Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 2 · Commentary on psalm 5 – Commentary on psalm 6
PSAL. XLVI.
The confidence which the Church hath in God. 5 The river that maketh glad the citie of God. 6 His presence and helpe from enemies. 9 An exhortation to behold his workes.
To the master of the musicke, to the sons of Korach, upon Alamoth a song.
GOd will be to us an hopefull shelter and a strength, a helpe in distresses we shall find very great. Therefore we will not feare though the earth change, and though the mountaines be moved into the heart of the seas. Though the waters thereof make a noise, be muddy, though the mountaines quake for the haughtinesse therof Selah. A river, the streames thereof shal make glad the citie of God, the holy, the dwelling places of the most high. God in the mids of it, it shall not be moved, God will helpe it at the looking forth of the morning.
The nations made a noise, the Kingdomes were moved, he gave his voice, the earth melted. Iehovah of hosts is with us, the God of Iakob a high refuge for us Selah. Come on, behold the workes of Iehovah, who putteth wondrous desolations in the earth. He maketh warres to cease unto the utmost end of of the earth, he breaketh the bow and cutteth the speare, the charriots he burneth in fire. Surcease and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Iehovah of hosts is with us, the God of Iakob, a high refuge for us Selah.
Annotations.
ON Alamoth] This seemeth to be some musicall instrument, or tune, 1 Chron. 15. 20. … We may call it Uirginals, or Virgin tunes having high and shrill voyces or notes: for Alamoth signifieth also Virgins, Song 1. 2. The originall word Alam signifieth Hid: whereupon the Greeke translateth it here, kruphioon, hidden ones, or hid things. And the Chaldee after mention of the sonnes of Korah, addeth, by their hand was it spoken in prophesie, at what time their father was hidden from them, but they were delivered and said this song. If it be not referred to the musicke, it seemeth rather to intend the hid counsels of God appertaining to his Church in Christ.
Vers. 2. we shall find] to wit, an helpe: or in distresses that we shall find; as in Ps. 116. 3. distresse and sorrow I did find; that is, did feele, or fall into. And thus the Greeke saith here, in tribulations that have found us vehemently. Or we may translate it, hee is found, that is, God is present, at hand; as in Gen. 19. 15. thy daughters which are found, that is, which are present. very great] or very mightie, vehement.
Vers. 3. though the earth] or, when the earth change, to wit, her place. By the changing of the earth, and removing of the mounts, are often meant the alteration of states and polities, Hag. 2. 22, 23. Revel. 6. 14. Ier. 51. 25. hart of the seas] that is, the middest, or deepest bottomes of them; as the Chaldee expoundeth it, the gulfe of the great sea. The like phrase is in Exod. 15. 8. Io…. 2. 3. Prov. 23. 34.
Vers. 4. be muddy] or cast up mud, that is, rage, or be troubled, as the Greeke translateth it, Waters, are peoples, Rev. 17. 15. Ier. 47. 2. and their restlesse stirre is likened to the seas that cast up mire and dirt, and foame out their own shame, Isa. 57. 20. Iude verse 13. for the haughtinesse] the proud swelling rage and surges.
Vers. 5. A river, the streames thereof] or, There is a flood, whose riverets (or streames.) In the earthly Ierusalem this may be meant of the river Kidron, 2 Sam. 15. 23. Iob 18. 1. and the streames or lesser rivers of Gibon and Shiloah, 2 Chron. 32. 4, 30. Isa. 8. 6. In the heavenly Ierusalem, there is a pure river of the water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lambe, Rev. 22. 1. Ezek. 47. 1. &c. See also Ioel 3. 18. Gen. 2. 10. Psal. 65. 10. But as waters sometimes signifieth peoples, so here the Chaldee paraphraseth, peoples as flouds, & the streams of them shal come & make glad the citie of God, and shall pray in the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord, in the tabernacles of the most high. the citie of God] that is, Ierusalem; called also the citie of the great King, Psal. 48. 3. the citie of Iehovah, Isa. 60. 14. the holy citie, Esay 52. 1. Matth. 4. 5 the holy] meaning the holy place Sion, or the Sanctuary there. dwelling places] or habitacles; see Psal. 43. 3. Esay 4. 5.
Vers. 6. at the looking forth of the morning] that is, as the Greeke explaineth it, very early, when the morning peereth, or sheweth the face. The like phrase is in Exod. 14. 27. Iudg. 19. 26. and so of the looking forth of the evening, Gen. 24. 63. Deut. 23. 11.
