Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 5 · Commentary on psalm 9
PSAL. CXV.
Because God is truly glorious, and idols are vanitie, 9 he exhorteth to confidence in God, who is to be blessed for his blessings.
NOt unto us, Iehovah, not unto us, but unto thy name give the glory, for thy merey, for thy truth. Wherefore should the heathens say, Where is now their God? And our God is in the heavens: whatsoever pleaseth him, hee doth. Their idols are silver and gold, the worke of mens hands. A mouth they have, and speake not: eies they have, and see not. Eares they have, and heare not: a nose they have, and smell not. Hands they have, and feele not; feet they have, and walke not: they make no sound with their throat. Like them be they that make them: every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou in Iehovah: he is their helpe, and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust ye in Iehovah: he is their helpe, and their shield. Ye that feare Iehovah, trust in Iehovah: he is their helpe, and their shield. Iehovah hath remembred us, he will blesse us: he will blesse the house of Israel, he will blesse the house of Aaron. Hee will blesse them that feare Iehovah; the small with the great.
Iehovah will adde unto you; unto you, and unto your sonnes. Blessed shall you be of Iehovah, which made the heavens, and earth. The heavens are Iehovahs; and the earth he hath given to the sonnes of Adam. Not the dead shall praise Iah; neither any that goe downe to silence. But wee will blesse Iah, from this time, and for ever; Halelu-jah.
Annotations.
NOt to us] or, for us; the Chaldee addeth, not for our desert. This Psalme the Greeke joyneth with the former, and maketh it a part of the 114. Psalme. See the notes on Psal. 10. 1.
Vers. 2. now] or, I pray. A word of intreating, but used here in mockage. See Ps. 79. 10.
Vers. 3. And] or, But our God. It is a signe of indignation, as Psal. 2. 6.
Vers. 5. They have] Hebr. is to them, speake not] or, cannot speake, as Psal. 77. 5. and so the rest. Compare herewith Ier. 10. 3, 4, 5, 9, &c. Deut. 4. 28.
Vers. 7. sound] or matter, meditate; see Psal. 1. 2.
Vers. 9. Israel] the Church is here distinguished into three parts: 1 Israel, or the body of the Common-wealth: 2 Aarons house the Ministers; and 3 the fearers of Iehovah, that is, strangers, converts of all nations, Acts 2. 5. and 10. 35. So after in vers. 12, 13. and Psal. 118. 2, 3, 4. trust thou] the Greeke saith, hath trusted; and so the rest. See the notes on Psal. 22. 9. and 114. 7. their helpe] to wit, which trust in him. Or it may be for your helpe; one person put for another, as often is. See Psal. 59. 10. 65. 7. and 80. 7.
Vers. 10. House] that is, children or posterity. See Psa. 113. 9.
Vers. 12. hath remembred] The Chaldee explaineth it, The word of the Lord hath remembred us for good, will blesse] to wit, us; as the Greeke turneth it, being mindfull of us, hath blessed us. See the like want, in Ps. 59. 14. and 69. 2. and 45. 4.
Vers. 13. small] or little, in age or degree. So Rev. 11. 18.
Vers. 14. will adde unto] or adde upon you, that is, increase you, as Deut. 1. 11. Esa. 26. 15. or, adde his blessings.
Vers. 15. shall you be of] or, are you to Iehovah, that is, by him. See the like phrase, Gen. 14. 19. 2. Sam. 2. 5.
Vers. 16 hee hath given] or understand, which hee hath given: for, the earth also is his, Psal. 24. 1. though heaven properly is his dwelling place, yet not able to containe him, 1 King. 8. 30. 27.
Vers. 17. to silence] the grave, the place of silence & quiernesse: as Iob 3. 17, 18. See Ps. 94. 17. So the Chaldee expoundeth it, the place of buriall in the earth.