Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 5 · Commentary on psalm 1 – Commentary on psalm 2
PSAL. CVII.
The Psalmist exhorteth the redeemed, in praising God to observe his manifold providence, 4 over travellers, 10 over captives, 17 over sicke men, 23 over sea men, 33 and in divers varieties of life.
COnfesse ye to Iehovah, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of Iehovah say it, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the distresser. And gathered them out of the lands, from East and from West, from North and from the sea. They wandred in the wildernesse, in the desart without way; they found not a dwelling Citie. Hungry and also thirstie, their soule was overwhelmed in them. And they cried unto Iehovah in their distresse; he rid them free out of their anguishes.
And he led them in a right way, for to come unto a dwelling Citie. Let them confesse to Iehovah his merciemercy, and his marvellous works to the sonnes of Adam. For he hath satisfied the thirsty soule, and filled the hungry soule with good.
They that sit in darknesse and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron. Because they turned rebellious against the Words of God, and despised the counsell of the most high. And hee humbled their heart with molestation; they stumbled down, and there was no helper. And they cried unto Iehovah in their distresse; he saved them out of their anguishes. Hee brought them forth from darknesse and shadow of death, and brake their bands. Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercy, and his marvellous works to the sonnes of Adam. For he hath broken the doores of brasse, and hewed asunder the barres of iron.
Fooles, for the way of their trespasse, and for their iniquities are afflicted. Their soule abhorreth all meat, and they approach to the gates of death. And they cry unto Iehovah in their distresse; he saveth them out of their anguishes. Hee sendeth his word and healeth them, and delivereth from their corruptions. Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercy, and his marvellous workes to the sons of Adam. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of confession, and tell his works with shouting.
They that goe downe to the sea in ships, that doe their labour in the many waters; They doe see the workes of Iehovah, and his marvellous acts in the deepe. For hee saith, and raiseth up the stormy wind; and it lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the Heavens, they goe downe to the deeps; their soule in evill melteth away. They reele and stagger like a drunken man; and all their wisdome is swallowed up. And they cry unto Iehovah in their distresse, and he bringeth them out from their anguishes. He setteth the storme to a silent calme, and the waves thereof are quiet. And they rejoyce because they are stilled, and hee leads them unto the haven of their desire. Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercy, and his marvellous workes to the sonnes of Adam. And let them exalt him in the Church of the people, and praise him in the sitting of the Elders.
He putteth rivers to a wildernesse, and issues of waters to a thirstinesse. A land of fruit to saltnesse, for the evill of them that dwell therin. He putteth the wildernesse to a poole of waters, and the land of drought to issues of waters. And seateth there the hungry, and they firmely prepare a dwelling Citie. And sow the fields, and plant Vineyards; and they yeeld fruitfull revenue. And hee blesseth them, and they are multiplied greatly; and their cattle hee diminisheth not. And they are diminished and bowed down, by restraint, evill and sorrow. He powreth contempt on bounteous Princes, and maketh them erre in deformed wildernesse without way. And raiseth up the needy from afflicting poverty, and putteth his families as a flocke. The righteous shall see and rejoyce, and all injurious evill stop her mouth. Who is wise and will observe these things; and they shall understand the mercies of Iehovah.
Annotations.
THe fifth booke] see Psal. 42 1.
Vers. 2. whom he hath] or, that he hath redeemed them. of the distresser] or of distresse.
Vers. 3. the sea] that is, the south, where the red sea was situate from Iudea (as the Chaldee explaineth it, the southerne sea,) for the maine sea was westward, Ios. 23. 4. and so is often used for the West.
Vers. 4. desart way] Heb. desart of way, meaning where no way was, as vers. 40. see also Esa. 43. 19. This estate figureth out mens dispersion among the peoples of the world, Ezek. 20. 35, 36. when men are without the law, Rom. 2. 14. dwelling citie] Heb. citie of habitation or seating; so verse 7 36. that is, no harbour or place of refreshing, for wilde and venomous beasts onelyonly haunted there, Ier. 2. 6. Deut. 8. 15. Compare also Eccles. 10. 15. Gen. 21. 14, 15, 16.
Vers. 5. overwhelmed] fainted: see Psal. 61. 3.
Vers. 7. citie] this the Chaldee expoundeth of Ierusalem.
Vers. 9. with good] or good things, as the Greeke explaineth it: see Psal. 65. 5. Luk. 1. 53.
Vers. 10. shadow of death] that is, terrible darknesse, meaning hereby sore afflictions in body and soule. See Psal. 23. 4. Esa. 49. 9. and 9. 2. Mat. 4. 15. Luk. 1. 79. affliction] as with cords and fetters: see Iob 36. 8, 9, &c.
Vers. 16. barres] that is, all the most strong hinderances: so Isa. 45. 2.
Vers. 17. Fooles] evill disposed persons, so named of their unadvised rashnesse: see Psal. 38. 6. are afflicted] or, bring affliction on themselves.
Vers. 18. soule] that is, appetite: see the like in Iob 33. 20. and the contrary in Psal. 78. 18. gates] that is, imminent perill of death: see Psal. 9. 14. Iob 33. 22.
