Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 147 – Argument
PSAL. CXLVII.
Vers. 1. IT is good to sing praises unto our God] Psal. 92. 1.
for it is pleasant] He sheweth wherein we ought to exercise our selves continuall, and to take delight, to wit, in praising God, for that is pleasing to him.
and praise is comely] Psal. 33. 1.
V. 2. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem] Because the LORD is the founder of the church, it cannot be destroyed, though the members thereof be dispersed, and seem as it were, for a time, to be cast off.
he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel] Deut. 30. 3.
V. 3. He healeth the broken in heart] With affection, or with sorrow for sin.
wounds] Heb. griefs.
V. 4. He telleth the number of the starres] Though it seem to man incredible, that God should assemble his church, being so dispersed, yet nothing can be too hard for him, that can number, and name all the stars.
he calleth them all by their names] Isai. 40. 26.
V. 5. his understanding is infinite] Heb. of his understanding there is no number, Isai. 40. 28. Rom. 11. 33.
V. 6. he casteth the wicked down to the ground] For the more high that the wicked climb, the greater is their fall in the end, Psal. 73. 18, 19.
V. 7. Sing unto the Lord] Heb. Answer: That is, sing by turns, Exod. 15. 21. and 32. 18. Or, answer Gods goodnesse by thankfulnesse and obedience.
V. 8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds] He sheweth, by the examples of Gods mighty power, goodnesse and wisdom, that we can never want most just occasion to praise God.
who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grasse to grow upon the mountains] Psal. 104. 13, 14.
V. 9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young raven… which cry] Job 38. 41. Psal. 104. 27, 28.
to the young ravens which cry] For their crying is, as it were a confession of their need, which cannot be relieved without God: then if God shew himself mindfull of the most contemptible fowls, can he suffer them to die with famine, whom he hath assured of life everlasting? Job 38. 41. Matth. 6. 26.
which cry] Or, when they cry.
V. 10. he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man] God is thus bountifull to the creatures, not for any worth in them, but for his love to his people.
V. 11. in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy] Psal. 33. 18.
hope in his mercy] Heb. wait for his mercy.
V. 13. he hath strengthned the barres of thy gates] He doth not onelyonly furnish his church with all things necessary, but preserveth also the same, and maketh it strong against outward force.
V. 14. He maketh peace in thy borders] Heb. who maketh thy border peace.
finest of the wheat] Heb. fat of wheat, Deut. 32. 14. Psal. 81. 16.
V. 15. He sendeth forth his commandment] His secret working in all creatures, is as a commandment to keep them in order, and to give them motion and force.
his word runneth very swiftly] For immediately, and without resisting, all things obey him.
V. 19. He sheweth] As before he called Gods secret working in all his creatures, his word, so here he meaneth the will of God revealed in the scriptures, given to his church, as a most precious treasure.
his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel] Mal. 4. 4.
his word unto Jacob] Heb. his words: That is, the ten words, or commandments. He gave them the law morall, ceremoniall, judiciall, Mal. 4. 4.
V. 20, they have not known them] The cause of this difference is, Gods free mercy to his church, which hath therefore great cause to praise him, Rom. 3. 1.
PSAL. CXLVIII.
Vers. 1. PRaise ye the Lord] Heb. Hallelujah.
from the heavens] Revel. 5. 13. Ye heavenly creatures praise God in the heavens.
V. 2. all his angels] Psal. 103. 20, 21. Because they are members of the same church, he setteth them before our eyes, which are most willing hereunto, and by their prompt obedience, teach us to do our duty.
V. 3. sun and moon] In that Gods glory shineth in these insensible creatures, this their beauty, and orderly motion, is a countinuall praising of God, Psal. 19. 1, 2, &c.
starres of light] Job 38. 7.
V. 4. ye heavens of heavens] Ye highest heavens, 1 King. 8. 27. called the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 2. where the saints and angels are. The skie where the stars are, is the second heaven: the ayr, is the first, where the fowls flie.
ye waters] That is, the rain-waters lodged in the clouds Gen. 1. 7. Job 26. 8.
above the heavens] Above the lower region of the ayr.
V. 5. for he commanded, and they were created] Gen. 1. 3, 6. Psal. 33. 9.
V. 6. a decree which shall not passe] Psal. 119. 91. Job 38. 33. Jere. 31. 35, 36. and 33. 25.
V. 7. ye dragons] Rather whales, for they live in the deeps, Gen. 1. 21.
V. 8. stormy winde fulfilling his word] Which come not by chance, or fortune, but by Gods appointment, Psal. 147. 15, 16.
