A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 81
PSAL. LXXXI. To the chief Musician upon Gittith. A Psalme of Asaph.
THis Psalm was appointed to be sung in their solemn seasts, new moones, and feast of tabernacles, in special for a testimony of Gods gracious and bountiful dealing with his people on the one hand, and of their provocation of God on the other hand, moving him to change his dispensation toward them, and to withhold many benefits from them, which otherwayes they might have had, if they had not rejected Gods counsel, and had chosen their own wayes: that by this Psalme his people might learn to be wiser.
The parts of the Psalme are three. The first is a Preface, wherein there is a mutual stirring up of the Church-members, to keep the solemn feasts, and blowing of trumpets, ver. 1, 2, 3. and a reason or this mutual exho…tation, taken from Gods institution of this ordinance when he brought his people out of Egypt from the service of strangers, ver. 4, 5.
In the second part is set down, how God delivered them from bondage in Egypt, and from troubles in their journey, ver. 6, 7. and how reasonable commands the Lord did give unto them: which commands are all summed up in this one: That God should be their God alone, ver. 8, 9, 10.
In the third part is set down: First, how they rejected God and his counsel, ver. 11. Next, how therefore they were plagued, by being given over to their own lusts, ver. 12. Thirdly, how they deprived themselves of Gods benefits, which by following Gods counsel, they might have enjoyed, ver. 13, 14, 15.
Ver. 1. SIng aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Iacob.
2. Take a Psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3. Blow up the trumpet in the new Moon; in the time appointed on our solemn feast-day.
From their mutual stirring up of one another to rejoyce in God, commanded here by the Psalmist in the Lords Name; Learn, 1. That whatsoever may be our own private condition, it is our duty ever, and in all things to give glory to God to rejoyce in him, to professe and avow his Name; Sing aloud unto God. 2. The Lords people have the fulfilling, supplying and supporting of their emptinesse, wants and weaknesse in God, whose sufficiency they ought to make use of, and rejoyce therein; Sing unto God our strength. 3. It is the Covenant of grace, whereby God becometh our God, which doth intitle us, and giveth us interest in, and right unto his all-sufficiency, which we should entertain joyfully in our communion with God, praising him, and thanking him for it, and delighting in his presence, because of it; Make a joyful noise unto the God of Iacob, for God was Iacobs God, because God was by Covenant Abrahams, and his childrens God, whose children also we are, who are Christs, Gal. 3. 29.
From the use and variety of musical instruments called for, Ver. 2, 3. Learn, 1. Albeit the external melody of musical. instruments in the Lords publike worship, with the rest of the paedagogie, and shadowing dark figures of the Ceremonial Law be abolished now when the Lord, the Sunne of righteousnesse, is come; yet the moral duties represented by them are still to be acknowledged and followed by us, to wit, that the praises of the Lord are unexpressible by us, and that we are unsufficient of our selves to set forth the same, that we have matter of unspeakable joy in God our Redeemer, and should stir up all the powers of our soul, to this part of his spiritual service; for this did those musical instruments teach: Take a Psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the Psaltery. 2. We ought to acknowledge the stately magnificence of our exalted Lord, and our dulnesse and slownesse to praise him: and what need we had to be stirred up, and to stirre up one another to this duty: for this was pointed at in the use of the trumpets; Blow up the trumpet. 3. We ought to acknowledge that we are subject to various changes, and alteration of conditions in this life, and that all these changes are sanctified unto the Lords people, and that new consolations may be expected from God, one after another, to season the darknesse and nights of our affliction: and we should consecrate our selves anew from time to time to God, and give him the first part and flower of our time; yea, should study, that all our time, in all changes whatsoever may be spent in his service: for thus much did the solemnities in their new Moones hold forth; Blow up the Trumpet in the new Moon. 4. We ought to acknowledge that we are strangers here in the world, and we have no certain dwellingplace, but that we are in our sojourning depending upon Gods provision for us, and protection of us, expecting the time when we shall appear before him, and shall be put in possession of those mansion-places p…epared for us, wherein we shall have fulnesse of joy, and God constantly present with us, and that in the mean time we should study to rejoyce in the tiches of the Lords goodnesse to us in our Redeemer; for this in substance was h…ld forth in those solemn feasts, and in special, in the feast of Tabernacles: Blow the Trumpet in the time appointed, on our solemn feast-day.
