A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 97
PSAL. XCVII.
THis Psalme containeth a prophecie of the spiritual glory of Christs Kingdome, to ver. 8. And the use of the Doctrine to the end of the Psalme. The comfort of Christs Kindome in relation to his Church is set downe, ver. 1, 2. And the terriblenesse thereof in relation to his enemies, ver. 3, 4, 5, 6. with a curse upon image-worshippers, ver. 7. The uses of the Doctrine, they are foure. The first is, that all excellency, and whatsoever is honourable in the world, should do homage to him, set down in the end of ver. 7. The second is, that the true Church should be glad at the hearing and the seeing of the execution of Gods judgements upon idolaters, with a reason for it, ver. 8, 9. The third use is, a direction to the Saints to beware of sin, with some reasons for it, ver. 10, 11. The fourth use is, that the righteous should rejoyce, and thank God upon all occasions, ver. 12.
Ver. 1. THe LORD reigneth, let the earth rejoyce: let the multitudes of Isles be glad thereof.
2. Clouds and darknesse are round about him: righteousnesse and judgement are the habitation of his throne.
The Psalmist proclaimeth Christ King among the Gentiles, and doth commend his Kingdome to them, as full of joy, full of majesty, and full of righteousnesse. Whence learn, 1. Beside the sovereignty which God hath over all people; he hath a speciall Kingdom, wherein he reigneth by the Gospel of Christ: this is it whereof here he speaketh, saying, The Lord reigneth. 2. Comfort against all grief from sin or misery, true matter of joy and full felicity, is to be had by the coming of this Kingdom; The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoyce. 3. The Isles of the Sea are in Christs charter, and have their share of the joy which is to be had in Christ; Let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof. 4. How despicable soever Christs Kingdome may seem to the world, yet it is full of heavenly majesty; Clouds and darknesse are round about him. 5. The glory of Christs Kingdome is unsearchable, and hid from the eyes of the world, who cannot take up the things of God, except he reveale himself to them, and do open the eyes of their understanding; Clouds and darknesse are round about him. 6. The Kingdome of Christ giveth no liberty unto sin, but is altogether for righteousnesse and judgement; for therein righteousnesse is taught to sinners, and they made righteous, and kept in the course of righteousnesse, and defended from the harme of their adversaries, and rewarded according to their righteousnesse, and all the unrighteous are adjudged to punishment according to their works; Righteousnesse and judgement are the habitation of his throne.
Ver. 3. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4. His lightnings inlightened the world: the earth saw it, and trembled.
5. The hills melted like waxe at the presence of the LORD: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6. The heavens declare his righteousnesse: and all the people see his glory.
After the Psalmist hath set down how comfortable Christ is to His Subjects, he sheweth how terrible he is to his enemies. Whence learne, 1. Albeit the Kingdom of Christ be a Kingdome for righteousnesse, and a fountaine of joy to all who do receive him; yet such is the natural wickednesse of men, that he shall not want enemies, as here is imported plainly. 2. There is no lesse, but rather more wrath attending the despisers of the Gospel, then did attend the giving out of the Law, Heb. 12. 29. A fire goeth before him. 5. Albeit the enemies of Christ were never so many, invironing his flock round about; yet shall he reign in the midst of them, and consume all his adversaries: A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4. He letteth forth his wrath, not all at once, but by degrees; lighter judgements, and foregoing terrours come before destruction: His lightnings inlightened the world: the earth saw it, and trembled. 5. Christ shall utterly undo the greatest Potentates on earth, if they stand in his way and oppose him; The hills melted like waxe at the presence of the Lord. 6. There is no comparison between Christ and his enemies; how great Monarchs soever they be, they cannot stand before his presence; For he is the Lord of the whole earth. 7. Our Lord shall not want Preachers of his righteousnesse: for beside the Word of God, blessings from heaven upon his friends, and judgements from heaven upon his enemies, according to the Word, shall testifie for Christ; The heavens declare his righteousnesse. 8. The judgements of God upon the enemies of the Church, and his blessings upon his Church, shall be so evident, as beholders shall be forced to acknowledge God in them, manifesting himself for Christs Kingdome, And all the people shall see his glory.
Ver. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him all ye gods.
He setteth down Gods curse upon idolaters, or image-worshipers, and then sheweth the uses of the former Doctrine, for further setting forth the glory of Christs Kingdome. Whence learn, 1. All they who either serve or worship graven images, are reckoned by God for enemies to God and to Christ; and it is a part of Christs glory to abolish images, and all worship and service unto images out of his Church: Confounded be all they that serve graven images. 2. Albeit such as are lovers of imagery, not only do serve images, but also will defend the state of images in the exercise of Religion, and glory in them; yet shall they at length be ashamed of their boasting: Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols 3. God will not have such relative worship as men would give him, by serving or worshipping of him in, at, or before imag… the way how God will be served, is by a direct and immedi… worshipping of him, without the mediation or intervening … any thing which may intercept his worship: for in opposition t… relative worship in the service of graven images, he saith, Worship him; importing that when images are worshipped, God is not worshipped at all, whatsoever the image-worshipper doth i… tend. 4. Whatsoever creature hath excellency in heaven or earth, or can pretend to any eminency or excellency of whatsoever sort, must do homage unto Christ: Worship him all … gods, and this is the first use of the former Doctrine.
