Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 3 · Commentary on psalm 12
PSAL. LXXXIV.
The Prophet longing for the communion of the Sanctuary, sheweth how blessed they are that dwell therein. 9 He prayeth to be restored unto it.
To the master of the musicke upon Gittith, a Psalme to the sonnes of Korach.
HOw amiable are thy dwelling places, O Iehovah of hosts! My soule longeth and also fainteth for the courts of Iehovah; my heart and my flesh doe shout unto the living God. Yea the sparrow findeth a house, and the swallow a nest for her, where she laieth heryoung: thine altars Iehovah of hosts, my King and my God. O blessed are they that abide in thine house, still they shall praise thee Selah. O blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, they in whose heart, are the high-wayes. They that passing thorow the vale of Baca, put him for a well-spring, also with blessings the raine covereth. They shall goe from power to power, he shall appeare unto God in Sion. Iehovah God of hosts, heare thou my prayer: give yeare, O God of Iakob, Selah. See thou, O God, our shield, and looke upon the face of the Anointed. For, better is a day in thy courts than a thousand: I have chosen to sit at the threshold in the house of my God, rather than to remaine in the tents of wickednesse. For Iehovah God is a Sunne and a shield, Iehovah will give grace and glory, he will not withhold good from them that walke in perfection. Iehovah of hosts, O blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Annotations.
GIttith] see Psal. 8. 1.
Vers. 2. dwelling places] or habitacles,: see the Notes on Psal. 43. 3.
Vers. 3. for the courts] that I may come into them: for the Priests onelyonly went into the Temple, the people stood in the courtyards which were two, 2 Kings 21. 5. See Psal. 65. 5. shout] to wit, for desire to come unto God.
Vers. 4. the sparrow] or bird, in Chaldee, the dove; the Hebrew tsippor is generally any bird, Psal. 11. 1. Gen. 7. 14. specially the sparrow, when other birds are named, as here and Psal. 102. 8. for such haunt mens houses. swallow] or, free bird, called in Hebrew dror, of libertie which this bird seemeth to have above others, flying boldly and nestling about houses: so Prov. 26. 2. The Greeke takes it here for the turtle dove, (which hath in Hebrew another name, Psal. 74. 19.) so also doth the Chaldee, adding this reason, because her young are lawfull to be offered on thine altar. thine altars] to wit, are the places where the birds nestle neere unto them, in houses or trees, which sometime were by Gods tabernacle, Ios. 24. 26. or understand as before, (I long for) thine altars.
Vers. 6. the high wayes] or causeyes; namely, which lead to thy house: that is, they which affect heartily, long after, and delight to goe up to thy house. Spiritually these wayes or pathes are made by preaching of the Gospell, Esa. 40. 3. and 35. 8. and 11. 16.
Vers. 7. They that passing] or, of them that passe. of Baca] that is, of mulberie trees; which use to grow in dry places. The Greeke saith, vales of teares. Both meane that through wants and afflictions we must come into the kingdome of God. This valley was neere unto Ierusalem, as may be gathered by 2 Sam. 5. 22, 23. Ios. 15. 8. put him or set him, that is, God, making him by faith a well of life unto them; for he is the fountaine of living waters, Ier. 2. 13. Or, set it, that is, the valley, making it a fountaine by digging wels therein. And this may be an allusion to that well, digged by the Princes and Captaines of Israel, Num. 21. 16, 18. also with blessings, &c.] that is, bountifully & abundantly the raine shall cover them. Raine figureth out the doctrine of the Gospell, Deut. 32. 2. Isa. 45. 8. Ioel 2. 23. Revel. 11. 6. the raine of blessings is a bountifull abundant raine, Ezek. 34. 26. (as to sow with blessings, 2 Cor, 9. 6. is to sow abundantly, or liberally; and blessing is liberalitie, 2 Cor. 9. 5. Prov. 11. 25.) So God would cause a bountifull raine of grace and comfort, to cover them that goe up to his house in Ierusalem; as elsewhere hee is said to refresh his inheritance with the raine of liberalities strowed upon it, Psal. 68. 10. whereas on the contrary, who so will not goe up to Ierusalem, to worship the King the Lord of hosts, upon them shall come no raine, Zach. 14. 17. The Greeke turneth this sentence thus, the Lawgiver (or Teacher) shall give blessings; the originall Moreh being ambiguous, sometime signifying a Teacher, Iob 36. 22. sometime raine, Ioel 2. 23. Isa. 30. 20. so that from the Hebrew it may also be interpreted, with blessings the teacher shall cover them; the meaning much like the former; the Teacher being God or Christ, in whom we are blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things, Eph. 1. 3. The Chaldee expounds it, with blessings hee will cover them that continue in the doctrine of his Law. Some understand bracoth, blessings, to be here as brecoth, pools digged and filled with raine. Both meane one thing.
Vers. 8. from power to power] that is, increasing their power (or strength) daily more and more; as the Apostle saith, wee are changed into Gods image, from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. and Gods justice is revealed from faith to faith, Rom. 1. 17. our faith and glory increasing more and more, Prov. 4. 18. Or from army to army, (from troupe to troupe) respecting the troupes of Israel, which went all the males thrice every yeare to appeare before the Lord, Exod. 23. 14,—17. The Hebrew Chajil, power, is used sometime for an army of men, Psal. 33. 16. and sometime for riches, Psal. 49. 7. which also may be implied here. he shall appeare] or, till he, that is, every one of them appeares; according to the law, Exod. 34. 23. Zach. 14. 16.
Vers. 10. of thine anointed] or Messiah, our Lord Christ, in whom God respecteth us; or David, his figure, and father in the flesh, called also Gods anointed, 2 Sam. 23. 1.
Vers. 11. than a thousand] to wit, in any other place. sit at the threshold] that is, be in the lowest roome and basest estate; as the Greeke saith, be cast downe, (or an abject) And by Gods house may be meant his tabernacle; as Luk. 11. 51. with Mat. 23. 35. to remaine] or abide my whole life long.
Vers. 12. is a Sun] or, will be a Sun, that is, a light, Isa. 60. 19. Rev. 21. 23. understanding hereby all blessings and comforts, by Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse, Mal. 4. 2.