Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 78 – Psalm 85
PSAL. LXXVIII.
Title. Maschil of Asaph] Or, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction.
Vers. 1. O My people] The prophet, under the name of a teacher, calleth the people his, and the doctrine, his, as Paul calleth the Gospel his, whereof he was but the preacher, Rom. 2. 16. and 16. 25.
to my law] That is, my doctrine.
V. 2. I will open my mouth in a parable] Psal. 49. 4. Matth. 13. 35.
in a parable] A weighty sentence fit to teach men wisdom: which Christ frequently used.
I will utter] Plentifully, as a spring sends out water.
dark sayings] Sharp ones, that require wit to understand and expound them.
of old] Of things that have been done long since.
V. 3. heard and known] Psal. 44. 1.
V. 5. a testimony in Jacob] Psal. 147. 19, 20. By the testimony and law, he meaneth the law written, which they were commanded to teach their children.
our fathers have told us] Which were the people of God, Psal. 44. 1.
that they should make them known to their children] Deut. 4. 9. and 6. 7.
V. 6. That the generation to come might know them] He sheweth wherein the children should be like their fathers, that is, In maintaining Gods pure religion.
V. 7. That they might set their hope in God] He sheweth wherein the use of this doctrine standeth, in faith, meditation of Gods benefits, and obedience.
V. 8. And might not be as their fathers] Though these fathers were the seed of Abraham, and the chosen people, yet he sheweth by their rebellion, provocation, falshood, and hypocrisie, that the children ought not to follow their examples.
that set not their heart] Heb. that prepared not their heart.
their heart aright] Verse 37.
V. 9. The children of Ephraim] First, they fled before Jephtah, Judg. 12. 4, 6. Secondly, before the Philistines, 1 Sam. 4. 10. which seems the rather, because after mentioned in this Psalm, verse 57, 61, 67. or, before Ahijah, 2 Chronicles 13. 17.
carrying bowes] Heb. throwing forth: or, shooting with bowes, as Jere. 4. 29.
V. 12. in the field of Zoan] A place of note in Egypt. Isai. 19. 13. Ezek. 30. 14.
V. 13. He divided the sea] Exod. 14. 21.
V. 14. In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire] Exod. 13. 21. and 14. 24.
V. 15. He cla…e the rocks in the wildernesse, and gave them drink as out of the great depths] Exod. 17. 6. Num. 20. 11. Psal. 105. 41. 1 Cor. 10. 4.
V. 16. to run down like rivers] So that they drank of the water all the while they were in the wildernesse, for it followed them in the desert, Deuter. 9. 21. Psalm 105. 41. 1 Corinth. 10. 4.
V. 17. And they sinned yet more against him] Their wickednesse could not be overcome by Gods benefits, which were great and many, Isai. 5. 4.
provoking the most High in the wildernesse] Psal. 95. 8.
V. 18. by asking meat for their lust] To require more then is convenient, to satisfie wanton lust, and to doubt of Gods power, if we have it not, is to tempt God.
V. 19. Yea, they spake against God] Num. 11. 4.
Can God furnish a table in the wildernesse?] Thus when we give place to sin, we are moved to doubt of Gods power, unlesse he will alwayes be ready to serve our lusts.
furnish] Heb. order.
V. 20. Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams over flowed] Exod. 17. 6. Num. 20. 11.
V. 22. and trusted not in his salvation] That is, in his fatherly providence, whereby he careth for his, and provideth sufficiently for them.
V. 23. Though he had commanded the clouds] So that they had that which was convenient, but their lust made them to covet more.
V. 24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven] Exod. 16. 14. John 6. 31.
V. 25. Man did eat angels food] Or, every one did eat the bread of the mighty. Such as angels might eat, if they used food. Excellent food. So the tongue of angels is put for an excellent tongue, 1 Cor. 13. 1.
V. 26. He caused an east-winde to blow] God used the windes to teach them, that all creatures were at his command, and that no distance of place could let his working.
to blow] Heb. to go.
