The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 118
PSALM CXVIII.
ARGUMENT.
There is nothing more probable then that David compoſed this Pſalm, after God had ſettled him upon the Throne of Iſrael as well as Judah; and alſo ſubdued the Philiſtines (who hoped to have cruſht him before he grew too powerfull, 2 Sam. V. 17.) together with other enemies round about him, who, though they are not mentioned yet, in all likelihood joyned with them; as we may gather from Ver. 10, 11. of this Pſalm, compared with 2 Sam. VII. 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jeruſalem, (mentioned there Chap. VI.) and placed it in the Houſe he had prepared for it; ſeems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Pſalm: Where he begins to praiſe God in ſuch words, as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord's Chriſt, (whom the Jews rejected, and ſaid, He ſhall not reign over us) was made King of the World. For to Him R. Solomon himſelf acknowledges thoſe words, The ſtone which the builders refuſed, &c. are to be applied.
And as the latter part of the Pſalm is a Prophecy of Chriſt, in David his Type; ſo the former part may be accommodated to all Chriſtians: who, being perſecuted (as Theodoret ſpeaks) and tormented, and diſgracefully treated, by many Princes and their people, by Kings and Governours; got a glorious Victory over them all, after they had indured a thouſand deaths.
It ſeems alſo to have been pronounced, at firſt, in ſome ſolemn aſſembly of all the people, met together to praiſe the Lord for his benefits. And, it is the common opinion of moſt Interpreters, that they all had a part in this Pſalm. The greateſt part of which was ſpoken by David; who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God, deſiring all to aſſiſt him in his praiſes: And then coming in a ſolemn proceſſion, I ſuppoſe, to the Gates of the Tabernacle, calls upon the Porters, Verſe 19. to open them to him; that he might praiſe God in his Sanctuary: which he doth in the very entrance, Ver. 20; and then in the Courts of his Houſe Ver. 21. After which all the people ſhout, and magnifie the Divine Goodneſs; in making him, who was baniſhed from his Country, their King, Ver. 22, &c. And then the Prieſts come forth, and bleſs both the King and people in the Name of the Lord, Ver. 26; and exhort them to be thankfull, Ver. 27: And then David ſeems to take the words out of their mouth, and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits; deſiring all the people alſo to remember them, Ver. 28, 29. According to which account of the Pſalm, I have ordered the Paraphraſe.
1. O Give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: becauſe his mercy endureth for ever.
1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world: who, as He is the Authour of all good, and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us; ſo will continue his kindneſs to all ſucceeding generations.
2. Let Iſrael now ſay, that his mercy endureth for ever.
2. Let the Children of Iſrael who have had ſuch long experience of his love, and now ſee his promiſes fulfilled; let them confeſs and thankfully acknowledge, that his kindneſs continues to all generations.
3. Let the houſe of Aaron now ſay, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3. Let the Prieſts and the Levites, whoſe buſineſs it is to attend upon His ſervice, confeſs now and thankfully acknowledge; that his kindneſs extends unto all ages.
4. Let them now that fear the LORD, ſay, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4. And let all the devout Worſhippers of the Lord, of whatſoever Nation they be, join together with us, (for there is one Lord of all, who diſpenſes various benefits to every one of us) and confeſs now moſt thankfully, that there is no end of his kindneſs.
5. I called upon the LORD in diſtreſs: the LORD anſwered me, and ſet me in a large place.
5. You may ſee an example of it in me, who was in grievous ſtraits and dangers, (1 Sam. XXIII. 26. XXVII. 1.) but then imploring the Divine Protection, the Lord not onelyonly delivered me; but placed me in a ſecure eſtate, free from all ſuch moleſtation, 2 Sam. V. 3. VII. 1.
6. The LORD is on my ſide, I will not fear: what can man doe unto me?
6. For the Lord, it is evident, takes my part; and therefore, though I have many enemies, I am not afraid of them: for, when He is for me, what diſturbance can men, be they never ſo powerfull, give me?
7. The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore ſhall I ſee my deſire upon them that hate me.
7. It is ſufficient that the Lord, who hath done great things for me by weak inſtruments, is ſtill aiding to me: therefore I dare look the moſt malicious enemies in the face; and doubt not to ſee them turn their backs upon me, (2 Sam. VIII.)
8. It is better to truſt in the LORD, then to put confidence in man.
8. This is my hope; and long experience hath taught me, that it is much ſafer to relie upon Him, then upon the moſt numerous Armies.
9. It is better to truſt in the LORD, then to put confidence in princes.
9. Far more ſafe to depend upon his help and protection, (who as He can doe what He pleaſes, and is conſtant to his word, ſo never dies) then to confide in the aid of the greateſt Princes; whoſe mind may change, or their forces fail, or they themſelves, on a ſudden, leave the world.
10. All nations compaſſed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I deſtroy them.
10. All the neighbouring Nations, round about (2 Sam. V. 17, &c. VII. 1.) combined with the Philiſtines to inviron me: but, by the Almighty power of the Lord, I was conſident, that I ſhould hew them in pieces.
11. They compaſſed me about, yea, they compaſſed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will deſtroy them.
11. Again they made a new invaſion, and beſet me with ſtronger forces; (2 Sam. V. 22, &c.) but ſtill, by the Almighty power of the Lord, I doubted not, that I ſhould cut them off, and utterly defeat them.
