Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 133 – Psalm 134
PSALM CXXXIII.
Verſ. 1. BEhold, how good and how pleaſant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.] That which is ſaid moſt probably by Expoſitours, concerning the occaſion of penning this Pſalm, is, either that it was purpoſely provided to be ſung by the Iſraelites at thoſe three ſolemn feaſts, when all the males were to come up to worſhip God together at Jeruſalem: or elſe that it was compoſed upon occaſion of that pacification that was made amongſt the Iſraelites, either after the ſuppreſſing of Abſaloms rebellion, or rather when after many years civill wars that had been in the land between David & the houſe of Saul, all the tribes did at laſt joyntly ſubmit to David, and ſo lived peaceably together as brethren under his government; whereupon, as from the experience they now had, how much better it was with them, when they lived thus comfortably together in unity and peace, then when before they were continually ſeeking to deſtroy one another, he commends unto them brotherly love & concord, Behold how good & how pleaſant it is, &c.
Verſ. 2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments.] That is, It muſt needs yield as much refreſhing content and delight both to God & man, eſpecially to thoſe that live thus as brethren together, as that precious ointment did, that was alwaies poured forth upon the head of Aaron and his ſucceſſours, when they were conſecrated to the high prieſts office; nor only to the high prieſt himſelf, but alſo to all that were about him, to whom the fragrant ſmell thereof did ſpread. And the rather doth he compare the unity of brethren to this holy ointment, which was peculiarly deſigned to that religious ſervice of conſecrating the high prieſt, becauſe he deſired hereby to intimate, firſt, that the brotherly concord which he chiefly intended, was when they joyned together with one conſent in a way of religion, to wit, in the pure worſhip of God, being all of them indued with the ſweet ſmelling graces of Gods holy ſpirit; & 2. that this brotherly concord is an effect of that ſpirit of grace & peace, which being plentifully poured forth upon Chriſt the head of the Church, runs down upon all the members of his body, and is the bond of their ſpirituall union.
Verſ. 3. As the dew of Hermon, &c.] As by the ſimilitude in the foregoing verſe David ſhewed how pleaſant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity, ſo by this here he ſhews, how good it is, that is, how profitable: As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that deſcended upon the mountains of Zion; that is, as the dew that falls from heaven upon ſuch a fat & fruitfull ſoil, as is that of mount Hermon, and the mountains near about Zion or Jeruſalem, doth cauſe theſe places to yield great encreaſe & profit, ſo doth brotherly love, through Gods bleſſing, bring all variety of outward plenty with it to thoſe that do ſincerely practiſe it, beſides that it doth alſo make men fruitfull in good works, both towards God & towards man. For there, that is, where brethren do thus dwell together in unity, the Lord commanded the bleſsing, that is, he poureth forth upon ſuch men all variety of bleſſings; ſee the Notes Pſal. 42.8, & 44.4, & 68.28, & 71.3: even life for evermore; that is, not only a long proſperous life here, but alſo life eternall in heaven, whereof therefore brotherly love is made an unqueſtionable ſign 1 Joh. 3.14. We know that we have paſſed from death unto life, becauſe we love the brethren. Yet ſome underſtand, that by life for evermore here is meant, that God would give a happy life to all that ſhould ſo agree together throughout all generations.
PSALM CXXXIV.
Verſ. 1. BEhold, bleſſe ye the Lord, all ye ſervants of the Lord, &c.] That is, all ye Prieſts & Levites, as appears by the following words, which by night ſtand in the houſe of the Lord: for though ſome devout men & women of the people were ſometimes wont to wait upon Gods ſervice in the Temple even by night, as is noted of Anna, Luk. 2.37. that ſhe departed not from the temple, but ſerved God with faſtings & prayers night & day; yet here the Pſalmiſt ſeems to ſpeak of ſuch as by their office & place were conſtantly to give attendance upon the ſervice of God in the Temple by night, as well as by day, as the word ſtand doth here import. And that this was the conſtant charge of the Prieſts & Levites, as in their courſes they waited in the Temple, is evident Levit. 8.35. 1 Sam. 3.3. & in many other places: as a kings guard are wont to watch by night in his Court, ſo did they keep their watches in the Sanctuary. However, the aim and ſcope of this exhortation to theſe Prieſts & Levites is all one as if he had ſaid, Think it not enough that you watch by night in the Temple, or that you perform there the outward ceremonial ſervice, but ſee that you give God that ſpirituall ſervice of praiſing his name, which he chiefly requires. See alſo the following Note.
Verſ. 3. The Lord that made heaven & earth bleſſe thee out of Zion.] That is, ſay ſome Expoſitours, every one of you Prieſts & Levites that doe carefully perform your duty, as I have ſaid, in praiſing the Lord. But now others conceive that this is here added as the ſubſtance of that prayer, wherewith the Pſalmiſt deſires that the Prieſts would bleſſe the people, when they lifted up their hands in the Sanctuary, as was ſaid in the foregoing verſe. Yea & ſome alſo hold that this Pſalm is written dialogue-wiſe, and that accordingly the two firſt verſes muſt be taken as ſpoken by the people to the Prieſts & Levites, & then this as the anſwer of the Prieſts & Levites to them; or elſe that the two firſt verſes contain the words of David to the Prieſts & Levites, & then this their anſwer to David their king: See the Note Pſal. 118.26. As for the laſt words, out of Zion, ſee the Note Pſal. 128.5.