Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 68
The lxviii. PSALM.
David upon the great victories he had had over his enemies, and the remove of the Ark to its setled abode in Ierusalem, praies and prophesus the infelicitie of the adversaries of Gods Church, and the prosp…ritie of the righteous, whereof he advises them to be confident, and therein to rejoyce; for God in merciemercy will be mindful of the oppressed, and injustice of the oppressors, whereof they had had ample experience by marvellous deliverance out of Aegypt; & settlement in Canaan, in the gaining whereof he gave them wonderful victories, and as their case was prosp…rous then, so he prefigures it shall be again now in his time, both Church and Common-wealth shall flourish, because of the favour of God to them and his protection over them, for he is to be a resemblance of Christ after his ascension, victor over all his enemies. Having shewn the happie consequences of the Arks remove, he amplifies the manner of its transportation from the house of Obed-Edom, in what order and with what harmonie it was conveyed thence to Ierusalem, whither he excites all Israel to come and duely frequent i…; and promises himself as much of them both one and other, assuring th…m, that as its God that hath put them into this good condition, so must be preserve them in it, and therefore must be sought to for it, and then shall the Church flourish from a tabernacle to a temple, even like unto Gospel-times, when Gentils as well as Iews shall make up the Church, whereof he would have the world take notice, and be … to God for it when it is, who now onelyonly is made manifest to them by works of creation, by which they are to know him, and for which they are to praise him, even him, who is at present the God which they the Israelites worship, and who from heaven and his sanctuarie hath so blessed them, and overthrown their enemies as he hath done.
To the President of the Quire is this Psalm committed by David that made it, Psalm lxviii. To the chief musician, A psalm or song of David.for his ordering it to be sung and plaid by voices and instruments.
1 THine Ark,1LEt God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him slie before him. O Lord, the token of thy presence hath hitherto been in obscuritie in comparison of what it shall be upon this remove of it to Jerusalem, there to be placed upon thy holy hill, where it shall be in far more eminencie than formerly, and thy worship and service better acted and frequented. And as hath been thine Ark, so hath been thy self under a cloud towards thy people till now, that I doubt not will be far otherwayes for time to come, and wilt let the World see, that as thy glorie and worship is promoted, and thy people awakened as it were out of their supine neglect of thee, to honour and serve thee, so wilt thou arise for them to do them good, and make them a flourishing nation under me the type of Christ and his Government, so that their enemies, which hereafter shall be thine, because theirs, shall by thy power and in thy wrath be discomfited and confounded in all their attempts against them, and they shall destroy and be victorious over all that have formerly triumphed over them, and though still they hate them, yet shall they not now in the flourishing estate of thy Church be able any more to hurt them; Lord let all these things be so.
2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.2 Let thine and thy Churches enemies come to nought, scatter their forces and vacate their counsels and let it appear by the nature and manner of thy destructive judgements upon such wicked wretches, that it was thee that didst it in the behalf of thy people and for their sakes, with whom and for whom thou art as really present, as thine Ark is present in Jerusalem.
3But let the righteous be glad: let them rejoyce before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoyce.3 Let it be now the portion of thy faithful ones, thy poor afflicted people to joy their while in thy presence; as they have been sadned a long time at thine absence, let them so clearly see thee for them and with them, as may even ravish their hearts, and raise up their spirits exceedingly.
4 In confidence of this,4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name; extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Iab, and rejoyce before him. that he will now be with and do after this sort for us his Church and people, in the faith of it I say (for ye need not doubt it) sing praises to him for it, even for his grace and faithfulness to us, and the just remuneration of our enemies which he counts his, let your thoughts be of him and praises to him answerable to his greatness, let your faith pierce the Heavens to behold him there in his glorie and majestie over-looking the World from thence, and ruling and ordering all things here by his mightie power, who onelyonly hath his being of himself, and gives being to every thing else, which can be said of no God or Gods besides him, as such be sure to magnifie and praise him; and in the faith hereof, that this his infinit power, absolute regiment and glorious independant Being, shall be improved and imployed for you, do you rejoyce in him.