Vers. 20. healeth them] example in Hezekiah, 2 King. 20. 1. 4, 5, 7. and the contrary in Asa, 2 Chron. 16. 12, 13. for God woundeth and healeth, Deut. 32. 39. Hos. 6. 1. Iob 33. 19, 24. corruptions] that is, corrupting diseases, or corrupting graves whereinto they are ready to come: see Psal. 7. 16. Iob 33. 28, 30.
Vers. 22. of confession] that is, thank-offerings: see Psal. 50. 14.
Vers. 23. doe labour] that is, occupie or get their living: so Rev. 18. 17.
Vers. 25. raiseth up] or maketh stand, which noteth also the continuance of the storme. See an example, Ion. 1. 4.
Vers. 29. he setteth] or restoreth firme. See Mat. 8. 26. Ion. 1. 15.
Vers. 30. because they] or, when they, that is, the waves.
Vers. 32. the sitting] or the Assise (session) of the Elders or Senators, the governours of the people, whom the Chaldee calleth Wise men. And from this Psalme, and this verse of it, the Hebrewes have this Canon: Foure must confesse (unto God;) The sicke when he is healed, the prisoner when he is released out of bonds; they that goe downe to sea, when they are come up (to land;) and waifaring men, when they are come to the inhabited land. And they must make confession before ten men, and two of them wise men, Psal. 107. 32. And the manner of confessing and blessing is thus; He standeth among them, and blesseth the Lord, the King eternall, that bounteously rewardeth good things unto sinners, &c. Maimony in Misr. treat. of Blessings, chap. 10. sect. 8.
Vers. 33. He putteth rivers] that is, hee turneth watry fruitfull places to a dry barren desart. Rivers here (as waters in Isa. 32. 20. Eccles. 11. 1.) are put for most fertile grounds, as wildernesse for a dry barren ground, Deut. 8. 15. issues] that is, places where water-springs are. thirstinesse] that is, a thirsty dry land.
Vers. 34. saltnesse] that is, a salt barren land: so Ier. 17. 6. Iob 39. 6. for salt causeth barrennesse, Deu. 29. 23. Iudg. 9. 45. The Chaldee paraphraseth, The fruitfull land of Israel he layeth waste like Sodom, which was overthrowne for the evill of them that dwelt therein.
Vers. 35. land of drought] that is, a dry barren land: compare Isa. 41. 18.
Vers. 37. yeeld fruitfull revenue] Heb. make fruit of revenue (or increase.) see Psal. 1. 3.
Vers. 39. And they are] that is, And againe, when he curseth them, they are minished, &c. the contrary to the former blesseth is to bee understood, as in the Law, Deut. 28. 4, 18. Or, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, And when they sinne, they are diminished. restraint] either of libertie by imprisonment, as Isa. 53. 8. or of any blessing.
Vers. 40. contempt] a base contemptible estate: so Iob 12. 21. deformed wildernesse] or wilde ground, unordered: so Iob 12. 24.
Vers. 41. raiseth up] or setteth in a high place safely; so 1 Sam. 2. 8. Psal. 1▪ 13. 7, 8.
Vers. 42. all injurious evill] that is, all evill persons that deny Gods providence, or blame his administration, shall have their mouthes stopped: so Iob 5. 16. and so pride is for proud persons, Psal. 36. 12.
Vers. 43. Who is wise?] a complaint how few there be that marke these things, and an intimation that every wise man will observe them: so Hos. 14. 10. Ier. 9. 12. and they shall] or, as before, who will understand.
PSAI. CVIII.
David incourageth himselfe to praise God. 6 He praieth for Gods assistance according to his promise. 11 His confidence in Gods helpe.
A Song, a Psalme of David.
O God, mine heart is firmely prepared; I will sing and sing Psalme, yea with my glory. Raise up Psalterie and Harpe; I will raise up at the day dawning. I will confesse thee among the peoples, O Tehovah, and will sing Psalmes to thee among the Nations. That thy mercy is great above the heavens, and thy truth unto the skies. Be thou exalted over the Heavens, O God, and over all the earth thy glory. That thy beloved may be delivered; save thou with thy right hand, and answer me. God spake by his holinesse, I will bee glad; I shall divide Shechem, and measure the vally of Succoth.
Gilead shall be mine, Manasseh mine, and Aephrajim the strength of mine head; Iehudah shall be my law-giver. Moab my washing pot, over Edom I shall cast my shooe, over Palestina I will shout. Who will leade mee along to the city of strong defence? who will conduct me into Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us away; and wouldst not goe forth, O God, in our hosts? O give thou us helpe from distresse, for false vanitie is the salvation of man. Through God wee shall doe valiantnesse; and hee will tread downe our distressers.
Annotations.
YEa with my glorie] that is, with my soule and tongue (as Psal. 16. 9.) or, Yea my glory, to wit, shall sing. This Psalme is composed of the 57. Psalme, from the 8. verse to the end, and of the 60. Psalme, from the 7. verse to the end: see the Annotations there.
Vers. 7. answer me] or us: see Psal. 60. 7, &c.
Vers. 14. valiantnesse] that is, valiantly, and so prevaile, as Balaam prophesied, Numb. 24. 18.