V. 27. feathered fowls] Heb. fowl of wing.
V. 28. in the midst] Of the places where they used to encamp: or, in a place neer the camp: for it follows, round about their habitations; not in the midst of them.
of their camp] Heb. his camp: That is, the camp of Jacob, mentioned, verse 21.
V. 30. from their lust] From the meat they desired: or, from desiring more.
while their meat was yet in their mouths] Num. 11. 33.
V. 31. slew the fattest of them] Though others were not spared, yet chiefly they suffered, who were most puffed up, and were chiefest among them.
smote down] Heb. made to bow
chosen men] Or, young men.
V. 32. they sinned still] Thus sin by continuance maketh men insensible, so that no plagues will mend them, 2 Chron. 28. 22.
V. 33. in vanitie] In fruitlesse journeys in the wildernesse, so that they could not come to Canaan, Num. 14. 29.
V. 34. When he slew them] Such was their hypocrisie, that they sought unto God for fear of punishment, though in their heart they loved him not, Hos. 5. 15.
V. 37. For their heart was not right with him] Whatsoever cometh not from the pure fountain of the heart, is hypocrisie.
V. 38. forgave their iniquity] Because he would ever have some remnant of a church to praise his name on earth, he suffered not their sins to overcome his mercy.
V. 40. provoke him] Or, rebell against him.
V. 41. turned back and tempted God] Or, tempted God again.
duplicate page duplicate page limited the holy One of Israel] By appointing what he should do, or including his power within their capacity.
V. 42. They remembred not his hand] The forgetfulnesse of Gods benefits, is the root of rebellion, and of all vice.
from the enemy] Or, from affliction.
V. 43. wrought] Heb. set.
V. 44. And had turned their rivers into blood] Exod. 7. 20.
V. 45. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them] Exod. 8. 24.
He sent divers sorts of flies] This word signifieth, a confused mixture of flies, and venemous worms. Some take it for all sorts of serpents: some, for all wilde beasts.
frogs, which destroyed them] Exod. 8. 6.
V. 46. He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar] Exod. 10. 13. He repeateth not here all the miracles that God did in Egypt, but some which might be sufficient to convince the people of ingratitude.
V. 47. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomoretrees with frost] Exod. 9. 23.
destroyed] Heb. killed.
frost] Or, great hail-stones.
V. 48. He gave up] Heb. He shut up.
h…t thunder-bolts] Or, lightnings.
V. 49. wrath and indignation and trouble] Rom. 2. 8, 9.
evil angels] Or, messengers of evil.
V. 50. He made a way] Heb. He weighed a path.
their life over to the pestilence] Or, their beasts to the murrain, Exod. 9. 3.
V. 51. And smote all the first-born in Egypt] Exod. 12. 29.
the chief of their strength] The first-born are so called, Gen. 49. 3.
of Ham] That is, Egypt: for it is called Mizraim, of Mizraim, that was the son of Ham.
like sheep] Psal. 77. 20.
V. 53. so that they feared not] They had no occasion to fear, for God destroyed their enemies; yet they did fear sometimes out of unbelief.
overwhelmed their enemies] Exod. 14. 27. and 15. 10.
overwhelmed] Heb. covered.
V. 55. divided them an inheritance by line] Josh. 13. 7.
V. 57. dealt unfaithfully] Nothing more displeaseth God in children, then when they continue in that wickednesse, which their fathers had begun.
deceitfull] Or, slack or, warping, Jere. 48. 16.
V. 58. For they provoked him to anger] Deut. 32. 21. By serving God otherwise then he had appointed.
V. 60. So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh] 1 Sam. 4. 11. For their ingratitude he suffered the Philistines to take the ark, which was the sign of his presence, from among them, and never brought it back to Shiloh again, Jerem. 7. 12, 14.
V. 61. delivered his strength] The ark is called, his strength and beauty, because thereby he defended his people, and beautifully appeared unto them, 1 Sam. 4. 21. Psal. 132. 8.
