A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 108
PSALM CVIII.
THis Psalme is composed of a part of the fifty seventh Psalm… from v. 7. to the end, and of a part of the sixty Psalme, from v. 5. to the end, but in a diverse notion; for in the fifty seven and sixty Psalmes, David is praying for experience of the truth of the promise made to him, concerning the Kingdome of Israel, and victory over his enemies on all sides, being now in hazard by them, but here he is making use of the experience received, and of victorie obtained over enemies within and without the Kingdome of Israel, for the encouragement of the Church militant to the end of the world, against intestine and forreign enemies whatsoever. Again, in these two former Psalmes, whence he doth repeat the words of this Psalme, he had his own interest to plead, beside what was typical in his exercise: Here, his own interest being setled, and the promise made to himself performed; he recommendeth this experience of his in a more abstract notion from his own particular, and in a more typical way of a pledge of the victory of the true Church militant, under her Head and Lord, over all her both intestine enemies and forreign, without the verge of the visible Profession, that in the faith of Christ, and hope of his prevailing in the work of enlarging and reforming of the visible Catholick Church, and overthrowing of the open enemies of Christs Kingdome, typified under the exercise of David, the true subjects of Christ might go on in their warfare with the greater confidence.
This Psalme hath two parts: In the former is the thanksgiving of faith, and promise of praise, in hope of obtaining all, which the Church is here to pray for, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In the latter part is the prayer for preservation of the Church, ver. 6. with confidence to be heard and helped, whatsoever impediment appear, against all who stand out against Christs Kingdome, whether within the visible Church, v. 7, 8. or whether without, such as are professed enemies unto it, v. 9, 10, 11. which prayer is followed forth, v. 12. and comfortably closed with assurance of the Churches victo…y by the assistance of God, v. 13.
Ver. 1. O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise even with my glory.
2. Awake Psaltery and Harpe: I my self will awake early.
In the thanksgiving of faith, and promise of praise, he composeth himself in the best frame of spirit unto the work, and fitteeh himself by all meanes unto it. Whence learn, 1. It is our duty, especially when we are about any piece of immediate spiritual worship, to take heed what we are doing, what the work is about which we are going, who the Lord is with whom we have to do, and how our heart is disposed, that so we may approve our selves to God with the more comfort: for this doth the Psalmists example teach us; O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing. 2. In Gods worship it is very needful we should have our mindes present without diversion▪ and our affections composed, and set rightly toward the Lord, and the work in hand, as here, My heart is fixed. 3. As a man first tuneth his instrument, and then playeth on it: so should the holy servant of God first labour to bring his spirit, heart and affections into a solid and setled frame for worship, and then go to work; My heart is fixed: or prepared firmely, I will sing and give praise. 4. As the glory of man above the brute creatures, is, that from a reasonable minde he can expresse what is his will by his tongue: so the glory of the Saints above other men, is to have a tongue directed by the heart, for expressing of Gods praise: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 5. That only is our glory, wherein and whereby we do most glorifie God: for this cause the tongue directed by a holy heart, is here called Davids glory: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 6. Under typical termes we are taught to make use of all sanctified meanes for stirring of us up unto Gods service: for this the Psalmist intendeth, when he saith; Awake Psaltery and Harp. 7. We our selves must first be stirred up to make right use of the meanes before the meanes can be fi… to stir us up: therefore, saith he, I my self will awake early.
Ver. 3. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people, and I will sing praise unto thee among the Nations.
4. For thy mercy is great above the Heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds:
5. Be thou exalted, O GOD, above the Heavens; and thy glory above all the earth.
Here is the praise of God, and the reasons thereof; Whence learn, 1. It is no small help unto the discharge of a duty, to engage the heart unto God for the doing of it, for in effect that is the most we can attain unto in this life, but in the next life we shall have full vent for our will to praise God, and shall follow our purpose with perpetual perseverance: I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people. 2. Sincerity hath confidence to professe its purpose before the Lord: I will praise thee, O Lord. 3. As it is the duty and desire also of a true worshipper, that all the world should be stirred up to praise the Lord: so it was the comfort of the Church of the Jewes, to foresee the joyning of the Gentiles in the song, and to see the Gentiles stirred up by the songs of the Jewish Church; I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and will sing praises unto thee among the Nations. 4. The matter and reasons of Gods praise, are higher then the worshipper can reach, and larger then he can fathom, and in special the mercy of the Lord toward his people, is larger then the wide circle of Heaven: Thy mercy is great above the Heavens. 5. There is more stuffe and substance of good in the Lords promises, then the sharpest-sigh…ed Saint ever did or can perceive; for when we have followed the promise, to finde out all the truth which is in it, we meet with a cloud of unsearchable riches, and are forced to leave it there; for so much is included in this, Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. 6. The height of our praising of God, is to put the work of praising God upon himself and to point him out unto others, as going about the magnifying of his own Name, and to be glad for it, as here; Be thou exalted, O God, above the Heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
Ver. 6. That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
After the praise of God from faith, followeth the prayer of faith. Wherein learn, 1. The Church is the Lords beloved, or the incorporation more loved then any thing else in the world▪ therefore here called, Thy beloved. 2. Because the Church is Gods beloved▪ the care of it should be most in our minde, and the love of the preservation of it, should draw forth our praye… most in favour of it; That thy beloved may be delivered, save. 3. Whosoever is entrusted with any publick charge, Civil or Ecclesiastick in a special manner, should make the preservation and welfare of Gods people, their chief aime, and the chief matter of their prayer, and the greatest sa…faction of their desires, as here is done; That thy beloved may be delivered, save, and answer me. 4 As it is presupposed that the Church shall be frequently in danger, so it is certain that her delive…y and preservation must be brought about by God in his way, and by his power, and God must be trusted with this work; therefore saith he, That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand.
