Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 5 · Commentary on psalm 35
PSAL. CXLVII.
The Prophet exhorteth to praise God, for his care of the Church, wisedome, power, mercy and providence unto all. 12 To praise him for his blessings upon the kingdome, 15 for his works in nature, 19 and for his gracious word and ordinances given to his people.
PRaise yee Iah, for it is good to sing Psalmes to our God, for it is pleasant, praise is comely. Iehovah buildeth Ierusalem, gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their griefes. Counteth the number of the starres, calleth them all by names. Great is our Lord, and much in able might; of his understanding there is no number. Iehovah setteth upright the meeke, debaseth the wicked unto the earth. Sing yee to Iehovah with confession, sing Psalmes to our God with the harpe. That covereth the heavens with clouds, that prepareth raine for the earth, that maketh the mountaines to bud forth grasse. That giveth to the beast his food, to the young ravens which crie. Hee delighteth not in the strength of the horse, he taketh not pleasure in the legs of man. Iehovah taketh pleasure in them that feare him, that patiently hope for his merciemercy. Laud Iehovah, O Ierusalem; praise thy God, O Sion. For he strengtheneth the barres of thy gates, he blesseth thy sonnes within thee. He putteth in thy border peace: he satisfieth thee with the fat of wheat. He sendeth his edict upon earth, his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wooll, the hoare frost he scattereth abroad like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels; who can stand before his cold? He sendeth his word and melteth them, he causeth his wind to blow, the waters flow. He sheweth his words unto Iakob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel. Hee hath not dealt so with any Nation, and judgements they have not knowne them; Halelu-jah.
Annotations.
OVtcasts] or driven out; in Greeke, the dispersions, (that is, the di…ersed,) which word the Apostle useth, 1 Pet. 1. 1. Iam. 1. 1. Compare Deut. 30. 4. Isa. 11. 12. and 56. 8. Ioh. 11. 52.
Vers. 3. bindeth up their griefes] that is, healeth their wounds, as Luke 4. 18. with Isa. 61. 1. Compare also Ezek, 34. 16.
Vers. 4. Counteth] or Telleth, numbreth, which to man is impossible; see Gen. 15. 5. Ier. 33. 22. Isa. 40. 26.
Vers. 5. no number] nor searching out, Isa. 40. 28.
Vers. 6. setteth upright] conserveth, to continue yet: see Psal. 146. 9.
Vers. 7. Sing] or, Answer, that is, Sing by turnes, one after another: as Exod. 15. 21.
Vers. 8. with clouds] as in Elias time, 1 King. 18. 45. the mountaines] and desarts where no man is, as Iob 38. 26, 27. Psal. 104. 14.
Vers. 9. food] Hebr. bread, that is, the beasts their food, as the Greeke hath it. young ravens] Hebr. sons (that is, younglings) of the ravens. So in Iob 39. 3. who prepareth for the raven his meat, when his young ones call unto God, wandring for lacke of meat?
Vers. 13. strengtheneth] or, hath made strong, a signe of Gods favour and Sions safetie: see the contrary, Lam. 2 9. Ier. 51. 30. Amos 1. 5. Psal. 107. 16. Isa. 45. 2. These graces are to be referred unto the Church under the Gospel, called the heavenly Ierusalem, Rev. 21. 2. and which is above, Gal. 4. 26. So the Hebrew Doctors say, It is written, Land the Lord, O Ierusalem: and the Scripture speaketh of the Ierusalem that is above. R. Menache on Gen. 3.
Vers. 14. putteth in] or putteth thy border, &c. that is, maketh peace in thy borders. Compare Isa. 60. 17, 18. Ier. 12. 12. and 15. 13. and 17. 3. fat] that is, fine flower: so Psal. 81. 17.
Vers. 15. his edict] or saying, that is, commandement.
Vers. 17. ice] or frost, the frozen haile stones. can stand] that is, endure it: so Pro. 27. 4. Nah. 1. 6.
V. 19. his words] the ten commandements (or morall law) Exo. 20. 1 called the ten words, Deut. 10. 4. statutes] decrees & constitutions of Gods worship; see the note on Psal. 2. 7. judgements] the judiciall lawes for punishing offenders, Exod. 21. 1. Psal. 19. 10.
Vers. 20. any] or every; but in Hebrew, all is often used for any: see Psal. 103. 2. and 143. 2. judgements] the Greeke saith, his judgements he hath not manifested to them; which sense the Hebrew also may beare, he hath not made knowne to them, as the Chaldee also interpreteth it.