Ver. 8. Sion heard, and was glad: and the daughters of Iudah rejoyced, because of thy judgement…, O LORD.
Ver. 9. For thou, LORD, art high above all th… earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
The second use is to comfort all true worshippers; partly, because they hear Gods wrath threatened and executed against Idolaters; and partly, because they have hereby a clear evidence o… Christs supremacy over all creatures. Whence learn, 1. The condemnation of imagerie, and of all service and worshi… … ven images, is a Doctrine comfortable to the true mem… the Church; Sio…d, (to wit, this curse against Ido… and was glad. 2. The true …rch considered in her collect… incorporation, as the Mo… Sion, and in her particular branches and subdivisions, as Daughters of Iudah depending upon Christ, the true Vine-tree of Iudah, have the same reason… of joy, and the same grounds of edification by Gods Word, and works of judgement, wrought for clearing of true Religion and shaming of false worship: Sion beard, and was glad; and the daughters of Iudah rejoyced, because of thy judgements, O LORD. 3. The manifestation of the Gospel of Christ, is the exaltation of God, and manifestation of his excellency; whose dishonour as it should be the matter of our grief; so his manifested glory should be our joy, as the reason here given of the joy of the Saints doth teach us; For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ver. 10. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil; he preserveth the souls of his Saints: he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11. Light is sowen for the righteous: and gladnesse for the upright in heart.
The third use of the Doctrine, is an exhortation to the faithfull to studie holinesse, and to eschew the fellowship of sin, whatsoever may be the danger; partly, because the Lord will deliver his own out of the hands of their enemies: partly, because God h…th appointed comfort unto them, both in and after their afflictions. Whence learn, 1. A Believer in God, or a true worshipper of God in Christ, is a lover of God; for thus are they described here, Ye that love the Lord. 2. The love of God must be joyned with, and manifested by the study of a …oly life, and with not onelyonly abstaining from, but also with hating and abhorring of that which is sinful; Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. 3. Albeit the hating of evil and loving of God may readily make a man the object of malice and of persecution from wicked men, yet shall the godly have their soules saved; yea, and at length be fully delivered from the harme which S…tan and the wicked intend to bring upon the godly for that cause; He preserveth the soules of his Saints: he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 4. All the exercises of the godly, and specially their troubles for righteousnesse, are but the seeds of their joy and consolation, which God is to bring forth unto them out of these troubles: Light is sowen for the righteous. 5. The Lords children, who love him, and hate evil, must not think to have the fruit of their rightcousnesse presently in possession, but must give a time unto it, as is given to … that is cast into the ground, and as after a time the corne doth spring, and comes to a ripe harvest; so shall the troubles of the godly have a comfortable issue: Light is sowen for the righteous, 6. In reckoning of the righteous, the Lord counteth men by their heart: and so many as by faith in Christ have purified their hearts unto the un…eigned study of holinesse, they are righteous before God, albeit their infirmities be many: and whatsoever fit of grief and interruption of joy such men be subject unto for a time, yet at length their po…tion shall be a full harvest of gladnesse; Light is sowen to the righteous, and who these are he sheweth, and gladnesse for the upright in heart.
Ver. 12. Rejoyce in the LORD, ye righteous: and give thanks at the remembrance of his holinesse.
The fourth use of the Doctrine, is an exhortation unto Beleevers, to be joyfull and thankfull whatsoever be their condition in this present life, because of the salvation manifested in Christ. Whence learne, 1. Whatsoever may be the tribulation of the faithfull in the world, they have matter of joy in the LORD, and they should stirre up themselves to rejoyce, and make conscience of the commandment; Rejoyce, ye righteous, in the LORD. 2. Whatsoever can be taken from the godly, their right and interest in CHRIST can never be taken from them, and so there is cause to give thanks for this gift for ever; And give thanks at the remembrance of his holinesse, or confesse to the remembrance of his holinesse; that is, acknowledge to his glory the benefit which you have by being a Subject to this King. 3. Whatsoever word or work of CHRIST doth bring us to the remembrance of his Name, should bring us also to the consideration and remembrance of his holinesse, which is the untainted glory of all his attributes, wisdome, justice, goodnesse, power, mercy, truth, &c. and is the untainted glory of his Word, workes, and purchase unto us; Give thankes at the remembrance of his holinesse.