Paraphrase Upon the Books of the Psalms, Book 4 · Psalm 106
The Hundred and Sixth Psalm.
a.Praise ye the Lord. The hundred and sixth Psalm, the last of the fourth partition, intitled Hallelujah, is chiefly spent in confessing the sins and provocations of the children of Israel, but begun and concluded with the praising and magnifying of Gods mercies, and by the beginning and two last verses of it, set down 1 Chron. xvi. 34, 35, 36. appears to be one of those Psalms which David delivered into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, v. 7. to record, and thanke, and praise the Lord, in their continual or daily ministring before the Arke, v. 4.
1. O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is‖or gracious foreign Lxxii. good, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Paraphrase. Let us all joyne in proclaiming the abundant goodness and continued mercies of God, which from time to time he hath vouchsafed, and will never faile to reach out unto us.
2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
His miraculous works of power and grace are farre beyond our describing or expressing.
3. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doth righteousness at all times.
O 'tis a blessed thing to be allwayes ingaged and exercised in the service of so gracious a master, and by the continual practice of all duties of justice and mercy, to be qualified for those mercies and protections, which he never fails to make good to those which are thus fitted to expect or receive them.
4. Remember me, O Lord, ‖of the favour to thy- foreignwith the favour which thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.
O blessed Lord, of thy great abundant goodnesse to all thy faithfull servants, be thou pleased to look favourably upon me, though most unworthy: O doe thou afford me that pardon and that grace which I stand in need of, and can hope for from none but thee.
5. That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoyce in the gladness of thy nation, that I may†sing praises see Ps. cv. note a. glory with thine inheritance.
That I may experimentally feel and tast the incomparable felicity of being in the number of thy favourites, that I may have my part of that joyous blissfull state, that all which sincerely serve thee enjoy even in this world, (as the present reward or result of their conscientious obedience) and so for ever make one in that quire which sings Hosannahs and Hallelujas to thee.
6. We have sinned with our Fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Meanwhile it is the present duty of every one of us, to cast our selves down in all humility before this thy throne of grace, to confess before thee the many great and crying sins, transgressions and provocations, that either every one of us, or together this whole nation, from our first rise and growth into a people, have been most sadly guilty of.
7. Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Aegypt, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked himb. at the sea, even at the red sea.
When thou hadst shewed so many signes and wonders in the sight of our fore-fathers in Aegypt, which were abundantly sufficient to convince them of thy power, and purpose to bring them safe out of those tyrannical masters hands, yet in the very beginning of their march, before they were out of the land, as soon as the least danger approacht, when they discerned the Aegyptians to follow and overtake them, they were presently amated, and faint-hearted, and sore afraid, Exod. xiv. 10. and in that fit of fear and infidelity, reproached Moses (and in him God himself) for looking upon them in their oppressions, for offering to disquiet them in their slavery, deemed it much better to have served the Aegyptians, than now to adventure themselves under Gods protection. (And how many provocations have we severally been guilty of, in not laying to heart the signal mercies bestowed on us by God, evidences of his goodness and his power, and in despight of all fallen off, on occasion of every worldly terror, into murmurings at his providence, and satiety of his service, into infidelity and Practical Atheisme?)
8. Nevertheless he saved them for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
But though they thus provoked God, and so well deserved to be forsaken by him, though he had so little incouragement to shew miracles of mercy among those whom neither miracles could convince, nor mercies provoke to obedience; yet that he might glorify himself, and give more evidences of his omnipotence to them, and the heathen people about them, he was now also pleased to interpose his hand in a most eminent manner for these unthankfull murmurers, and by a new miracle of mercy to secure and deliver them.
9. *And re…ked foreignHe rebuked the red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11. And the waters covered their enemies, there was not one of them left.
