Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 3 · Commentary on psalm 13
PSAL. LXXXV.
The Psalmist out of the experience of former mercies, prayeth for the continuance thereof. 9 He promiseth to wait thereon out of confidence of Gods goodnesse.
To the master of the musicke, a Psalme to the sonnes of Korach.
THou hast beene favourable to thy land, O Iehovah; thou hast returned the captivity of Iakob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin Selah. Thou hast gathered away all thine exceeding anger, thou hast turned from the fervencie of thine anger. Turne thou us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine indignation against us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger, to generation and generation? Wilt not thou turne and revive us, that thy people may rejoyce in thee? Shew us, Iehovah, thy mercy, and give as thy salvation. I will heare what God Iehovah will speake, for hee will speake peace unto his people, and unto his gracious Saints; and let them not returne to unconstant folly. Surely his salvation is neere to them that feare him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met, justice and peace have kissed. Faithfulnesse springeth out of the earth, and justice looketh downe from heaven. Also Iehovah will give the good, and our land shall give her fruit. Iustice shall goe before his face, and he will put her footsteps in the way.
Annotations.
TO the sonnes] or, of them. See Psal. 42. 1.
Vers. 2. hast been favourable to] or, hast favourably accepted, beene well pleased, to wit, in times past. This also respecteth the promise, Levit. 26. 42. captivitie] that is, the company of captives, or prisoners; as Psal. 68. 19. See also Psal. 14. 7.
Vers. 4. gathered away] that is, withdrawne, ceased, or asswaged, as the Greeke interpreteth it. So in Ioel 2. 10. the starres gather away (that is, withdraw) their shining.
Vers. 5. Turne us] to our former estate. cause to cease] or dissipate; as Psal. 33. 10.
Vers. 6. wilt thou draw] that is, continue: see Ps. 36. 11.
Vers. 7. wilt not thou turne and revive] that is, againe revive us. See Psal. 71. 20. The Greeke saith, O God, thou turning wilt revive us. For halo, they read ha-al, the letters transplaced.
Vers. 8. Shew us] or, Let us see, that is, enjoy. S… Psal. 50. 23.
Vers. 9. the God] or, the Almightie, Ael. and let them not] or, that they turne not to folly, that is, to sinne: see Psal. 125. 3. The Greeke saith, and to them that turne the heart to him.
Vers. 10. that glory may dwell] or, glory shall dwell; meaning that glory of God, which we are destitute of by sinne, Rom. 3. 23. shall be restored by grace in Christ, and God will dwell among men, and communicate with them his glory, Rev. 21. 3, 11. Isa. 60. 1. & they are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Or, by glory is meant, Christ the salvation of God, who dwelt in our land, when the word was made flesh, and men saw the glory thereof as the glory of the onelyonly begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, Ioh. 1. 14.
Vers. 11. are met] that is, come together, which before seemed asunder; and they have mutuall societie; (so meeting importeth, Prov. 22. 2. Isa. 34. 14.) The truth of Gods promises are in Christ fulfilled, Luke 1. 68, 69, &c. Act. 13. 32, 33. have kissed] as friends use when they meet, Exod. 4. 27. and 18. 7. a signe of concord, love and joy. So Christ is King of justice, and of peace, Heb. 7. 2. and the worke of justice by him is peace, Isa. 32. 17. for, being justified by faith, men have peace towards God, Rom. 5. 1. Luke 2. 14.
Vers. 12. Faithfulnesse springeth] or, Truth buddeth out of the earth (or land) that is, the land bringeth forth faithfull increase, answerable to Gods blessings upon it. The land figuring the minds of men, Hebr. 6. 6, 7, 8. which by faith apprehend Gods mercy in Christ. from heaven] the justice of God through faith, not our owne justice, which is of the Law, Philip. 3. 9.
Vers. 13. the good] or good things, that is, the good gift of the holy Ghost, to sanctifie his people, as Luk. 11. 13. compared with Matth. 7. 11. See also the Note on Psal. 65. 5. our land] our earthly nature sanctified, brings forth good fruits in Christ, Mat. 13. 23. See Psal. 67. 7.
Vers. 14. Iustice shall goe] or, He will cause justice to goe before him. will put her footsteps] or, will set (her,) in the way of his footsteps: which seemeth to meane a setled course of walking in vertue. Or, when he shall put his footsteps into the way.