Ver. 4. For this was a statute for Israel: and a law of the God of Iacob.
5. This he ordained in Ioseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language, that I understood not.
The Church giveth two reasons of the exhortation, cheerfully to glorifie God in the observation of his appointed ordinances, and solemn convocations: One is, because God did institute and command this solemn rejoycing in him, ver. 4. The other is, because he appointed it after the bestowing on them of a great … out of Egypt from their bondage under strangers, and people of an uncouth language, ver. 5. From the first reason; Learn, 1. It is a sufficient motive for observation of any religious action, that God hath ordained it; and no lesse authority then divine can warrant a man in the matters of Religion. therefore it is said here, For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Iacob. As none may appoint acts of religious worship, but God: so also none may alter nor abrogate them, except God himself only: For they are statutes and lawes of the God of Iacob. 2. The Ordinances of Religion appointed of God, as they are witnesses of his will, how he shall be served, and witnesses of his good will toward us, and care of us to have us saved: so a so are they witnesses of our faith and obedience, to testifie for us or against us, as we m…ke use of them; This he ordained in Ioseph for a testimony. 3. The greatnesse of the work of Redemption, the powerful manner of bringing it to passe, and the misery wherein we were before we were delivered, should augment our joy and thankfulnesse to God, and … our tie to his worship and service, as the force of the Churches reasoning here doth teach: for the Lord went through the Egyptians, and over their belly as a mighty Conquerour, when he re…emed his people and delivered them from the servitude of a people of a strange language, therefore they were bound joyfully to keep his solemn Ordinances; He ordained this for a testimony (saith the Church) when he went through the land of Egypt, where I heard a language, which I understood not.
Ver. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7. Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder, I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
In the second part the Lord speaketh, and putteth his people in minde of his kindnesse to them in their delivery from Egypt, ver. 6. and of his wife care of them in the wildernesse, ver. 7. And how he c…aved nothing of them, but that they should keep close to him, and not go after idols, ver. 8. 9. First, because he is God all sufficient. Next, because he had entered in Covenant to be their God. Thirdly, because he had given proof what he could do for them by their delivery out of Egypt. And lastly, because he was ready to make them fully blessed upon their willingnesse to receive his offered goodnesse, ver. 10. And then he shewes what an evil meeting they gave him.
From the renewing the memory of their delivery out of Egypt, ver. 6. Learn, 1. For right taking up of the benefit of our Redemption, whether spiritual or bodily, the heavinesse of our yoke and basenesse of our slavery must be called to minde; I removed his shoulder from the burden, and his hands were delivered from the pots; for Israel were as pioneers and scullions in Egypt, basely employed in carrying straw and morter to make brick, as most abject slaves: and this resembleth the condition we are in by nature; under the slavery and burden of sin and misery; 2. God only is the Redeemer of men from whatsoever evil condition; no instruments which God doth use, must intercept his glory: none can ease our burden nor cleanse our hands, but God only: I (saith the Lord) removed his shoulder from the burden, and hands from the pots.
