A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 87
PSAL. LXXXVII. A Psalme or song for the sonnes of Korah.
WHen God loosed the captivity of the Jewes by Cyrus, son of them did returne from Babylon: the work of repuration of Church and S…ate, Temple and City had few to assist it: their enemies were many, they were straitned with poverty and famine; and the hearts and hands of the Godly were weakened; they were like to faint and despaire, that either Church or State should flourish any more amongst them; for comfort in such a time was this Psalme fitted, leading the Lords people to live by faith, and to work on in the building of the Lords house, and reparation of the City, looking to God the Builder of his Church, and maintainer of his people. To which purpose the Psalmist giveth them seven consolations opposite to so many tentations unto discouragement. The first is, that they should look to God who had founded his owne Temple solidly, and so not saint for the weaknesse and fewnesse of the builders, ver. 1. The second, that they should look to Gods love and good will, and not be troubled for want of externall power and riches, ver. 2. The third is, that they should look to the prophecies concerning the Church, and not be troubled for what present outward appearance and carnall reason did represent, ver. 3. The fourth is, that they should not be troubled for the multitude of their foes for the present time, but look to the multitude of friends and converts which they should have hereafter, ver. 4, 5. The fifth is, that they should not be troubled with the feare of the ruine of the Church, but look to Almighty God, who would establish her so, that no power should overturn her, ver. 5. The sixth is, that they should not be troubled with the present contempt under which they did lie, but look to the glory and estimation which God should put in his owne time upon the Church and her children, ver. 6. The seventh is, that they should not be troubled with their present grief they were in, but should look to the spiritual joy and causes thereof, which the Lord was to furnish to his people, ver. 7.
Ver. 1. HIs foundation is in the holy mountaines.
The first comfort of the afflicted Jewes, troubled for the hindering of the building of Gods Temple is, that God had by his decree and promise made the mountains of Sion and Moriah the place of his rest amongst his people, till the Messiah should come, in whom these types were to be accomplished, and for whose cause they were to be preserved till he came, who is the only solid rock whereupon the Church is builded. Whence learn, 1. When the builders of the Lords Church are few and weak, his people had need to be comforted against their feares and doubts, as here we see: and the way to be comforted in such hard times, is to look by faith to God, as the builder of his own house, who hath laid the foundation upon solid grounds, that every believer that trusteth in him, may be as Mount Sion, which cannot be removed; His foundation is on the holy mountaines.
Ver. 2. The LORD loveth the gates of Sion: more then all the dwellings of Iacob.
The second comfort is, that God had chosen Sion above all other places to be his rest, and did love there to dwell rather then elsewhere. Whence learn, 1. The dignity of any place, person or society, proceedeth not from any thing in the place or society, but from the Lords election and free love; The Lord loveth the gates of Sion, more then all the dwellings of Iacob. 2. The love of the Lord to his chosen Church, is a solid ground of assurance of her continuance: as here in the figure we are taught.
Ver. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God. Selah.
The third comfort is, from the prophecies past about the Church; and promises made unto …her in figurative termes. Whence learn, 1. The Church is the incorporation, in which the Lord reigneth, ruleth and resideth; It is the City of God. 2. The priviledges of the Church are very glorious; the glory of Kings, Crowns and Diadems is nothing to them, but bodily and temporal shadows of what is spiritually and everlastingly bestowed on the Church; Glorious things are sp…ken of thee. 3 Albeit glorious things are bestowed on the Church, yet it is not so much any thing already done, as what is to be done, which maketh the Church blessed: it is not present possession, but hope; not sight, but faith, which maketh the Church blessed: and the Scriptures are a sufficient right to us for all blessings which are to come: Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God.
Ver. 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon, to them that know me: Behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: this man was borne there.
5. And of Sion it shall be said, This and that man was borne in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
The fourth comfort is, that the Churches chief enemies should be converted to the faith, and should count it their greatest honour so to be Whence learn, 1. It is among the troubles of the Church that she ha…h so many enemies, and those so mighty and potent as the Egyptians and Babylonians; I will make mention of Rahab; that is, Egypt, and Babylon, and Palestina, and Tyre, and Ethiopia, which are here named as the most eminent oppressors of the Church, among all other Kingdomes. 2. It should comfort the Church, that God is able to make her chiefest enemies to become Converts, and that he hath done it sundry times, and will yet do it more; and that he can take order with those enemies which shall not be converted, as he did with Rahab and Babylon; for, I will make menti…n of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me, signifieth a mention-making of them; viz. to the edification of the Churches children, both concerning what God had done to those Nations in justice, and what he would do to them in mercy, or unto other enemies like unto them. 3. As it is the glory and comfort of the Church, to have her enemies made Converts: so is it honourable to the enemies, were they never so potent in the world to be Citizens of the City of God; I will make mention of them, that this man was born there; that is, in the City of God. 4. The conversion of men from Paganism and Idolatry unto fellowship in the Covenant with the Church is a sort of new birth to the externally converted, f…om which their new birth and n…w being is to be reckoned; This man was borne there. 5. As whatsoever honour men have in the world, it is not to be compared with the honour of regeneration, and being born Citizens of the Church, so whatsoever contempt the members of the Church do suffer of the world, it's made up by the honour of being bo…n in the Church: for, of Sion it shall be said, This and that man were born in her. 6. I here is no reason to feare the ruine of the Church, or the not continuing of her from age to age, to be a mother and receptacle of Converts; For the highest himself shall establish her, and this is the fif…h comfort of the favoure…s of the Chu…ch in the time of trouble.
Ver. 6. The LORD shall count when he writeth up the people: that this man was borne there. Selah.
The sixth comfort is, from Gods estimation which he hath of every one of the true Citizens of his Church. Whence learn, 1. As all the elect all the regenerate are taken notice of by God, no lesse particularly, then if their names were all written up in a book one by one: so there is a time when he manifeste…h his enrolling of them; partly to themselves by his witnessing unto them that they are his children; par…ly to the world, by sustaining them in their trials and troubles; and … by a full delivery of them, and confessing their names before men and Angels at the great day; The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people; that is, in his owntime when he seeth it fit to manifest his respect to his own. 2. The Converts among the Nations shall be reckoned up among the C…nverts of the Lords people of the Jewes; The Lord shall count when … …riteth up the people, that this man was born there, that is, whatsoever man he be, who is converted out of any countrey, tongue or language, he shall be counted a member of the Church of Israel.
Ver. 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are … thee.
The last comfort is, from the joy spiritual, and the everlasting springs, fountains and causes of joy, which God doth furnish, and will furnish to his Church. Whence learn, 1. As the Church is subject to her own griefs in the world, so also is s… sure of ahundant consolations to be had and laid up in store for her, expressed here in the termes of typical joy, appointed in solemn festivals; As well the fingers as the players on instruments shall be there. 2. The causes of the joy of the Saints are everlasting, comparable to wells and springs of living water; All my springs shall be in thee. 3. Such Saints as have had their senses exercised, are able to subscribe the truth of promises by their own experience, and in special, that there is no joy or comfort, no gift nor grace, no refreshment nor delectation worthy to be named, except that which they have by Church-priviledges, and communion of Saints, as here the Psalmist doth confesse; All my springs are in thee, saith he: speaking to the Church, or to God dwelling in his Church.