V. 62. was wroth with his inheritance] His people, that were as dear to him, as our inheritance is to us.
V. 63. The fire consumed their young men] They were suddenly destroyed, 1 Sam. 4. 10.
their maidens were not given to marriage] They had no marriage▪ songs: that is, they were not married, Jere. 25. 10. Revel. 18. 23.
given] Heb. praised.
V. 64. their widows made no lamentation] They were so overwhelmed with grief, that they died themselves, and could not lament for their husbands, 1 Sam. 4. 19, &c.
V. 65. by reason of wine] As one refreshed with sleep, and comforted with wine.
V. 66. he smote his enemies] With diseases, 1 Sam. 5. 6. which was a reproach to them, 1 Sam. 6. 4.
V. 69. he built his sanctuary] By building the temple, and establishing the kingdom, he declared, that the signs of his favour were among them.
established] Heb. founded.
V. 70. He chose David also his servant] 1 Sam. 16. 11. 2 Sam. 7. 8.
V. 71. From following] Heb. From after.
to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance] 2 Sam. 5. 2. 1 Chron. 11. 2.
V. 72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart] He sheweth wherein a kings charge standeth, to wit, In providing faithfully for his people, In guiding them by counsell, and in defending them by power.
PSAL. LXXIX.
Title. Of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. THe heathen are come into thine inheritance] The people cry unto God against the barbarous tyranny of the Babylonians: who spoiled Gods inheritance, polluted his temple, destroyed his religion, and murdered his people.
thy holy temple have they defiled] Psal. 74. 7.
V. 2. The dead bodies of thy servants] The prophet sheweth, to what extremities God suffereth sometime his church to fall, to exercise their faith, before he set to his hand to deliver them.
fowls of the heaven] Psal. 74. 14.
V. 3. there was none to bury them] Their friends and kinsfolk durst not bury them, for fear of the enemies: or, there were so many slain, that the living sufficed not to bury the dead.
V. 4. We are become a reproach to our neighhours] Psal. 44. 14.
a reproach to our neighbours] Whereof some came of Abraham, but were degenerate: and others were open enemies to thy religion; but they both laughed at our miseries,
V. 5. How long, Lord?] Psal. 89. 46.
shall thy jealousie burn like fire?] Wilt thou utterly consume us for our sins, before thou takest us to mercy?
V. 6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee] Jere. 10. 25.
V. 7. For they have devoured Jacob] Heb. He: That is, every one of them: or, the devourer hath devoured.
V. 8. O remember not against us former iniquities] Isai. 64. 9. Which we and our fathers have committed.
former iniquities] Or, the iniquities of them that were before us.
let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us] And stay not till we be overwhelmed with our troubles.
V. 9. O God of our salvation] Seeing we have none other Saviour, neither can we help our selves, and also by our deliverance, thy name shall be praised, Therefore, O LORD, help us.
names sake] Josh. 7. 9.
V. 10. Where is there God?] Psal. 42. 10. and 115. 2.
revenging] Heb. vengeance.
revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed] Psal. 58. 10.
V. 11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee] Who though in respect of God they were justly punished for their sins, yet in consideration of their cause were unjustly vexed.
thy power] Heb. thine arm.
preserve thou those that are appointed to die] Heb. reserve the children of death.
those that are appointed to die] Which were captives among their enemies, and could look for nothing but death, Psal. 44. 22.
V. 12. into their b…some] Isai. 65. 6, 7.
V. 13. sheep of thy pasture] Psal. 95. 7. and 100. 3.
we will shew forth thy praise to all generations] Heb. number. That is, record the particular benefits, for which thou art to be praised. We ought to desire no benefit of God, but on this condition, To praise his Name, Isai▪ 43. 21.
to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation.
PSAL. LXXX.
Title. Shoshannim] See notes on Psal. 60. tit.
Eduth] A contestation: wherein the Psalmist earnestly intreateth God for freedom out of those miseries, which by his desertion had befaln him.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. LEadest Joseph like a flock] Psal. 77. 20. and 78. 52.
shine forth] Psal. 50. 2. and 94. 1.
