Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 99 – Psalm 100
The xcix. PSALM.
The Psalmist probably upon some deliverance magnifies the Lord in relation to his people the Iews, and their happy condition above all people, exciting them to praise God answerably to his mercies and righteousness, even that God, which hath ever been their God, and done great things for them by his servants of old.Psalm xcix.
1THe Lord reigneth, let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims, let the earth be moved.1 THe Amighty God whose throne is in the heavens, is pleased in behalf of his Church and chosen people to make it appear, that he also hath dominion upon earth, by their powerfull preservation and their enemies destruction, therefore let the heathen people our neighbour nations that so malign us, take it into serious consideration, and tremble to think of provoking him by injuring his Church; Let them rather, and all the rest of the Gentiles, with a reverentiall fear submit themselves to his regiment, and be gathered into the number of his people, worshipping him not after their own imaginations, but in the manner and place that he hath appointed, the Temple, where onelyonly he hath fixed his presence upon the mercy-seat between the Cherubims, which condescention of the great God of heaven, full of incomprehensible majesty and holiness, to reside on earth, ought to make even the whole creation sensible of it, by way of Allegiance and subjection to him, and honour of the place where, and the people amongst whom, he is pleased to erect his throne.
2 Wonderfull great hath the power of God appeared in the preservation of his people,2The Lord is great in Sion, and he is high above all people. and the defence of his holy Temple, in the behalf whereof he hath mightily approved his wisdom and power infinitely to exceed all humane policy, and strength of the great Sages, and confederate forces of the world, which sundry times he hath dissipated and strangely defeated.
3 O therefore,3Let them praise thy great and terrible name, for it is holy. let thy people, who have been so extraordinarily blessed by thee, return answerable thanks unto thee, and praise thee for those righteous and terrible judgements executed upon their enemies, wherein thou hast manifested such Almighty power and gracious providence, and hast thereby approved thy self a holy God, faithfull of thy word and promise.
4 And as well righteous,4The Kings strength also loveth judgement, thou doest establish equity, thou executest judgement and righteousness in Jacob. as holy, not exercising a Tyrannicall absolute Arbitrary power over the creature, yea, though thou canst, yet thou wilt not, but affectest to subject thy proceedings to the rules of righteousnese, ordering thy power by thy justice, and putting it forth by way of judgement, which thou both justly and severely executest upon sinners and enemies to thee and thy people, unto whom both by thy works and word, president and precept, thou holdest forth and recommendedst equity and righteousness for them to walk thereafter, yea, thou art not partiall to thine owne people the seed of Jacob, no more than to the heathen, but if they sin they smart for it, in righteousness thou punishest them as well as others.
5Exalt ye the Lord your God, and worship at his foot-stool for he is holy.5 Magnifie and praise, O ye his people this your God, the onelyonly Lord, come, frequent his Temple the onelyonly place on earth, where he that sits in heaven is pleased to be present, there bow down with adoration and reverence before him, as at the foot-stool of the great and glorious Majesty of heaven, worshipping him in spirit, with holiness of heart, abasing your selves, and exalting the Lord who onelyonly is holy, and his worship holy, all other Gods throughout the world being vain Idols, and their worship sin and superstition.
6Moses and Aaron among his Priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name: they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.6 That God that hath made himself known to you, as by eminent Miracles, so by eminent Messengers, such as the memory of them is famous and honourable amongst you, how much more ought God to be so: Moses and Aaron those chosen worthies, that in the beginning were prime Rulers and Peers of his Church, and Samuel an honourable Prophet in the after-ages of it, what gracious answers did he vouchsafe to their prayers. These holy men, powerfull intercessours, Types of the Messiah, the great Mediatour of his Church, how ever and anon were they heard when they prayed for the people, and what salvation was vouchsafed still at their request?
7He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them.7 These Saints and servants of God had familiar communication with him, as Moses and Aaron, all the way in the wilderness they had God present with them, ordering and advising their course in that great charge that lay upon them, whose command and covenant they faithfully delivered over to the people, and observed themselves.
8 These holy men were beloved and honoured by the holy Lord God,8Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. who for us his peoples sake put them into office, made them intercessours, yea, effectuall prevailing-ones (such as Christ shall be) many a time passing by the sins of Israel for their sakes, whom thou didst not, nor wouldest not have punished, but forgiven and forgotten too, had not iterated provocations and back-slidings from thee and thy commandments to Idolatry and wil-worship, forced thee to take vengeance, and minded thee of the abuse of former long-suffering, which then thou also reckonedst with them for, when once thine anger did break forth.
9 See the fifth verse of this Psalm,9Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy. onelyonly the word holy-hill here instead of foot-stool there means the same thing: viz. The Temple built upon his holy hill mount Sion.
The c. PSALM.
The Psalmist excites the Church and people of God among the Gentiles as well as Iews to praise the Lord and imbrace his salvation so freely bestowed upon them, who are so dear to him, whom therefore he would have turn proselites apace, and lose no time, but glorifie him both now and hereafter, for his grace to his Church in all ages.
A Psalm penned to stir up the people to praise the Lord.A psalm of praise.
O give thanks & sing forth the praises of the Lord,1MAke a joyfull noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. and of his great & gracious salvation in Christ, all ye people of the earth, not Jews onelyonly but Gentiles also, every where, where the glad tidings of it come to entertain it joyfully, and praise him for it thankfully.
2Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.2 Cast off all old superstitious and vain worship of false gods, readily embrace his truth, take the Lord for your God, and give your selves to him to be his people, count it your happiness to be so, that you may have the honour and priviledge to be admitted to put up prayer, and to offer praises to him as your God, that once were aliens and without God in the world; now Christ hath taken down the partition-wall, and brought God and you together again, be much with him in faithfull and gratefull praising of him.
3Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we our selves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.3 Learn this lesson well, that the Lord is God, and that he onelyonly is so, you that have been used to Idolize other gods, do so no more, own him, and honour him for the onelyonly Iehovah that hath being, and hath it of himself; and that is the sole Creatour of all men, we made not our selves, and then nothing else but he did, nay, it is he that hath begotten us again, he hath of and by his grace made us new creatures, this we are sure is as much of him, and as little of our selves as the former, those that are his people, may thank him they are so, their souls had never been renued nor saved by any thing they themselves could have done or suffered, vocation, justification, and sanctification are the gifts of God to his Elect: as are all the faithfull of what nation soever, of whom we Israelites now his peculiar are a type, and as he hath done us in the manifestation of grace, and administration of providence, such singular love will he bear to his Church for ever.
4 Seeing we are to be all one Church,4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankfull unto him & bless his name. begin betime, joyn fellowship with us in the worship of this one onelyonly true God, do as we do now, frequent his holy Temple, worship him in the Courts and Ordinances thereof, whilest they are, till they cease, and then in holy Christian assemblies, worship him in spirit and truth, be thankfull to him and magnifie him, for the unspeakable goodness and power manifested in so great salvation.
5 For,5For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth to all generations. though we be evil, yet the Lord is good, and though our sins provoke his judgements against us, yet his long-suffering and mercy is like himself, everlasting, we have found it so, and so shall his Church in all ages, his faithfulness according to the covenant of grace, shall not fail on his part, though it be too often broke on ours, it shall be perpetuated in Christ, and for Christ to his Church.