For being now at the shore of the red sea, and close pursued by the Aegyptians, when there was no visible means of their rescue from the rage of Pharaoh on one side, or the sea on the other, God then shewed forth his power, divided the sea, Exod. xiv. 16. caused it to retire, and give passage to the Israelites, who marcht through the midst of the sea in part of the chanel, as upon the driest firmest ground; and when the Aegyptians assayed to follow them, and were ingaged in the midst of the sea so farre that they could not retire, even the whole host of Pharaoh, v. 23. first God incompassed his own people with a cloud, that the enemy came not near them all night, v. 20. secondly, he troubled the Aegyptians host, and took off their chariot wheels, v. 24, 25. so that they could neither pursue the Israelites, nor fly out of the sea, and thirdly he caused the sea to returne to his strength, and overwhelmed their chariots, horsemen, and whole army, there remained not so much as one of them, v. 28. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Aegyptians, v. 30.
12. Then believed they his words, they sang his praise.
And this so visible a prodigie of mercy so seasonably and undeservedly afforded them, did indeed at the time work upon them, convinced them of the power and mercy of God; they saw that great work, and feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses, Exod. xiv. 31. and joyned with Moses in the antheme, or song of victory that he composed on this occasion, Exod. xv. blessing God for the wonders of this deliverance.
13. c.They‖made haste, they forgat foreign soon forgat his works, they waited not for his counsell;
14. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
But after this, when they came into the wildernesse, they fell a murmuring again, first on occasion of the bitterness of the water at Marah, Exod. xv. 24. then in the wilderness of Sin, c. xvi. upon remembrance of their flesh-pots in Aegypt; and when they had these so many convictions of Gods power and providence over them, which should … reason have charmed them into a full, chearfull resignation, and dependance on him, they on the contrary, without any consideration of any thing that God had wrought for them, without …ver addressing themselves humbly to God, or his servant Moses, to learn his pleasure and purposes concerning them, were transported pracipitously by their own luxurious appetites, and because they had not that festival plenty which could not be expected in the wildernesse, they again reproached Moses for having brought them out of Aegypt, to dye, as hey called it, in the wilderness, v. 3. and now forsooth God must shew more miracles, not … supply of their wants, but to pamper and satisfy their lust, (Ps. Lxxviii. 18.) he must give them t…e festival diet in the wilderness, (Psal. Lxxix. 19.) or els they would no longer believe his power, or serve him.
15. And he gave them their request, but sentd. leanness into their soule.
And at this time also God was pleased to magnify his power and providence among them: at Marah he directed Moses to a tree, which sweetned the waters, Exod. xv. 25. and soon after brought them to Elim, where there were twelve wells, &c. and he rained down bread (as it were ready baked) from heaven, a full proportion for all of them every day, Exod. xvi. 4. and not onelyonly so, but in answer to their importunity for flesh, he sent them whole sholes of quails, which covered the campe. Exod. xvi. 13. Num. xi. 31. as thick as dust, Psal. Lxxviii. 27. But then when they had gathered great plenty of these, at least ten homers to a man, just as they were ready to eat them, the wrath of God came out against them, and punished their murmuring with a terrible plague: And so this (as all other inordinate desires) cost them full dear, and brought them not any the least benefit.
16. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17. The earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram:
18. And a sire was kindled in their company, the flame burnt up the wicked.
After this they brake out in a mutiny against Moses and Aaron, Num. xvi. not allowing them to have any commission of praeeminence, or authority, more than any other of the people had, every one pretending to be holy, and, upon that account, free from subjection to any other. But for the repressing and refuting of this vain plea, and vindicating the authority of those that God had set over them, both in the Church and State, two terrible essayes of Gods wrath were here shewed; the opening of the earth, and swallowing up all that belonged to Dathan and Abiram, v. 32. and a fire from heaven, coming down upon them that presumed without mission from God to offer incense, to assume the Priests office, v. 35. And when both these did but make the people murmure the more at Moses and Aaron, v. 41. God avenged this yet more severely with a plague, that swept away fourteen thousand and seven hundred of them.
19. They made a calfe in Horeb, and worshiped the molten image.
20. Thus they changed theire. glory into the similitude of an oxe that eateth grass.
After this, when God was delivering the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, and therein made a strict prohibition of making them any graven image, or similitude of any creature in the world, in order to worship, God exhibiting himself to them in a thick cloud, and they seeing no similitude, but only hearing a voice, yet, while Moses was absent from them, they made them a molten calfe, calling it their Gods, and that it might goe before them in Gods stead, and accordingly worshipt it, and made a sacrifical feast unto it, Exod, xxxii. 6. and committed great abominations (see note on 1 Cor. x. c.)