From the Lords wise care of them, when they were come out of Egypt, ver. 7. Learn, 1. After delivery of us out of the state of misery, other particular troublesome passages may meet us, as did meet Israel at the red sea, when they came out of Egypt, and we may fall into new troubles for a little, as they did. 2. God who delivereth us from the state of misery, must also deliver us from particular miserable cases, or miserable conditions; yea, and being called upon by us in our misery, he will deliver us as he did Israel; Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee. 3. It is Gods wise disposing, that n…w trouble should bring to minde our former delivery, and our deliverer, and should presse us to pray to God, and make way for a new experience of delivery, as here we see. 4. The more the Lord doth manifest himself from heaven for us, and against our enemies, the greater is our obligation, as Israels obligation was augmented, when at their prayer in the red set, the Lord by thunder out of the black cloud against the Egyptians following them, did declare himself for Israel: I answered thee in the secret place of thunder. 5. It is an evidence of the Lords care of his people to put them to the trial of their faith and sincerity of affection to God, that so they may either finde their former profession and opinion of themselves solid and upright, or finding it otherwayes may be humbled and repent, and become more sincere; therefore is the trial of Israel after their coming out of the red sea numbered among the evidences of Gods care of them; I proved thee at the waters of Moribah. 6 Calling to minde our misbelief made manifest unto us in the day of our trial, should make us more humble and way to depart from God thereafter; for this is the lesson, which Israels striving with God at the waters of Meribah, should have taught them; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah, or waters of strise.
Ver. 8. Heare, O my people, and I will testifie unto thee; O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me.
9. There shall no strange God be in thee: neither shalt thou worship any strange God.
10. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
We have heard of Gods gracious dealing with Israel, in the point of doing for them; Now the Lord declareth, what thankfulnesse he required of them, and how reasonable and equitable his demands were: unto the consideration whereof he wakeneth them up, ver. 8. Summeth up all in the first command of the moral Law, ver. 9. Giveth reasons io move them to this, ver. 10.
From his awaking them to hear, ver. 8. Learne, 1. When the Lords Word is to be delivered unto us, we should have our mindes gathered in, and humbled, and fixed unto a reverent attention, hearty belief, and humbled obedience; therefore, saith he, Hear, O Israel, and I will testifie unto thee. 2. When the Lord doth speak, whether for conviction of duty to be done, or duty not discharged, there needeth no other witnesse beside himself, to convince the conscience, his speech is so clear, so full of truth and authority: Hear, and I will testifie unto thee. 3. Both the Lord and we our selves have just reason to question our willingnesse to hear Gods Word inclulca…ed unto us: because it will be found that we have proved misbelieving and rebellious hearers before, and because it is our natural disposition to be averse from all Gods commands; therefore, saith the Lord, O Israel, if thou will hearken unto me. 4. The Lord requireth his people to be a willing people, and nothing can be more forcible to make us willing and obedient to God, then to understand that God is willing to te…h, direct and blesse us; Hear, O Israel, if thou will, or shalt hearken unto me.
From the summe of that service which God requireth of us, ver. 9. Learne, 1. The summe of Gods Law is comprised in the first command: for as God is feared, delighted in, submitted unto, and made our God in effect: so are all the Commandments kept: There shall be no strange God in thee. 2. As soundnesse in Religion, and cleaving close to our only one God, (as he hath revealed himself to be the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, of whom, and through whom, and for whom are all things is the fountain of all obedience, and keeping communion with God: so the corrupting of Religion, and departing from this ground in any sort, is the fountain of all following misbehaviour, and discommunion with God; There shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
From the reasons of this duty set down, ver. 10. Learn, 1. The consideration of having our life, and motion, and being of God, and that he will give to all his promises and threatenings certain performance, should move us to beleeve in him, adhere unto him, and serve him only; I am the Lord, I am Iehovah. 2. The Covenant of grace, wherein the Lord hath drawn us, who professe our selves to be his in Christ, should move us to depend on him for righteousness and life, and to study in his strength to please him; I am the Lord thy God. 3. The great work of our Redemption, and all the benefits bestowed upon us, in relation to our bringing out of the slavery of idolatry and Egyptian darknesse, to the beholding of the marvellous light, and Kingdom of his dear Sonne, represented by the delivery of his people out of Egypt, should move us to adhere to our Redeemer, and to aime at his service singly; I am thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt. 4. The faire allowance which God bestoweth upon his servants, to wit, Ask and have, should tie our hearts to su…h a potent, all-sufficient and gracious God; Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 5. It is the narrowness of our saith, and of our spiritual desire, which hindereth our felicity; we are not straitened in God, but in our selves: for his offer is, Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. The Lord will give g…e and glory and will withhold no good thing from them that w…e up…ightly: and for this end he calleth for the enlarging of our desires, and of our belief to receive satisfaction, that we may have in him full contentment, and not be allured from him to vanities which cannot profit us.