12. They compaſſed me about like bees, they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will deſtroy them.
12. Though they were exceeding numerous, ſwarming about me like angry bees, and flaming with ſuch rage and fury, as if they would preſently conſume me: yet it was but like the blaze of fire among thorns, for, by the Almighty power of the Lord, I was confident I ſhould deſtroy them.
13. Thou haſt thruſt ſore at me, that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
13. They preſſed me exceeding hard, and, as one man, conſpired with all their might to throw me down from the Throne, to which I was advanced: But, though they ſhaked it and it was ready to fall yet, by the help of the Lord it was ſupported.
14. The LORD is my ſtrength and ſong, and is become my ſalvation.
14. To Him alone I aſcribe my preſent happineſs, ſaying with our Forefathers in their triumphant Song, (XV. Exod. 2.) the Lord hath armed me with invincible ſtrength; He, and He alone, is to be praiſed, who hath given me a moſt glorious deliverance.
15. The voice of rejoycing and ſalvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
15. Which comforts the hearts of all righteous men; whoſe houſes ſound with ſuch joyfull ſhouts of praiſe, for my deliverance, as theſe; The mighty power of the Lord hath done moſt ſtupendious things:
16. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16. He hath made his mighty power appear to be ſuperiour to all other; for not by man, but by that power we have, again and again, obtained illuſtrious victories over our enemies, 2 Sam. XIX. 9.
17. I ſhall not die but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
17. From whence I conclude, that I ſhall not fall into the hands of thoſe, that would take away my life; but ſtill prolong it, to declare what wonderfull works the Lord hath done for me.
18. The LORD hath chaſtened me ſore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
18. Who hath let my enemies have power to afflict me very ſorely; but not to proceed ſo far, as to deſtroy me.
19. Open to me the gates of righteouſneſs: I will go in to them, and I will praiſe the LORD:
19. No, inſtead of that He hath brought me to his own Houſe again, from which I was baniſhed, (1 Sam. XXVI. 19.) where I will return thanks unto Him: And therefore, O ye that miniſter in the Tabernacle, open the Gates at which the righteous enter into the Courts of the Lord; that I may go in, and make Him my acknowledgments, for bringing me from a moſt forlorn condition to a ….
20. This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous ſhall enter.
20. This is the Gate (which I behold and approach with joy) that leads to the Courts of the Lord: at which the righteous ſhall enter together with me, and hear me ſay;
21. I will praiſe thee, for thou haſt heard me, and art become my ſalvation.
21. I will never ceaſe to praiſe and acknowledge Thy goodneſs, O Lord: who haſt graciouſly heard my prayer, when I implored thy help; and delivered me out of all my diſtreſſes.
22. The ſtone which the builders refuſed, is become the head ſtone of the corner.
22. And let them bear a part with me in this my Pſalm of praiſe, ſaying; He whom the great men and Rulers of the people rejected, (1 Sam. XXVI. 19.) as the builders of a houſe do a ſtone unfit to be employed in it; is now become our King, to whom we muſt all join our ſelves, if we hope for ſafety, (in whom we ſee a figure of that glorious King, who ſhall hereafter be in like manner refuſed, (XIX. Luke 14. XX. 17.) and then by God exalted to be the Lord of all the world, and the foundation of all mens happineſs, IV. Act. 11, 12.)
23. This is the LORD's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes.
23. This is the ſole work of the Lord, (not the effect of humane counſels, who oppoſed and obſtructed it) which ſurpriſes us with the greateſt admiration; to ſee a deſpiſed perſon become on a ſudden ſo renowned.
24. This is the day which the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
24. This is the happy day, which the Lord himſelf hath made illuſtrious by this marvellous work; and which it becomes us to celebrate with joyfull hearts, and with all outward expreſſions of gladneſs for ſo great a benefit:
25. Save now, I beſeech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beſeech thee, ſend now proſperity.
25. Moſt humbly beſeeching Thee, O Lord, to preſerve our King, and to advance and perpetuate his Kingdom: (eſpecially the Kingdom of Chriſt, which ſhall be welcom'd into the world with theſe words, XXI. Matt. 9, &c.) It begins moſt gloriouſly; be pleaſed now, O Lord, to give it anſwerable ſucceſs and proſperity.
26. Bleſſed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have bleſſed you out of the houſe of the LORD.
26. Which acclamations of the people, let the Prieſts of the Lord meet with their approbation, ſaying; Bleſſed be the King, which is ſet over us by the Divine appointment; and Bleſſed be all the people, who live under his happy Government: we, whoſe Office it is to miniſter to the Lord, give you his Bleſſing from the holy place; into which you are come to worſhip Him.
27. God is the LORD, which hath ſhewed us light; bind the ſacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
27. Who is the omnipotent Lord, moſt faithfull to his promiſe; who hath put an end to our troubles, and made peace among us: O be not ungratefull to Him, but ſolemnize this day with feſtival joys; bind your ſacrifices with cords, and bring them to the corners of the Altar, to be offered, as teſtimonies of your love and thankfulneſs, unto Him.
28. Thou art my God, and I wi… …iſe thee; th… … my God, I will exalt thee.
28. And ſo, for my part, I am reſolved; who muſt own Thee to be my moſt gracious God, and almighty Deliverer; to whom therefore I will make continually my moſt thankfull acknowledgments: to thy almighty Goodneſs alone I owe this greatneſs to which I am promoted; and therefore I will never ceaſe, to ſpeak the higheſt things I am able in thy praiſe,
29. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
29. And let all good men join together with me, and make their thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world: who as He is the Authour of all good, and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us; ſo will continue his kindneſs unto all ſucceeding generations.