Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 5 · Commentary on psalm 26 – Commentary on psalm 28
PSAL. CXXXII.
Davids care to bring home the Arke of God. 8 His prayer at the removing thereof. 11 The Lords oath and promises to David & to the Church.
A Song of degrees.
IEhovah, remember unto David all his affliction. How he sware unto Iehovah, vowed unto the Mightie one of Iakob. If I enter into the tent of mine house; If I goe up on the pallet of my beds. If I give sleepe to mine eyes, slumber to mine eie-lids. Vntill I find a place for Iehovah, dwelling places for the Mighty one of Iakob. Loe, we heard it was in Ephrathah, we found it in the fields of the wood. We will goe into his dwelling places; we will bow downe our selves at the footstoole of his feet. Arise Iehovah to thy rest, thou, and the Arke of thy strength. Let thy Priests be cloathed with justice, and let thy gracious Saints joyfully shout. For thy servant Davids sake, turne not away the face of thine Anointed. Iehovah sware unto David, truth; he will not turne from it; of the fruit of thy wombe will I set upon thy throne. If thy sonnes keepe my Covenant, and my Testimony that I shall teach them; also their sonnes even to perpetuitie, shall sit upon thy throne. For Iehovah hath chosen Sion, hath desired it for his seat. This is my rest even to perpetuitie, here will I sit, for I have desired it. Her victuals I wil blessing blesse, her poore I wil satisfie with bread. And her Priests I will cloath with salvation, and her gracious Saints shall shouting shout joyfully. There will I make the horne of David to bud; I have ordained a lampe for mine Anointed. His enemies will I cloath with shame, and on him his crowne shall flourish.
Annotations.
VNtoUnto David] or for him, that is, for good unto him: or, David with all his affliction. So Psal. 137. 7. affliction] or, humiliation, afflecting care, for to have the Arke brought home unto him, 1 Chron. 13. 1, 2, 3, 12. and 15. 1, 2. &c. or, to build God an house, 2 Sam. 7. 1, 2.
Vers. 2. the Mightie one] in Greeke, the God of Iakob; so called first by Iakob himselfe, Gen. 49. 24. This title is also given to other things, as Psal. 78. 25. and 22. 13.
Vers. 3. If I enter] that is, surely I will not enter: see Psal. 95. 11. and 89. 36. Compare this care of David with the contrary negligence of the people, Hag. 1. 4. 2 Sam. 7. 1, 2. mine house] mentioned, 1 Chron. 15. 1.
Vers. 5. finde] that is, prepare, or build: so Act. 7. 46. Also in Psal. 36. 3. finding is accomplishing. for Iehovah] that is, for his Arke to rest in, which the Chaldee explaineth, a place for the house of the Lords Sanctuarie. dwelling places] or, habitacles: see Psal. 43. 3.
Vers. 6. it] Gods Arke, vers. 8. Ephra…hah] the country of Ephraim, the citie Shilo, where Gods house and Arke had long continued, Iudg. 18. 31. and 21. 19. 1 Sam. 1. 3. therefore an Ephraimite is called an Ephrathite, Iudg. 12. 5. the fields of the wood] in the citie of Kirjath-jearim (that is, the Citie of the woods) where the Arke was twentie yeares, after it came home from the Philistines, 1 Sam. 6. 21. and 7. 1, 2. It was also called Balle (the plaines) of Iudah, 2 Sam. 6. 2.
Vers. 7. at the foot stoole] or towards it, meaning the Sanctuarie: see Psal. 99. 5.
Vers. 8. thy rest] the Sanctuary builded for thy name, as 1 Chr. 28. 2. 2 Chr. 6. 41. Arke] or Chist, Coffer, wch was made of Shittim (or Cedar) wood, overlaid with plates of gold, whose cover (called the MercieMercy-seat) was also of pure gold, on which were two glorious Cherubs of gold, from whence God gave his Oracle, Exod. 37. 1, 2,—6, 7. Num. 7. 89. In this Arke were the two Tables of the Law or Testimonie, written with the finger of God, Deut. 10. 3, 4, 5. This Arke is called Gods strength and glorie, Psal. 78. 61. For Arke of thy strength, the Chaldee saith, the Arke wherein thy Law is.
