A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 48
PSAL. XLVIII. A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.
In this Psalme the Lord is magnified for all his mercies bestowed on his Church, (resembled by Ierusalem,) ver. 1, 2, 3. And in special for a late merciemercy manifested in a passage of his care to preserve Ierusalem, a type of the Church universal, against the assault of mighty Kings, ver. 4, 5, 6. The uses of which mercies are set down in number seven; The first, v. 7. The second v. 8. The third, v. 9. The fourth, v. 10. The fifth v. 11. The sixth, v. 12, 13. The seventh, v. 14.
Ver. 1. GReat is the LORD, and greatly to bee praised in the city of our God, in the mountain if his holinesse.
2. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion: on the sides of the North, the city of the great King.
3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
IN the first place he declareth his purpose to give God the praise of whatsoever is commendable in Jerusalem, or done unto it, or wrought for it. Whence learn, 1. As God shewes his greatness and glory in all his works, and specially in his care for, respect unto, and operation in his church; so should he have glory and praise from his church, for and from all his works, but specially for his care of her: Great is the Lord, and greatly to bee praised in the city of our God. 2. As it is the benefit of Ierusalem, and of his church represented thereby, to be united and governed in a regular incorporation; so it's a matter of Gods praise, that he maketh his visible church above all other incorporations and societies of men in the world to be his citie, with which he wil be in covenant, and wherein he wil manifest his holy Name; Therefore Ierusalem, and the church represented by her …s here called, the city of our God, and the mountain of his holinesse. 3. Whatsoever could commend Ierusalem for situation in the point of pleasantnesse, commoditie, strength or statelinesse; all is but a shadow of the glory of the Lords church, and in particular, as the joy of the whole land depended on Ierusalems well-fare, and this city did adorn all Iudeah, and the great Kings palace adorned her; So the church is the joy of the whole earth, by holding out to all the light of saving Doctrine, and shewing the authority, power, wisdome, and grace of Christ; who is her great King, and doth beautifie his church, for the illumination of the blind dark world; Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion, on the sides of the North, the city of the great King. 4. As the walls, houses, and palaces of Ierusalem were not the strength of the citizens; but God was her strength as they had learned by experience; so worldly strength is not the confidence of Gods church▪ but God only, who defendeth her by his power; God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
Ver. 4. For lo, the Kings were assembled: they passed by together.
5. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6. Fear took hold upon them there; and pain as of a woman in travell.
He confirmeth what he hath spoken, by a late experience of deliverance from the invasion of mighty Kings, gathered to besiege and destroy Ierusalem. Whence learn, 1. The Lord by experience from time to time, maketh manifest his care to defend his church against most mighty oppressors; who use to combine themselves together, when they mind to overthrow the church: For lo, the Kings were assembled. 2. Many imaginations are in the heads of adversaries when they are plotting the ruine of Gods church, which when they are about to execute, do vanish and prove presumptuous and vain apprehensions of their owne ability, and of the churches weakness; When the Kings were assembled, they passed by together. They found themselves unable to effect what they intended, and hoped to bring to passe. 3. When the strait cometh, and the church is in danger▪ then the Lord doth shew himself for her, and against her enemies, and makes men see his interest in his church; now when the Kings were assembled, they perceived themselves mistaken wonderfully; They s…w it, so they marvelled. 4. Such as come to bring trouble to Gods church, come to catch troubles to themselves; When Kings assembled to trouble Gods people, they saw, and marvelled, and were troubled. 5. If the enemies of the church could foresee their own foul retreat, they would not advance or make assault against the church; for now when they did see matters, as they were indeed, they were troubled, and hasted away. 6. Besides the mischief which God bringeth upon the churches enemies, when he begins to plead by way of judgment against them, he sendeth terrour on them also, a messenger of the ill-tidings to forwarn them that worse yet shal befall them: Feare tooke hold upon them there. 7. Heart and hand, courage and strength, counsel and resolution doth faile a man, when he seeth God to be his partie, and to be prevailing against him: Feare took hold on them, and pain as a woman in travaile; Sudden, unexpected, sore and inevitable is their destruction when it cometh.
Ver. 7. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an East wind.
The first use they make of this experience is this, they are led up by it to see and acknowledge Gods power in all the world, to take order with and destroy whomsoever he will. Whence learn, 1. No power can stand before God, and none can escape his hand; go whither they wil, he can arme some of his creatures against them both by land and sea; Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an East wind. 2. One work of the Lords justice or power against his enemies, and one experience of his merciful defending of his church, should lead his people to acknowledg his Soveraign power and omnipotency over all, whereby he (having all creatures at his disposal) can secure his people from all quarters, and destroy all that shall rise against them; for this speech sayth this in substance: Thou who scatteredst the armies of Kings who had invaded us, hast power in all the world by sea and land to overtake thy enemies; for, Thou didst break the ships of Tarshish with an East winde.
Ver. 8. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God. God wil establish it for ever. Selah.
