The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 95
PSALM XCV.
ARGUMENT.
This Pſalm likewiſe is without any Title in the Hebrew, but the Greeks call it A Pſalm of David; becauſe the Apoſtle to the Hebrews cites a paſſage out of it, under his Name, IV. 7. Though that, it muſt be confeſſed, is no concluding Argument of its being compoſed by him; becauſe it is uſual to call the whole Five Books by the name of the Pſalms of David; when it is certain he did not make them all, but onelyonly the greater part.
Whoever was the Authour, it looks as if it were intended to be a foreign or ſolemn invitation of the people (when they were all aſſembled together on the Sabbath or ſome publick occaſion) to praiſe the Lord their God, and hear inſtructions out of his Law: And is juſtly imployed ſtill by the Church, in the entrance of our Morning Service for the very ſame purpoſe. For it plainly relates to the days of Chriſt, as the Jews confeſs, and the Apoſtle proves, III. IV. to the Hebrews: where he demonſtrates to them of that Nation, that the Reſt here ſpoken of could not be merely that in the Land of Canaan, which their Forefathers fell ſhort of, by their diſobedience to God in the Wilderneſs: but another, far better, into which duplicate page duplicate page they in that day were to be brought, by the Meſſiah, a far greater Captain of Salvation then Joſhua. And therefore it concerned them then, he ſhews, above all other times, to take care they did not harden their hearts againſt Him; when He came to invite them to a participation of the greateſt bleſſedneſs: but entertain his holy Goſpel, with a chearfull and joyfull obedience to it. Theodoret is of opinion that it was particularly deſigned for the times of Joſiah; when he made that notable reformation (which we reade of 2 Chron. XXXIV. XXXV.) and called them from the worſhip of Idols, to the ſervice of the true God. But it could never be more properly uſed by that Nation, then when the Lord Chriſt came to call them to repentance.
1. O Come, let us ſing unto the LORD: let us make a joyfull noiſe to the rock of our ſalvation.
1. OStir up your ſelves, all ye that are come hither to worſhip the Lord, and with united affections let us chearfully ſing his praiſes: Let us lift up our voices and triumphantly laud the Authour of all the good we enjoy; and in whom we may ſafely confide for ever.
2. Let us come before his preſence with thanksgiving, and make a joyfull noiſe unto him with pſalms.
2. Let us approach into his preſence with thankfull hearts, to acknowledge the benefits we have received from Him: and devoutly proclaim with triumphant hymns, what a joy it is to us, that we may addreſs our ſelves unto Him.
3. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
3. For the Lord is infinitely powerfull, and hath a ſovereign authority; not onelyonly over all the Princes on the earth, but all the Angels and principalities in heaven.
4. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the ſtrength of the hills is his alſo.
4. All thoſe Treaſures are in his poſſeſſion, which lie in the deepeſt and moſt ſecret parts of the earth; whither none of our Monarchs can extend their power: and the loftieſt hills, which none but the clouds can touch, are part of his dominion.
5. The ſea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
5. The Sea alſo obeys Him alone; who hath an unqueſtionable title to it, and to all the reſt of his wide Empire: for He made both it, and the dry Land; with all the things contained therein.
6. O come, let us worſhip and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
6. O be not backward then to comply with this renewed invitation; but let us all with the loweſt proſtrations devoutly adore his Majeſty: Let it not ſuffice us to doe it once, but again let us, with humble reverence, bow both our bodies and ſouls, in token of our ſubjection to Him: Let us fall on our knees, and ſubmiſſively acknowledge the duty we owe, to the great Lord, who gave us our Being.
7. For he is our God, and we are the people of his paſture, and the ſheep of his hand: to day if ye will hear his voice,
7. Which we above all people have reaſon to doe, becauſe He hath a peculiar relation to us, and kindneſs for us; providing for all our wants moſt liberally, and continually defending us from all dangers: O that you would therefore without delay liſten to Him, and be obedient to the voice of your Creatour, Conſerver and Benefactour, who calls upon you moſt graciouſly (by his own Son, III. Heb. 6, 7. IV. 7) ſaying;
8. Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderneſs:
8. Lay to heart what I have done for you, and be not ſo ſtupidly inſenſible, as your Fathers were; at that place, whoſe Name (Meribah and Maſſah) preſerves the memory of their provoking ſtrife with Moſes, and temptation of God, in the Wilderneſs, XVII. Exod. 2, 7.
9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and ſaw my work.
9. When they doubted of my power, and demanded new proofs of my preſence among them (XVII. Exod. 7.) though they had ſeen my wonderfull works, in their late deliverance at the red Sea; and in making the bitter waters ſweet; and ſending them bread from heaven, Exod. XIV. XV. XVI.
10. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and ſaid, It is a people that do erre in their heart, and they have not known my ways.
10. Nor did they then ceaſe their diſcontented murmurings, and diſtruſt of me; but continued their ſtubborn infidelity, vexing, nay tiring my patience for the ſpace of forty years: long before the end of which I concluded that they were a people whoſe heart would never be ſtedfaſtly reſolved to adhere unto me; for they did not mind what wonderfull things I did for them, nor what I commanded them to doe for me.
11. Ʋnto whom I ſware in my wrath, that they ſhould not enter into my reſt.
11. Which ſo highly diſpleaſed me, that I ſware they ſhould wander all their days, and die at laſt, in the Wilderneſs, (XIV. Numb. 28, &c.) and never enter into that good Land, where I intended to give them reſt after all their travels, XII.