I have not not hid thy righteousness within my
heart
Meaning not the essential righteousness of God, though that was
abundantly declared in the wounds, sufferings, and death of
Christ; and which was the end indeed of his being a propitiation
for sin, ( Romans 3:25 Romans 3:26 ) ; but his
own righteousness, as before, which he wrought out, and brought
in; and which is called the righteousness of God his Father,
because it is approved of by him, and accepted with him, and
which he imputes to all his people;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy
salvation:
trial is, the "faithfulness" of God in executing all his
purposes, counsels, and decrees, which are said to be
faithfulness and truth; and in fulfilling his covenant and
promises, relating to the redemption and salvation of men by
Christ; and in the mission of Christ into this world on that
account; and in the accomplishment of all the prophecies of the
Old Testament concerning him; and in making good all the
particular promises of support, help, and strength, made to the
Messiah himself: and by his "salvation" is meant, that which is
of God the Father's appointing, continuing, and settling, in the
council and covenant of grace; which he sent his Son to be the
author of, and which he has obtained; and is the great doctrine
of the Gospel preached by himself, and his faithful ministers, (
Luke 19:9
Luke 19:10 ) (
Mark 16:16 ) ;
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from
the great
congregation;
or "in the great congregation", as the Targum. By the
"lovingkindness" of God is designed both his love to Christ,
which was before the foundation of the world, and continued in
his lowest state of humiliation, and which our Lord was far from
concealing, but gave openly instances of it, ( John 17:24 ) ( 10:17 ) ( 5:20-23
) ; and this love to his people; and which he declared to be the
same with that which he is loved with, and instances in the gift
of himself to them by his Father, as the great evidence of it, (
John 17:23 ) (
3:16 ) ; and by
"truth" is intended the Gospel in general, which came by Christ,
was preached by him, which he bore witness to, to do which was
one end of his coming into the world; and this was not concealed
by him, who is truth itself; but was fully and plainly declared
by him, as it had not been before, ( John 1:17 ) ( 18:37 ) .