A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 76
PSAL. LXXVI. To the chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalme or Song of Asaph.
THis is a Psalme of praise, given forth upon occasion of some great deliverance of the Church, such as was that when Sennacheribs hoste was destroyed, or some other like overthrow given to the enemy.
The summe of the Psalme is this, the Lord is glorious in hi… Church, and greatly to be praised by his people, set down, ver. 1, 2. The reasons given for this are six; the first, ver. 3. the second, ver. 4. the third, ver. 5, 6. the fourth, ver. 7. the fi… ver. 8, 9. the sixth, ver. 10. the use whereof, with a reason for it, is set down, ver. 11, 12.
From the Inscription; Learne, 1. The visible Church ha… need to be stir…ed up to the work of thanksgiving unto, and praising of God, no lesse then to any other duty; for this duty is … lesse needful, no lesse spiritual, no lesse difficult and disagreei… with our carn…l and corrupt natural inclination, then any oth… duty, an… usually is more neglected and more slighted then … point of worship, although frequent occasion and cause be giv… unto It▪ therefore it is oftenest called for of any. If we comp… this title w…th others, this is a Song, … Psalme, taught to … Church, to stir her up to the praising of Go…. 2. God had … Psalmists, more sweet Singers in Israel then one; Davids … is not prefixed here, and the matter is most suitable to a la… time then his. 3. We are not to be curious about the Pen… of Canonick Scripture. The first Author is he, to whom … must look most and rest upon him: For concerning all … Hebrew …ible, we are taught by Christ and his Apostles th… … was all given by inspiration, and that the holy Writers spok… … they were moved by the holy Spirit; for here it is not cer… whether Asaph was the name of the Writer of it, or whe… Asaph be the name of the order of such of Aarons posterity, … were … unto the Church▪ and had the charge … the Musick, to whom this Psalme was committed for … Churches use, as many more Psalmes in Davids time, and … ter it also were; A Psalme or Song of Asaph or to Asaph: … words may beare both alike.
Ver. 1. IN Iudah God is known: his Na… great in Israel.
2. In Salem also is his Tabernacle: and his dw… ling place in Sion.
From the summe and scope of the Psalme s… down … Learne, 1. Albeit God be in some sort known in all the … because of the works of Creation, manifesting some way t… visible excellencies of God, yet is he most of all made manifest to his visible Church, where his Word doth sound, and his Works are best interpreted; In Iudah God is known. 2. Where the knowledge of Gods Name is most revealed, there should he of duty be most glorified: for albeit Israel many times did not understand, did not acknowledge him, but were more ignorant and neglective of him, then the oxe or asse were of their Owners and Masters crib, yet daily among them he manifested his great majesty, and sometime he made them all acknowledge it, and of duty alwayes they should have magnified his majesty, and so his Name is great in Israel. 3. The Lord doth provide alwayes a place, where his Church may visibly professe his Name, and worship him: he will not want a place, where he hath a people in Covenant-bond unto him; In Salem is his Tabernacle. 4. It is a great glory to the place where God is worshipped, for there also doth he make his residence: In Salem also, or Ierusalem is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Sion. 5. It is not for the worthinesse of any people or place, that the Lord is among them, or manifested there; but it is his own free choice, among whom and where he will reside. The place where the vile Canaanite had been, and the place longest possessed and abused by the Canaanite, will he choose for his chief dwelling; he will turn the Canaanites Salem to be Ierusalem: and the strong hold of the Jebusites to be the place of his Temple; therefore, saith he, In Salem, (rather then Ierusalem) is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Sion.
Ver. 3. There brake he the arrowes of the bow…, the shield, and the sword, and the battel. Selah.
The first reason of Gods praise is taken from the Lord▪ fighting at Ierusalem against the enemies of the Church, and discomfiting of them. Whence learn, 1. The greatest overthrow given to armies, will be found in their fighting against God; Church: There (in special manner) brake he the arrowes of the bowe, &c. 2. In the deliverance of the Church the Lord will be seen to do all the work; There brake he the arrowes. 3. As there is no meanes or instrument fit to destroy men which the enemie will not make use of against the Church▪ so there is no weapon formed against her which shall prosper, when she doth reli… on her Lord: There brake be the arrowes of the bowe, the sh…ld, and the sword, and the battel.
Ver. 4. Thou art more glorious and excellent th… the mountains of prey.
The second reason of Gods praise is, because he is more glorious then all the Kings and Kingdomes of the world, wherein the cruel and beastly raging enemies of his Church have their strength and strong h…los. Whence learn, …. Those Kingdomes and Powers which do not subject themselves to God or Christ the King of Saints, are to be esteemed of as mountains where wilde and ravenous beasts do lie, every one of them according as they are more mighty, oppressing the weaker; for they are called here, Mountains of prey or Powers maintaining all oppression, as mountains give shelter to ravenous beasts which live upon prey. 2. Whatsoever excellency is to be found in the Kingdomes of the world, wherein men do glory, as wisdom, riches, strength, multitude, courage, or what else can be imagined, is all nothing to the matter of gloriation, which the Church hath in God; Thou (saith the Psalmist unto God) art more glorious then the mountains of prey.
Ver. 5. The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have … their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands.
6. At thy rebuke, O God of Iacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
The third reason of Gods praise is, because he did evacuate, and make of no use unto the enemie, whatsoever they did put their confidence in. Whence learn, 1. Whatsoever strength, courage, wit, or any other point of perfection any man hath, God who gave it, can take it away when he pleaseth; yea, can make it a meanes of hardening his heart in carnal confidence, to engage him in a businesse for a mischief to him, that he may lose all whereunto he leaned; The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands; that is, God hath made the couragious and strong to be found feeble and weak, and unable to save their own goods or lives. 2. Albeit the Church hath no strength in her self, yet the Lord can with a word of his mouth do all her work, and defeat her enemier; At thy rebuke, O God of Iacob, they are ca… in a deep sleep. 3. The more powerful, wise and stout the enemies of Gods Church be, the more should the Church relie upon God, and the more glory doth the Lord get in overthrowing them; Therefore the stout-heartedmen of might, ch…ariots and horse are here mentioned.
