Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 132 – Psalm 138
PSAL. CXXXII.
Vers. 1. ANd all his afflictions] That is▪ with how great difficulty he came to the kingdom, and with how great zeal and care he went about to build the temple.
V. 2. How he] Or, Who.
mighty God of Jacob] Gen 49. 24.
V. 3. Surely, &c.] Heb. If I shall come. The form of an oath: Let me perish if I do it, psal. 95. 11. and 131. 2.
I will not come] Because the chief charge of the king was to set forth Gods glory, he sheweth, that he could not rest, nor take comfort in his house, till he had brought the ark to a setled place.
into the tabernacle] Kings houses are but tabernacles, no abiding places, Heb. 13. 14.
of my house] He means, of his new house, 2 Sam. 5. 9. 1 Chron. 15. 1. He would neither dwell nor sleep in it, till the ark were in his resting-place: that is, he would never do so quietly, till that were done.
V. 5. Ʋntill I finde out a place for the Lord] That is, the ark, which was a signe of Gods presence, Num. 10. 35, 36.
an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob] Heb. habitations: that is, a stately habitation of divers rooms, v. 7.
V. 6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah] It was first planted in Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim.
in the fields of the wood] David found it in Kirjath-jearim, the city of woods, where it was many yeers.
V. 7. we will worship at his footstool] Meaning, before the ark.
worship at his footstool] Psal. 99. 5.
V. 8. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest] Num. 10. 35. 2 Chron. 6. 41.
into thy rest] Jerusalem, because that afterward his ark should remove to no other place.
the ark of thy strength] Whence thou shewest thy strength, in hearing the prayers of thy servants, and relieving them.
V. 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousnesse] Let the effect of thy grace so appear, both in the priests, and in the people, that it as evidently be seen on them, and grace them, as a comely garment doth him that weareth it, Job 29. 14. Isai. 61. 10.
V. 10. For thy servant Davids sake] Vers. 1. 1 Kings 8. 25. Psal. 89. 20, &c. Isai. 37. 35. Thy covenant made to him, made good also those in the temporall estate to other of his seed, so far forth as they kept the covenant.
V. 11. Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne] 2 Sam. 7. 12. 1 King. 8. 25. 2 Chron. 6. 16. Luke 1. 69. Acts 2. 30.
thy body] Heb. thy belly, or, womb, as Prov. 31. 2.
V. 12. for evermore] Because this cannot be accomplished but in Christ, Acts 2. 30. it followeth, that the promise was spirituall.
V. 13. desired it for his habitation] Psal. 68. 16.
V. 14. for I have desired it] Meaning, for his own sake, and not for any outward excellency in the place it self.
V. 15. abundantly] Or, surely.
I will satisfie her poor with bread] God will provide for the meanest in his Church.
V. 16. I will also clothe her priests with salvation] That is, with my protection, whereby they shall be safe.
V. 17. There will I make the horn of David to bud] Luke 1. 69. Though his force and glory for a time seemed to be broken; yet God promiseth to restore them to him, and settle them.
lamp] Or, candle.
V. 18. His enemies will I clothe with shame] I will clothe the one with shame, as the other with honour, v. 9. that is, put them to open and publike shame, psal. 109. 29.
PSAL. CXXXIII.
Vers. 1. HOw good] How profitable and pleasant.
for brethren to dwell together in unitie] Of the same faith or family, Heb. 13. 1. Gen. 13. 8.
together] Heb. even together.
V. 2. like the precious] He sheweth, by these similitudes, the commodity of brotherly love.
ointment upon the head] He alludes to the fragrant ointment, Exod. 30. 23. and 40. 13.
that went down to the skirts of his garments] Or rather, upon the collar, Exod. 28. 32. and 39. 23. for it is not likely that so much precious oil should be poured on him, as should run down to the bottom of his robe.
V. 3. As the dew of Hermon] The dew that fell upon those mountains, made them or the lands adjoyning fruitfull: so doth concord bring plenty.
for there the Lord commanded the blessing] Where there is such an agreement.
commanded the blessing] Psal. 42. 8. and 44. 4. and 71. 3.
CXXXIIII.
