Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 1 – Psalm 2
The first PSALM.
The Contents.
The Prophet to induce to godliness and disswade from wickedness, shews in this Psalm, that the first of these does onelyonly make men happie and blessed, and the other doth certainly and eternally make men miserable.
1 WOuldst thou be a blessed man?1BLessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull. mistake not then, but know upon the word of a Prophet speaking from God, that He, and He onelyonly is here, and shall be for ever hereafter, happie and blessed (to wit, with the favour of God, true peace of conscience, and joys of heaven, the onelyonly true happiness) that maugre the opinion of the world to the contrarie, shuts his ear to the sinful perswasions of wicked men, not suffering himself to be seduced to lead their lives: much less willingly and impudently gives himself over to a course of sinning, and least of all with brazen face scorns and opposes the ways of God and them that walk them.
2 But on the contrarie,2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law, doth he meditate day and night. is ruled by the Word, studying it and walking those ways which it prescribes and commands, with as much pleasure and content of mind, as wicked men take in sin, keeping it in mind and memorie to order his ways according to it, that in nothing, nor at no time, sin may mislead him.
3 And God shall so bless this his holy care and industrie,3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. that his soul shall be plentifully fed from heaven, with the never-failing influences of Grace and Consolation, to the making him fruitful in every good work and work, comfortable in every condition, and inable him to hold forth a holy profession throughout prosperitie and adversitie, to the end, (maugre the world and wicked men) to the glorie of God and honour of Religion, and his own great advantage too here as well as hereafter, thereby procuring the blessing of God upon all he hath and doth.
4The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaft which the wind driveth away.4 Whereas the wicked have no firm footing in any good condition, for in the way they walk, God will never bless them, nor respect them, but as they are nought, so will he set them at nought, and will make it appear he does so, when he executes his displeasure upon them, which shall part them from the prosperitie they enjoyed in this life, with a fearful farewel, never exspecting to see good day again.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.5 For the conscience of their wicked ways, and the expectation of that just and fearful sentence, Go ye cursed, to be pronounced upon them, shall make them hang the head in deep despair at the great Assize, when as the godly shall be able to lift up their heads with joy, nor shall such sinful wretches ever set foot within heavens threshold, or have any fellowship or share there in the happiness of the saints.
6For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.6 For however wicked men that know not things that differ, think as well and better of themselves and their ways, than of the godly and theirs. Yet God knows the difference, and shall one day make them to know it too, when he comes to judge and reward every one according to his works, then he will make it appear what notice he took of the godly, and how he approved them the world contemned. And the wicked they shall see and find for all their confidence and jolity, where their way will end, and to what a woful condition it will bring them at last. Even to everlasting destruction.
Second PSALM.
David finding great opposition in his coming to the Kingdom, both at home by the House of Saul, and they that sided with them, and also abroad by confederacy of neighbour-Princes and People. He shews them both their folly and danger in so doing; for that as a Prophet he does assure them that God hath designed him to rule both over Iews and Gentiles, as a figure of Christs doing the like in his spiritual Kingdom all the world over, and therefore exhorts them to desist, and submit to the will of the Lord; and not to their utter undoing put from them the Grace that is offered them in Christ, (whose type onelyonly he was, and of whose Kingdom he prophesies) which would make them blessed for ever.Psalm 2.
1 HOw senselesly do the Gentile and Heathen nations amongst us and about us,1WHy do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? yea and so many that are of Israel too, so violently oppose my Government, and refuse their subjection to me? which nevertheless shall be effected maugre all their rage and resistance, for that herein I am to be a type of Christ the Son of God, his universal Sovereignty over Jews and Gentiles, which by the wicked of both sorts shall in like manner be opposed, but in vain, for his spiritual Kingdom, his Church, shall prosper in spite of all the world, as shall my temporal.
2 Yea mighty Princes and great States-men by their worldly power and wisdom,2The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the Rulers took counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, both within Israel, and without in many neighbour-nations, set themselves with all their might against me, but in so doing they fight against God, and against me, not for mine own sake (who never sought the Kingdom) but because the Lord had anointed and designed me to it, in a figure to pourtray out Christ and his Kingdom by me, who likewise shall be so opposed.