Vers. 7. gave his voice] that is, spake aloud, or thundred; See Psal. 18. 14. or, gave with his voice: but the word with or in, seemeth to be superfluous in the Hebrew, as else-where, Ier. 12. 8. Psal. 68. 34. So to seeke in Iehovah, 2 Chron. 34. 26. is to seeke Iehovah, 2. King. 22. 18. The Chaldee referreth it to Gods voice on mount Sinai; whe… the gave the Law to his people, the nations were troubled, the kingdomes trembled. melted] that is, was dismaied with feare. So Psal. 75. 4. and 107. 26. Exod. 15. 15. Amos 9. 5, 13. Ios. 2. 9.
Vers. 10. chariots] or round shields, as both the Greeke and Chaldee Paraphrast here taketh it: but else-where it is not to found, but for wagons very often.
Vers. 11. Surcease] or, Leave off: see Psal. 37. 8. The Chaldee expounds it of Surceasing from wars.
PSAL. XLVII.
The nations are exhorted cheerefully to entertaine the kingdome of Christ.
To the Master of the Musicke, to the sonnes of Korach a Psalme.
ALl peoples clap ye hands, shout triumphantly to God with voice of shrilling. For Iehovah is high, fearfull, a great King over all the earth. Hee hath subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
He hath chosen for us our inheritance, the high excellencie of Iakob, whom hee loveth Selah. God is gone up with triumph, Iehovah with voice of trumpet. Sing Psalme to God sing Psalme; sing Psalme to our King sing Psalme. For God is King of all the earth; sing an instructing Psalme. God reigneth over the heathens, God sitteth on the throne of his holinesse. The bounteous Princes of the peoples are gathered, the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth areGods; vehemently is hee exalted.
Annotations.
CLap hands] or the Palmes; Hebrew, the palme: a signe of joyfull approbation, used as at other times, so at the coronation of Kings, 2 King. 11. 12. So after Psalm. 98. 8. voice of …ing] that is, a shrill voice and joyfull. See the notes on Psalm. 5. 12. and 41. 12.
Vers. 4. He hath subdued, or, will subdue: So in the next verse, He will chuse; but the time to come is often used for the time past or continued. And here it seemeth to be spoken of the subduing of the Canaanites, and the … subduing of nations to Christ, by preaching of the Gospell. Of subduing, see Psal. 18. 48. the Chaldee here translateth it, kill.
Vers. 5. our inheritance] the land of Canaan, Psal. 78. 55. and that immortall undefiled heritage reserved in heaven for us, 1 Pet. 1. 4. high excellencie] or glorious highnesse; meaning the kingdome, priest-hood, Temple, &c. (as the Chaldee mentioneth, the house of the Sanctuary:) whereby Iacobs posteritie excelled, Ezek. 24. 21. Amos 6. 8. and 8. 7. Nahum 2. 2. and all the heavenly promises given to the Church in Christ.
Vers. 6. God is gone up] as when the …rke went up from Ki…th-j…arim to Ierusalem, 2 Sam. 6. 15. 1 Chron. 13. 8. and 15. 28. when the Arke was carried by Solomon into the Temple, 2 Chron. 5. when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven, Luke 24 51, 52. and with like glory shall he come againe, 1 Ihess. 4. 16. Act. 1. 9, 11. The Chaldee referreth this Going up, to the Exalting of Gods name.
Vers. 7. an instructing Psalme] Maschil, the title of Psal. 32. and many others, here used in like sense for a Psalme to give instruction; or, as in Psal. 14. 2. for a prudent understanding person; in this sense, sing Psalme every one that is prudent; or, as the Greeke explaineth it, sing prudently; the Chaldee, with good understanding.
Vers. 9. throne of his holinesse] Greeke, his holy throne. See Psal. 9. 5. Revel. 4. 2. The Chaldee calleth it, the throne of his glory.
Vers. 10. The bounteous Princes] or, the voluntaries, Nobles: A name given to the liberall and free hearted, Isa. 32. 5. 8. Exod. 35. 21, 29. and to Princes or Nobles, Numb. 21. 18. Psal. 113. 8. and 118. 8. Iob 12. 21. So here the Greeke hath Princes. are Gods] or, to God (belong) the shields of the earth: He is the great conquer our and protectour of all, Gen. 15. 1. Shields also are Magistrates and Governours, that protect the Common-weales, Hos. 4. 18. Psal. 89. 19. So the Greeke here hath, the strong men of the earth.