The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 97 – Psalm 98
PSALM XCVII.
ARGUMENT.
Some of the Hebrews conceive (as I obſerved upon Pſalm XC.) that Moſes was the Authour of this, as well as the reſt of theſe Pſalms which want an Inſcription. And indeed he excelled in this faculty of compoſing Hymns, as we learn from Exod. XV. and Deut. XXXII. and might upon ſome other occaſion, as well as the overthrow of Pharaoh in the red Sea, make a Song of triumph, after ſome of thoſe great victories which God gave them over their enemies. Which was a thing in uſe before his time, as it appears by the fragments of ancient Songs recorded in his Books: particularly that foreign made by ſome Poet among the Amorites, after Sihon had taken Heſhbon from the Moabites, to whom it formerly belonged; wherein they triumph over their God Chemoſh, as unable to deliver his worſhippers, XXI. Numb. 27, &c. And if we could be ſure this Pſalm was made by Moſes, I ſhould think it to have been compoſed after the Iſraelites had conquered Sihon and his Land: over whom they triumphed as he had done over the former poſſeſſours of that Country. But the Pſalm ſeems ſo plainly to have been compoſed, in purſuance of what was ſaid in the foregoing Pſalm, that the Lord reigneth, and is King, not onelyonly over Iſrael, but all the earth; that one cannot but think they had the ſame Authour: who ſhews the truth of that, by the illuſtrious Victories, which God, as their King, had given them over all thoſe that oppoſed them. For the eighth verſe makes it manifeſt that this Pſalm hath reſpect to ſome Conqueſts, they had lately made over the heathen: which, I ſuppoſe, were no other then thoſe which David won over divers Nations; not long after (1 Chron. XVIII. 1.) he had brought the Ark to Sion, and delivered the foregoing Hymn to be ſung, to put the Iſraelites in hope, and their enemies in fear, of the great things which would inſue, upon this ſpecial preſence of God among them.
Which moved the Greeks to call this A Pſalm of David, after his Land was reſtored unto him: that is, after he was made Maſter of all thoſe Countries, which God anciently deſigned to be the inheritance of Iſrael. For that it ſhould relate to the reſtoring his Kingdom to him, after Abſaloms rebellion, is not probable; becauſe the mention of Idolaters and of their gods, Ver. 7. ſeem to determine it to other Countries. In the ſubduing of which, God, it is likely, fought for them by ſome ſuch tempeſt as we reade of (2 Sam. V. 20, 21, 24.) whereby their enemies Armies were ſhat…ered, and ſo terrified; that they not onelyonly fled, but left their images behind them (ſuch was their haſte) and gave the Iſraelites an eaſie Victory over them.
But whatever was the carnal ſenſe, it belongs, in the diviner meaning, to Chriſt's triumph over the grave, and all the powers of darkneſs; at his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion to his throne in heaven: as appears by thoſe words, which the Apoſtle to the Hebrews alledges out of the ſeventh verſe, and applies to Chriſt's royal power and authority over Angels. Which the Hebrew Doctours themſelves, as Kimchi confeſſes, take to be there intended: and may be further juſtified from that expoſition, which we meet withall in Midraſch Tanchuma, of the words of the Prophet Iſaiah LII. 13. Behold my ſervant ſhall proſper: He ſhall be exalted, and extolled, and be very high. This is the King Meſſiah, ſays that gloſs; who ſhall be exalted above Abraham, and extolled above Moſes, and be very high above the Angels of the Miniſtry.
1. THe LORD reigneth, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of Iſles be glad thereof
1. THE Lord, it is manifeſt, is the Sovereign of the world: under whoſe happy Government, not onelyonly we, and they who are already become ſubject to Him in other places, ought to rejoice; but the moſt diſtant Countries have the greateſt reaſon to be glad thereof.
2. Clouds and darkneſs are round about him: righteouſneſs and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
2. His Majeſty is moſt dreadfull; and hath appeared in great terrour againſt thoſe that oppoſe Him: whom, as he will not wrong ſo, He will certainly puniſh; for He maintains his Authority and ſupports his Government, by doing exact and equal juſtice.
3. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
3. Let none therefore reſiſt Him, for flames of fire proceed… from his preſence; which make the battel too hot for his enemies: who can turn no way but they feel them flaſhing in their faces.
4. His lightnings enlightned the world: the earth ſaw and trembled.
4. It was his thunder and lightning, the brightneſs of which the world lately ſaw; and were ſo amazed, that ſhivering pains took hold upon them, as upon a woman in her travail.
5. The hills melted like wax at the preſence of the LORD: at the preſence of the LORD of the whole earth.
5. The hearts of the ſtouteſt Kings and Captains failed them; and melted, like wax before the fire, at this terrible appearance of the Lord: at the appearance of Him, whoſe dominion extends over all the earth.
6. The heavens declare his righteouſneſs: and all the people ſee his glory.
6. For He is the Lord of the heavens: which have declared by this dreadfull tempeſt (excited by his Angelical Miniſters) his ſeverity againſt his enemies; and made all the people ſenſible of the incomparable ſplendour of his Majeſty.
