A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 116 – Psalm 117
PSALME CXVI.
THis Psalme is a threefold engagement of the Psalmist unto thanksgiving unto God for his mercy unto him, and in particular for some notable delivery of him from death, both bodily and spirituall: The first engagement is, that he shall out of love have his recourse unto God alwayes by prayer, v. 1, 2. The reasons and motives whereof are set down, because of his delivery out of a great strait, v. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The second engagement is to a holy conversation, v. 9. The motives and reasons whereof are set down, v. 10, 11, 12. The third engagement is, unto promised praises, or paying of praises and vowes before the Church, with the reasons thereof, v. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
Vers. 1. I Love the LORD: because he hath heard my voyce, and my supplications.
2. Because he hath enclined his eare unto me: therefore will I call upon him, as long as I live.
In his first engagement unto a constant dependance upon God, and calling on him by prayer; Learn. 1. As it is among the wise purposes of God to put his children to straites, that they may call on him, and he by granting their petition may give them a new proof of his love to them, and so stirre up their love to him: so is it the duty of his children, to stirre up their love to God, upon every fresh experience of his respect to them: for this doth the example of the Prophet teach us, I love the Lord, because he hath heard my prayer. 2. Not Gods benefits, but God himselfe is the satisfactory object of our complacency, and love wherein we may acquiesce: I love the Lord, saith the Prophet, after he had perceived the benefit. 3. To lo… … for himself, and to love him for his favour, and benefits bestowed upon us, do consist well together: for the loving of him for his favour bestowed on us, doth lead us to love him for himselfe: I love the Lord; because he heard my voyce, and my supp…ious. 4. The root of thanksgiving is love to God, therefore love is professed, before thanksgiving be promised; I love the Lord, is first set down, and then a promise to call upon him in all straits thereafter. 5. It is no small comfort and obligation put upon a man, to have experience of Gods regarding of his prayer, and granting of his request, as the Psalmists twice mentioning of it sheweth, once▪ v. 1. and here again; because he hath enclined his care unto me. 6. One proof of Gods hearing of our prayer, may and should stirre us up to believe in him, worship him, and have our recourse by prayer unto him all the rest of our life: Because he hath enclined his eare to me: therefore will I call upon him, as long as I live.
Vers. 3. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the paines of hell gat hold upon me: I … trouble and sorrow.
The summe of the reasons of this engagement, is set down in his late experience, containing his deep …rouble, v. 3. His calling to God for relief, v. 4 And Gods grace and mercy usually extended unto poor supplicants, which helped him out of his low condition, v. 5, 6 The use whereof, name … rest on God who had delivered him, is in v. 7▪ 8.
From his trouble and danger wherein he was; Learn, 1. It is no … thing to see a godly person … be in fear of death, bodily and spirituall, temporal and everlasting, at one time: The sorrows of death compassed me, and the paines of hell got hold upon me. 2. The trouble of minde and conscience also, whereunto Gods children are subject, as they are found in their several degrees, cannot easily be expressed, therefore here are divers words used, Sorrowes of death, paines of hell, trouble and felt sorrow. 3. The greatnesse of the trouble, danger, misery and straits, whereinto the Lord doth cast his own, doth lay a greater obligation on them who are delivered from those evils, and maketh Gods glory to be the more manifested in their bringing out of them, as the scope of the Psalmists laying forth of his troubles here doth teach us.
Vers. 4. Then called I upon the Name of the LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee deliver my soul.
From his course taken to have relief by calling on God; Learn, 1. The only true remedy of a grieved soul, is God being called upon by prayer; for he is a strong refuge whereunto the humble soul may flee, and be exalted: I called upon the Name of the Lord. 2. There is place and time for prayer, even when the danger seemeth greatest, and the condition of the party supplicant appeareth desperate, as here we see, When the paines of hell caught hold upon me, then called I on the Name of the Lord. 3. Whether our desires be laid open before God in many words, or few, it is not material before God: such a hearty speech as this will passe before God for prayer, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Vers. 5. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous: yea, our God is merciful.
6. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me:
From the fountaine of grace and mercy, whence he was helped; Learn. 1. Gods gracious and merciful actions do give evidence of his gracious nature, and readinesse to shew favour to all men, who according to the tenor of the Covenant of grace do …all on him, as here the Psalmist to shew the cause of his receiving actually a good answer, saith, Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yea, our God is mercifull. 2. There is nothing wanting in Gods attributes, which may give assurance to the believing supplicant, to have his request granted: he is gracious, and standeth not for the persons unworthinesse; he is just and righteous, and will not faile to keep Covenant, and performe all promises; he is mercifull, and doth not stand to pardon sinne, iniquity and transgressions: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yea, our God is merciful. 3. The Lords children commonly are not the worldly-wisest people, but for the most part are of mean worldly wit, and whosoever of them hath any measure of prudence, they are for the course which they keep in trials and troubles, accounted foolish, yea, and in their own estimation they are very witlesse, and dare not leane … their own understanding, but do seek to be directed of God; therefore they are here and elsewhere called simple. 4. Such as are emptied of conceit of their own wisdome, and seek their direction, protection, and preservation from God, do lie nearest unto the fountain of Gods mercy and help in every difficulty: For the Lord preserveth the simple. 5. Any one example of Gods grace and mercy to any believer, is sufficienr to prove Gods nature, inclination, readinesse, and good will to every believer that calleth on him; so reasoneth the Psalmist, I was brought low, and he helped me.
Vers. 7. Returne unto thy rest, O my soul: for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
8. For thou hast delivered … soul from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feet from falling.
Here is a twofold use of this experience, one to settle his confidence on God, another to praise God▪ for the experience of so great a delivery. Whence learn, 1. The general use of all the experiences of Gods favour which we finde, is the strengthening of our faith in God, as here we are taught. 2. … trouble and tentations do not overcome our faith, yet the … usually do pe…urbe, if not the peace of … conscien… … least the pe… of our minde, and somet… the peace of both: for, O …, returne to thy rest, imports a disquieting of him from his rest. 3. As we should study not only to lay hold on God by faith, but also to rest and acquiesce in his love and truth confidently: so should we take advantage of every fresh experience of Gods favour, whereby we encourage our selves to relie upon Gods grace and mercy, as here the Psalmist doth: Returne unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 4. Meditation of Gods goodnesse to us, and speaking of i… in the third person, is a ready way to bring us unto nearer accesse unto God, and to speak unto his Majesty in the second person, as here we see: For thou hast delivered my soul from death, saith he, directing his speech to God. 5. When outward trouble and inward tentations do set upon a soul at one time, when men do shew their wrath, and God hideth his face, it is a sad condition, able to draw teares from the stoutest heart, and to put him in hazard of sinning, and in peril to perish: Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feet from falling. 6. As an humble and sensible soul will pack up many troubles joyned together in one, so a thankfull soul will branch one mercy out in sundry particular branches, as here the Psalmist distinguisheth, the delivery of his soul from death, of his eyes from teares, and of his feet from falling.
Vers. 9. I will walk before the LORD, in the land of the living.
The second engagement by way of thankfulnesse, is unto a more holy way of walking with God, whereunto as his faith made him confident, that he should attain, v. 10. so his recovery from desperation made him a debtor to pursue the duty, v. 11. and a debtor in so high a measure, as he knew not how to be thankfull, v. 1….
F…om his hopefull engagement to a holy carriage before God▪ and his Church; Learn, 1. It is a good use of experiences of Gods goodnesse unto us, to engage and oblige our selves to a more sure and holy ordering of our wayes, as the Psalmist did: I will walk before the Lord. 2. As the time of our life is the proper opportunity of shewing our thankfulnesse to God: so the visible … is the fittest society we can live in, for expressing our thankfulnesse: for while we are living, and living among the godly (beside whose society the rest of the world is as a company of dead corpses) we have time and place o… ma…esting our obedience unto God: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 3. As a sincere conversation hath God and men to be witnesses unto it, so should the upright servant of God study to approve himselfe to both, as the Psalmist doth: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
Vers. 10. I beleeved, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted.
11. I said in my haste: All men are liars.
12. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits towards me?
