Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 1 · Commentary on psalm 24
PSAL. XXIV.
Gods Lordship in the world. 3 The citizens of his spirituall kingdome. 7 An exhortation to receive him.
A Psalme of David.
THe earth is Iehovahs, and the plentie thereof; the world, and they that sit therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend into the mountaine of Iehovah, and who shall stand in the place of his holinesse? The cleane in hands, and pure in heart, which lifteth not up his soule to false vanitie, neither sweareth to deceit.
He shall receive a blessing from Iehovah, and justice from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that enquire for him, of them that seeke thy face, of Iakob Selah.
Lift up yee gates your heads, and be lifted up yee doores of eternitie, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? Iehovah, strong and valiant; Iehovah valiant in battell. Lift up yee gates your heads, and lift up yee doores of eternitie, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he this King of glory? Iehovah of hosts, hee is the King of glory Selah.
Annotations.
APsalme of David] unto this title the Greeke addeth, of the first day of the weeke: meaning that this Psalme was wont to be sung in the Temple every first day of the weeke, which now with us is the Lords day, the Christians Sabbath: and of Christ his Church and kingdome, and the entertaining of his Gospell, doth this Psalme treat. In Solomons Temple God ordained Levites with Cymbals, Psalteries and Harpes, and Priests with Trumpets, and other Levites that were singers, and in the time that the burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began with trumpets and instruments, and they sang praises with the words of David, and of Asaph, 2 Chron. 29. 25,—30. The Hebrew Doctors recording their daily service in the Sanctuary, write thus; They said not the Song, but over the burnt-offerings of the Congregation, and the sacrifices of their peace-offerings that are spoken of in the Law, &c. The Song which the Levites said in the first day, was (Psalm. 24.) The earth is the LORDS, and the plentie thereof. In the second (day) they said (the 48. Psal.) Great is the LORD, and praised vehemently in the citie of our God, &c. In the third they said (the 82. Psalme,) God standeth in the assembly of God, hee judgeth in the middest of the gods. In the fourth they said (the 94. Psalme) O God of vengeances, &c. In the fifth they said (the 81. Psalme,) Shout joyfully unto God our strength, &c. In the sixth they said (the 93. Psalme,) The Lord reigneth, is cloathed with high Majestie, &c. In the Sabbath they said (the 92. Psalme,) A Psalme, a Song for the Sabbath day. Maimony in Misneh, tom. 3. in Tamidin, (or Treat. of the Daily sacrifices,) chap. 6. sect. 7, 8, 9. The earth is Iehovahs] or To Jehovah the earth belongeth. Of him, and by him, and for him are all things; yet in speciall he hath chosen Iakobs posteritie for to be his people, vers. 6. Thus David maketh use of Moses doctrine, who said, Loe, to Iehovah thy God pertaine the heavens, and the heavens of heavens, the earth and all that therein is: notwithstanding, Iehovah set his delight in thy fathers to love them, and did chuse their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as appeareth this day, Deut. 10. 14, 15. See also another use of this doctrine, in 1 Cor. 10. 26, 28. where the Apostle proveth, that every creature in the earth may be used of Christians for food, or otherwise, because all is the Lords, and in Christ ours. plentie] or, fulnesse, that is, all contained therein, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, the creatures thereof. So, the plenty of the sea, Esay 42. 10. the plenty of the citie, Amos. 6. 8. and sundry the like. that sit] that is, dwell or inhabit, as it is noted on Psal. 1. 1. The like manner of speaking the holy Ghost useth also in Greeke, Luke 21. 35. on all them that sit on the face of the whole earth. So Psa. 69. 36. and often otherwhere.
Vers. 2. upon the seas] or above them. The earth is said to be founded (or fast setled) upon the seas, (the heapes of waters were called seas, Gen. 1. 10.) because the waters which naturally would stand above the high mountaines, Psal. 104. 6. are by the word of God gathered together, and thrust under the earth, that the drie land might appeare and be inhabited, Exod. 20. 4. Gen. 1. 9. And these which may seeme a most weake and flitting foundation, yet are firme bases, and mighty foundations, Psal. 104. 5. Mic. 6. 2. to magnifie Gods power, who as he brought light out of darknesse, so setleth he the solide earth on the liquid waters; yea, hangeth the earth upon nothing, Iob 26. 7.
