A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 91
PSAL. XCI.
ALbeit this Psalm hath no inscription nor the name of the penman who did write it, yet Satan could not deny it to be the Lords Word, for out of this Psalm he brought one of his darts against our Saviour, Matth. 4. and the Promises which are made here to the believer, are so much more strongly ours; as Christ head of all his people, hath interest therein as man, and hath taken them to him in our name.
Ver. 1. HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
The summe of the Psalme is, an encouragement to believe in God, by nine motives or inducements, most of them being precious Promises, whereunto Christ our Lo…d hath the first right and title; and we onelyonly in and through him. The first motive is, because the believer shall have the warme and comfortable protection of God Almighty. Whence learn, 1. Trusting in God, is the means of entertaining of constant conjunction and communion with God; for he that is a believer, dwelleth in the secret place of the most High. 2. The unsearcheable depths of the riches of Gods truth, grace, power, and goodnesse, and of his other attributes, whereupon faith doth fixe it selfe, are a mystery to the world, which carnal reason knoweth not, nor how to make use thereof; and therefore is well compared to a secret place: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High. 3. In the most High is whatsoever the Believer standeth in need of, a habitation, well furnished with ease, comfort, peace, refreshment, protection, and whatsoever else a soule could wish; for, the secret place of the most High, where the believer may and must dwell, is Gods truth and love; and unto him that dwelleth here, is the Promise made. 4. The Believer is not exempted by his faith from trouble (yea, trouble and exercise from his enemies he may surely expect) but he is exempted from being taken, overcome, and destroyed by them: for a refuge, even the secret place of the most High; here is provided for him. 5. He that betaketh himselfe unto God for refuge. and will make his refuge his habitation, shall not be refused lodging, nor be thrust out when he is entered: He shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 6. The scorching heat of persecution shall not prevaile against the Believer; for Gods omnipotencie shall be imployed for his protection and consolation: He shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Ver. 2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge, and my fortresse, my God, in him will I trust.
The second motive is the Psalmists example, who in his owne experience having felt the good of trusting in God in hardest straits, doth resolve to believe in him still. Whence learne, 1. He that hath experience of the fruit of faith, is the fittest man to bear witnesse of it, and most able to speak from his own perswasion to the perswasion of others; I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortresse. 2. The duty of the Believer is to go on and grow in faith, and the right use of his experiences, is the confirmation of him in the faith of the Covenant, and resolution to grow therein in measure of strength and sincerity: He is my God, in him will I trust.
Ver. 3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler: and from the noisome pestilence.
The third motive to beleeve in God, is a promise of deliverance out of danger, which by humane wit could not be eschewed, which he expresseth under the similitude of snares and pestilence, which do overtake a man before he be aware. Whence learn, 1. A kindly beleever should love to have others beleeving in God, as he himself doth, and should leave nothing undone to perswade others to beleeve, as his calling requireth: for the example of the Psalmist teacheth us so. 2. There are many tentations, whereby Satan (as a fowler laying snares) catcheth poor foolish sinners, and there is much contagion of sinne, whereby albeit men are infected one by another, and many do perish; yet the beleever in God is either preserved from falling into the snare, and from being corrupted with contagion of others ill speeches and manners, or else he is rid and delivered out of the danger; Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 3. As there are dangers in relation to our spiritual condition unavoidable, if God do not deliver us; so are there dangers of plots and conspiracies by wicked enemies in relation to bodily dangers also, from which the wisdom of beleevers could not deliver them: but God hath promised a deliverance, or a good escape from them all, so as the beleever shall be no loser; Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, &c.
Ver. 4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
A fourth motive is, a promise of comfortable and sure defence against the invasion of the enemies, set forth under sundry similitudes usual in Scripture. Whence learn, 1. The care and watchfulnesse of God over his own is such, as neither Nature nor Art can yield sufficient similitudes to expresse it, as the borrowing of more similitudes, some from one thing, and some from another, doth here shew. The watchfulnesse of the bird over her young ones, and the care that a man hath in battel to preserve his own body from hurt, are but imperfect shadowes to represent the watching care of God for a beleever. 2. As the Lord descendeth unto our capacity in such low similitudes of protection and comfort, so he requireth of us, that by those we should ascend in our faith to rely confidently and lovingly upon him: He shall cover thee with his feather; and under his wings shalt thou trust. 3. That which we must oppose to all perils, is the Word of God; so long as we keep that, and ward off dar…s and swords by that meanes, we shall not be overcome: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Ver. 5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night: nor for the arrow that fleeth by day:
