The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 135
PSALM CXXXV.
ARGUMENT.
This perhaps was the morning Hymn, which the Praecentor (Ver. 4, 5.) called upon the Levites to ſing, at the opening of the Gates of the Temple: as the former was ſung at the ſhutting up of the Gates in the evening. It recounts ſeveral of the great works of the Lord; eſpecially towards that Nation: whom it excites to ſtedfaſtneſs in their Religion; and to contempt of Idols and Idolaters. It both begins and concludes with an Exhortation to give praiſe to God; and ſo was intituled, as ſeveral other Pſalms are, (CVI. CXI, &c.) Hallelujah, or Praiſe the Lord. That is, by this Hymn ſet forth the moſt excellent perfections, and works of the Lord.
There are thoſe who conjecture, from what we reade Ver. 14. of this Pſalm, that when it was compoſed they were (or rather, had been lately) infeſted by ſome of their idolatrous neighbours. Whoſe gods the Pſalmiſt derides in the very ſame manner as he doth Pſalm CXV. For the four following Verſes of this Pſalm (15, 16, 17, 18.) differ very little from the 4, 5, 6, 8. of that: which it is certain was compoſed in a time of great diſtreſs; as this was, when it was over.
1. PRaiſe ye the LORD, praiſe ye the name of the LORD, praiſe him, O ye ſervants of the LORD.
1. LET all here preſent, praiſe the moſt wiſe and omnipotent goodneſs of the Lord: Let Him eſpecially be praiſed, by you his Prieſts, who miniſter unto his Majeſty:
2. Ye that ſtand in the houſe of the LORD, in the courts of the houſe of. our God.
2. And by the Levites, who attend upon Him in his Houſe: together with all the reſt of his people, that frequent the Courts of God's Houſe; who is our conſtant and moſt liberal benefactour.
3. Praiſe ye the LORD, for the LORD is good: ſing praiſes unto his name, for it is pleaſant.
3. Let this excite you all to praiſe the Lord: For as his Nature is moſt excellent, ſo He is the fountain of all the good we enjoy: and no imployment is ſo delightfull as to acknowledge his perfections, and commemorate the benefits we have received from Him; by ſinging Pſalms and Hymns of praiſe and thanks unto Him.
4. For the LORD hath choſen Jacob unto himſelf, and Iſrael for his peculiar treaſure.
4. I invite you above all other people to this heavenly duty: both becauſe the Lord had a peculiar kindneſs for Jacob your Forefather; and doth ſtill exerciſe a ſpecial providence over you his Children, as far more dear and precious to Him, then the reſt of mankind, who are under his care:
5. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
5. And becauſe I am ſenſible that the Lord, under whoſe government we are, is ſo great and powerfull above all other Beings, though called by the name of gods; that you can never praiſe his Majeſty enough.
6. Whatſoever the LORD pleaſed, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the ſeas and all deep places.
6. His own will alone gives bounds to his power: for, as none can act without his leave, ſo none can hinder Him from doing what pleaſes Himſelf; in the heavens as well as in the earth, and the ſeas, and other deep waters.
7. He cauſeth the vapours to aſcend from the ends of the earth, he maketh lightnings for the rain: he bringeth the wind out of his treaſuries.
7. He raiſes vapours, for inſtance, from any quarter of the earth, and makes them go up into the air: where ſome of them break forth in flaſhes of lightning; and that (which is ſtrange) is followed with great ſhowres of rain: and, from unknown places and cauſes, ſtrong and violent winds blow with ſuch continuance; as if they came out of ſome Treaſury, where He had gathered, and long lockt them up, till He had occaſion to bring them forth.
8. Who ſmote the firſt-born of Egypt, both of man and beaſt.
8. He made the Egyptians feel how much ſuperiour He was to all their gods; (XII. Exod. 12.) who could not defend them from his ſtroke: but He ſent his Angel, and, in one night, ſlew all the firſt-born in the Country, both of man and beaſt, XII. Exod. 29.
