A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 20
PSAL. XX. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
This Psalme was dited to the Church in forme of a prayer for the Kings of Israel, but with a speciall eye upon, and relation unto Christ, the King of Israel; in respect of whom this prayer is a prophesie, and a forme of blessing of Christ, and praying for his Kingdome, wherof the Kingdom of Israel was a type, and the Kings thereof are types of Christ. Not that the Kingdome in every condition was figurative, or every King a type of him; But as the Priests being taken not severally, one by one, but together, shadowed forth in something, Christ in the Office of his Priesthood; so the Kings, not every one, but taken together, shadowed forth in something Christ, in his Royal Office, and their Kingdom resembled his Kingdom in his visible Church in some things, and in his invisible Church in other some things, leaving room to some persons, both among the Priests, and Kings, to be more specially types then any of the rest in common, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4▪ 5. After which the Churches confidence to be heard is set downe, and their gloriation in God over their enemies, with dependance on God for salvation in all difficulties and strai…s, ver. 6, 7, 8, 9
Ver. 1. THe Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the Name of the God of Iacob defend thee
2 Send thee help from the Sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Sion▪
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 Wee wil rejoyce in thy salvation, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banner; the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
FRom this prayer of the Church for the King of Israel. Learn, 1. It is the duty of all the godly, where-ever they live, to pray for the welfare of their Kings, Rulers, and Magistrates, as this example teacheth. 2. Greatest men, though they be also gracious, are subject to trouble: for even the best of the Kings of Israel, and Christ typified by them, were not exempted therefrom. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble. 3. It is the part of such as desire the prayers of others to bee made for them, to pray also themselves, were they never so great Kings; and prayer must be counted their best weapons in trouble; The Lord hear thee, saith he, in the day of thy trouble. 4. No defence to be expected from God, but when he is looked upon and believed in as he is manifested to us in his word. Therefore he saith, The Name of the God of Iacob defend thee. Or, God who in his word hath revealed himselfe to Israel, and entred in covenant to be his God, defend thee. 5. It is by vertue of Gods dwelling amongst men, and his taking on mans nature in the person of Christ (represented by Gods presence in Sion and the Sanctuary) that help must be expected from God. Therefore saith he, The Lord send thee help out of the Sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Sion. 6. Kings and all for whom the godly may pray with confidence, must be worshippers of God, believers in Christ, relyers upon the mercy of this only once offered sacrifice, represented by often repeated typical burnt offerings. For this is imported in, The Lord remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifices. For it is for Christs sacrifice that we are accepted, and that any grace is granted to us. 7. A believer in Christ, praying according to the revealed will of God, ask what he will, it shall be granted; he who studieth to walk sincerely before God, studying to do what is pleasant to Gods heart, shall receive satisfactory answers according to his own hearts wish. Upon this ground the prayer goeth here, The Lord grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy counsel. 8. Whosoever do partake with Christs Subjects in trouble, shall share with them also in the joy of their deliverance; therefore it is said, We will rejoyce in thy salvation. 9. When it goeth well with the King, and chiefe Magistrates, it goeth the better with all the subjects, and the praise of delivery and welfare redoundeth to the glory of God who is the fountain of all felicity; for, In the Name of our God, we shall set up our banners, saith the Church, if God shall blesse the King.
Ver. 6. Now know I, that the Lord saveth his annointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
7. Some trust in charets, and some in horses: but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.
8. They are brought down and faln: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9. Save, Lord; let the King hear us when we call.
This is the Churches confidence to be heard, and her glori…tion in God, and dependance on God for salvation. Whence learn, 1. A believer may be sure he hath his request granted, when he hath prayed according to Gods will; in speciall when he prayeth for safety to the Church, and Kingdome of Christ. I know (saith he) that the Lord saveth his annointed. 2. He that seeketh God by the means appointed; in speciall, he who seeketh God, and help from him, through Christ, in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth, shall have the grant of his prayer from heaven; for help sought to come from the Sanctuary, ver. 2. is granted from his holy heaven, ver. 6. 3. Whatsoever be the straits of Gods Church, or any member thereof, faith seeth sufficiency in God to relieve out of it, and doth lay hold on it. …or he heareth with the saving strength of his right hand. 4. Weak man cannot chuse but have some confidence without himselfe, in case of apparent difficulties; and naturall men do look first to some earthly thing wherein they confide. Some trust in charets, and some in horses, some in one creature, some in another. 5. The believer must quit his confidence in these things, whether he have them, or want them, and must rely on what God hath promised in his word to do unto us. But we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. 6. That which terrifieth the believer in the first assault of a tentation, before he go to his refuge, is contemned by the believer when he looks to the Lord, his true defence; Charets and horses when they are invading Gods people are terrible: but now when the Lord is remembred, they are here set at nought in comparison. 7. The condition of the worldly man and of the enemies of Gods people seems to be the better, at the first, and the condition of the Church the worse. But a short resolution cometh, which determineth the question in the end; the standing of the ungodly is followed with a fall; and the low condition of the godly hath a better condition following upon it. The worldly man, and enemy, is brought down, and falleth. But the godly are made to say, We are risen and stand upright. 8. True confidence strengthens it selfe by prayer, Save Lord. 9. That which is prayed for in the type, is perfected in Christ, who is the truth; salvation is granted to all his Subjects, whensoever they call. Let the King hear us when we call. 10. And when the Lord is relyed upon for safety, the means shall have the promised blessing. The Kings of Israel were to be the more usefull to the people when safety was sought from the Lord. First, they pray, Save us, and then, Let the King hear us when we call, or implore him.