21. They forgat God their Saviour, which had done great things in Aegypt,
22. Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the red sea.
Such hast they made to cast oft the service of that God which had so lately delivered them out of their Aegyptian slavery, and in order to that shewd forth such prodigies of his power, and vengeance on Pharaoh and the Aegyptians, both before he dismist them, and when he pursued them in their march out of the land.
23. ‖And he spake of destroying them foreignTherefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in thef. breach, to turne away his wrath lest he should destroy them.
Upon this provocation of theirs, God communed with Moses, Exod. xxxii. 10. about destroying this whole people that thus rebelled, promising to make of him a great nation. But Moses most earnestly besought him, v. 11. to turne from his fierce wrath, v. 12. and repent of this evil against his people; and God was atoned by his importunity, and repented of the evill, v. 14. and he destroyed them not.
24. Yea they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word;
25. But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
After this, when they came near their Canaan, that most fruitfull possession promised them by God, and when Moses had sent out spies to descry the land, and they brought back word as of the great fertility of the land, so of the giantly strength and stature of the men, their fortifications, and their eating up the inhabitants, Num. xiii. 26, 27, &c. they fell into a great passion of fear, ch. xiv. 9. and sorrow, v. 1. and murmured against Moses and Aaron, and God himself, v. 2, 3. and resolved to give over the pursuit of Canaan, and make them a Captain, and returne back to Aegypt, v. 4. and so utterly to forsake the service of God.
26. Therefore heg. lifted up his hand†about, or, because of them. against them to destroy them in the wilderness;
27. To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
This again most justly provoked God to that degree of wrath against them, that he said, he would smite them with pestilence, and disinherite them, destroy the whole people, and make of Moses a greater nation, v. 12. see Ezech. xx. 23. But Moses again interceding for them, and urging that argument, formerly used by him with success, that the Aegyptians and other nations would say, that God was not able to bring them into the land which he had sworn to them, v. 16. he again prevaild for their pardon, v. 20. but that with this reserve, which he bound with an oath, v. 21, 28. that all they that having seen his miracles in Aegypt, had now tempted him ten times, should dye before they came to this good land, v. 23, 29. And accordingly after this the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites, and smote them, and discomfited them, v. 45. and Arad King of Canaan fought against them and took some of them prisoners, c. xxi. 1. (to this Kimchi applies the scattering both here and in Ezekiel.)
28. They joyned themselves also toh▪ Baal-Peor, and eat the sacrifices of the dead.
After this they mixed themselves with the Moabitish women, Nam. xxv. 3. and by them were seduced to their Idol-worship, partaking and communicating in their sacrifices offered to the Moabitish Gods, which were but dead men.
29. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, and the plague brake in upon them.
On this foule provocation of Idolatry and uncleanness, Gods judgments fell heavily upon them, a terrible plague, that swept away foure and twenty thousand of them.
30. Then stood up Phineez andi. *made an atonementexecuted judgment, and so the plague was stayed.
OnelyOnly in the very point of time, Phineez the sonne of Eleazer did an act of speciall zeal, took a javelin, and killed an Israelitish man and Midianitish woman in the very act of their uncleanness; And this zeal of his propitiated God, and so the plague ceased.