Vers. 1. ALl ye servants of the Lord] Ye that are Levites, appointed for this office, 1 Chron. 9. 33.
which by night] Heb. in the nights: that is, every night: to wit, by turns.
stand in the house of the Lord] To watch and minister in the Sanctuary.
V. 2. Lift up your hands] Psal. 141. 2. For their charge was not onelyonly to keep the temple, but to pray for the people there also, and to give God thanks, 1 Tim. 2. 8.
in the sanctuary] Or, in holinesse.
V. 3. The Lord] The Levites answer to the former exhortation▪ and their prayer for the people in their night-watches: sutable to the priests blessing, Num. 6. 24.
that made heaven and earth] And therefore hath all power, Blesse thee with his fatherly love declared in Zion, psal. 128. 5. Thus the Levites used to praise the LORD, and blesse the people.
CXXXV.
Vers. 2. YE that stand in the house of the Lord] Ye priests that serve God in the temple, and ye Levites that do it without in the courts. Others think the people to be meant by them that stand in the courts, psal. 134. 1, 2. Luke 1. 10.
V. 4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob] That is, hath freely loved the posterity of Abraham, 1 Cor. 8. 5.
chosen Jacob unto himself] Deut. 4. 37. and 7. 6, 7. and 10. 15. and 26. 18.
V. 5. our Lord is above all gods] Above all that are called gods by resemblance of dignity, or false opinion of men.
above all gods] Psal. 95. 3. and 97. 9.
V. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth] Psal. 115. 3.
that did he in heaven and earth] He joyneth Gods power with his will, that we should not separate them: and hereby he willeth Gods people to depend on his power, which he confirmeth by effects of it.
V. 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth] Jer. 10. 13.
he maketh lightnings for the rain] To make way for the rain, or, to shew that rain is coming.
V. 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt] Exod. 12. 29.
both of man a…d beast] Heb. from man unto beast.
V. 10. Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings] Num. 21. 24, 25, 26, 34, 35.
V. 12. And gave their land for an heritage] Josh. 12. 7. He sheweth what good the godly receive by Gods power, whereby he destroyeth their enemies, and provideth for them.
V. 13. thy memoriall, O Lord, thorowout all generations] Psal. 102. 12. Exod. 3. 15.
thorowout all generations] Heb. to generation and generation.
V. 14. For the Lord will judge his people] Deut. 32. 36. Psal. 26. 1. He shall avenge them of their enemies, psal. 43. 1.
he will repent himself concerning his servants] He will take away the plagues he lays on them.
V. 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold] Psal. 115. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. He warneth his people to take heed they leave not him to serve idols, that can neither hear nor help them.
CXXXVI.
Vers. 1. OGive thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, &c.] Psal. 106. 1. and 107. 1. and 118. 1.
for his mercy endureth for ever] 1 Chron. 16. 41. Though the least of Gods benefits binde us to thanksgiving; yet by this repetition he sheweth, that God is chiefly to be praised for his great mercy declared to his Church.
V. 2. God of gods] Deut. 10. 17.
V. 5. To him that by wisedom made the heavens] Gen. 1. 1. Prov. 3. 19.
V. 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters] Gen. 1. 9. Jer. 10. 12. Psal. 24. 2.
for his mercy endureth for ever] This was a common kinde of thanksgiving, which the whole people used when they had received any great benefit from God, as 2 Chron. 7. 6. and 20. 21. meaning, That God was not onelyonly mercifull to their fathers, but also continued the same to their posterity.
V. 7. To him that made great lights] Gen. 1. 14.
V. 8. to rule by day] Heb. for the rulings by day.
V. 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-born] Exod. 12. 29.
V. 11. And brought out Israel from among them] Exod. 13. 17. Gods mercifull providence for the good of man, appeareth in all his creatures; but chiefly, in delivering his Church out of the hand of their enemies.
V. 12. With a strong hand] Exod. 6. 6.
with a stretched out arm] A similitude taken from souldiers, who stretch out their arm to use their full might and best strength in exercise of arms.
V. 13. To him which divided the red-sea into parts] Exod. 14. 21, 22.
V. 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red-sea] Exod. 14. 28.
overthrew] Heb. shaked off.
V. 16. To him that led his people thorow the wildernesse] Exod. 15. 22.
thorow the wildernesse] Where, for the space of fourty yeers, he shewed infinite and most strange wonders.