Vers. 3. Who shall ascend] The Chaldee paraphraseth, Who shal be worthy to ascend unto the mountaine of the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord?
Vers. 4. The cleane in hands] He whose hands or palmes are cleane, or free of evill. So Iob 17. 9. This noteth good workes, as purenesse of heart meaneth holy faith and affections, Act. 15. 9. not lifted up his soule] or, my soule. The Hebrew hath two readings; by the letters in the line, his soule, and in the margine, my soule; as if this were spoken in the person of God, and of him; which then may be understood of swearing. For this forme of words is used in the third Commandement, Exod. 20. Thou shalt not lift up (or take up) the name of Iehovah thy God to false vanity. But for Name, here is put Soule. And God is said to sweare by his soule, that is, by himselfe, or his life, Ier. 51. 14. Amos 6. 8. It was also the wont in Israel to take an oath thus, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soule liveth, 1 Sam. 20. 3. 2 King. 2. 2, 4, 6. Also concerning a mans owne soule, in swearing this forme was used, I call God for a record against my soule, 2 Cor. 1. 23. And thus the Chaldee expounds it, which hath not sworne in vaine to the condemnation of his soule. Otherwise, if this be not understood of vaine swearing, the meaning is, he that affecteth not, or regardeth not vanity; for so the lifting up of the soule also signifieth; see Psal. 25. 1. to deceit] or, deceitfully.
Vers. 5. He shall receive] or shall take up, or beare away a blessing. justice] or righteousnesse; wherof see Phil. 3. 9. Psal. 69. 28. Hereby also may be meant a benefit, the fruit or reward of righteousnesse. The Greeke turneth it mercy, or almes: and by justice, mercies and benefits are sometimes meant, Iudg. 5. 11. Psal. 112. 9. Dan. 4. 24.
Vers. 6. of Iakob] understand, this is the generation of Iakob, or, this is Iakob; these are true Israelites, whom God will acknowledge for his, Ioh. 1. 47. Rom. 9. 6. Iakob when he wrastled with an Angell, saw God face to face, and called the place Peniel, that is, Gods face or presence; there he wept and prayed, and bare away a blessing, Gen. 32. 24, 26, 29, 30. Hos. 12. 4. That history hath use here.
Vers. 7. Lift up yee gates &c.] This may first have reference to the gates and doores of the Temple, into which the Arke (the glory of Israel, 1 Sam. 4. 21.) should enter; on which Arke, betweene the Cherubims, God was said to dwell, 1 Sam. 4. 4. 1 King. 8. 1, &c. So the Chaldee expoundeth it, gates of the house of the Sanctuary; though in the 9. verse otherwise, saying, Lift up, O ye gates of the garden of Eden, your heads. Secondly, it may be referred to Christian men, which are the true temple of God, 1 Cor. 3. 17. at the doore of whose hearts he knocketh to have entrance, Rev. 3. 20. doores of eternity] that is, strong durable, everlasting doores: which being referred to the doores of Solomons Temple, note the perpetuall abiding of Gods Arke therein, as 1 King. 9. 3. Psal. 132. 13, 14. whereas before the Arke was removed from place to place, 1 Chron. 17. 5. Or being applied to Christians, it noteth the eternall durance of the Church. that enter may] or, and enter shall the King of glory, that is, the glorious King; So Christ is called the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2. 8. Iam. 2. 1. and the opening of the doores before him, signifieth his entrance into, and administration of the Kingdome, as Isa. 45. 1.
Vers. 10. Iehovah of hosts] or, as the Hebrew is, Iehovah Tsebaoth, for so the word is used by the Apostles, untranslated in the Greeke, Sabaoth, Rom. 9. 29. Jam. 5. 4. It signifieth hosts or armies standing readie in martiall order, and in battell ray, and comprehendeth all creatures in heaven and in earth, which are prest to doe the will of God, Gen. 2. 1. 1. King. 22. 19. Exod. 12. 41.