The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 5 · Psalm 115
PSALM CXV.
ARGUMENT.
There is great reaſon to think, that this Pſalm was made in ſome time of ſore diſtreſs; when their Pagan Enemies began to boaſt and brag, as if their gods were too hard for the God of Iſrael. But by whom it was made, or on what particular occaſion, there are ſo many conjectures; that it will be no preſumption to interpoſe mine: which is this. That when Jehoſhaphat ſaw that vaſt Army (which we reade of 2 Chron. XX. 2.) compoſed of ſeveral Nations, coming againſt him; and after his prayer to God for deliverance, was incouraged by a Prophet to hope for it; (Ver. 14, 15.) and had by the Levites given Him thanks for this hope; he, or that Prophet, compoſed this Hymn, to quicken and confirm their faith in God: unto which you reade he exhorted them, Ver. 20. And it is likely that this was the Hymn, which by common conſent the Singers were appointed to uſe, when they went out to encounter thoſe Enemies: ſaying not onelyonly thoſe words, which we reade there, Ver. 21. Praiſe the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever; but theſe, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory; for thy mercy, and for thy truths ſake, &c.
1. NOT unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truths ſake.
1. PRoſper our arms, O Lord, and give us the victory over theſe enemies that invade us: not that we may grow more famous; (no, we have no thoughts of the glory that will accrue to our ſelves thereby) but that thy Divine Majeſty may be honoured, and thy goodneſs and faithfulneſs to thy promiſes be made the more illuſtrious.
2. Wherefore ſhould the heathen ſay, Where is now their God?
2. What a ſad thing will it be, to hear the Nations that ſurround us inſult, not ſo much over us as, over Thee; ſaying, what is become of their God, in whom they truſted? If He be ſo powerfull as they boaſt, why doth He not deliver them?
3. But our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatſoever he pleaſed.
3. Let them know that Thou art infinitely ſuperiour to them, and all their gods; being the poſſeſſour of the heavens, as well as the earth, (2 Chron. XX. 6.) whom no power of theirs can hurt, or ſo much as reſtrain; but art able to doe whatſoever Thou pleaſeſt, for their confuſion and for our deliverance.
4. Their idols are ſilver and gold, the work of mens hands.
4. Their Idols cannot hinder it in the leaſt: who are of no more value, then the ſilver and gold of which they are made: and are ſo far from being the makers of things, that they themſelves are the work of thoſe that adore them.
5. They have mouths, but they ſpeak not; eyes have they, but they ſee not.
5. They are mere lifeleſs Images; that have mouths, but cannot give a word of advice, or of incouragement and comfort to their ſupplicants: and eyes alſo, but cannot ſee the devotion wherewith they look up unto them, or proſtrate themſelves before them.
6. They have ears, but they hear not; noſes have they, but they ſmell not.
6. Let their worſhippers cry to them never ſo loudly, they cannot hear a word: All the Frankincenſe and ſweet Odours which they burn to them, are merely loſt; for they cannot ſmell them.
7. They have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither ſpeak they through their throat.
7. Though they have thunderbolts in their hands, they feel them not; nor are able to doe either good or harm: They cannot ſtir a foot from the place where they ſtand, unleſs they be carried; nor make ſo much noiſe as a fly; being utterly void of breath, as well as of ſenſe and reaſon.
8. They that make them are like unto them; ſo is every one that truſteth in them.
8. To what then, but to thoſe Idols, ſhall we compare the makers of them, and ſuch as confide in them? who are mere Images of men: having eyes, but do not ſee that the brutes are more excellent then ſuch gods; and that the leaſt help is not to be expected from them.
9. O Iſrael, truſt thou in the LORD: he is their help and their ſhield.
9. O ye Iſraelites, who by the Divine Favour are better inſtructed, repoſe that confidence in the eternal Lord, which they do in thoſe Vanities: And He will not onelyonly protect and defend you, againſt all the aſſaults of your enemies; but help you to overcome them, 2 Chron. XX. 9.
10. O houſe of Aaron, truſt in the LORD: he is their help and their ſhield.
10. O ye Prieſts and Levites, do you above all others rely upon that eternal Lord; whoſe praiſe you ſing, and to whom you offer continual Sacrifice: For He will never fail, not onelyonly to protect but, to aſſiſt all ſuch as piouſly confide in Him.
11. Ye that fear the LORD, truſt in the LORD: he is their help and their ſhield.
11. And let all that fear the Lord and devoutly worſhip Him, (of whatſoever Nation they be) place the like confidence in his Almighty Goodneſs: For He will never forſake thoſe that depend on Him alone, (though they be not of the ſeed of Abraham) but defend them alſo in all dangers, and aid them againſt all their enemies.
12. The LORD hath been mindfull of us, he will bleſs us, he will bleſs the houſe of Iſrael, he will bleſs the houſe of Aaron.
12. We have had abundant experience of his care over us in all ages; and therefore, though now for the preſent, our enemies afflict us yet, let us believe that the Lord will doe us good, and bleſs us with a glorious deliverance: All the houſe of Iſrael ſhall ſee how kind He is; eſpecially they that miniſter unto Him in his holy Temple.
13. He will bleſs them that fear the LORD, both ſmall and great.
13. And He will not forget thoſe pious Proſelytes, that are come to worſhip Him there, as the onelyonly God; but, without any reſpect of perſons, give them his bleſſing alſo: which ſhall not be denied, either to old or young, to rich or poor.
14. The LORD ſhall increaſe you more and more, you and your children.
14. Nor will He grant you onelyonly a ſingle bleſſing, by ſending a preſent deliverance: but heap his benefits, and multiply his mercies upon you; and upon all thoſe that ſhall ſucceed you.
15. You are bleſſed of the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
15. Ye are a happy people, who live under the care, and love, and benediction, of that mighty Lord; whoſe power nothing can confine: for He is not made (like the Gentile gods) but Himſelf created both the Heaven and the Earth.
16. The heaven, even the heavens are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
16. In which He cannot be comprehended neither; for his Empire extends further then you can ſee; to the heavens, which are above theſe viſible heavens: from whence his Providence reaches down, even to us the children of men; whom He hath placed upon this earth, to admire and praiſe his infinite Majeſty.
17. The dead praiſe not the LORD, neither any that go down into ſilence.
17. And therefore will not ſuffer us to be rooted out, as our enemies deſign, (2 Chron. XX. 11.) for then the earth would have none in it, to ſing his praiſes: which the dead, who dwell in the ſilent grave, cannot celebrate:
18. But we will bleſs the LORD, from this time forth and for evermore. Praiſe the LORD.
18. But will continue us ſtill alive, that we may praiſe the Lord, and ſpeak good of his Name, as we do at this time, (2 Chron. XX. 21, 22.) and leave thoſe to ſucceed us, who ſhall continue his praiſes in all future generations, to the worlds end. Hallelujah, Praiſe the Lord.