A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 135
PSALME. CXXXV.
THe scope of this Psalme, is to set forth the praises of the Lord: wherein there is an earnest exhortation of all the Church, and of all the Lords Ministers to praise God, v. 1, 2, 3. whereunto are added seven motives or reasons, from v. 3, to v. 12. In the next place, the Psalmist turneth his speech towards the Lord, and praiseth him; and giveth two reasons more for the praising of God, v. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. In the third place, more specially he exhorteth the Ministers, and every particular member of the Church to praise God, and so closeth with blessing of him.
Ver. 1. PRaise ye the LORD, praise ye the Name of the LORD: praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2. Ye that stand in the House of the LORD, in the courts of the House of our God.
In the exhortation directed to the whole Church, and to the Ministers; Learn, 1. The work of praising God, should be gone about affectionately; and unto it should we stirre up our selves, and others with all our might: as this manifold exhortation to praise the Lord, and sing praise, doth teach us. 2. That which is spoken or manifested of God, must be carefully taken notice of, that he may be praised out of knowledge: for he will not have praises, but as his Word doth direct; for this doth, Praise the Name of the Lord, import. 3. The publick Ministers of Gods House, who are set apart for teaching and leading of the people in his service, by reason of their Office and imployment, must stirre up themselves unto this work of praising God, whatsoever may be their own private condition, sad or joyfull: for their obligation so to do is greatest, Praise him, O ye Saints of the Lord, O ye servants of the Lord. 4. As our priviledges are more then the rest of the world, by being in Covenant with God▪ and admitted to have room in the holy assemblies of his people, so should our care to praise God be the greater; Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the Courts of the house of our God.
Vers. 3. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his Name, for it is pleasant.
He insisteth in the exhortation, and beginneth to give reasons to move us to praise God. Whence learn, 1. The Lord is worthy to be praised, not only for his essential goodnesse, but also for the letting forth thereof on the creatures, and towards his people most of all; Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good: and this is the first reason or motive to praise. 2. Singing of the Lords praises is a part of the moral worship of God, and should be done with cheerfulnesse of heart, as a work wherein we rejoyce to be employed: Sing praises unto his Name. 3. The work of praising God, hath a sort of reward joyned with it: when we praise God most, we get most benefit by so doing: it is so comely in it self, so pleasant unto God, and profitable to the person that offereth praises, so fit to chear up his spirit, and strengthen his faith in God, whose praises are the pillars of the believers confidence and comfort, that a man should be allured the…eunto: Sing praises unto his Name, for it is pleasant; and this is the second motive or reason to praise God.
Vers. 4. For the LORD hath chosen Iacob unto himselfe: and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
The third reason of praising God is, because he hath by electing Israel, put a great respect and price upon his people. Whence learn, 1. The Jewes have a respect of honour put upon them, (how unworthy soever they have proved themselves of it many times,) above all the Nations of the world, in that God hath chosen them to be his people▪ among whom he will alwayes have a chosen number, which of no other Nation can be said: For the Lord hath chosen Iacob unto himself. 2. The Lords Covenanted people are no lesse precious in his eyes, then a peculiar treasure is in a mans eyes; He hath chosen Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Ver. 5. For I know that the LORD is great: and that our LORD is above all gods.
The fourth reason of Gods praise is, because the Lord is greater then all earthly, yea, then all imaginable excellencies in the world, as the Church doth both believe and know by experience. Whence learn, 1. The largenesse of Gods dominion over all Nations, and over all imagined excellency of the idols of the Gentiles, doth commend the mercy of God to that Nation, which he doth prefer unto the rest, by taking them in Covenant with himself▪ The Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. 2. As the Lord doth by his extraordinary working for his people make manifest his glorious and great majestie to them, so should they so much the more for their experience praise him before all the world: For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods, doth import not only the Psalmists belief of the point, and experience of the truth thereof, but also his practice of the duty.
Ver. 6. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth: in the seas, and all deepe places.
The fifth reason of Gods praise, serving also to confirm the former reason is, because God is the Omnipotent Creator, and absolute Governour of all things, disposing of them as he pleaseth. Whence learn, 1. The great works of Creation, Sustentation, and governing all things, do shew the Lords greatnesse, and do furnish matter of his praise: Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the sea and all deep places. 2. The Lords will and pleasure is the measure of the extending of his Omnipotency, and no further must we extend his power unto action, then his revealed will giveth warrant; Whatsoever the Lord pleased▪ that did he. 3. The Lords will is the sovereign and absolute cause of all his working, and that whereon all mens faith and reason must rest; Whatsoever he pleased, he did.
Ver. 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, he maketh lightenings for the raine, he bringeth the winde out of his treasuries.
The sixth reason of Gods praise is, because there is no motion in the clouds or in he aire, but that which he maketh. Whence learn, There is none of the motions of the creatures so light o… variable, which are not wrought by God, and wherein his providence doth not actually put forth it self in vapours, clouds, rain, lightnings, windes and all: He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, he maketh lightnings for the raine, he bringeth the winde out of his treasuries.
Ver. 8. Who smote the first-borne of Egypt: both of man and beast.
9. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10. Who smote great Nations: and slew mighty Kings.
11. Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og King of Bashan: and all the Kingdomes of Canaan.