5 God is both gracious to help those that are in need,5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. and just to relieve those that are oppressed, have they never so few friends or many enemies, this though all the World be against us, we shall, even therefore, be sure of him on our side, he will from heaven hear our prayers put up to him in his tabernacle, take our parts, and judge our cause against them that are against us.
6 Those that are comfortless exiles,6God setteth the solitarie in families: he bringeth out those that are bound with chains, but the rebellious dwell in a drie land. solitarily wasting their dayes far from home in penurie and pressures, incident to banishment amongst strangers: God hath his eye on such to pitie them, and to give them a settled habitation in a comfortable enjoyment of their possessions and relations at home, he hath compassion on those that suffer for his sake, which they shall not do alwayes, but shall have deliverance from under their yoaks and bonds, and be preferred to a free and happie condition, when as those that are wicked and oppress them, shall be transplanted from that their prosperous estate, and made miserable.
7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people; when thou didst march through the wilderness. Selah.7 We have cause to say, so that have had so great experience of his power and goodness towards us, in that wonderful enfranchising of us out of our Aegyptian thraldom, and destroying the Aegyptians before our faces, what wonders did he work to bring it to pass which we have cause to record in all the circumstances of it, as a certain pledge to his Church for ever of his care over her. How then, when the Lord by evident tokens of his presence in a pillar of fire and cloud conducted and protected his people our fore-fathers out of Aegypt, through the red-sea, and along throughout the desert wilderness. Let it never be forgotten.
8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai it self was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.8 How then I say he did appear with them and for them, altering the very course of nature many times for their supply and benefit, both the heaven and the earth, the one and the other though sensless of all other things, yet seemed sensible of the presence of the Lord with his people, The earth quaking with awful reverence, the clouds doing fealtie and paying their tribute in emptying themselves of their exhalations. Sinai also that mightie mountain, when in that dreadful manner God gave the Law and manifested his presence upon it, was affected at it with signs of terrour and amazement, and all this was when he undertook the protection and conduct of his people Israel, the emblem of his Gospel-Church, and her travel through this world, her wilderness, to Canaan which is above.
9 And though we left behind us the fruitful plains of Aegypt over-flowed with Nilus, 9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was wearie.yet hast thou brought us into a good land of hils and valleys, blessed by thee from heaven with seasonable and fructifying showres, whereby thou didst approve it to be a land of promise and thy gift, having made good it to thy people and thy blessings unto it, as it stood need.
10 Thy Church and people Israel chosen to be so from out the whole earth,10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. as thou hast placed them, so thou hast preserved them there to this day, maugre all their enemies; Thou hast provided for, and protected of thy meer grace this thy little poor handful of people, maliced and opposed by all the world.
11 The Lord in exigencies gave his people many wonderful deliverances and victories,11The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that published it. and so administred occasion of praise ever and anon to them, which in an instant was rumored over all the land, and in every ones mouth, the good news of thine almighty assistance still as thou didst vouchsafe it, passed from one to another, like the word in an armie, with joyful acclamations and praises.
12 Many potent Princes with powerful armies that came against Israel were by miracle defeated,12Kings of armies did flie apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. and made, both they and their armies to flie for their lives, leaving behind them rich bootie, and such plentie of it, that the very women who with fearful mindes abode at home doubting the issue, when they heard the news, with joy made hast to congratulate the victorie and share in the spoil.
13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.13 Though in Aegypt your fathers were in woful slavish condition conversant in brick and pot-kils, doing all the base work, and being as basely used, and though since their deliverance thence, you, their posteritie have even in this good land for your evil wayes endured much affliction, and undergone great hardship by tyrannous usages of insulting enemies, yet be confident of this, the time is come, wherein God will be as propitious to you for his grace sake, as ever he hath been severe against you for your sins, you shall now be a rich and flourishing nation, blessed with grace and peace, and admired for your glorie and beautie.
