The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 148
PSALM CXLVIII.
Hallelujah. See CXLVI.
ARGUMENT.
It doth not appear who was the Authour of this Hymn, nor upon what occaſion it was compoſed. But the laſt Verſe ſufficiently ſhews the Nation was then in a very flouriſhing condition; and therefore probably it was made by David; when God had given him reſt from all his Enemies: which filled his heart with ſuch love to God, that it tranſported him into this rapture. Wherein, finding how ſhort his own praiſes were, he wiſhes all Creatures in heaven and earth would conſpire in a ſweet ſymphony, as Theodoret ſpeaks, of ſinging Hymns unto Him. And firſt he calls upon the world above, and all that is therein from the firſt Verſe to the ſeventh: where he deſcends to the world here below; and calls upon all things on the earth to praiſe the Lord: concluding (v. 13.) that as there is one Maker of both; ſo all that they can ſay of Him, when they have joyned all their powers together in one Quire, falls infinitely ſhort of his moſt excellent Majeſty. Who hath ſet forth his moſt tranſcendent wiſdome, power, and munificence, in ſuch variety of ſtupendious work, that there is not the ſmalleſt of them, but miniſters ſuch matter of praiſe, nay admiration, to thoſe that attentively conſider them; that they cannot but wiſh with the Pſalmiſh here, that every one of them were able to tell us, how much skill, and kindneſs He hath ſhown in their contrivance: or that we were able to find it out, and comprehend it. Thus He is to be underſtood when he calls upon all Creatures to praiſe the Lord: or it is as if he had ſaid, The Lord is to be praiſed by or in all theſe things, as long as the world laſts.
This I take to be the true account of this Pſalm, which I refer to the times of David, becauſe the two following ſeem to have been then made; and there is no other we can ſo well fix upon: unleſs we will conceive that it was a Meditation, when they were perfectly ſettled in a peaceable enjoyment of their Religion, after the Captivity; of which there is not the leaſt intimation in the Pſalm.
1. PRaiſe ye the LORD, praiſe ye the LORD from the heavens: praiſe him in the heights.
1. LET all Creatures praiſe the Lord. Firſt, let the Celeſtial Quire begin, and ſing their thankfull Hymns to Him: who hath raiſed them ſo high above us in power and might, as well as in dignity and place.
2. Praiſe ye him, all his Angels, praiſe ye him all his hoſts.
2. Praiſe Him all ye Angels, who have the honour to be the prime Miniſters of his moſt excellent Majeſty: O let their ſeveral Hoſts and Companies, in whatſoever rank or order they ſtand, praiſe Him; whoſe Sovereign Authority commands them all.
3. Praiſe ye him Sun and Moon: praiſe him all ye ſtars of light.
3. Praiſe Him ye Sun and Moon, who are his greateſt viſible Miniſters, and unwearied in his ſervice: Praiſe Him all the reſt of the ſhining Stars; and declare to all future generations, as ye have done for ſo many Ages paſt, how glorious He is.
4. Praiſe him ye heavens of heavens: and ye waters that be above the heavens.
4. Let all the heavenly Regions praiſe Him: particularly the Clouds; which hang in the Aire, and diſſtill in fruitfull ſhowres to inrich the Earth.
5. Let them praiſe the Name of the LORD, for he commanded, and they were created.
5. Let all theſe ſet forth the adorable wiſdome, and power, and goodneſs of the Lord: For by his omnipotent word, theſe, whom the miſtaken world calls Gods, were created; not to be worſhipped, but perpetually to proclaim his praiſe.
6. He hath alſo eſtabliſhed them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree, which ſhall not paſs.
6. who hath made them not onelyonly illuſtrious, but everlaſting monuments of his ſplendour and glory: having fixt and ſettled them in an admirable order, which they conſtantly obſerve; and preſcribed them Laws, which they never tranſgreſs.
7. Praiſe the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps.
7. O Let all Creatures here below accompany thoſe celeſtial hoſts, in their praiſes of the Lord: whoſe power the vaſt Whales in their ſeveral kinds, and all that moves in the profound depth of the Sea, abundantly declare.
8. Fire and hail, ſnow and vapour: ſtormy wind fulfilling his word.
8. Let the Lightnings, Thunder, and Hail; the Snow, hoary Froſt, and Ice; the Winds, Storms, and Tempeſts; all make a part of this Song: for they conſtantly execute his Sovereign Will, and ſerve his wiſe Deſigns.
9. Mountains and all hills: fruitfull trees, and all cedars.
9. The lofty Mountains alſo, and the leſſer Hills; the Fruit-bearing Trees, with the ſtately Cedars; the Pines, the firrs, and all the reſt (which He hath created for ſeveral ends and uſes) let them all be called upon to tell, how great, and how bountiful He is.
10. Beaſts and all cattel: creeping things, and flying fowl.
10. The wild Beaſts alſo of the Foreſt, and all the Cattel that feed in the Fields; whatſoever creeps upon the Earth, or ſwims in the Sea, or flies in the Aire; let it joyn in this Hymn of praiſe to Him: who hath ſhown his manifold wiſdome, and diffuſive goodneſs in them all.
11. Kings of the earth, and all people: Princes, and all Judges of the earth.
11. But eſpecially let Mankind praiſe Him; who (after He had made theſe things) brought them into the world, laſt of all, to contemplate his wonderfull works: And firſt let Kings (who here on Earth reſemble the Angels or the Sun in Heaven) and then let their Miniſters of State and Lieutenants in their ſeveral Provinces; and next, all the Judges of the Earth (who are like the Moon and the Stars) give a good example unto all the Subjects; and ſtir them up, to meditate his praiſe.
12. Both young men and maidens: old men and children.
12. Let no Sex, no Age think themſelves exempted from this heavenly imployment: But let the Young men praiſe Him for their ſtrength, and the Virgins for their beauty; they that are going out of the world, for all that they have ſeen and heard of Him; and they that are newly come into it, for all the goodly ſpectacles that are before them.
13. Let them praiſe the Name of the LORD, for his Name alone is excellent: and his glory is above the earth and heaven.
13. Let them praiſe the incomparable Wiſedom, Goodneſs, and Power of the Lord: For how great ſoever any other Beings are, there is no other God but He; whoſe moſt excellent Majeſty, infinitely ſurpaſſes, all that the Earth or the Heavens can tell us of Him.
14. He alſo exalteth the horn of his people, the praiſe of all his Saints, even of the children of Iſrael, a people near who him. Praiſe ye the LORD.
14. And yet ſo great is his condeſcention unto us (who are bound therefore more particularly to praiſe Him) He takes a peculiar care of us; and hath ſet over us a powerfull Prince, for the defence and ſafety of his People, (LXXXIX. Pſal. 19.) Whoſe fame He hath thereby raiſed to the higheſt pitch of honour; having obliged the Children of Iſrael by many peculiar benefits, eſpecially this; that they are a people more nearly related to Him, then any other whatſoever: for He dwells among them, in his holy place, where they approach to Him. O praiſe Him there, for this ſingular favour.