Ver. God hath spoken in his holinesse, I will rejoyce, I will divide Shechem: and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8. Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head: Iudah is my Lawgiver.
Here the Psalmist looketh unto the word of promise for his answer. Whence learn, 1. Supplicants must take the answer of their prayers from the Word of promise, for he who findeth his warrant to pray, hath his answer before he begin to pray▪ for he prayeth according to the Will of God, and so he hath his petition; so doth David teach: God hath spoken in his holinesse. 2. Faith closing with a promise will furnish joy to the beleever, before he enjoy the performance of it: God hath spoken, saith he, I will rejoyce. 3. The believer of a general promise, may branch out the particulars in it, which are not performed no lesse clearly, then if they had been particularly expressed: for so doth the Psalmist teach, saying, I will divide Sechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth, which thing came to passe as he believed, and the whole Kingdome under him was now setled for his particular interest, when this Psalm was composed: but as it typified the reducing of the distracted parts of Christs Kingdom into the unity of Reformation, and joynt subjection to his Government, it was to be performed no lesse certainly then the distracted parts of the typical Kingdome of Israel was to be joyned in uniforme subjection under David, who here saith; Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of my head, Iudah is my Lawgiver.
Ver. 9. Moab is my wash-pot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe, over Philistia will I triumph.
After composing of the tribes of Israel, representing the visible Church, he turneth him to the forreign enemies of the Kingdome, and assureth the Church of victory over them also. Whence learn, 1. As in the typical victories of David, so in the Conquest which Christ maketh, some are more sincere and cordial subjects, some do feigne subjection out of constraint or carnal motives; and as in Davids, so in Christs victories, some are vessels of honour; all serving for the use of the great house: Moab is my wash-pot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe, over Philistia will I triumph. 2. When faith doth look through the prospect of Gods Word and Promises, it will discover afarre off many advantages, as here we see.
Ver. 10. Who will bring me into the strong City? who will lead me into Edom?
11. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hostes?
In the war against Edom, the difficulties are represented, which the Church militant shall meet with in her battels against open enemies, which difficulties are here overcome by faith, encouraging her against all impediments. Whence learn; 1. The Church of believers may finde, and shall finde in some passages of their exercise, some maine difficulties meeting them in their progresse, and some enemies harder to overcome then others; some devils more strong in their possession then others, represented here by the strongest City of Edom; Who will bring me into the strong City? 2. When we meet with any difficulty greater then any former hath been, faith must give more employment unto God, and put in to him for more assistance and strength: Who will lead me into Edom wilt not thou, O God? 3. Faith must not be discouraged in her warfare, from any tokens of Gods displeasure, formerly let forth against his people, but rather must draw encouragement from thence, taking all the executions of threatnings for so many pawnes and pledges of the performing of promises, as the Psalmist doth here: Wilt not thou who hadst cast us off? and wilt not thou go forth with our hostes?
Ver. 12. Give us help from trouble: for vaine is the help of man.
He repeateth his prayer, and insisteth upon his request▪ Whence learn, 1. When the believer findeth his faith weakest, he must make use of prayer, as the infirme man doth of a staffe in his walking; Give us help from trouble. 2. He who would have Gods help in any businesse, must quit confidence in mans help; and the seeing of the vanity of mans help, must make the believer to trust the more unto, and expect the more confidently Gods help, as here is done; Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man.
Vers. 13. Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
He closeth the Psalme comfortably, in assurance of the Churches victory. Whence learn, 1. Whatsoever may be the varietie of the exercises of faith, victory and triumph shall close the war, and crown the wrastler; Through God we shall do valiantly. 2. Albeit the meanes be nothing but vanity without God, yet they must be used, for they are something when they are used by us, and put in Gods hand: for, Through God we shall do valiantly. 3. What the Lord doth by the believer as his servant, or by any other instrument, God must have the glory of it; Through God (saith he) we shall do valiantly. 4. The faith of the Churches victory over her enemies, is grounded upon Gods engaging in the war, for the Church, and against our enemies; For he it is that shall tread down all our enemies.