14When the Almightie scattered Kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.14 You know when first God brought his people into this land, (which then lay wholly in the darkness of Idolatrie) and destroyed the Kings thereof, one after another for their sake, how famous was this nation then, upon that glorious change? and how resplendent in the eyes of God and men by the establishment of Gods pure worship, and the admirable and clear wonders wrought by God here; why, such now shall be again, though it hath been long in infelicitie and deformitie since those dayes by our sins, and Gods just judgements.
15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan, an high hill as the hill of Bashan.15 Sion the mount whereon God hath chosen now to pitch his tabernacle, and in it the Ark of his presence, and there, and there onelyonly to be worshipped in solemn and more than ordinarie manner, it is by this become more famous for this Soul-fatning and spiritual repast that is there in such plentie to be had than that ledge of hills called the hill of Bashan, scituate beyond Jordan, is, for its extraordinarie fruitfulness and fatning of cattel, it is raised by this divine prerogative to a height of eminencie and note equal and beyond the height and greatness of Bashans hills, exceeding it both in profit and pleasure.
16 Why do you the tall and fruitful hills in several parts of the World seem to carrie it so high,16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in, yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. to joy and pride your selves in your priviledges of nature so far above this of Sion? whereas this one supernatural priviledge of Gods residence and worship here, is more worth than you and all yours put together; for all your priviledges of nature, richness of soil, and high towring tops, yet hath God past you by, and chosen this to be his place of residence on earth, and the very type of heaven, nor will he change it or alter his mind to transplant himself, and his worship from thence unto any of you, but hath set down his staff here, his promise is passed to it which he will not revoke. And what is true of Sion above all other hills, is as true of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ, typified in me and my Government, which for that reason is transcendent to all the Kingdoms, nay, the empires of the whole world.
…7 And let not this residence and presence of God we so much magnifie our selves in,17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of Angels: the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place. be judged of by carnal apprehensions, nor the strength of Sion by outward appearance, as if the one nor the other afforded no more protection and help to Gods people than we see with our eyes; Our faith is it that must instruct us in this matter, to which onelyonly God appears aright in his power and majestie excelling all earthly might. The potentates of the World esteem their strength by the number of men, horses, and chariots that they can arm and muster. But what say you to Angels? one whereof is able to destroy thousands, whole armies of such, nay, what say you to thousands and millions of such Angels, these are they though invisible, wherewith God appears in the behalf of his Church, fights for and defends the Kingdom of Christ, and so shall mine, and yet if we doubt that men may be too hard for Angels, know, that God, even the irresistable Almighty God is commander in chief over and amongst these his heavenly host, who alone is sufficient without auxiliaries either of men or Angels to safe-guard his people and place of worship and presence, where he is as really, though not so visibly, and in as great majestie, strength, and grace as he appeared on mount Sinai in power and terrour, I hope we remember that, and so should our faith represent him to us now, when we come thither to worship him and seek unto him in any strait.
18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivitie captive: thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.18 As I am raised from a low estate to this height of dignitie and office, to be King over Israel, and so made able to overcome those that overcame them, and to enrich them with the spoils of their enemies and the presents of forrain nations that seek to me for friendship, which I am readie (for thou hast put me into a capacitie to stand mine enemies in steed) to extend to friend, and so be they never so opposit, thereby to make way for, and hold forth in type thy willingness, O blessed Saviour, to do the like to Jew and Gentil, who shalt draw all men to thee when as thou art lifted up, and raised from thy low estate of humiliation and death, by a glorious resurrection and ascention, which is as sure to be, as if it were, and indeed virtually and energetically, as also typically and in figure, is already done, for so even now as I upon the throne, so dost thou sit at Gods right hand, having conquered all spirituall powers and enemies to thy Kingdom, as the world, flesh, sin, death, and Sathan, who, but for thy conquest of them, whom by thine ascension thou art victorious over, had absolute dominion over thy people, who thereby are set at liberty to serve thee that art enriched in thy humane nature, with all the glorious graces and excellencies that heaven and the divine nature can afford thee, that thou maiest be the bounteous and gracious dispenser of them to thy body mysticall, thy spirituall Israel, that are a willing people to thee, as also empowered and put into capacity to vanquish and overpower the most ignorant and gainsaying, that the power of thy spirit and grace may be glorified in and upon thine enemies, as well as upon thy friends that profess and worship thee, to make them do the like, and bring them also in favour with God.
