The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 92
PSALM XCII.
A Pſalm or Song for the Sabbath-day.
ARGUMENT.
If Adam had made this Pſalm, preſently after he was created in the evening of the Sabbath (which is a Rabbinical fancy, mentioned in the Midraſh upon this place) ſure it would have been ſet in this fourth Book of Pſalms, before that of Moſes: who may more probably be conceived to have compoſed it; to raiſe the hearts of the Iſraelites to the proper buſineſs of the Sabbath-day: which was to praiſe God, when they meditated upon his wonderfull works, not onelyonly of Creation but of Providence in the government of the world. Several inſtances of which, in rewarding the good, and puniſhing the wicked, they themſelves had ſeen ſince they came out of Egypt: and were to ſee more when they came into the Land of Canaan; to keep their Sabbath or reſt there, after their long travels in the Deſerts: with reſpect to which, ſome thing Moſes might call this A Pſalm for the Sabbath-day.
But there is no certainty of theſe things, or rather it is certain that neither of theſe conjectures are true. For as Adam in Paradiſe had no enemies to riſe up againſt him, nor was troubled with any workers of iniquity (ſuch as we reade of Ver. 7, 11.) and there were no Pſalteries, Harps and Inſtruments of Muſick then made, which Moſes himſelf tells us were found out by Jubal: ſo thoſe Inſtruments were not imployed in the ſervice of God till the days of David: who may therefore more reaſonably be thought to have made this Pſalm for the Sabbath, then either of the other; after God had given him ſuch Reſt round about from all his enemies, (2 Sam. VII. 1.) that he concluded he ſhould be able to ſubdue thoſe who ſhould hereafter adventure to oppoſe him: ſuch as thoſe mentioned in the following Chapters, 2 Sam. VIII. X.
1. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to ſing praiſes unto thy name, O moſt High:
1. NOW is the proper ſeaſon to give thanks unto the Lord, for all the benefits we have received from Him: and it is no leſs delightfull, then it is profitable, to ſing Hymns in the praiſe of the Divine perfections; which infinitely tranſcend all that can be ſaid, or thought of them.
2. To ſhew forth thy loving-kindneſs in the morning, and thy faithfulneſs every night;
2. This is the ſweeteſt imployment in the morning; and no entertainment equal to it at night: to commemorate and declare to all, how bountifull Thou art; and how faithfull in performing thy promiſes to thoſe, who depend on thy Almighty Goodneſs.
3. Ʋpon an inſtrument of ten ſtrings, and upon the pſaltery; upon the harp with a ſolemn ſound.
3. Which ought to be celebrated, with a full Conſort, not onelyonly of our chearfull Voices but, of all the Inſtruments of Muſick.
4. For thou LORD, haſt made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
4. For all are too little, O Lord, to expreſs the joy I have in the acts of thy Providence; by whom, as the world was made ſo, it is ſtill governed: it raviſhes my ſpirit, and makes me ſhout for joy, to think how excellently Thou ordereſt and diſpoſeſt all things.
5. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
5. Whoſe adminiſtration, though I cannot fully comprehend; yet, I admire and applaud the aſtoniſhing greatneſs of thy works: and reverence the unſearchable depth of thy counſels and deſigns.
6. A bruitiſh man knoweth not: neither doth a fool underſtand this.
6. Of which a ſtupid man, who looks not beyond his ſenſes, is ſo wholly ignorant; that ſeeing himſelf, and other ſuch like fools, proſper and thrive, while better men are in trouble and affliction; He preſently concludes, Thou doſt not meddle in our affairs; but leaveſt all to chance: For he doth not underſtand, ſo much as this ſecret;
7. When the wicked ſpring as the graſs, and when all the workers of iniquity do flouriſh: it is that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever.
7. That when the lewdeſt men grow rich, high and powerfull; and their intereſt is ſuch, that by their means all the workers of iniquity, and few other men, are promoted; the reaſon is: becauſe nothing in this world is of any great value, nor of any long continuance; but after they have flouriſhed a while in an empty glory, they ſhall be cut down like graſs; and, which is more, never riſe up again:
8. But thou, LORD, art moſt high for evermore.
8. And that, Thou, who ruleſt all things, though far out of their ſight, canſt as well puniſh or reward men hereafter, as at preſent; being the eternal Lord.
9. For lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for lo, thine enemies ſhall periſh: all the workers of iniquity ſhall be ſcattered.
9. Who ſheweſt Thou doſt not intend to let the wicked eſcape, though now they flouriſh; for Thou haſt begun already to give thy enemies, who have long proſpered, a remarkable defeat: they have received ſuch a notable blow, that I am confident they ſhall periſh; and all their partakers, though never ſo numerous and ſtrongly linkt together, be diſperſed and utterly deſtroyed.
10. But my horn ſhalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I ſhall be anointed with freſh oil.
10. But my power and authority Thou ſhalt raiſe to a formidable height: and crown that dignity with ſuch undiſturbed joy and pleaſure; as ſhall prove, the pious are not always miſerable:
11. Mine eye alſo ſhall ſee my deſire on mine enemies: and mine ears ſhall hear my deſire of the wicked that riſe up againſt me.
11. Nor the wicked alway proſperous. For to all other pleaſures this ſhall be added, that I ſhall ſee thoſe deprived of all power, who have long watched to doe me miſchief: or certainly hear of the ruin of thoſe malicious men, who ſet themſelves with all their might to deſtroy me.
12. The righteous ſhall flouriſh like the palm-tree: he ſhall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
12. Which may be an incouragement to every good man to hope in God, and not queſtion the juſtice of his Providence; if at preſent he be afflicted: for as He ſhall overturn all his enemies at the laſt; ſo He will make the righteous flouriſh (not as the wicked do like the graſs, Ver. 7. but) in a durable proſperity, like the fruitfull Palm, and the ſtately Cedar in Lebanon.
13. Thoſe that be planted in the houſe of the LORD, ſhall flouriſh in the courts of our God.
13. For they are under the care of the Lord our God; whoſe Houſe they frequent: and there partake of his Divine bleſſing, for the growth and increaſe of their happineſs.
14. They ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age: they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing:
14. Which ſhall not decay, as the ſtrength and freſhneſs of thoſe Trees will do with age; but the older they grow, the more happy fruits ſhall their piety produce: and they ſhall abound in wealth and honour; as much as they do in that.
15. To ſhew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteouſneſs in him.
15. To demonſtrate to all the world, that the Lord is a moſt impartial Governour; whom I have found my firm unmoveable Friend: and, aſſure your ſelves, is ſo juſt and kind; that he will never let wickedneſs go unpuniſhed, nor vertue be always unrewarded.