6. Nor for the Pestilence that walketh in darknesse: nor for the destruction that wasteth at noone day.
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
A fifth motive to beleeve, is from a more particular promise of safety unto the beleever from all sort of deadly enemies and dangers, wherinto when many do fall the beleever shall stand. Whence learn, 1. The true remedy against tormenting fear, is faith in God: for many terrible things may befall men, when they are most secure, like unto those that befall men in the night: but for any harme which may befall the beleever this way, the Lord here willeth him to be nothing afraid: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night. 2. Many sudden accidents may befall men when they are most watching, and upon their guard, but the Lord willeth the beleever to be confident, that he shall not be harmed this way: Thou shalt not be afraid for the arrow that fleeth by day. 3. Many evils are men subject unto, which come upon them they cannot tell how, but from such evils the Lord assureth the beleever he shall have no harme; Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence which walketh in darknesse. 4. Men are subject to many evils which come upon them openly and not unawares, such as are calamities from enemies and oppressors; the Lord willeth the believer to be confident that he shall not be harmed this way; Thou shalt not be afraid for the destruction which walketh at noon-day. 5. When trials and tentations come upon the world to try the children of men, albeit many fall by those tentations, yet the man who beleeveth in God shall stand: whether the tentation come upon the left hand, with l…sse appearance of good offered in it; or upon the right hand, with … pretences of lawfulnesse and holinesse in a sinful course, whereunto the tentation doth drive: albeit a thousand should fall by the tentation on the one hand, and ten times more on …he other hand yet the beleever in God, going upon the grounds of Gods Word, shall not fall: those evils wherein others fall and pe…ish shall not come near him. as to the point of harming of him, or of destroying of him; A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come near thee. 6. The Lord will not only one way be helpful to the believer, but so many wayes as he can be in danger. as the enumeration of so many sund…y cases, wherein he promiseth deliverance, doth teach us. 7. The only persons who are hurt by judgements and tentations, are such unfenced souls as beleeve not in God, are not reconciled with him, and stand at a distance opposite to him, as the object of his wrath, for none have …ight to the former promises, except the believer only, as all the text holdeth forth
Ver. 8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked.
He answereth an objection: It may be said that the former mentioned evils, tentations and calamities, do come very near unto the godly, for they a…e ofttimes no lesse deep in them, then others are. He answereth, that the Lord may well acquaint them with the danger, and with the sense of their own weaknesse, but for the point of h…me from those evils, or for the point of destruction by those evils, which …s the reward of the wicked; the godly have no more but a discovery of it, to see it, wherein they might have fallen if God had not preserved them; and wherein th… wicked do fall and perish. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the same ca…amities …xternal may befal the beleever and the wicked; yet the close of their course, the reward of their works shall put the difference: for the godly shall only behold the reward of the wicked. 2. Albeit the beleever may be exercised with the fear of destruction, yet he shall be free of falling into it; Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Ver. 9. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation:
10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
A sixth motive to beleeve in God, is a promise general to be delivered from all evil, that nothing shall harme him, but all things shall rather work together for his good. Whence learn, 1. All beleevers have one object of their faith, one relief in their troubles, one retreat from the vexations which do assault them in this world; even God: Thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation. 2. One beleever may and should encourage other beleevers by the same motives whereby he himself is encouraged, as here; Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, to be thy habitation: therefore such and such blessings shall come upon thee, saith he. 3 The nature of true faith is to make use of God in all conditions; in peace and warre, in prosperity and adversity, as here he is both a refuge and an habitation. 4. As we have need to have the same promises repeattd unto us, and inculcated upon us, so slow and dull are we to receive them: so the Lord doth repeat and urge the receiving thereof, with an inlarging and not abridging of what once he promised, as this general promise teacheth: There shall no evil befall thee, nor any plague come near thy tabernacle, to wit, to harm thee: for God, who is the beleevers habitation, in terposeth himself, and turneth the calamity to his good; if it be suffered to come on, that it come not near to his disadvantage.
Ver. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy wayes.