19 We who are the people of God,19Blessed be the Lord, who dayly loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. do at present day by day, blessed be thy name for it, reap the happy fruits of Christs virtuall ascention in his power and goodness, what mercies of all sorts, spirituall, temporall, are heaped and showred down upon us? And what salvation hath the Lord wrought for us, time after time, which ought to be ascribed to him. Amen.
20 We can speak by experience,20He that is our God, is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. that the God we worship and believe in, can save and deliver, I think we have found it so, and indeed he onelyonly can deliver, and save alive, who onelyonly hath vanquished and overcome death it self, and hath the sole dominion and disposall of it, and all the means and ways that lead to it, to prevent them be they never so imminent, as to his people.
21But God shall wound the head of his enemies; and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses.21 And to succeed them to his enemies and theirs, they shall feel the weight of his hand, if they persist to bruise the heel of his Church, at last he will break their head, let him be who he will, be as sure as his head grows upon his shoulders, or hair upon his head, so sure will God meet with him sooner or later that doth so, if he will not repent and be converted.
22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea.22 The Lord hath purposed and promised to do as great things under me for his people as ever he did heretofore, when he vanquished great and Giant-like Kings; as Og the King of Bashan for their sakes, and delivered his people out of his hands, as also out of the hands of Pharaoh by deviding the red sea, & conducting them thorough; we may be, and have been driven into straits since then, (and so shall the Church in all times) but the same power shall still appear for us to relieve us in our greatest extremities, whereof those things were a pledge.
23That thy foot may be dipped in the bloud of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.23 Yea, such fearfull vengeance shall God take of the implacable enemies of his Church, as that he shall make way thorough their bloud for his peoples felicity, which he shall inable them by his power and assistants, to shed in abundance like water spilt upon the ground, of no more regard shall it be.
24They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.24 Thy people have often had occasions by thy mercies, vouchsafed them heretofore to praise thee in thy sanctuary, they have seen there, upon great victories, solemn thanksgivings, but was ever seen the like to this happy day, wherein the Ark of God is carried to the Tabernacle pitched in its place of residence the mount of God, with what infinite solace and expression of joy all Israel joyned their forces unanimously to accompany it, following me their King, attending the Ark of thee my God, and my King, unto the place of its abode thy holy mount.
25 It joyes me to think in what comely order,25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; amongst them were the damsels playing with timbrels. and with what sweet harmony of affections and musick it was done; How the voices they marched in the foreranck, singing thy praises, and exalting thy name, the instruments came next ecchoing to them, and resounding thy glory, amongst which were orderly intermixt the Damsels playing upon Timbrels, so universall was this joy, and so glorious was the show, that both men and women did their uttermost, to express their zeal and forwardness in it.
26 And now the Ark is set in Sion,26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. forget not to congregate your selves to it, but come in flocks and troops to bless this God which is your God, and Lord, that rules over you and for you; all that are the faithfull of-spring of our blessed fountain and forefather Jacob, whose name of Israel, purchased by his prevailing with God, is ever since named upon us, come, repair to it, to the Arke and presence of the Lord, and be you also wrestlers and prevailers with him there.
27 And I cannot doubt of your forwardness and faithfulness so to do,27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah, and their councel, the princes of Zebulon, and the princes of Naphtali. that express so much of joy in its transportation, from the least to the greatest, both those that are near, and those that are afar off, will be mindfull of this mercy, and of their duty to frequent his service, and seek his presence and protection. Benjamin that was so dear to Jacob, his youngest darling child, I am sure will follow his fathers steps, and though he was the last of his sons, yet will be the first and forwardest to worship the God of his father, even the whole Tribe of them with their godly ruler, an example to the rest. Nor I hope shall Judah the royall Tribe with their Cheiftaines and Senatours be behind, who ought indeed to give exsample of zeal, that are preferred in Authority above the rest; no nor will I am confident Zebulon and Nephtali plead excuse by reason of their remoteness, but even they also, together with their heads and elders quickening them thereunto, will be forward to worship the Lord in his sanctuary at Jerusalem.
