The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 99
PSALM XCIX.
ARGUMENT.
The Greeks intitle David to this Pſalm: which ſeems to have been made upon the ſame occaſion, and to the ſame end, with the three foregoing: onelyonly with theſe two differences; Firſt that from the conſideration of the royal power of the Lord (who had manifeſted himſelf by ſome notable conqueſts over his enemies, to be the onelyonly Monarch; whoſe Sovereignty extends over all the world) they ſhould mix fear, and trembling together with that joy and exultation, to which in the former Pſalm, he had excited them: And ſecondly, that he doth not ſo plainly, as in thoſe Pſalms, propheſie of the Kingdom of the Lord Chriſt.
But there are many paſſages, as Theodoret obſerves, which may be applied to the appearing of our Saviour, and the infidelity of the Jews. Saint Auſtin, and Saint Ambroſe apply to him that paſſage, upon which the Roman Church builds the lawfulneſs of worſhipping Images, Ver. 5. where the vulgar Latin reading adorate ſcabellum pedum ejus, worſhip his footſtool, thoſe two Fathers think there is no way to reconcile this, with that command, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and Him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerve: but by expounding this of the fleſh of Chriſt; which is the footſtool they ſay, which the Pſalmiſt exhorts all men to worſhip (ſo far were thoſe holy men from allowing adoration to any thing, that is not God, or hath not a perſonal union with Him) And indeed Chriſt was repreſented by the Ark; which was the Divine footſtool (here ſpoken of,) but not to be adored, no more then the Hill on which it ſtood: concerning which the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, in the laſt Verſe, juſt as he doth of the Ark in this; and therefore we ought to underſtand both paſſages alike (the particle in the Hebrew, being the very ſame before footſtool, and before Hill) and tranſlate them thus, worſhip at or before, or towards his footſtool and holy Hill: as elſewhere he ſpeaks of worſhipping towards his Temple, V. 8. CXXXVIII. 2. And ſo Menochius very honeſtly here expounds this paſſage, in theſe words; worſhip in his Temple, turning your faces towards the Ark; on which is the propitiatory, which is his footſtool; ſince he ſits on the wings of the Cherubins.
1. THe LORD reigneth, let the people tremble: he ſitteth between the cherubims, let the earth be moved.
1. LET the people fret and be tumultuous, if they pleaſe; it will do them no ſervice; for the Lord is the ſupreme Governour of the world whether they will or no, and they had better with a pious fear ſubmit themſelves unto Him: Though the whole earth ſhould be in an uproar, we are ſafe and ſecure; for the Lord is attended with innumerable heavenly Miniſters, who are a Guard to his faithfull worſhippers.
2. The LORD is great in Sion, and he is high above all people.
2. The Lord, whoſe Palace is in Sion, is tranſcendently great: there is no power on earth able to oppoſe Him; who infinitely ſurpaſſes the united ſtrength of all people.
3. Let them praiſe thy great and terrible name: for it is holy.
3. Let them all therefore praiſe and reverently acknowledge thy mighty and dreadfull Majeſty: for that alone is every way moſt excellent, and hath no equal; and therefore worthy of all veneration.
4. The Kings ſtrength alſo loveth judgment, thou doſt eſtabliſh equity, thou executeſt judgment, and righteouſneſs in Jacob.
4. For, though none can reſiſt Him yet, He is not a King that uſes his power to wrong or oppreſs his Subjects; but to do them right, and give them relief, in which He delights: This is thy character, O Lord, who haſt eſtabliſhed moſt equal Laws among us; and hitherto governed the ſeed of Jacob, with exact juſtice and ſingular mercy.
5. Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worſhip at his footſtool: for he is holy.
5. Do you therefore, above all other people, extoll the Lord our God, both in your thoughts, affections and words; and, turning your faces towards the Ark of his preſence, proſtrate your ſelves before his Majeſty, in token of your abſolute ſubjection to Him: For He is incomparably above all other Beings, and the proper object of your adoration.
6. Moſes and Aaron among his prieſts, and Samuel among them that call upon his name: they called upon the LORD, and he anſwered them.
6. Thus did Moſes and Aaron, two of his principal, and moſt famous Miniſters, (XXXII. Exod. 11. XVI. Numb. 45, 46.) and thus did Samuel, one of his greateſt Prophets, that were wont to intercede for you, (1 Sam. VII. 5, 8, 9. VIII. 5. XII. 19.) Theſe holy men fell down before Him, to make their humble ſupplications to Him; and He gave them what they deſired.
7. He ſpake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his teſtimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
7. He ſpake to them in a familiar manner, telling them his mind, out of a pillar of cloud; wherein He appeared to them (XXXIII. Exod. 9, 10. XII. Numb. 5. XVI. 42. 1 Sam. III. 10.) and they, like faithfull ſervants of his, conformed themſelves to his precepts, by which He teſtified his will to them; and worſhipped him after that manner, that He appointed them.
8. Thou anſweredſt them, O LORD our God: thou waſt a God that forgaveſt them, though thou tookeſt vengeance of their inventions.
8. Whereby they obtained great favour with Thee, O Lord our God; for when they prayed to Thee, Thou fulfilledſt their petitions: paſſing by, for their ſakes, the ſins of thoſe who had highly offended Thee; but taking a moſt ſevere vengeance on all thoſe, who contemned their authority, and were contriving how to depoſe them, XII. Numb. 2, 9, 10. XVI. 3, 31, 35. 1 Sam. VIII. 7, 8, 9, &c.
9. Exalt the LORD our God, and worſhip at his holy hill: for the LORD our God is holy.
9. Imitate therefore the piety of thoſe admirable men; and raiſe your thoughts, and affections, and voices, to extoll and magnifie the Lord our God, as much as you are able; for you can never do it enough: And in token of your abſolute ſubjection to Him, go and proſtrate your ſelves before Him, at his houſe on the holy hill of Sion; for the Lord our God is incomparably above all other Beings, and alone worthy of your adoration.