12. They shall beare thee up in their hands, l…st thou dash thy foot against a stone.
A seventh motive to beleeve in God, is a promise of making Angels wait upon the beleever, and carefully to attend his motions in all his lawful affaires, lest he should stumble and suffer harme; which promise even Satan doth acknowledge to belong unto Christ, and Christ doth owne it, being taken in a right sense, Mat. 4. Whence learn, 1. Such is the indulgent love of God toward his owne, as he doth obviate all doubts, which from any hand might hinder them to beleeve in him: if the severity and justice of God terrifie, the Lord offereth himself as a bird, with stretched out wings to receive the supplicant, ver. 4 If enemies who are too strong do pursue, the Lord openeth his bosome as a refuge, ver. 3. If his childe be assaulted, he becometh a fortresse, ver. 3. If he be hotly pursued and enquired after, the Lord becometh a secret place to hide his childe; If persecution be hot, God giveth himself for a shadow: If Potentates and mighty Rulers turn enemies, the Lord interposeth as the most High and Almighty Saviour. ver. 1. If his adversaries be crafty like fowlers or hunters, the Lord promiseth to prevent or break the snares, ver. 3. Whether evils do come upon the beleever night or day, secretly or openly to destroy him, the Lord preserveth his childe from destruction; and if stumbling blocks be laid in his childes way, he hath his instruments, his servants, his Angels prepared to keep the beleever that he stumble not: He shall give his Angels charge over thee; not one Angel only, but all of them, or a number of them. 2. The Angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for every beleever: He shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy wayes. 3. Promises are not made to foster men in their turning after folly, but to encourage them in the course of obedience in their several callings; They have charge to keep thee in all thy wayes. 4. Albeit stumbling stones be laid in the way of Gods childe, yet while he behaveth himself as a beleever in God, he shall not stumble; Great peace have they who love Gods law, and nothing shall stumble them, Psal. 119 165. They shall beare thee up in their hands, left thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Ver. 13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
The eighth motive to beleeve, is a promise of victory over every enemie of his salvation, how fierce, strong and cruel soever they be; how crafty, malicious and dangerous soever they be: Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. God shall put Satan under his feet; tyrants and bloody persecutors, hereticks and seducers shall not prevaile over the beleever: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Ver. 14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my Name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him.
16. With long life will I satisfie him: and shew him my salvation.
The ninth motive to beleeve in God, is taken from a bundle of five or six promises, as spoken immediately by God the Father of his Son Jesus Christ as man, and of every beleever and true member of his mystical body. The first promise is of delivering of the beleever from whatsoever trouble or danger he can be presupposed to fall into: I will deliver him, saith the Lord. 2. For trial of true faith, the unquestionable property of a beleever, and the evidence of a sound and saving faith in God, is fixed love toward God; because he hath set his love upon me. 3. As there is a because and a therefore in the processe of the law, in concluding death for sin, so there is a because and a therefore in the processe of grace, and of the Gospel, which doth reason from one grace given to inferre another grace to be given, even grace for grace: and such is this here: Because he hath set his love on me, I will deliver him. 4. Sound love to God floweth from, and is joyned with sound knowledge of God, as his Majesty is declared unto us in Scripture: The beleever who hath set his love upon God, hath known my Name, saith he. 5. As the beleever is highly priviledged and honoured of God, being made a sonne and an heire, and co-heire with Christ: so shall he be made also more then a Conquerour over all his enemies, through Christ; I will set him on high, because he hath known my Name; this is the second promise. 6. The third promise is, the Lord will give the Spirit of supplication to the beleever, and also a satisfactory answer unto his prayer; for as when … man giveth way to misbelief, he cannot pray any more: so when he entertaineth faith, it maketh him eloquent and instant in prayer, till he receive what he seeketh; He shall call on me, and I will answer him. 7. As it is not to be expected, that the man who beleeveth in God shall want trouble, so the beleever may be sure, that God who exerciseth him with trouble, shall bear him company in his trouble, shall direct him how to behave himself in it, strengthen, support and comfort him under it, and give him delivery out of all his trouble, and not only put respect upon him in the sight of them who did behold his exercise, but also at last shall glorifie him before men and Angels; and this is the fourth promise: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. 8. While others do either want submission unto God at Gods pleasure to live in trouble, or do want submission to die at Gods pleasure, if they be not in trouble; the beleever only hath satisfaction in the length of his life, to die or live as the Lord liketh, and he only departeth contentedly, and entereth into a life everlasting; With long life will I satisfie him; and this is the fifth promise. 9. When the beleever hath received of God satisfaction in the length of life in this world, God will enter him into the possession of blessednesse, of everlasting salvation in the world to come; which is worthily called the salvation of God; With long life will I satisfie him; and what then shall become of him? And I will shew him my salvation; and this is the sixth promise. Above all which promises what can be more added, to induce a soul to embrace the free offer of g…ace in Christ, tendered in the Gospel to sinners, or to move him to entertain friendship with God, by still beleeving in him, and resting on him?