The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 150
PSALM CL.
Hallelujah. See CXLVI.
ARGUMENT.
Theodoret takes this alſo to be foreign, a Song of Triumph after ſome Victory: and the mention of the mighty acts of the Lord Ver. 2. ſeems to countenance this conjecture: which conſiſts well enough with what others conceive; that it was at firſt particularly directed to the Levites, (by David I ſuppoſe) whoſe office it was to praiſe the Lord with muſical Inſtruments, (1 Chron. XVI. 4, 5.) and excite others to his praiſes, not onelyonly for Victory; but for all other his benefits. For if the Tradition of the Jews be true, which we reade at large in Maimonides, (in a Treatiſe on that ſubject) when the people of any place brought up their firſt fruits to preſent them to the Lord at Jeruſalem (according to the Law, XXVI. Deut.) with a pipe going before them; as ſoon as they came to the mountain of the Temple, every one took his basket into his hand, and ſung this whole Pſalm: till they came to the courts of the Lord's houſe; where the Levites met them ſinging the XXX. Pſalm.
And indeed it might well be uſed upon occaſion of any exceeding great joy; for it ſeems to be intended (by the repetition of theſe words praiſe the Lord, or praiſe Him; thirteen times; and by the calling for no leſs then ten Inſtruments of Muſick) to expreſs the height and fulneſs of their joy, and thankfulneſs to God for his benefits: nor can Muſick be ſo well imployed to any other uſe, as this Divine and heavenly exerciſe of praiſing God, by Hymns, and Pſalms, and ſpiritual Songs: to which the Pſalmiſt ſeems to me to excite all Creatures, in heaven and in earth; from the higheſt to the loweſt. And with this the Collectour of theſe five Books of Pſalms, thought good to conclude the whole; and not unfitly: For in whatſoever condition we be (as there are Pſalms adapted to ſeveral purpoſes) we ſhould never forget to praiſe the Lord; but after we have prayed, or complained, &c. ſtill end with thankfull acknowledgments to God for his goodneſs to us.
Here are ſeveral ſorts of muſical Inſtruments mentioned; which I have not adventured to explain: becauſe the Hebrews themſelves acknowledge they do not underſtand them. We have no way (ſaith Aben Ezra upon thoſe words Ver. 5. which we tranſlate loud Cymbals) to know what theſe muſical Inſtruments were: there being many found in the Country of the Iſmaelites (i. e. Mahometans) which are not among the men of Edom (i. e. Chriſtians) and others among them, which the wiſe men of Iſhmael never heard of.
1. PRaiſe ye the LORD. Praiſe God in his ſanctuary: praiſe him in the firmament of his power.
1. PRaiſe the mighty God, ye Angelical Miniſters that attend upon Him in his celeſtial Sanctuary: Praiſe Him all ye inhabitants of heaven, where you ſee the brighteſt demonſtrations (and moſt laſting monuments) of his power.
2. Praiſe him for his mighty acts: praiſe him according to his excellent greatneſs.
2. Praiſe Him all ye Miniſters of his upon earth; for the miraculous things which He hath done, for our deliverance and exaltation: let your praiſes bear ſome proportion to the excellence of his Majeſty, and the multitude of thoſe great and magnificent acts of mercy towards us.
3. Praiſe him with the ſound of the trumpet: praiſe him with the pſaltery and harp.
3. Let the Prieſts of the Lord (X. Numb. 8.) praiſe Him with the ſound of the Trumpet: and let the Levites (1 Chron. XXV. 6.) praiſe Him with Pſalteries and Harps.
4. Praiſe him with the timbrel and dance: praiſe him with ſtringed inſtruments, and organs.
4. Let ſome praiſe Him with the Timbrel and the Flute; and others praiſe Him with the ſtringed Inſtruments and Organs.
5. Praiſe him upon the loud cymbals: praiſe him upon the high-ſounding cymbals.
5. Let all ſort of Cymbals accompany their Pſalms and Hymns in his praiſe: both thoſe of daily uſe, and thoſe that are wont to be imployed in times of the higheſt joy and triumph.
6. Let every thing that hath breath, praiſe the LORD. Praiſe ye the LORD.
6. Finally, Let every man living join himſelf to this ſacred Quire; and at every breath praiſe the Lord, the giver of life and of all good things. To Him let all the world, with one conſent, give perpetual praiſe.
THE END.
End of the text · Simon Patrick, The Book of Psalms Paraphrased (1680)