9. Who ſent tokens and wonders into the midſt of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his ſervants.
9. Before which terrible blow, He had given many other wonderfull demonſtrations of his power, in ſeveral miraculous plagues; which He openly inflicted on thee, O Egypt; not onelyonly on the meaner ſort, but upon the King and all his Court, Exod. VII, VIII, IX, &c.
10. Who ſmote great nations, and ſlew mighty kings:
10. And after He had by theſe means brought you out of their bondage, He overthrew ſeveral great Nations, and ſlew potent Kings: who, preſuming of their ſtrength, oppoſed the accompliſhment of his promiſes to you.
11. Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Baſhan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
11. Firſt of all Sihon King of the Amorites, who were eſteemed invincible, (XXI. Numb. 24. II. Amos 9.) and then Og, that giantly King of Baſhan, (XXI. Numb. 33. III. Deut. II.) and at laſt all the Kingdoms and Kings of the Land of Canaan, XII. Joſh. 7, 24.
12. And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Iſrael his people.
12. Which He graciouſly beſtowed upon us, the Children of Iſrael, as an inheritance we ſhould hold of Him, by a Divine right: of which none, while we continue his obedient people, ſhall be able to diſpoſſeſs us.
13. Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
13. O Lord, how aſtoniſhing is this thy omnipotent Goodneſs! the fame of which ſhall never be forgotten: But an illuſtrious memory, O Lord, ſhall be continued of it, from generation to generation.
14. For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himſelf concerning his ſervants.
14. For though our enemies may ſometimes oppreſs us, when we offend Him, yet the Lord at laſt will take the part of his people, and deliver them: and, being reconciled unto his ſervants, will turn his ſeverity into kindneſs towards them.
15. The idols of the heathen are ſilver and gold, the work of mens hands.
15. It is not in the power of the Idols, which the heathen worſhip, to divert his kindneſs from us; for they are of no more value then the ſilver, and the gold of which they are made: and are ſo far from being able to doe any thing, that they themſelves are made by thoſe that adore them.
16. They have mouths, but they ſpeak not; eyes have they, but they ſee not.
16. They are mere Images of things, without their life: having mouths; but cannot give a word of advice, or comfort to their ſupplicants: and eyes alſo; but cannot ſee, much leſs prevent, any danger that doth approach them.
17. They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
17. Ears they have; but cannot hear a word that is ſaid to them: and noſes alſo; but they do not ſo much as breathe, much leſs can they ſmell the odours, that are offered to them.
18. They that make them are like unto them: ſo is every one that truſteth in them.
18. They that make them therefore, or put any confidence in them, are as ſenſeleſs as themſelves: having eyes, for inſtance, but do not ſee, that brutes are more excellent then ſuch gods; and that no help is to be expected from them.
19. Bleſs the LORD, O houſe of Iſrael: bleſs the LORD, O houſe of Aaron.
19. O how much then are we all bound to bleſs the Lord, the Creatour of all! who hath freed us from this ſtupid blindneſs. Let the whole Nation of the Children of Iſrael, eſpecially the Prieſts of the Lord, praiſe Him and give thanks to Him; who hath better inſtructed them.
20. Bleſs the LORD, O houſe of Levi; ye that fear the LORD, bleſs the LORD,
20. Let all the Levites declare how gracious He is: yea, let all his pious Worſhippers, of whatſoever Nation they be, join in this heavenly imployment, of ſpeaking good of the Lord.
21. Bleſſed be the LORD out of Sion, which dwelleth at Jeruſalem. Praiſe ye the LORD.
21. Let them all ſay, with one accord, the Lord be ever praiſed in this holy place; who, though He be the owner of all the World, yet, makes his ſpecial reſidence at Jeruſalem.
The honour the heathens give to their lifeleſs Images, ought to excite you all, with the greater devotion, to praiſe the Lord of the World.