28Thy God hath cōmanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.28 Into what a glorious and powerfull condition, hath our God brought us; how hath he by his sovereign all-disposing power and Authority, made thee O Israel to be thus potent and exalted in strength, and dominion over thine enemies, that ere-while wast so much at an under? O therefore seek to God, let it be your prayer, slack not your hands, grow not sinfull and secure, but be you stirred up by his mercies to frequent him duly, and pray to him earnestly to continue to be gracious, and to establish us in this estate whereinto he hath brought us.
29Because of thy Temple at Jerusalem, shall Kings bring presents unto thee.29 Wait and pray for the building of the glorious Temple in Jerusalem, the type and figure of Christ and his Gospel-Church, instead of this Tabernacle, which will be a flourishing time indeed, then shall not onelyonly God be worshipped within the boundaries of Canaan, but the renown of the God of Israel shall so spread, as even forrain potentates shall further both the work and the worship, and acknowledge him the sole sovereign of the world.
30 For this purpose,30Rebuke the company of spear-men, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. Lord, prepare the way to that Triumphant golden age of peace, by me a man of war and thy Church militant under me, chastising those opposite enemies of thine and ours, that notwithstanding all the evidence thou hast given, and clear demonstration of thy power and goodness to us thy people, are in arms and hostility against us, let them know to their cost that it is neither their number, nor their rage that shall prevail, let both they that lead, and they that are misled, know thus much, let them see their labour in vain, and be brought to own thee for their God, and to do thee homage, and such as will not but chuse rather to hold on their course of enmity and opposition, Lord, take a course with such, to destroy them out of the way, that they may not alwayes be thorns in thy peoples sides.
31 O that the Lord would hasten the coming of the Messiah and his Kingdom,31Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. which all these things portend, like as the glorious and happy reign of Solomon draws nigh, whose favour and alliance, Egypt and Ethiopia shall seek and obtain, oh how then would the Gentils come in apace under his subjection, yea, the most unlikely, Egypt that arch-enemy of the Church, and Ethiopia the of-spring of Cham, these or as bad as these will willingly offer themselves, and glad they may be accepted into his service.
32 That day is coming,32Sing unto God, ye Kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises unto the Lord. Selah. some dawnings of it appear even now in these our dayes, if your eyes, O ye Gentils were open to see it in these illustrious Types, but you shall see the sun shine forth in full brightness, amongst you that now are in darkness, then shall you know what it is to be the servants of the Lord, and with glad hearts shall all his people in all places of the world, sing praise and give glory to him. O that it were so now!
33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mightie voice.33 To him that though you be not his servants, yet is he your Lord and Master, the great God sole Creatour of all things, who made the heavens higher and lower, ordained them of old with all those lights you see shine in them, and hath ever since maintained, ordered, and ruled them (and much more the world under them) their manifold motions and influences in their severall orbs and operations, by his Almighty power and wisdom; from whence you hear the voice of Thunder how terrible and loud it is, why, God sends it purposely to mind you of him, and to acquaint you with that power and terrour he is endowed with, that you may learn to fear him.
34Ascrib ye strength unto God: his excellencie is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.34 Give therefore glory to God, magnifie his power and greatness, and know that this, who is thus excellent, is he that is the God of Israel, whose power is thus mightily manifested, as you hear and see in the heavens.
35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places, the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people: blessed be God.35 O Lord, thou art a dreadfull God, where thou art present, there is power and strength with thee, whether in heaven, or in thy sanctuary, for from both those places, thou hast and wilt assist thy people after a marvellous sort, hearing their prayers above, which they shall pour out here below in thy sanctuary and the courts thereof, and work deliverance for them, and give victory to them, wonderfully destroying their enemies, and subduing them under them, blessed be thy name for it. Yea, Glory be to thee alone.