The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 3 · Psalm 75
PSALM LXXV.
To the chief Muſician, Al-taſchith. A Pſalm or Song of Aſaph.
ARGUMENT.
I take this Pſalm to have been made by Aſaph the Seer, mentioned 2 Chron. XXIX. 30. (ſee Pſal. LXXIII.) after the great deliverance, which, by the ſtrange deſtruction of Senacherib's Army, God gave the good King Hezekiah. For whoſe uſe Aſaph compoſed this Pſalm, and delivered it to the chief Maſter of the Muſick in the Tabernacle; that he might therein make his publick profeſſion of his obligations to Almighty God, and his reſolution to ſerve Him and to depend upon Him: as he adviſes all men elſe to do; if they would not be undone; or if they hoped for any good, of which He is the ſole and abſolute Diſpenſer.
If Al-taſchith be more then a note that this Pſalm was to be ſung like to the LVII. and thoſe that follow; it may ſignifie as much, as thou ſhalt not, or wilt not deſtroy. And be applied either to Senacherib, who, the Prophet told them, ſhould not accompliſh his deſign of deſtroying them, as he had done other Nations (2 King. XIX. 17. 2 Chron. XXVII. 14.) or to God, who had not given him Commiſſion, as he pretended, to deſtroy Jeruſalem (2 King. XVIII. 25.) but would defend it (2 King. XIX. 34.) and not ſuffer it to be laid deſolate.
Symmachus gives a more ſpiritual ſenſe of the word, and calls this a triumphal Song concerning Immortality. Becauſe it contains, as Theodoret explains it, a prediction of the righteous judgment of God in the deſtruction of the wicked, and rewarding the lovers of vertue: which ſhould admoniſh us, not to ſuffer any godly thoughts, we have in our mind, to periſh; but to preſerve them whole and intire, that we may inherit immortality.
What is to be underſtood by a Pſalm-Song, ſee in the Argument of Pſalm LXVII.
1. UNto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.
1. UNTO Thee, O God, the righteous Judge, who art the ſole Authour of this great deliverance, do I and all my people give moſt ſolemn thanks: Nor can we ever thank Thee enough, but we muſt again and again renew our acknowledgments unto Thee; whoſe Almighty Power is ſtill ready at hand, we clearly ſee by the wonders Thou haſt done, to ſuccour all thoſe, who gratefully commemorate thy benefits.
2. When I ſhall receive the congregation, I will judge uprightly.
2. And I will not content my ſelf with theſe verbal praiſes alone; but as ſoon as I ſhall meet with a fit opportunity, and we can have our ſolemn Aſſemblies again (which by this invaſion have been interrupted, 2 Chron. XXXII. 1.) I will perfect the Reformation which I have begun: and ſee that equal Juſtice be done to all my people; as well as that they be preſerved in thy true Religion.
3. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are diſſolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
3. The whole Country hath been in a miſerable confuſion; while their hearts melted with fear of an utter deſolation: But as then I ſupported their ſpirits, and incouraged the Great men and the Officers to doe their duty (2 Chron. XXXII. 6, 7, 8.) So I will hereafter eſtabliſh ſuch Magiſtrates and Judges, as ſhall bring all into better order.
4. I ſaid unto the fools, Deal not fooliſhly; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn.
4. I have told them my mind already, and do ſtill ſolemnly proclaim and declare, that I will proceed with the utmoſt ſeverity againſt the contemners of thy Laws; and therefore I adviſe them not to be ſo madly rude and inſolent: For the proudeſt of them all ſhall know, that it is ſafeſt for them to be more modeſt, then to glory, as they do, in their impiety; or to boaſt of the power they have to be injurious to their neighbours.
5. Lift not up your horn on high: ſpeak not with a ſtiff neck.
5. Do not vaunt of this, I once more adviſe you, nor bear your ſelves high, as if you would out-brave Heaven it ſelf: be not refractory and ſtubborn, nor arrogantly ſay, that you will have your way, and that none ſhall curb you.
6. For promotion cometh neither from the eaſt, nor from the weſt, nor from the ſouth.
6. For which way ſoever you turn your ſelves, whether to the Eaſt, or to the Weſt, or to the mountainous Deſarts that lie on the North and South of us; in vain do you think to eſcape the righteous judgment of God.
7. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and ſetteth up another.
7. Who being the Sovereign Lord and Governour of the world, eaſily lays thoſe low that proudly exalt themſelves againſt his Authority; and lifts up thoſe that humbly ſubmit themſelves unto Him.
8. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red: it is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the ſame: but the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth ſhall wring them out, and drink them
8. For he never wants power to inflict the moſt dreadfull puniſhments; which (like an intoxicating Wine full of ſtupifying ingredients, that looſens the very joints, and takes away all a man's ſtrength to reſiſt) never fail to have their effect: And the godly may taſte of them, nay ſuffer ſorely for a time; but the heavieſt and moſt grievous puniſhments (like the dregs at the bottom of ſuch Wine) ſhall fall to the ſhare of all the wicked of the Land; who ſhall be forced to indure the utmoſt expreſſions of the Divine duplicate page duplicate page vengeance upon their ſins.
9. But I will declare for ever; I will ſing praiſes to the God of Jacob.
9. And this I, who am His Miniſter to execute his judgments, will not ceaſe to declare as long as I live; that none may pretend ignorance for their excuſe: And I will ſing praiſes unto God (who delivered Jacob from all evil) not onelyonly for his late miraculous preſervation of us, by his vengeance on Senacherib (whom he hath made an Example of his wrath to all proud contemners of Him) but for making me the Inſtrument of ſo happy a Reformation.
10. All the horns of the wicked alſo will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous ſhall be exalted.
10. For this is my reſolution, not merely, as I ſaid, to praiſe Him; but to pull down the haughty ſpirit, and cut ſhort all the power of the wicked, that they ſhall not be able to doe ſuch miſchief as they deſire: and to raiſe the righteous into ſuch Authority, that they ſhall not fear what their moſt inſolent enemies can doe unto them.