Ver. 7. Thou▪ even thou art to be seared; and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
The fourth reason of Gods praise is, because he is so terrible that none can stand before him when he is angry. Whence learn, 1. When the Lord doth smite the wicked▪ he doth wa…n his own people to stand in awe; therefore doth the Church make use of what is set down before; Thou, …ven th… art to be feared. 2. Only God is to be feared lest we offend him, and no mans anger is to be feared in comparison of provoking God to anger; Thou, even thou art to be feared; and no regard unto, nor mention of any other to be feared in comparison of him. 3. Man against man may stand, and wicked men in the time of Gods patience may stand: but when the time cometh of Gods judging and letting forth his wrath upon his enemies, none can escape his hand; Who may stand in thy sight, when on…e thou art angry? 4. The terror of the Lord against his …oes, is the comfort of his people, and the matter, as of his praise, so of their singing and rejoycing, as here is to be seen.
Ver. 8. Thou didst cause judgement to be heard from heaven: the earth feared and was still,
9. When God arose to judgement, to save all the m…ek of the earth. Sel…b.
The fifth reason of Gods praise is, from the experience of fearful judgements on Gods enemies, when he was about to deliver his people from their oppression. Whence lear…, 1. Late mercies and deliverances given to the Church, should renew the thankful memory of old deliveries, as here is done 2. When ordinary meanes and advertisements do not make the Persecutors of the Church to cease, God hath extraordinary judgements from heaven, whereby he will speak unto his adversaries; Thou didst cause judgements to be heard from heaven. 3. If by one sor… of more milde advertisement or rebuke men cannot be brought in order; by another, and more terrible rebuke they shall be made quiet: Thou didst cause judgement to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still. 4. The property of the Lords people is to be so acquainted with afflictions, and so sensible of their own sinfulnesse; that they do not impatiently fret at Gods dispensation, even when they are oppressed by men; but do study submission unto God, and commit their cause to him; therefore are they called The meek of the earth. 5. When the Lords meek ones are in danger to be swallowed …p, and destroyed by their oppressors, the Lord, who is the sovereign Judge to decide controversies, and to determine who is in the wrong, albeit he be silent for a while, yet will arise in due time, and speak from heaven by judgements, to the terrifying and silencing of proud oppressors; The earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgement to save all the meek of the earth. 6. When the Lord ariseth to save the meek in one place, and of one generation, it is an evidence and earnest, that he shall arise to save at length all and every one of the meek in every place, in all times after; for his arising for his people, which was now past, is sai… here to be for to save all the meek of the earth.
Ver. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restraine.
The sixth reason of Gods praise is, that he shall make the malice of the adversaries of his people to contribute to his glory. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the rage and cruelty of men against the Lords meek ones, may seem for the present to obscure Gods glory, and to tend to his dishonour; yet when he hath hu…bled, tried, purified his own, and done his work in Mount Sion, all the rage of persecutors shall turn to Gods glory undoubtedly; Surely the …rath of man shall praise thee. 2. When God hath glorified himsel… in the purging of his Saints, and punishing their pe…secutors, yet the enmity of the wicked world against Gods people will not cease, there will be still, as here is presupposed, a remainder of wrath 3. Let the wrath of the wicked against the godly be never so great, inveterate, lasting and unquenchable, yet it shall vent it self only as the Lord sees fitting: he shall madera…e the out-letting of it, as he seeth expedient for his pe…ples good; it shall not break out to the destruction of his people; The remainder of wra…h sha…t thou restrain.
Ver. 11. Vow and pay unto the LORD your God, let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to he feared.
12. He shall cut off the spirit of Princes: he is terrible to the Kings of the earth.
The use of the former doctrine is, to teach Gods people to give unto God that respect and praise which is due to him from them; and to exhort all Nations without the compasse of the visible Church to submit themselves unto him, lest he cut off fearfully the chiefest of them. Whence learn, 1. The use of the Lords deliverances of his Church, which the people of God should make, is to call on God in their troubles, engage themselves to glorifie him in word and deed for his mercies, and to entertain the conscience of their obligation; Vow and pay unto the Lord. 2. It is not enough to discharge a promised duty to God in outw…rd formality, as the Philistines made their offering to the Ark of God, but the godly must do what service they do to God, as to their God, reconciled unto them, and in Covenant with them; Vow and pay unto the Lord your God. 3. The Lord is to be feared and honoured of all that are nea… to him in Covenant or Profession, yea or in vicinity of place unto his people and Church, where the Lord manifesteth himself in his ordinances; Let all that be round about him, bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 4. How terrible soever the power of Princes and great men seem unto the Lords people, when they engage themselves and their subjects against the Church; yet ere they bring forth the ripe grapes of their designes and plots against Gods people, God can and will cut off their wisdome, courage and lise, as easily as the branches of a Vine-tree; He shall cut off the spirit of Princes. 5. There is greater cause why Princes should be afraid of God, then why Gods people should be afraid of Princes: Princes cannot do so much to any one of Gods people, as God can do to the highest Princes on earth: God can make their fall great according to the height of their place; he can root them out and their posteriry, not only from all place of power, but also from all being on the earth; he can make them a terrour to themselves; he can destroy them soul and body; yea, he useth to do this t… his adversaries: He is terrible to the Kings of the earth.