He addeth motives unto this his confiden… … …opefull engagement. Whence learn, 1. Faith giveth boldnesse to promise to our selves, and of our selves, what the Lords Word doth give warrant for: I believed, therefore have I spoken. 2. Faith is our surest holding of Gods blessings, more sure then present sense, or experience past, or begun possession, for all those may be interrupted, and overclouded, but faith laying hold on Gods Word, holds fast, when all things else do fail. I believed therfore I have spoken. 3. Our comfort, confidence, and quietnesse, and delivery are so much the sweeter, as heavy troubles and tentations have gone before them, as here the engagement, is more chearful, and confidence more precious, Because (saith he) I was greatly afflicted, and more specially, I said in … hast…: All men are liars, which if we take it of David, doth shew that he doubted of the performance of the promise … …ingdome, made in Gods Name to him by Samuel, and therefore was so much the more comforted, when he saw the truth of it appear again. 4. The servants of God do not stick to confesse their faults and infirmities unto their own shame, when thereby God may be glorified; as here the Psalmist saith, I said in my haste▪ &c. 5. Mis-beliefe may sometimes so farre prevaile▪ as it may seem to reigne, and a… a Judge to sit down, and give ou… decrees: I said in my haste, that is, I gave it forth as …ion or decree. 6. As hastinesse is the proper … belief, so it cannot endure long in a bel…er, but … the time▪ … inconsiderate passion, and … of tentation▪ I said … my …. 7. When mis-belief dares not directly v…nt it selfe against God, or Gods expresse Word, it fails to …uarrel with the messenger, and his fidelity in his commission; I said in my haste, All men are liars. 8. He that seeth Gods benefits rightly, shall see himself unable to give thanks as becomes him, and shall be forced to say, What shall I render unto the Lord? Yea, one benefit well considered, shall call to minde many by-past, and present with it, many other present mercies, as this one delivery maketh the Psalmist say, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? 9. The seen impossibility to render due thanks, and praise to God for his mercies to us, should not hinder us, but rather stirre us up to aime at the duty, as we are enabled, as here it doth the Psalmist.
Vers. 13. I will take the cup of salvation: and call upon the Name of the LORD.
14. I will pay my vowes unto the LORD, now in the presence of all his people.
The third engagement is unto expresse praising of God, before the Congregation, as he had vowed, v. 13, 14. the reason whereof is given, v. 15, 16. and the engagement repeated, v 17▪ 18, 19.
In his promising to pay his vows, and to give thanks publickly, … to the forme of the Levitical ceremony, used in drink-offerin… … as 1 Cor. 10.16. Whence learn, 1. All that we can do when God hath bestowed upon us all that can be desired, is to acknowl…d… the goodnesse of God, and to thank him for it, and this also … presented unto God by our High Priest Jesus Christ▪ … is accepted▪ I will take the cup of salvation: or▪ I will take the cup of blessing, and thanksgiving for salvation granted to me for the true sacrifices sake. 2. It is reckoned by God as a point of thankfulnesse for benefits already received, to come to God, and seek yet more benefits of him, as our need requireth▪ as here we see: I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. 3. In time of straits it is lawfull … of our faith, and to tie us the more firmly to give … God, to make a vow to God that we will praise him … we vow nothing but what God doth allow, and … not … to put an obligement upon God to help … here, I will pay my vowes unto the Lord▪ now in presence of all his people 4. When a law…ll vow is made, we should be mindfull to performe it truly, as the Psalmists example here teacheth us.
Vers. 15. Precious in the sight of the LORD, i… the death of his Saints.
16. O LORD, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the sonne of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
The motives of this engagement are: first, because God esteemeth much of the blood of his servants, …, because God had used him as own of hi… own family▪ and made him as a free-born childe, to be set … the bondage he was in, v. 16. Whence learn ▪ … children are, and should study to be more and more good, mercifull, and me…k: for thus much doth …he word Saints in the O…iginal signifie. 2. Albeit the Lords children are very precious in his eyes, yet will he put them to sufferings, and hazard of life, but lets them not be killed, except he see it for his own honour, and theirs also; and in that case, howsoever the world shall esteem of their death, yet shall it be deare and precious in Gods eyes: Precious in the eyes of the Lord, is the death of his saints. 3. What estimation God manifesteth himselfe to have of any of …, he hath the same estimation of all; and what proof he … of his estimation of them, in the preservation of … in time of their danger and suffering, it may … his care of all: for the Psalmist intending to … the care he had of him, draweth up the praise with … the Saints: Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the … of his Saints, without exception. 4. What priviledges we do believe to belong to Gods children, we may and should apply them to our selves, as the Psalmist doth … the general doctrine of Gods estimation of his … to himselfe in particular saying, … 5. He who feareth, or … children to himselfe under some … apply it to himselfe under some … condition … as here, … say, … handmaid, that is, … born … of the bond-maid under the … was born a … to the Master of the family. 6. How unworthy soever we finde our selves of the meanest stiles of the Lords children, yet must we joyne our selves to that number under some title, and not suffer our selves to be put out of that society, as here the Psalmist, albeit conscious to his own unworthiness and infirmity in service, yet being conscious also to an honest purpose, and endeavour to serve God, doth averre and assert his interest in God as a servant, and doubleth and trebleth the asseveration: Truly I am thy servant, and again, I am thy servant, and the third time, The sonne of thine handmaid; because borne within the visible Church, a childe of the Covenant, claiming right unto Gods family by it. 7 Albeit we can speak little of our doing service unto God, yet if we can speak of Gods doing to us and for us, as for his own children▪ delivering us from the bonds of sin, Satan, hell, and hellish torments of conscience, we shall prove the point of our interest in God, as here the Psalmist, for proof that his death was precious in Gods eyes▪ and that he was cared for as a childe of the family, saith; Thou hast loosed my bonds, and so he proveth his point.