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.3 They say in effect both Princes and People, we will not be subject to David, nor under his Government, but in so saying, they also in effect say, they will not be subject to God, nor have his Son Christ to rule over them, neither him nor me.
4He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.4 And therefore (though they set light by me, and think themselves able enough by their worldly power and policy to crush me, yet) he that reigns in Heaven, in whom I trust, being engaged in my quarrel, contemns their pride, and laughs at their foolishness, for that he both can and will subjugate them to me, and in me to himself.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.5 And if they will needs provoke him to anger, and put him to use his power, refusing to submit to his Scepter and mine, they shall then find him a potent and wrathful enemy in his own and my behalf, and such an one as will easily subdue and destroy them, and revenge himself to the full upon their rebellious stubbornness against him and me.
6Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion.6 For as a Prophet in the Name of the Lord I pronounce it. That maugre what man can do, the Lord shall certainly set me over Israel, and establish my throne in Ierusalem where his holy Temple shall be built, as the chosen type of Christ, who shall rule by the Scepter of his Holiness in and over his Church, whereof Sion is a type, maugre all the enemies both of him and me.
7I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day h…ve I begotten thee.7 And further, that men may know they strive against the stream in opposing me, I will tell them truly what the Lord hath revealed to me concerning my self by the spirit of prophesie; that is, That he hath decreed me to be the figure of Christ. And in a figure hath said thus to me. Thou art and shalt be my son, that is, in the place and stead of mine onelyonly Son, the Heir of all things, resembling the power that he shall have over his enemies, and the Government in his Church which I shall give him, then when I have as it were begotten him a new, and powerfully declared him to be so, by raising him from the dead, and exalted him at my right hand in glory, as I have and shall do thee out of thy low and troublous state, by anointing thee King, and setting thee in the throne of Israel.
8 And as I will do by him,8Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. so will I do by thee, By his intercession the heathen Gentiles shall come under his subjection, yea the most remote and furthest parts of all the world as well as Iudea, shall he possess and inherit by my gift, for to be his people. And so at thy prayer and intreaty shalt thou prevail over, and be possessor of all them that rise up against thee both Jews and Gentiles, far and near, to be thine and under thee.
9 Maugre all their resistance and rebellion,9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel. yet shalt thou be set over them, and they miserably destroyed by thy power that will not come under the Scepter, as shall all be that make resistance to my Son Christ, whose wrathful vengeance will fall heavy upon such mortals as refuse salvation from him, and subjection to him.
10 Now therefore,10Be wise now therefore, O ye Kings: be instructed ye Judges of the earth. seeing I have told you the truth. Take warning and be advised even ye that are Kings and Potentates here on earth, yet, to do your Homage and render obedience and subjection in me, to the Lord, that rules in Heaven. Neither do you that are the Judges and Sages of the world think your selves too wise to take Laws from God, though here you give Laws to men.
11Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling.11 As high as you are, think not scorn to stoop to serve the Lord with fear of his displeasure, and take heed your prosperity make you not forget your selves and God, but use it soberly, and rejoyce in it moderately, fearing to offend him that raised you up, and can cast you down.
12Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.12 Take heed of rejecting Christ in rejecting me, who is Son and Heir of all things, but yield obedience and do your homage unto him in believing what I have said, and framing your course accordingly, least you turn that grace and favour which he hath offered you, by being willing to accept you for his people, into heavy displeasure, and so forsaking the onelyonly way of happiness which God hath chalked you out in him, you perish and that everlastingly, when as by refusing subjection to his gracious Government, you have once shut the door of mercy upon your selves, and kindled his anger against you, the least spark whereof will be of dreadful consequence to the rebellious. Therefore if you would be happy and blessed, as I know all desire to be, then be assured of this; That they, and they onelyonly are, and shall be so, that in humility and faith embrace the mercy that is offered them in him, receiving him for their Saviour, and yielding themselves his thankful and obedient servants and subjects, whose type and Prophet onelyonly I am.