The second use is this, by this experience we perceive that the Lord wil keep his promise to his church, and preserve her for ever, Whence learn, 1. They that believe the word of God, and doe mark his workes foretold in the word, shal see and find by experience the event thereof to answer to the prediction; and ha…ing their faith so confirmed: they should say; As we have heard, …o have we seene in the city of the Lord. 2. The mercies of the Lord bestowed on his church for her defence and continuance, do … from his covenanting with his Church; for the reason of the …rcy now bestowed is; because the city of the Lord of hosts, is the city of our God. 3. Albeit all Kingdomes and Commonwealths be subject to destruction, and have their certaine limits and periods; yet the church, the Kingdome of Christ, the city of God shall endure throughout all generations; and the gates of hell shall not prevail over it; God shall establish it for ever.
Ver. 9. We have thought of thy loving kindnesse, O God, in the midst of thy Temple.
A third use is the acknowledgement of the sweet fruit of their former patient depending upon Gods kindnesse in the use of the publick ordinances, and now they perceive by this late experience it was not vain. Whence learn, 1. They that believe Gods loving kindnesse in the time when there are apparent signes of his wrath, and patiently do depend on him in the use of holy ordinances, shall not be frustrate of their expectation, as here the Psalmist doth acknowledge. 2. As it is a good thing patiently to wait on Gods loving kindnesse in the use of the means, when troubles and dangers do come; so it is a good thing for the godly after receiving the fruit of their faith, hope and patience, to observe the grace gotten of God, which made them to meditate upon and look unto his loving kindnesse: and so to strengthen themselves in their resolutions, to follow this blessed course hereafter, as the faithful do here: We have thought of thy loving kindnesse, O God, in the midst of thy Temple.
Ver. 10. According to thy Name, O God; so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousnesse.
A fourth use is their gladnesse, because of the encrease of Gods glory by this his late mercy towards them, where-ever it should be mentioned. Whence learn, 1. Whatsoever God giveth himself out for, that wil he be found to be answerable unto in effect, even to all his holy and magnificent attributes: According to thy Name, O God, so is thy praise. 2. The manifestation of Gods Name by preaching of his word cometh to many, who will not subscribe all to be true that is said of him: But afterward when he maketh his word good to the comfort of his people, and overthrow of his enemies, men will be forced to say of him, that he is as good as his word, and that his works do loose his word laid in pawn for performance of it; According to thy Name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth. 3. The Lords power is not idle, but constantly working in equity and justice for performance of promises and threatnings, for defending his people, and punishing his enemies; Thy right hand is full of righteousnesse.
Ver. 11. Let mount Sion rejoyce; let the daughters of Iudah be glad, because of thy judgements.
A fourth use is to stirre up all good people to rejoyce, because God hath pleaded their cause against their enemies. Whence learn, 1. It becometh all men to be glad to see God glorifie himself in deciding controversies equitably; but most of all the people of God, who have the present benefit thereof, and in whose favours controversies between them and their enemies are decided; Let mount Sion rejoyce, and the daughters of Iudah be glad. 2. Albeit it be lawfull for Gods people to rejoyce when the enemies are punished; yet had they need to take heed to their spirit, that their joy be not fleshly, for satisfaction gotten to their vindictive passions; but spiritual, for the declaration of Gods kindnesse to his people, and just indignation at the wickednesse of their malicious persecuters: Let them be glad, because of thy judgements.
Ver. 12. Walk about Sion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13. Marke ye well her bulwarkes, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generations following▪
The sixth use of this late experience of the churches delivery, is to observe the impregnable defence of the church, shadowed forth by the walls of Ierusalem, for the encouraging of Gods people in all ages, and advertising of all men to beware to attempt to do her wrong in time coming. Whence learn, 1. The church of God is so well guarded by Gods wisdome, power, good will and justice, as with a wall of fire, that all the strength to be observed in the walls and towers of earthly Ierusalem are but shadowes; For, Walk about Sion, and go round about her, and tell the towers thereof, is no other thing then look through the type, and consider Gods protection represented thereby. 2. When a type is to be studied, observation particularly may and should be made of whatsoever in it may lead us further in upon the right uptaking of the antitype resembled thereby, Walk about, go round about; Marke ye well her bulwarkes, consider her palaces; for in God, or in Gods attributes something answerable to all these will be found. 3. What light the Lord furnisheth concerning himself and his church which may glorifie God, and serve the posterity for their edification, should be transmitted unto them: Marke, that ye may tell it to the generations following.
Ver. 14. For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide, even unto death.
The seventh and last use of this experience of the church, is consolation in God to Gods people in every hard case, and encouragement to them against all future fears, because God is the same constantly to his people in all ages as the late experience of the church had given proof. Whence learn, 1. The great Maker of Heaven and Earth, and Redeemer of his people is one and the same for ever, both in himself and towards those that believe in him; This God is our God. 2. God is still in covenant with his church, and with all the members thereof, as well in one age as in another; Now, as of old; for This God is our God for ever and ever. 3. God will guide them whose God he is, when they seek his counsel out of desire to follow it, and he will not lay down the conducting and governing of those who have committed themselves unto him, but will guide them constantly all the days of their life; He will be our guide, even unto death.