V. 18. And slew famous kings] Deut. 29. 7. Psal. 135. 10, 11. Declaring thereby, That no power nor authority was so dear unto him as the love of his Church.
V. 19. Sihon king of the Amorites] Num. 21. 23.
V. 20. And Og the king of Bashan] Num. 21. 33.
V. 21. And gave their land for an heritage] Josh. 12. 7.
V. 23. Who remembred us in our lowe estate] In our greatest affliction and slavery, when we looked for nothing lesse, then to have had any succour, psal. 113. 7.
V. 25. Who giveth food to all flesh] Psal. 104. 27. and 145. 15. and 147. 9. Seeing that God provideth even for beasts, much more hath he care over his, Matth. 6. 26.
V. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven] Because all ages have had most plain testimonies of Gods benefits.
PSAL. CXXXVII.
Vers. 1. THere was sate down] That is, we abode a long time: and albeit that the countrey was pleasant, yet could it not stay our tears, nor turn us from the true service of God: or, sate down as men oppressed with grief, Ezra 9. 3. Lam. 3. 28.
remembred Zion] Psal. 42. 4, 6. and 102. 14. Lam. 1. 7.
V. 2. in the midst thereof] To wit, of that countrey.
V. 3. required of us a song] The Babylonians spake thus in mocking us, as though, by our silence, we should signifie that we hoped no more in God.
a song] Heb. the words of a song.
wasted us] Heb. laid us on heaps.
V. 4. strange land] Heb. land of a stranger.
V. 5. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem] Albeit the faithfull are touched with their particular griefs, yet the common sorrow of the Church is most grievous unto them, and is such, as they cannot but remember and lament.
V. 6. above my chief joy] The decay of Gods religion in their countrey was so grievous, that no joy could make them glad, except it were restored; and then they would rejoyce as much as now they grieved.
my chief joy] Heb. the head of my joy.
V. 7. the children of Edom] Obad. 10, &c. According as, Ezek. 25. 13. Jer. 49. 7. is prophesies: and Obad. v. 10. sheweth, that the Edomites conspired with the Babylonians against the Jews.
in the day of Jerusalem] When thou didst visit Jerusalem, Ezek. 7. 12. Isai. 13. 13.
Rase it] Heb. make bare.
V. 8. destroyed] Heb. wasted.
that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us] Heb. that recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us.
V. 9. Happie shall he be that taketh] He alludeth to the prophecie, Isai. 13. 16. promising good successe to Cyrus and Darius, whom though ambition moved to fight against Babylon, yet God used, as his rods, to punish his enemies, for their cruelty to his people.
dasheth thy little ones against the stones] Isai. 13. 16.
the stones] Heb. the rock.
PSAL. CXXXVIII.
Vers. 1. BEfore the gods] Angels, which are present in the assemblies; or kings, which are called gods,
Psal. 82. 6. and 97.
before the gods will I sing praise unto thee] Psal. 119. 46.
V. 2. towards thy holy temple] Psal. 28. 2. 1 Kings 8. 29, 30. Jon. 2. 4. Both the temple, and ceremoniall service, by Christs coming were abolished: and now none need to look toward the temple, but worship God in spirit and truth, in every place, Joh. 4. 21. 1 Tim. 2. 8.
above all thy Name] Thou hast made thy self more known by thy word, then by any other way, psal. 19. 7. and 29. 9.
V. 3. and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul] Thou didst strengthen me against all mine enemies inward and outward.
V. 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee] The kings themselves shall praise thee, when they shall know thee fully, as thou hast revealed thy self in thy word to us, v. 2.
V. 5. they shall sing in the ways of the Lord] They shall sing when they shall be converted.
V. 6. Though the Lord be high, yet he hath respect unto the lowly] Isai. 57. 15.
after off] God, though he dwell on high, yet is neer to the lowly; but keeps aloof off from the proud, Prov. 3. 34. Jam. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 5.
V. 8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me] Psal. 57. 2. Phil. 1. 6. Though mine enemies rage never so much, yet the LORD, which hath begun his work in me, will continue his favour to the end.
forsake not the works of thine own hands] Job 10. 8.