judith xi. 7. But here it may refer to GOD. He is THE KING, and swearing by his name signifies binding themselves by his authority, acknowledging his supremacy, and devoting themselves to his glory and service alone.

The Chaldee has: "And the King shall rejoice ahla rmymb bemeymar Eloha, in the WORD of God;" or, in the WORD GOD; Meymar, WORD, being taken here substantially, as in many other places, by the Targumist.

The mouth of them that speak lies ] The mouth of those who acknowledge lying vanities, that worship false gods, shall be stopped. All false religions shall be destroyed by the prevalence of the truth. For he, CHRIST, shall reign till all his enemies are put under his feet. "Thy kingdom come, and hell's o'erpower: and to thy scepter all subdue." Amen and Amen.

ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTY-THIRD PSALM

The contents are: - I. David's ardent desire to be in the assembly of the saints, ver. 1. And the reasons on which this desire was founded, ver. 2-5.

II. That though absent from God's ordinances, yet he forgot not his Maker, ver. 6-8.

III. A double prophecy. 1. What should befall his enemies, ver. 9, 10. And, 2. What should come to himself, ver. 11.

I. 1. In the first part he states his confidence in God, as the foundation of his desires, contemplations, meditations, invocations, and consolations: "O God, thou art my God," ver. 1.

2. Then he expresses his fervent desire and ardent affection. 1. "Early will I seek thee." THEE, not other things. 2. "My soul thirsteth for thee," &c. There is no doubt that he wanted many things in this barren thirsty land; but of this he does not complain, but of his want of God in the sanctuary.

And so he expresses himself in the following verse: He was about to see the power and glory of God in the sanctuary, as he had formerly done. He gives the reason of this: "Because thy loving-kindness is better than life," ver. 3. To see thy goodness in the use of thy ordinances, I count far beyond all the blessings of life; and could I again be admitted there, these effects would follow: - 1. Praise: "My lips shall praise," &c., ver. 4.

2. Invocation and prayer: "I will lift up my hands," &c., ver. 4.

3. The satisfaction he should receive from these: "My mouth shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness," &c., ver. 5.

II. Though David is now in the wilderness, he does not forget his duty.

1. Even there he remembered God upon his bed; and meditated, &c., ver. 6.

2. "Because thou hast been my help; therefore," &c., ver. 7.

3. "My soul followeth hard after thee," &c., ver. 8. It is evident, therefore, that even here David was not without comfort; for, 1. He meditates, and remembers what God had done for him. 2. He remembers that he had been his help; and therefore he rejoices. 3. He still adheres to him, and follows hard after him for help still.

III. And now, being secure of God's protection, he foretells, 1. What would befall his enemies; and, 2. What would come to himself.

1. To his enemies, ruin: "Those who seek after my soul, they shall go (some) into the lower parts of the earth," the grave or hell.

Others should "fall by the sword," lie unburied, and be devoured by wild beasts.- Ĉelwria teuce kunessin, oiwnoisi te pasi. Il., i. ver. 4.

"Whose limbs, unburied on the naked shore, Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore." POPE.

2. To himself, honour and a crown: "But the king (David) shall rejoice in God." The reason is: - 1. "Every one that swears by him," that is who worships and fears God, an oath being put by synecdoche for the whole worship of God. See the notes.