31. Andk. that was counted to him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
And this act of his was so acceptable to God, that, beside the dignity of being an instrument of appeasing Gods wrath toward the people, God thought fit to reward it with the honour of the High-priests office, to be annexed to his family for ever, if they walked not unworthy of it:
32. They angred him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes.
33. Because they provoked his spirit,‖and he spake with. so that hel. spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Before this, is set down (Num. xx.) another murmuring of our fathers against God, occasioned by some want of water at Merihah, a place so called from their chiding and contending with Moses, where in their rage they wished they had died in that former plague, Num. xi. 13. And this their peevishness was a provocation to Moses, who, though he were a meek man, brake out into a passionate speech, v. 10. Hear ye now, ye rebells, shall we fetch you water out of this rock? Wherein as he spake with some diffidence, as if it were impossible to fetch water out of the rock, when God had assured him, v. 8. that at his speaking to the rock, it should bring forth water sufficient for them all, and is accordingly challenged of unbelief, v. 12; so he seems to have assumed somewhat to themselves, [shall we?] and so did not sanctifie God in the eyes of the people of Israel, v. 12. did not endeavour, as he ought, to set forth Gods power and glory, and attribute all to him. And this passionate speech cost Moses very dear, and was punished with his exclusion out of Canaan, v. 12. Deut. i. 35. and iii. 26, and iv. 21. and xxxiv. 4.
34. They did not destroy the nations concerning whom the Lord commanded them:
35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36. And they served their idols, which were a snare to them.
37. Yea they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devills:
38. And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
39. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
After all this, when at length they were come into the promised land and had received particular command, Deut. vii. 2. that they should utterly destroy all the idolatrous inhabitants thereof, for fear they should be inveigled by them, and drawn away to their idol-worship, and those abominable pollutions they were infamously guilty of; yet contrary to this express command of Gods, they did not execute this severity, they spared them, and drave them not out, but permitted them to live amongst them, Jud. i. 21. (and so 'tis oft mentioned through that book) and by this means they were corrupted, and brought into their heathen sins, see Jud. iii. 6, 7. worshipt their Idols and false Gods, and observed those abominable rites which infernal spirits had exacted of their worshippers, the slaying and sacrificing of men, innocent persons, yea their own dearest children; and so to idolatry and worship of the devil they added blood-guiltiness, of the highest degree, the deepest dy, even the most barbarous and unnatural, and to all these yet farther adding fornication, and those abominable sins that those nations were guilty of, and for which the land spued them out, Lev. xviii. 28.
40. Therefore was the wrath of God kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
This great sin, adding to all the former provocations, most justly inflamed the vehement anger and displeasure of God against this people, of which he had before resolved, and promised Abraham, that he would own them for ever as his peculiar; and so a long while he did, and bare with them very indulgently, but they growing still worse and worse, 'twas but reasonable, and according to the contents of his (not absolute, but) conditionate covenant, at length to reject and cast them off, or withdraw his protection from them.
41. And he gave them into the hands of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them.
42. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought in subjection under their hand.
And accordingly so he did, he suffered the heathen nations about them to invade and overcome them, the King of Mesopotamia, Jud. iii. 8. who had dominion over them eight years, the Midianites and Amalekites, Jud. vi. 3. the Philistims and Amorites, Jud. x. 6. the Philistims, Jud. xiii. 1.
43. Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
In each of thes… destitutions and oppressions, God still reteined his wonted respect to them, so farre as from time to time to raise them up captains to undertake their battels, and to rescue them out of their oppressors hands; but then still again they fell to their sinfull idolatrous courses, and again forfeited and devested themselves of Gods protection, and were again subdued by the same or some other of their heathen neighbours.
44. ‖And he beheld when distress was upon them foreignNevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry.
45. And he remembred for them his Covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
And yet then also he did not utterly destitute them, but in their times of distresse, and flying to him for succour, he looked upon them with pity again, remembred the Covenant made with their fathers, and in infinite mercy returned from his fierce wrath, and so inclined the hearts of those that had conquered them, that instead of increasing, they compassionated their miseries;
47. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks to thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
O blessed Lord, be thou now pleased to return our captivity, to reduce us from the hands of our heathen enemies, that we may live to enjoy those blessed opportunities of making our most solemn acknowledgments to thee, and blessing and magnifying thy holy name in this, or the like forme.
48. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.
To the allmighty Lord of heaven and earth, that hath made good his Covenant of mercy to all his faithfull servants, be all honour and glory from all and to all eternity; And let all the world joyne in this joyfull acclamation, adding every one his most affectionate Amen, and Hallelujah.
The End of the Fourth Book of Psalms.