V. 9. Mountains and all hils] Great and little hils, fruitfull and unfruitfull trees, wilde beasts and tame, worms and birds.
V. 10. flying fowl] Heb. birds of wing.
V. 11. Kings of the earth] For the greater gifts that any hath received, and the more high one is preferred, the more bound is he to praise God for the same: but neither high nor low, condition or degree, can be exempted from this duty.
V. 13. for his name alone is excellent] His name onelyonly is excellent of it self: creatures have no more excellency then he communicateth to them.
excellent] Heb. exalted.
his glory is above the earth and heaven] And therefore is worthy to be praised by kings and angels.
V. 14. He also exalteth the horn of his people] The dignity, power, and glory of his church, Psal. 75. 10.
the praise of all his saints] Or, he is the praise of all his saints, Luke 2. 32. Or, which is.
even of the children of Israel] By reason of his covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
PSAL. CXLIX.
Vers. 1. PRaise ye the Lord] Heb. Hallelujah.
a new song] Psal. 33. 3. For his great and manifold benefits daily renewed on his church, Lam. 3. 23.
V. 2. him] Heb. them, as Eccles. 12. 1. Isai. 54. 5.
that made him] He gives two reasons why they should praise God with a new song. First, because he made them. Secondly, because he made them his people. In Hebrew it is, In his makers: to shew the trinitie of persons, Isai. 54. 5. Job 35. 10.
V. 3. in the dance] Or, with the pipe.
V. 4. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people] Psal. 35. 27.
he will beautifie the meek with salvation] Not onelyonly free them from their enemies, but also make them glorious before the world.
V. 5. let them sing aloud upon their beds] They should enjoy continuall rest and liberty to praise God, and shall use their liberty both night and day, to that end, Psal, 63. 6. Job 35. 10. Eccles. 12. 1.
V. 6. in their mouth] Heb. in their throat: That is, they should sing aloud of Gods famous acts.
a two-edged sword in their hand] Either he means, God would give them temporall victories, or, the spirituall sword, Heb. 4. 12. to rule men withall, Revel. 1. 16.
V. 7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen] This is chiefly accomplished in the kingdom of Christ, when Gods people, for just causes, execute Gods judgements against his enemies: and it giveth no liberty to any to revenge their private injuries.
V. 8. To binde their kings with Chains] Not onelyonly the people, but the kings also that were their enemies, should be destroyed.
V. 9. To execute upon them the judgement written: Deut. 7. 1, 2.
the judgement written] Hereby God bindeth the hands and mindes of all his, to enterprise no further then he appointeth.
this honour have all his saints.] Psal. 148. 14.
PSAL. CL.
Vers. 1. PRaise ye the Lord] Heb. Hallelujah.
in his sanctuary] Or, for his sanctuary: That is, for revealing himself in his ordinances. So verse 2, In his mighty acts: That is, for them.
in the firmament of his power] For his wonderfull power appeareth in the firmament, which in Hebrew is called, a stretching out, or, spreading abroad. And therein the mighty work of God shineth.
V. 2. excellent greatnesse] Or, greatnesse of greatnesse, or, abundance of greatnesse.
V. 3. with the sound of the trumpet] He exhorteth them, that they might praise God the better, to stir up their joy with musicall instruments.
trumpet] Or, cornet.
V. 4. dance] Or, pipe.
V. 5. loud] Heb. of report, Isai 53. 1.
high] Heb. shouting.
V. 6. Let every thing that hath breath, praise the Lord] That is, every man, Deut. 20. 16. Josh. 11. 11. So sometimes flesh is put for man. He sheweth, that all men have cause to praise God. Let us therefore, never cease praising him here, till we be taken from hence, into his heavenly kingdom, which he hath prepared for his, to sing of his praise for ever. Amen, and Amen.
thing] Heb. breath.
Praise ye the Lord] Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16.
ANNOTATIONS On the Book of PROVERBS.
The ARGUMENT.
IT appears, 1 King. 4. 32. that Solomon spake three thousand Proverbs: Of all which, these onelyonly remain that are written in this Book, wherein are many excellent sentences, besides many directions, not onelyonly in matters of pietie, but also of morality and civilitie, and houshold office▪ and affairs. To all which, the great, and wise King was content to condescend for the good of Gods Church and people. He speaks one while in his own name, another while in his fathers, then in wisdoms, else where in his mothers, and sometimes in Gods Name. So he shews, whence he received so much wisdom, and how willing he was to communicate it. The particulars see in notes on Chap. 4. 4. Who so reads this Book, that he attains to the writers intention, set out in the six first verses of the first chapter, shall never repent of his pains.