12. And gave their land for an heritage: an heritage unto Israel his people.
The seventh reason of Gods praise is, for his wonderful Redemption of his people out of Eqypt, and powerful overthrow of the Canaanites, and placing of his people in their room. Whence learn, 1. The Lords working for his Church in former times, is matter of praising God in all after-ages: as this example of the mentioning so oft of the slaughter of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast, doth teach. 2. Gods working for his people is such, that their enemies being posed, must acknowledge his wonderful acts: He sent tokens and wonders in the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and all his servants. 3. When God engageth for his people, he will overtop the mightiest Kings and Kingdomes, and tread them under in favour of his Church; Who smote great Nations, and slew mighty Kings, Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og King of Bashan, and all the Kingdomes of Canaan. 4. The care of God for his people is indefatigable, he ceaseth not to prosecute begun favours, till he bring them to an end: He followeth Israels Redemption out of Egypt, till he give them possession of Canaan. 5. Albeit there be difficulties and opposition to the setling of Gods people in their possession, yet the work goeth on, and must be perfected; and the close of Gods work is no lesse glorious then the beginning of it: He gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
Vers. 13. Thy Name, O LORD, endureth for ever: and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
In the second place, the Psalmist turneth his speech toward the Lord, and praiseth him yet more: and then, in the following verses addeth other two reasons of his praising God. From this verse, Learn, 1. What the Lord doth declare himself to be in one generation toward his Church, may and should be a meanes to know what he will do in all time to come for his people, as need shall require▪ Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generation. 2. As the constancy of Gods love toward his people, and care for them is a matter of high praise unto God: so it is a matter of sweet refreshing joy to the beleever, which maketh him look up kindly unto God, and praise him: as here the Psalmist in praising Gods constancy, turneth his speech twice toward him: O Lord, O Lord.
Ver. 14. For the LORD will judge his people: and he will repent himselfe concerning his servants.
The first new reason of Gods praise is the hope, that the Lord will plead the cause of his afflicted people, and will comfort them. Whence learn, 1. Then are by-past mercies of God rightly made use of, when they strengthen faith and hope in God for mercies to come: as here we see the Lords memorial made use of, for the Churches present comfort. 2. Wheresoever Gods people are oppressed by their enemies, howsoever God hath ever just quarrel against his people, yet will he examine what moved the enemies to trouble them: and albeit he do not at first give out sentence, yet he will execute justice in favour of his people in due time: For the Lord will judge his people, to wit, by pleading their cause against their enemies. 3. The constancy of Gods love to his people, makes the change of his sad dispensations into more comfortable, to be certain: and therefore Gods afflicting of his people, is a work wherein he will not continue▪ because his mercy toward his people is everlasting▪ For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 4. As it is a sort of grief to God to afflict his people, so it is a sort of comfort to him to comfort his people by delivering of them from their sad affliction; for the word, Repent himself, in the Originall doth signifie also to comfort himself.
Ver. 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of mens hands.
16. They have mouthes, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not.
17. They have ears, but they heare not: neither is there any breath in their mouthes.
18. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
The second new reason of Gods praise, is taken from the businesse of all idols compared with God: and of all idolaters compared wi…h his servants. Whence learn, 1. True wo…shippers of God do detest images and idols, and all false religion, how gorgeously soever they be decked up by idolaters: The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of mens hands. 2. How delectable soever the invention of images, or worshipping of idols seem to be, yet do these vanities bring nothing to the worshippers, save grief and vexation: for so doth their name in the Original import▪ 3. Worshippers of images are not esteemed according to their intention and profession, when they say they worship the thing represented by them, but are to be judged by Gods verdict of them, who hath p…onounced their gods to be no other thing, then their images which are shaped by the Artificer like a man; They have mouthes, but they speak not, &c. 4 Idolatry is a benumming sin, which bereaveth the idolater of the right use of his senses and reason; They that make them are like to them. 5. Beside outward worship offered by idolaters to their images, they are found to offer unto them also the inward worship of their souls: They trust in them; and in trusting in them, or looking for any good by them, they are but brutish, or like senselesse blocks; So is every one that trusteth in them.
Vers. 19. Blesse the LORD, O house of Israel: blesse the LORD, O house of Aaron.
20 Blesse the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD blesse the LORD.
21. Blessed be the LORD out of Zion: which dwelleth at Ierusalem: Praise …e the LORD.
In the close of the Psalme, the Psalmist exhorteth all ranks of the godly, both publick Officers and private members of the Church to blesse God, and giveth example of obedience in his own person. Whence learn, 1. As the whole incorporation of the Church receiveth common benefits from God more then any incorporation beside, and as every rank and order of people do receive benefits more particularly to themselves: so should the whole incorporation together, and every one of every rank give pr…ise unto God, and set forth his blessednesse before others, as their vocation permitteth: for, Blesse the Lord, O house Israel, is spoken to the whole incorporation; and, Blesse the Lord, O house of Aaron, doth speak to the Priests; and Blesse the Lord, O house of Levi, is directed to the under officers of Gods house. 2. Albeit all men are exhorted, and each person in their several places called upon, yet they only who feare God, will discharge the duty conscionably, therefore after all it is said, Ye that fear the Lord, blesse the Lord. 3. The true worshipper of God draweth this special point of Gods praise, from Gods manifesting of himself to his Church in and through, and for Christ: for this is signified by the types, figures and tokens of his presence in Sion and Ierusalem; Blessed be the Lord out of Sion, which dwelleth at Ierusalem 4 When the song of praise is sung unto God, the work of his praise is not en…ed, but must be continued, renewed and followed still; Praise ye the Lord.