Vers. 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the LORD.
18. I will pay my vowes unto the LORD, now in the presence of all his people:
19. In the courts of the LORDS house: in the middes of thee, O Ierusalem: Praise ye the LORD.
He repeateth the third engagement unto solemn praising of God, and with this also, the first engagement unto dependance on God, by worshipping and invocating of his Name. Whence learn, 1. Believers in the Church of Israel before Christ, did not rest upon the extern…l ceremonies, but did look through them to the spiritual intent and signification of the ceremonies: for moral and spiritual service is here promised by the Psalmist; I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will cal… upon the Name of the Lord. 2. Believers in the Church of Israel knew that even no moral service, nor spiritual service was acceptable to God, except through the intercession, suffering, and oblation of Christ, signified by the sacrifices; for therefore doth he call his praising of God a sacrifice; I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving. 3. The promises and vowes of the sincere servant of God, should not be fleeting motions, and rash expressions, but resolute and fixed purposes of the heart, which a man needs not repent or alter, as the repeating of the former engagement here doth teach us: I will pay my vowes, &c. is repeated in the same words. 4. Publike assemblies of Gods people and places to meet in are needful, that by this meanes God may be more solemnly glorified, and his people edified and strengthened in the service of God, and profession of his truth: I will pay my vowes in the courts of the Lords house, in the midst of thee, O Ierusalem. 5. When a man hath said all he can for Gods praise; he must acknowledge that Gods praise is a work which requireth more hands then his own, to lift at such a weighty sacrifice; for this doth the Prophets example teach us, closing the Psalme with Praise ye the Lord.
PSALM CXVII.
Ver. 1. O Praise the LORD all ye Nations: praise him all ye people.
2. For his merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
THis Psalme is an exhortation to the Gentiles to praise God, v. 1. for his mercy and truth toward his people, v. 2. Whence learn, 1. In Gods worship it is not alwayes necessary to be long; few words sometime say what is sufficient, as this short Psalme giveth us to understand. 2. The Conversion of the Gentiles was foreseen and foretold long before the Jewes were rejected, as this exhortation directed unto them, and prophesying of their praising God doth give evidence. 3. Invitation of any to the fellowship of Gods worship, and in special unto praise and thanksgiving, is an invitation of them to renounce their sinful course, and to subject themselves unto God in Christ, and to embrace the offer of his grace, that so they may joyne with the Church in the song of praises: for all the Nations are invited to come unto the society of the Church in these words; O praise the Lord, all ye Nations. 4. Yea, this invitation of all the Nations to praise God, set down in Scripture, is a prophecy which was to take effect in all the elect Gentiles in all Nations, for so reasoneth the Apostle, Rom. 15.11. from this place, Praise him all ye people. 5. Albeit there be matter of praise unto God in himself, though we should not be partakers of any benefit from him, yet the Lord doth give his people cause to praise him for favours to them in their own particular: For his merciful kindnesse is great towards us. 6. There is no lesse reason to praise God for what he hath promised, then for what he hath given already; For the truth of the Lord endureth for ever, is made a reason of his praise. 7. As Gods kindnesse and truth are the pillars of our salvation, so also are they the matter of our praise, which alwayes go together, and run in the same channel toward the same persons, and do run abundantly and for ever together; His kindnesse is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. 8. All they who hear of God, are bound to praise God: Praise ye the Lord.