V. 2. come and save us] Heb. come for salvation to us.
V. 3. Turn us] Or, Return us. To wit, out of captivity.
V. 4. how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?] The faithfull fear Gods anger, when they perceive that their prayers are not forthwith heard.
wilt thou be angry] Heb. wilt thou smoke.
V. 5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tears] 1 King. 22. 27. Psal. 102. 9. Isai. 30. 20.
V. 6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours] Our neighbours have continuall strife, and war against us.
V. 7. Turn us again] See verse 3.
V. 8. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt] Seeing that of thy mercy thou hast made us a most dear possession to thee, and we thorow our sins are laid open for wilde beasts to devour us, declare again thy love, and finish thy work that thou hast begun, Psal. 44. 2.
cast out the heathen] Psal. 44. 3.
V. 10. the goodly cedars] Heb. the cedars of God.
V. 11. and her branches unto the river] To wit, Euphrates, as Psal. 72. 8.
V. 12. broken down her hedges] Psal. 89. 40. Isai. 5. 5.
V. 13. The boar] Or, That the boar.
The boar out of the wood doth waste it] That is, as well they that hate our religion, as they that hate our persons.
V. 14. look down from heaven] They gave not place to tentation, knowing, That albeit there were no hope on earth, yet God was able to succour them from heaven, Isai. 63. 15.
V. 15. that thou madest strong for thy self] So that, without thy leave, no power can prevail against it; and which, as a young bud, thou raisest up again, as out of the burnt ashes.
V. 16. they perish at the rebuke of thy counte…c… ] When thou in thine anger deliverest it over to the sword of the enemies, psal. 39. 11.
V. 19. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine upon us, &c.] See v. 3.
PSAL. LXXXI.
Title. Gittith] See the Notes on the title of psal. 8.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. SIng aloud unto God] It seemeth that this psalm was appointed for solemn feasts and assemblies of the people, to whom these ceremonies at such times were usuall.
V. 3. in the new-moon] This they did also in other feasts, Num. 10. 10.
V. 4. For this was a statute for Israel] Levit. 23. 24.
V. 5. This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony] Joseph is put for all Israel, because he had the double portion, which was one part of the birth-right, 1 Chron. 5. 1, 2. So is Judah sometimes, because he had the government, which was the other part, Gen. 49. 10.
when] Or, because.
when he went out thorow the land of Egypt] It was ordained afterwards, but that was the cause of it.
thorow] Or, against.
where I heard a language that I understood not] God bringeth in the people, as one man, acknowledging their own misery.
V. 6. shoulder from the burden] Isai. 9. 4. and 10. 2….
were delivered] Heb. passed away.
from the pots] If they were never able to give sufficient thanks to God for this deliverance from their corporall bondage, how much more are we indebted to him for our spirituall deliverance from the tyrannie of satan and sin!
V. 7. calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee] Psal. 50. 15.
in the secret place of thunder] By a strange and wonderfull manner, out of the clouds, whence thunder came, Exod. 14. 19, 20. and 19. 16.
proved thee at the waters of Meribah] Exod. 17. 6.
Meribah] Or, strife.
V. 8. Hear, O my people] He condemneth all people that are not attentive to hear Gods voice, and to give obedience to the same.
V. 9. There shall no strange god] Or, Let no strange god.
neither shalt thou worship] Or, neither worship.
V. 10. open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it] God accuseth their incredulity, because they opened not their mouths to receive Gods benefits in such abundance as he poureth them out. Or, enlarge thy desire never so much, and it shall be satisfied, psal. 37. 4. Eph. 3. 20.
V. 12. So I gave them up to their own hearts lust] Acts 14. 16.
unto their own hearts lust] Or, to the hardnesse of their hearts, or, imagination.
V. 13. O that my people had hearkened unto me] God sheweth, that the obedience of his people is as pleasing to him, as things wished for are to men, Deut. 5. 29. Isai. 48. 18.
V. 14. and turned my hand against their adversaries] If they had obeyed me. v. 12.
V. 15. haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him] Psal. 37. 20. Rom. 1. 30.
submitted themselves] Or, yeelded feigned obedience, psal. 18. 44. Heb. lyed.
but their time should have endured for ever] If the Israelites had not broken covenant with God, he would have given them perpetuall felicity.