Ver. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me.
In the third part of the Psalm is set down, how Israel to their own detriment and depriving of themselves of great happiness, did reject the Lords com…and, and the offer of his grace. Whence learn, 1. The people, to whom the Lord is most liberal, are not alwayes most thankful: his people by external Covenant are not alwayes obedient to him, but readily do give him the worst meeting; But my people would not bearken unto my voice. 2. The cause of not hearkening to, and obeying of Gods commands, is our not believing in God, not taking satisfaction, pleasure and delight in God: for how came it, that Gods people by Covenant did not obey his voice? It may serve for an answer; And Israel would none of me, or rested not on me, or had no pleasure in me.
Ver. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Here is shewen how fearful was Israels plague for their not delighting in God, they were given over to follow their own will unto their own perdition. Whence learn, 1. The idols which come in competition with God, are a mans own carnal lusts and affections, as here appeareth. 2. If these idols be adhered unto, when God doth offer himself for giving a man contentment, it is justice with God to take a refuse at the mans hands, and to cease to deal with his heart any more, but to give him over to the service of his idol; They would none of me, so I gave them up unto their own hearts lust. 3. Whosoever do refuse to serve God, shall not eschew to serve a worse Master, to wit, their own beastly affections, and Satan, who ruleth men by their lusts; They would have none of me, so I gave them up to their own hearts lust; and this of all judgements is the heaviest. 4. When God leaveth a man to himself, there is no restraint to keep him from going to a mischief, and to perdition, as here we see; I gave them up, and they walked in the counsel of their own hearts.
Ver. 13. O that my people had hearkened unto me: and Israel had walked in my wayes!
Last of all, is set down by way of Gods lamenting for his people, what felicity they did lose by this their refusing to make God their delight, and his voice their rule to walk by. First, if they had obeyed God, their enemies should not have been their Master, but they should have been made victorious over their adversaries, ver. 13, 14, 15. Next, they should have been satisfied with all contentments abundantly, set forth under the terms of feeding them with fine wheat and honey. This lamenting of God for his peoples misery, is borrowed from the manner of men, lamenting the misery which their disobedient children have brought upon themselves, and is not to be taken so, as if there were in God any passion or perturbation, or miserable lamentation, but this speech is to be conceived, as other like speeches in Scripture, which are borrowed from the affections of men, and are …med to move some holy affection in men, suitable to that affection, from which the Lord taketh the similitude; and so, O that my people had hearkened unto me, serveth to move his people, (who should hear this expressi…n) to repent and lament their not hearkening unto God; and to studie in all time to come to be more obedient unto him, even as they would eschew the curse which came upon misbelieving and disobedient Israel; and as they desire to obtain the blessings, whereof carnal Israelites did come short, and did deprive themselves, and if it be asked, what may be imported by this speech properly? We answer, O that my people had hearkened unto me, &c. sheweth these six things; First, what order the Lord hath set in giving blessings to his visible Church; namely, that they begin and beleeve in him, and study to obey him, and that they by means appointed by him, should look to have such blessings, as he hath promised to beleevers, and to obedient people. Next, this manner of speech sheweth, how acceptable and pleasant unto God it is to see the saith, obedience and welfare of his people, all joyned together in his appointed order. Thirdly, that the meritorious and culpable cause of mens miserie, is not in God, but in man, who by his sin deserveth it, and draweth it on himself. Fourthly, that God delighteth not in the death or destruction of his people, but that they should repent and live. Fifthly, that this is his will, that whosoever shall hear of the evil meeting, which the Israelites did give unto God, and of the judgement which they did draw upon themselves, may be made wise by this lamentation made by God for Israels destruction, and so may rather chuse to hearken to God, as they did not, then to be given over in his wrath to their own lusts, and to perish in his indignation as befell them, Sixthly, that God requireth a suitable meeting of his people to his dispensations, that is, that they may be so willing to hearken to his voice, and so loath to offend him, as he doth manifest by word and works his willingnesse to save them, and his loathnesse to destroy them.