Vers. 9. cloathed with justice] that is, let them justly and holily administer their Priests office. So Iob speaking of his just administration, saith, I put on justice, and it cloathed me, my judgement was as a robe and crowne, Iob 29. 14. Therefore the Priests had holy garments to administer in, Exod. 28. 2, 3. In 2 Chron. 6. 41. and after here in vers. 16. the Priests are cloathed with salvation: so Christ, and his people, Isa. 61. 10. Rev. 1. 13. and 19. 8. thy Saints] the people of Israel, 1 Chron. 15. 28. and specially the Levites which were singers in Gods Sanctuary. So the Chaldee paraphraseth, Let thy Priests be cloathed with the garments of justice, and let the Levites thy Saints say praises for the oblations.
Vers. 10. Davids sake] for the promises made to David; or, for Christs sake, called often David: see Psal. 18. 51. turne not away the face] that is, deny not the request: as 1 King. 2. 16, 17, 20.
Vers. 11. truth] that is, a true oath, a faithfull promise. fruit of thy wombe] or belly, that is, thy children: see 2 Sam. 7. 12. And this prophesie respecteth Christ, Act. 2. 30.
Vers. 13. his seat] or dwelling place; see Ps. 68. 17.
Vers. 15. victuals] or meat: see Psal. 78. 25. blessing blesse] this noteth certainty and abundance of blessing.
Vers. 16. with salvation] the minstration of the word, whereby they save themselves and those that heare them, Deut. 33. 10. 1 Tim. 4. 16. So Gods ministers are called Saviours, Obad. 21. See before, vers. 9. The Chaldee translateth, with garments of salvation (or of redemption.)
Vers. 17. the horne to bud] or to grow, that is, the kingdome and power to increase, as the Chaldee saith, I will make a glorious King to bud in the house of David. See Psal. 75. 5. and 89. 18, 25. So Christ is called the horne of salvation, Luke 1. 69. ordained a lampe] or, prepared a candle, the bright glorie of the kingdome by a successour; as 1 King. 11. 36. and 15. 4. 2 King. 8. 19. See Psal. 18. 29.
Vers. 18. cloath with shame] the Chaldee saith, with garments of shame. He meaneth they shall be disappointed and confounded in all their enterprises: So Psal. 35. 26. and 109 29. crowne] or diademe; a signe of government and sanctitie: therefore the Greeke turneh it, sanctification: see Psal. 89. 40.
PSAL. CXXXIII.
The benefit of the communion of Saints.
A Song of degrees of David.
BEhold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell even together! Like the good oile upon the head, which went downe upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which went downe upon the collar of his garmens. Like the dew of Hermon which descendeth upon the mountains of Sion; for there Iehovah hath commanded the blessing, life unto eternitie.
Annotations.
TOgether] in unitie and concord. The Chaldee paraphraseth, to dwell in Sion and Ierusalem, like two brethren together.
Vers. 2. the good oile] the balsam, or oile of holy ointment, made of the principall spices, for the Lords Tabernacle and Ministers; see Exod. 30. 23, 25, 26,—30. the collar] Hebr. the mouth, that is, the edge, the upper hole or border which was bound about that it should not rent, Exod. 39. 23.
Vers. 3. Hermon] an high and fertile mount without Iordan, watered with the dew of heaven: it was called also Shirion: see Psal. 29. 6. which descendeth] understand here againe, and as the dew that descendeth: for Hermon and Sion were farre asunder. there] where brethren dwell in unitie. commanded] appointed, and sent effectually: see Psal. 42. 9.
PSAL. CXXXIV.
An exhortation to blesse God.
A Song of degrees.
BEhold, blesse ye Iehovah all yee servants of Iehovah, that stand in the house of Iehovah in the nights. Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary, and blesse Iehovah. Iehovah blesse thee out of Sion: he that made heavens and earth.
Annotations.
THat stand] that is, serve, or minister, as, which stood before the King, Ier. 51. 12. for which is written, in 2 King. 25 8. servant of the King. Here is meant chiefly the Priests and Levites, whose office was to stand and minister, Deut. 10. 8. and 17. 12. Ezek. 44. 11, 15. So Neh. 12. 44. the Priests and Levites that stood, that is, served. See also Psal. 13 5. 2. The Chaldee expoundeth it, that stand in the watches of the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord, and doe praise in the nights. in the nights] keeping the watch of the Lord. See Levit. 8. 35. 1 Chron. 9. 33.
Vers. 2. in the Sanctuary] or, towards the holinesse, that is, the most holy place, where God dwelt betweene the Cherubims: or, in holinesse, that is, holily.
Vers. 3. blesse] or will blesse thee, speaking to Gods people. Compare Num. 6. 24. Psal. 128. 5. and the promise, Exod. 20. 24. In all places where I put the memory of my name, I will come unto thee, and blesse thee.