Psalm 23:3-4
Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? The innocent in hands, and clean of heart.
Haydock
Verse 3. Place. The punishment of the Bethsamites, and of Oza, had filled all with alarm, so that David durst not introduce the ark into his palace. 1 K. vi. 19. C. — Though Christ created and redeemed all, yet only the just shall inherit felicity. W.
Verse 4. Heart, whose faith and intentions are pure, as well as their actions. — Vain, by neglecting good works, (S. Jer.) or seeking after trifles; (S. Aug.) or rather, according to the Heb. “who hath not sworn in vain by his soul.” 2 Cor. i. 23. and 1 K. i. 26. To take the name of God in vain, means to swear falsely. C. — Prot. “who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity;” to swell with pride, (H.) or to swear by idols. Pr. in disc. — To his, &c. This is not in Heb. but must be understood, (C.) as a person can only intend to deceive men. So Duport, who follows the Heb. so exactly in his Greek psalms in verse, (Bert.) reads, “Nor sworn an oath, that men he might deceive.” H. — These two verses contain an abridgment of the gospel, and shew that something better than Mount Sion is understood. Heb. xii. 22. When we approach to the tabernacle, and to the sacred mysteries, we ought to put these terrible questions to ourselves. Bert. — We must carefully employ ourselves in good works, (W.) by which alone we can make our calling and election sure. 1 Pet. i. 10. H.