V. 16. with the finest of the wheat] Heb. with the fat of wheat. That is, with most fine wheat, and abundance of honey.
PSAL. LXXXII.
Title. of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. GGd standeth in the congregation of the mighty] The prophet sheweth, that God, who is present among judges, observeth whether they do their duty or no, that he may reward or punish them.
mightie] Or, God: that is, his own.
he judgeth] Or, he should judge.
he judgeth among the gods] They ought to judge according to his law, that the sentence might be God's, and not theirs: but they did not so, v. 2, &c. 2 Chron. 19. 6.
gods] Exod. 22. 9.
V. 2. How long will ye judge unjustly] For theeves and murtherers finde favour in judgement, when the cause of the poor godly cannot be heard.
accept the persons of the wicked] Deut. 1. 17.
V. 3. Defend] Heb. Judge, psal. 43. 1.
do justice to the] Heb. justifie the.
and needie] Not onelyonly when he crieth for help, but whensoever ye know that his cause requireth aid and support.
V. 4. Deliver the poor and …eedie] Prov. 24. 11.
V. 5. all the foundations of the earth are out of course] Psal. 11. 3. The wilfull ignorance of judges puts all things out of order.
earth] Or, land.
out of course] Heb. moved.
V. 6. I have said, Ye are gods] John 10. 34.
V. 7. But ye shall die like men] No title of honour shall excuse you, but ye …all be subject to Gods judgement, and die, and render account, as well as other men.
fall like one of the princes] Heb. the princes shall fall as one: that is, as any one, or, together.
V. 8. for thou shalt inherite all nations] All the earth is thine, by as true a right as inheritance, therefore let not evil judges oppresse thy people.
shalt] Or, doest.
PSAL. LXXXIII.
Title. A song or psalm] Psal. 48. tit. This psalm seemeth to b… composed as a form of prayer, when the Church was in great danger by reason of her enemies: perhaps in Jehoshaphats time, 2 Chron. 20. 1.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. KEep not thou silence, O God] Psal. 28. 1. and 35. 22.
V. 2. thine enemies make a tumult] He calleth them Gods enemies, which are enemies to his Church.
hate thee] Psal. 81. 15.
V. 3. against thy hidden ones] Gods saints are his secret ones; for he hideth them in the secret of his tabernacle…, and preserveth them from all dangers, psal. 31. 20.
V. 4. let us cut them off from being a nation] They were not content to take the Church as prisoner, but sought utterly to destroy it, Jer. 11. 19.
V. 5. consent] Heb. heart.
against thee] Acts 9. 4. They thought to have subverted thy counsell, wherein the perpetuity of the Church was established, psal. 2. 1.
V. 6. The tabernacles of Edom] Alluding to the manner of them that dwelt in tents, 2 Sam. 20. 1.
V. 8. they have holpen the children Lot] Heb. they have been an arm to the children of Lot. The Ammonites and Moabites were the plotters of this war against Gods people; but they were too weak, and call in the Assyrians to help, 2 Chron. 20. 1.
V. 9. as unto the Midianites] By these examples they were confirmed that God would not suffer his people to be utterly destroyed.
Midianites] Judg. 7. 22.
Sisera] Judg. 4. 15, 24.
V. 10. as dung for the earth] Trodden under feet as mire, 2 King. 9. 37. Zeph. 1. 17.
V. 11. their nobles] Or, them, and or even their nobles:
Oreb] Judg. 7. 25.
Zebah] Judg. 8. 21.
V. 12. Let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession] It appears their spleen was against God; they aim at his houses, both his synagogues, and the houses of his people among whom he dwelt.
V. 13. wheel] Or, rolling thing, or, thistle-down, Isai. 17. 13.
as the stubble before the winde] Utterly disperse them, as ch… is blown away with the winde.
V. 14. as the flame setteth the mountains on fire] Perhaps he means the trees on the mountains, which sometimes are fired with lightning. See Notes on psal. …9. 6.
