Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 5 · Commentary on psalm 12
PSAL. CXVIII.
An exhortation to praise God for his mercy. 5 The Psalmist by his experience sheweth how good it is to trust in God. 19 VnderUnder the type of the Psalmist, the comming of Christ in his kingdome is expressed.
COnfesse ye to Iehovah, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his merciemercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them that feare Iehovah, now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Out of straight affliction I called on Iah; Iah answered me with a large roomth. Iehovah is for me, I will not feare what man can doe unto me. Iehovah is for me with them that helpe mee, and I shall see on them that hate me. It is better to hope for safety in Iehovah, than to trust in man. It is better to hope for safety in Iehovah, than to trust in bounteous Princes. All nations compassed me, but in the name of Iehovah I cut them off. They compassed me, yea they compassed mee, but in the name of Iehovah I cut them off. They compassed mee as Bees, they were quenched as a fire of thornes; but in the name of Iehovah I cut thē off. Thrusting thou thrustedst me to fall, and Iehovah holpe me. Iah is my strength and song, and he hath beene to me for a salvation.
A voice of shouting & of salvation is in the tents of the just; the right hand of Iehovah doth valiantnesse. The right hand of Jehovah is exalted; the right hand of Iehovah doth valiantnesse. I shall not die but live, and shall tell the works of Iah. Iah chastising chastised me, and gave me not to the death. Open ye unto me the gates of justice, that I may enter into them, may confesse Iah. This gate of Iehovah, into which the just shall enter. I will confesse thee because thou hast answered me, and hast been to me for a salvation. The stone which the builders refused, is become for head of the corner. This was of Iehovah, it is marvellous in our eies. This is the day Iehovah made, let us be glad and rejoyce in it.
Oh Iehovah save now, oh Iehovah prosper now. Blessed be hee that commeth in the name of Iehovah; wee blesse you out of the house of Iehovah. God is Iehovah, and hath given light unto us: binde ye the feast offerings with cords, unto the hornes of the Altar. Thou art my God, and I will confesse thee; my God, I will exalt thee. Confesse yee to Iehovah, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Annotations.
FOr he] or, that he is good: so vers. 29.
Vers. 4. that feare] strangers of all nations, as before he mentioned the Church and Ministers: see Psal. 115. 9.
Vers. 5. with a large roomth] that is, by bringing me into it, as is expressed, Ps. 18. 20. and 4. 2.
Vers. 6. for me] to wit, an helper, as the Greeke explaineth; which the Apostle followeth, Heb. 13. 6. So the Chaldee saith, the word of the Lord is for mine helpe: so in vers. 7. See also Ps. 56. 5, 12.
Vers. 7. with them that helpe mee] in stead of all helpers: see a like phrase, Psal. 54. 6. The Greeke saith, mine helper. see on them] to wit, their reward, or vengeance, as the Chaldee explaineth. See Psal. 54. 9. and 91. 8.
Vers. 10. but in, &c.] or, in the name of Iehovah, (I trust) that I shall cut them off. The Greek agreeth with the former; the Chaldee with this latter: and so in the verses following.
Vers. 12. were quenched] or (on the contrary) were kindled, as both the Greeke and Chaldee doe translate it. Sundry words signifie contraries, as barac to blesse and to curse, 1 King. 21. 13. The fire of thornes is both soone kindled, and soone quenched: so Christs enemies. for] or, but in the name, &c.
Vers. 13. Thrusting, &c.] that is, Thou diddest sorely thrust, speaking to the enemie: the Chaldee explaineth it, my sinne thrust mee to fall. Thrusting thrust, is an Hebraisme often used; as after, vers. 18. So Cutting shall be cut off, Numb. 15. 30. that is, shall die without mercy, Heb. 10. 28.
Vers. 14. song] or melodie, that is, whom I sing laud unto. This is taken from Exod. 15. 2. so Isa. 12. 3. for a salvation] or, a salvation, that is, hath saved or rescued me against mine enemies, as 2 Sam. 10. 11. where the like phrase is used: so after, vers. 21. the word for may be omitted, as sometime in the Hebrew it selfe, 2 Chron. 18. 21. compared with 1 King. 22. 22.
Vers. 15. salvation] that is, victorie, as Psal. 98. 1. or thankes for salvation, as Psal. 116. 13. See Rev. 19. 1. tents] that is, dwelling places; but spoken of as in warres, or for short continuance; as Heb. 11. 9. So tents of the Saints, Rev. 20 9. See also 2 Chron. 31. 2.
Vers. 18. gave] or delivered; so Ezek. 31. 14.
Vers. 19. gates of justice] that is, of Gods Sanctuary, the gates whereof were to be opened by the Priests and Levites, for men to come and serve the Lord, 1 Sam. 3. 15. called gates of justice, because only the just and cleane might enter into them, as vers. 20. Isa. 26. 2. 2 Chron. 23. 19. Rev. 21. 27.
Vers. 20. gate of Jehovah] this the Chaldee expoundeth, the gate of the Sanctuary of the Lord.
Vers. 22. The stone, &c.] By this stone is meant David himselfe, and his Sonne Christ; by the builders, are meant the chiefe men of Israel, that refused David and Christ to reigne over them, Matth. 21. 42. Act. 4. 11. Of David, the Chaldee expoundeth it, The builders despised the young man, which among the sonnes of Iesse was worthy to be made King and Ruler. for head] that is, the chiefe corner stone, which coupleth and fastneth the building: See also Isa. 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 6, 7, 8. Ephes. 2. 20. 21.
Vers. 24. made] that is, preferred in honour above others; so making somtime signifieth, as 1 Sam. 12. 6. and the making of a day, is the sanctifying and observing of it, Deut. 5. 15. Exod. 34. 21. Also day is the whole time of grace in Christ, 2 Cor. 6. 2.
Vers. 25. save now] or, I beseech thee save: in Hebrew, Hoshiah-na, or Hosanna, as it is sounded in Greeke, Matth. 21. 9, 15. where the people and children welcome Christ into Ierusalem, singing Hosanna the Sonne of David, that is, praying God most high, to save the King (Christ) who then came in the name of the Lord.
Vers. 26. he that commeth] that is, the King (Christ) that commeth in the name (power, and authoritie) of the Lord, Luke 19. 38. we blesse you] these seeme to be the Priests words, whose office was to blesse Gods people in his house, Num. 6. 23. Deut. 10. 8. 1 Chron. 23. 13.
Vers. 27. the feast-offerings] or festivitie. This word often used for a festivall day, as Psal. 81. 4. is sometime figuratively used for the sacrifices offered at those feasts, as Exod. 23. 18. Isa. 29. 1. and so the Chaldee explaineth it here. Thus Christ is called our Passeover, 1 Cor. 5. 7. that is, our Paschall lamb. with cords] This word is sometime used for thick twisted cords, Iudg. 15. 13. sometime for thick branches of trees, used at some feasts, Ezek. 19. 11. Levit. 23. 40. Hereupon this sentence may two wayes be read; binde the feast with thick branches, or binde the sacrifices with cords; both meane one thing, that men should keepe the festivitie with joy and thankes to God, as Israel used at their solemnities. unto the hornes] that is, all the Court over, untill you come even to the hornes of the altar: intending hereby many sacrifices or boughes. The Chaldee interpreteth it, till he have offered him, and powred the bloud at the hornes of the Altar.