Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 3 · Commentary on psalm 15
PSAL. LXXXVII.
The nature and glory of the Church. 4 The increase, honour and comfort of the members thereof.
To the sonnes of Korah, a Psalme, a Song.
HIs foundation among the mountaines of holinesse. Iehovah loveth the gates of Sion above all the dwelling places of Iakob. Glorious things spoken is of thee, O Citie of God Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babel, to them that know me; loe Palestina and Tyrus with Cush; this man was borne there. And of Sion it shall be said, man and man was borne in her, and he the most High shall establish her. Iehovah will recount when he writeth the peoples; this man was borne there Selah. And singers, as players on flutes; all my well-springs in thee.
Annotations.
HIs foundation] or, The foundation thereof, Gods ground-worke of the Temple which was built upon the mountaines, Morijah and Sion, 2 Chron. 3. 1. Ps. 2. 6. Some referre it to the Psalme, the foundation (or argument) whereof is of the Church of Christ. The Chaldee saith, By the hands of the sonnes of Korah the Psalme was said, and the Song founded in the mouth of the ancient fathers.
Vers. 2. gates of Sion] the publike assemblies of the people: see the Notes on Psal. 9. 15. The Law was to come out of Sion, Mich. 4. 2. and the Scepter of Christs Kingdome, Psal. 110. 2. dwelling places] these the Chaldee expoundeth, Synagogues of the house of Iakob, which were in all the Cities of Israel.
Vers. 3. spoken is] that is, are particularly spoken, all and every of them. of thee Citie of God] that is, Ierusalem: so called also, Psal. 46. 5. and 48. 2. a figure of the Church. What honourable things are spoken of this Citie, see Isa. 54. and 60. and 62. and 65. Rev. 21. and 22 chapters. The Hebrew phrase, in thee, is rightly turned according to the Greeke, of thee, or concerning thee: which many times hath such signification, as Psal. 63. 7. and 71. 6. and 119. 46. 1 Sam. 19. 4. so also in the Greeke, as Rom. 11. 2.
Vers. 4. Rahab] that is, as the Chaldee Paraphrast saith, the Aegyptians. So Aegypt is called Rahab, in Psal. 89. 11. Isa. 51. 9. either for the strength and pride of Egypt, (which the word Rahab signifieth;) or of some chiefe citie so named; as elsewhere Tsoan, Psal. 78. 12. The calling of Egypt to the fellowship of the Church is also prophesied, Isa. 19. 19, 21, 25. And for I will mention, the Chaldee translateth, the Egyptians and Babylonians, they shall mention thy praises. Babel] the Babylonians: see Psal. 137. 1. their chiefe citie was Babel. Of a Christian Church there, mention is made, 1 Pet. 5. 13. to them] or, among them that know me, to wit, my familiars. Palestina] the Philistims: see Psal. 60. 10. Tyrus] the Tyrians: see Psal. 45. 13. Of them were Christian disciples, Acts 21. 3, 4. Cush] the Aethiopians, as the Greeke translateth; see Psal. 68. 32. this man] that is, (as the Greeke saith) these men; meaning all before mentioned. So the Hebrew often speaketh of a whole nation, as of one man. See Psal. 25. 22. and 130. 8. But the Chaldee expoundeth it, where this kingdome is borne. was borne there] in the citie of God, aforesaid. There, of immortall seed by the word and Spirit of God, are men borne anew, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Iam. 1. 18. A thing to come is here set downe as already done: so in Isa. 9. 6.
Vers. 5. man and man] so the Greeke also expresseth the Hebraisme. Hereby seemeth to bee meant, every man, successiively, as Hest. 1. 8. For Ierusalem is the mother of us all, Gal. 4. 26. (So day and day, is every day, Hest. 3. 4. Psal. 61. 9.) Or, man and man, is many men, of this and that Nation, of each estate and degree. stablish her] that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against her, Mat. 16. 18. Therefore this citie lieth fouresquare setled in all changes, Revel. 21. 16. Ezek. 48. 16,—20. It may also be read, and he will stablish her on high: and so the Chaldee expoundeth it; and Ierusalem is said to be above, Gal. 4. 26.
Vers. 6. writing the peoples] in the writing of the house of Israel, that is, the Church, Ezek. 13. 9. Isa. 4. 3.
V. 7. And singers] or, And singing are, &c. This may have reference to the solemne worship of God used in the Church of Israel, where singers & players on instruments had in charge continually to laud the Lord, &c. 1 Chron. 9. 33. and 25. 1, 2, &c. and dances were used at their holy feasts, to honor him with▪ Iudg. 21. 19, 21. So Christ the Lambe hath harpers with him on mount Sion, that sing as it were a new song before the throne, Rev. 14. 1, 2, 3. Or it may respect that which followeth, all my springs in thee (or of thee) are singing (that is, do sing) as also dance, (or as they that dance,) that is, shew joyfulnesse. players on flutes] or, dancers, for so this word may also be taken for dancing, (to wit, at the sound of the flute or pipe;) as Iudg. 21. 21. Compare herewith Isa. 30. 29. The Greeke here turneth it, rejoyeers; and it may foretell the joy that should be in the world for the conversion of the Gentiles. my well-springs] or fountaines, (streames of water, as Psal. 104. 10) that is, all gifts and graces, which the Scripture noteth by lively fountaines of waters, wherewith they are refreshed that serve God in his Temple day and night, Rev. 7. 15, 17. and welsprings of salvation, Isa, 12. 3. And as Christ is called a fountaine, so is his Church, Song 4. 15, 12. in thee] for now, unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, is knowne by the Church, the manifold wisedome of God, Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet, 1. 12. Or we may read it, as before in the third verse, of thee all my springs doe sing, &c.