From the Lords lamenting, Learn further, 1. As on the one hand the miscarriage and misery of others before us, should make us wise to eschew the evil which befell them, & to obtain the good whereof they by their disobedience were deprived: So on the other hand, the willingnesse of God to blesse those who do follow his direction, should make us diligent to understand what course God hath prescribed, and should make us confident to obtain blessednesse in our endevour to follow it; for, O that my people had hearkened unto me, &c. doth teach us so much. 2. They may be in the number and estimation of Gods people, by vertue of Church-Covenant, who for their refusing to follow Gods counsell may come short of Gods blessings; for, O that my people had hearkened unto me, &c. maketh this evident 3. He who heareth God uttering his wishes for the conversion of his people, and lamenting that his Word is not believed, and that his offer of grace is not received, doth give God an evill meeting, and neither believeth Gods goodnesse, nor careth for his own salvation, except he joyn with God, lamenting his own misbelief in time past, and do wish heartily the same wish with God for his own conversion for time to come; for this speech, O that my people had hearkened unto me, &c. is framed to this very end, to make the hearer willing, and so to convert him, or else to convict him, if he take not hold of the offer. 4. Whatsoever be the Lords secret decrees concerning the salvation of some, and condemnation of other some in the visible Church; yet the meanes of execution of those decrees, are so holy and just, and wisely carried on, as those decrees shall not be particularly revealed to the stumbling of any man, but the offer of grace and declaration of Gods goodnesse is so laid out in common, that whosoever doth not embrace the same, is made inexcusable; for when God saith, O that my people had harkened unto me, he that doth not answer the Lord, with O that thou wouldst frame this heart of mine, to the obedience of faith, hath nothing to say if he be damned, for his slighting of the offer so freely held forth unto him, and pressed upon him.
Ver. 14. I should soon have …bdued their enemie… and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey but of the rock, should I have satisfied thee.
From the good which should have come to his people, set downs ver. 14, 15, 6. Learn, 1. Gods blessings are not to be looked after, except in the wayes of God; and i… any man come short of Gods blessing, he beareth the blame himselfe: O that Israel had walked in my wayes, I should soon have subdued their enemies, &c. 2. If the Lords people have provoked him to let loose their enemies upon them, and to prevaile over them; the onelyonly way to have affaires changed, is to turn to God, and to walk in his wayes; If Israel had walked in my wayes, I should have turned my hand against their adversaries. 3. They that are enemies to the Lords people, are haters of the Lord: and where the profession of true religion and righteousnesse is hated, there the quarrell is common to God with his people; for their enemies are here called Haters of God. 4. It is a benefit to Gods people, and a point of glory to God, when Gods enemies and theirs do submit themselves to God, albeit but feignedly; which good Gods people do hinder, when they walk not in his wayes: If Israel had walked in my wayes, the haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves, or lied unto him; as the Word will bear. 5. There is no means to perpetuate a visible Church in any place, but to walk in the Lords wayes: If Israel had walked in my wayes, &c. their time should have endured for ever. 6. Obeying the voice of God, that is, the embracing of the offer of grace and reconciliation with God through the sacrifice of the Messiah Christ, and studying to walk holily as persons reconciled, is the only way of coming by true felicity, the only way of being furnished with all things necessary for life and salvation, the onelyonly way of having large allowance from God of sweet and satisfactory food, for entertaining of spiritual life and communion with God, promised here under the similitude of earthly food; He should have sed them with the finest of the wheat: and with the honey out of the Rock should I have satisfied thee.