V. 16. that they may] Or, that men may, as v. 18.
that they may seek thy Name] That others, seeing thy judgements on them, may be converted: for he wisheth the destruction of these enemies, v. 10, 17.
LXXXIIII.
Title. Gittith] See the title of psal. 8.
A psalm for the s…ns of Korah] See the title of Psal. 48.
for] Or, of▪
Vers. 1. HOw amiable are thy tabernacles] The psalmist complaineth, that he cannot have accesse to the Church of God, to make profession of his faith, and to profit in religion.
V. 2. longeth] Psal. 42. 1, 2.
for the courts of the Lord] Wherein the tabernacle was placed.
V. 3. thine altars] So that the poor birds have more liberty then I, for they may build nigh thine altars. Others read it, I long for thine altars.
V. 5. whose strength is in thee] Who trusteth not at all in himself, but in thee onelyonly.
in whose heart are the ways of them] The ways that lead to thy tabernacles: that is, They that heartily desire to come to thy house to worship thee at the set time, though they dwell far off.
V. 6. of Baca] That is, of mulberry-trees, which was a dry place, so that they which passed thorow must dig pits for water: signifying, That no letts can hinder them that are fully bent to come to Gods house, neither doth God use to fail them. It may be the place mentioned, 2 Sam. 5. 24.
of Baca, make it a well] Or, of mulberry-trees, make him a well, &c.
filleth] Heb. covereth.
V. 7. from strength to strength] Or, from company to company. They are never weary, but encrease in strength and courage, till they come to Gods house.
in Zion] It seems this psalm was made when David fled from Absalom; for in Sauls time the ark was not in Zion.
V. 9. of thine anointed] Of me, whom thou hast anointed to be king. It seems to be Davids psalm.
V. 10. better then a thousand] He wisheth to be but one day in Gods Church, rather then a thousand among worldlings; and to be a perpetuall servant in Gods house, as Exod. 21. 6. though in the meanest place, then to dwell at liberty among the wicked.
thousand] Or, thousand elsewhere.
I had rather be a door-keeper] Heb. I would choose rather to sit at the threshold.
V. 11. a sun and shield] The giver of all good to his, and protectour of them against all evil.
shield] Gen. 15. 1. Psal. 119. 114.
the Lord will give grace and glory] Favour with him, and honour before others.
no good thing will he withhold] But will from time to time encrease his blessings toward his more and more.
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly] Psal. 34. 9, 10.
V. 12. blessed is the man that trusteth in thee] Psal. 2. 12.
PSAL. LXXXV.
Title. for] Or, of.
Vers. 1. THou hast been favourable unto thy land] They confesse, that Gods free mercy was the cause of their deliverance, because he loved the land which he had loved.
favourable] Heb. well pleased.
V. 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people] Psal. 32 1.
thou hast covered all their sin] Thou hast buried them, that they may not come into judgement.
V. 3. thou hast turned thy self from the fiercenesse of thine anger] Or, thou hast turned thine anger from waxing hot.
from the fiercenesse of thine anger] Not onelyonly in withdrawing thy rod, but also in forgiving our sins.
V. 5. Wilt thou be angrie with us for ever?] As in times past they had felt Gods mercy in their deliverance, so now, being oppressed with the long continuance of evils, they pray unto God, That, according to his nature, he would be mercifull unto them.
V. 7. grant us thy salvation] He confesseth that our deliverance cometh onelyonly from Gods mercy, psal. 6. 4.
V. 8. he will speak peace unto his people] He will send all prosperity to his Church, when he hath sufficiently corrected them: also by his punishments the faithfull shall learn to beware that they return not to like offences.
but let them not] Or, that they may not.
V. 10. MercieMercy and truth are met together] Though for a time God thus exerciseth them with his rods, yet under the Kingdom of Christ they shall have peace and joy.
V. 12. land shall yeeld her encrease] Psal. 67. 7.
V. 13. Righteousnesse shall go before him] Justice shall then flourish, and have free course and passage in every place.