7. Confounded be all they that ſerve graven images: that boaſt themſelves of idols: worſhip him all ye gods.
7. Which may well make them all aſhamed (and they ſhall be confounded by Him, if they will not renounce their errours) who worſhip graven Images (though of gold and ſilver) 2 Sam. V. 21. and boaſt themſelves in vain gods who can doe nothing for them: Let all that are called gods, whether Princes on earth, or Angels in heaven, bow down to Him, as the onelyonly Saviour (1. Heb. 6.) and acknowledge his ſupreme authority over them all.
8. Sion heard, and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced; becauſe of thy judgments, O LORD.
8. Jeruſalem the mother City, hath received the news of thy Victories with a joyfull heart: after whoſe example, all the other Cities of Judah are exceeding glad, O Lord; becauſe Thou haſt judged righteouſly, in deſtroying our idolatrous enemies, and defending thy faithfull ſervants.
9. For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
9. Whoſe hearts are filled with the greater joy; becauſe Thou, O Lord, haſt manifeſted thy ſelf hereby, to be the ſupreme and onelyonly Potentate: who ruleſt over all the earth, and art infinitely ſuperiour to all that have the name of gods.
10. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preſerveth the ſouls of his ſaints, he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
10. But do not content your ſelves merely with this paſſion of joy: if you truly love the Lord, hate every thing which you know is diſpleaſing to Him: ſo ſhall you have the Lord of all things for your continual keeper; who preſerves the lives of ſincerely pious men, and watches over them, with ſuch a carefull providence, that when they are in the power of the wicked, He will not ſuffer them to deſtroy them.
11. Light is ſowe… for the righteous: and gladneſs for the upright in heart.
11. Be not diſcouraged, though the world ſhould frown upon you; but reſt aſſured that God deſigns you, in due time, more chearfull and happy days: which, if you continue faithfull and ſerve Him with upright hearts, ſhall as certainly come; as the corn, at laſt, ſprings up, after it hath lain all winter in the ground.
12. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous: and give thanks at the remembrance of his holineſs.
12. Let all truly good men rely on this, and rejoice in their worſt eſtate; that they ſerve ſuch a gracious Lord: Let them give thanks unto Him for his benefits, and gratefully commemorate how kind and gracious He hath been unto them; that it may be kept in perpetual remembrance.
PSALM XCVIII.
A Pſalm.
ARGUMENT.
There is no Title here but onelyonly this, A Pſalm: to which the Greeks add, of David: who it is very probable was the Authour; or if he was not, it was made by ſome holy man in imitation of what David ſaith in the XCVI. (of many of whoſe expreſſions this Pſalm conſiſts) upon occaſion of ſome remarkable deliverance, which God had newly granted to Iſrael: as an earneſt of future bleſſings; eſpecially of the coming of that great bleſſing, the Lord Chriſt, to give compleat Salvation to his people.
1. O Sing unto the LORD a new ſong, for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.
1. O Let the new and extraordinary benefits, which the Lord hath beſtowed upon us, provoke you to ſing praiſes unto Him with freſh devotion: for He hath done ſtupendious things, and by his Almighty goodneſs alone, and incomparable ſtrength, hath wrought ſalvation for thoſe; who were as unworthy to be helped by Him, as they were unable to help themſelves.
2. The LORD hath made known his ſalvation: his righteouſneſs hath he openly ſhewed in the ſight of the heathen.
2. The Lord hath declared by the wonders He hath done, how mighty He is to ſave and deliver: He made the Gentile world apparently ſee, that He is the juſt rewarder of all thoſe who piouſly obey Him; and will not let the wicked eſcape unpuniſhed.
3. He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the houſe of Iſrael: all the ends of the earth have ſeen the ſalvation of our God.
3. He hath not forgot his ancient Covenant with our Forefathers: but ſo faithfully performed, what his mere mercy moved Him to promiſe, (1. Luke 54, 72.) that all mankind have ſeen what our gracious God hath done, and partake of his Divine benefits.
4. Make a joyfull noiſe unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noiſe, and rejoice, and ſing praiſe.
4. Let them all therefore ſhout for joy; let them cry aloud: and with ſtrong and chearfull voices ſing hymns of thanks and praiſe unto the Lord.
5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a pſalm.
5. Let nothing be wanting to expreſs your joyfull ſenſe of the goodneſs of the Lord: but let the Harp accompany your ſongs; let the ſweet ſound of the Harp, I ſay, and the ſound of your voices be mixt together with your Pſalms.
6. With trumpets and ſound of cornet make a joyfull noiſe before the LORD the King.
6. And let the Trumpet alſo, and Cornet proclaim with a louder ſound, the exceeding greatneſs of your joy: while you ſhout with triumphant acclamations to Him, and acknowledge the Lord to be your King.
7. Let the ſea roar, and the fulneſs thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein.
7. Let the noiſe of his praiſes be heard like thunder, throughout all the habitable world: both among thoſe that live on the Sea, and thoſe that are upon the Land.
8. Let the flouds clap their hands: let the hills be joyfull together.
8. Let high, as well as low, applaud their happineſs, and joyn together with one conſent; to expreſs by all the tokens of joy, the ſingular pleaſure and ſatisfaction they feel in their hearts.
9. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteouſneſs ſhall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
9. Let them meet the Lord with forward affections; who is coming to reform the earth: and will govern mankind, by righteous and mercifull Laws; diſtributing to every man according to his works.