Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 67
PSALM LXVII.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician on Neginoth.] See the Note on the Title of the 4. Pſalm.
Verſ. 1. God be mercifull unto us, and bleſse us, and cauſe his face to shine upon us.] There ſeems to be a clear alluſion in theſe words to that form of prayer uſed by the Prieſts in bleſſing the people, Numb. 6.25, 26. for which ſee the Notes there, as alſo Pſal. 31.16. But yet what is here deſired, the following verſe doth more fully ſhew.
Verſ. 2. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy ſaving health among all nations.] As if they had ſaid, We do not deſire merely that it may be well with us, but that thy way, that is, thy dealings with thy people, which are all mercy and truth, Pſal. 25.10. (ſee the Note there) may be known upon earth, that is, to all the inhabitants of the earth, and thy ſaving health among all nations, that is, and that the way which thou haſt ordained for the ſaving of thy people may be known amongſt all nations. Becauſe the ſad calamities, which the Church did often lye under, were as a ſtumbling-block to other nations, through their miſunderſtanding Gods intentions therein, and kept them off from joyning themſelves to the Church; therefore the people of God do here deſire, that God, by the diſcovery of his favour to his people, would let all the world ſee his way to his people, &c. to wit, how dearly he loves them, how tenderly carefull he is over them, to provide for them, to protect and deliver them, and to order all things for their ſalvation, and not for their deſtruction, that ſo this might bring in the heathen nations to joyn themſelves to the Church of God. So that by the way of God here is meant, 1. generally all the waies of his ſpeciall goodneſſe and mercy to his people; and 2. more particularly and eſpecially that way of his ſaving health, as it is expreſſed in the ſecond clauſe, that is, that way which God hath ordained for the eternall ſalvation of his people through Chriſt: whence it is that Chriſt is called the way, Joh. 14.6. and Gods ſalvation, Luk. 2.30; as alſo the doctrine of the Goſpel is called the way of the Lord, Act. 18.25, 26. This is the chief thing which the Church here deſires may be made known to all nations; and ſo the words covertly imply that great myſtery of the calling of the Gentiles.
Verſ. 3. Let the people praiſe thee, O God, &c.] That is, thee the true God, abandoning their falſe gods, whom they have hitherto ſerved: which is repeated in the following verſes again and again, to ſhew that they could never ſufficiently rejoyce in, or be thankfull for thoſe ineſtimable benefits, which they ſhould all enjoy under the kingdome of Chriſt.
Verſ. 4. For thou shalt judge the people righteouſly, &c.] The meaning is, that though God ſuffereth his people ſometimes to be afflicted by their enemies for their good, yet he will ſurely deliver them at laſt, ordering and guiding them in all things for their advantage; yea and that eſpecially by making them righteous, and obedient to all his righteous commandements. The like is often propheſied concerning Chriſts kingdome, as Iſa. 11.4. and in divers other places.
Verſ. 6. Then shall the earth yield her encreaſe, &c.] Many underſtand this figuratively, to wit, either that in all parts of the world many converts ſhould be brought in to the Church, and ſo the earth ſhould yield a mighty harveſt of holy men to God; or elſe that the elect of all nations ſhould bring forth the fruit of repentance and praiſe, and of a holy life and converſation, to the glory of God: and ſo they ſay the ſame thing that is here intended, is expreſſed more in the end of the next verſe, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. But I rather underſtand it literally, that God ſhould bleſſe his people by cauſing the earth to yield abundant encreaſe: only we muſt know then, that under this particular all other outward bleſſings are comprehended; as the following words do alſo imply, and God, even our own God, shall bleſſe us.
Verſ. 7. God shall bleſſe us, &c.] Theſe words are here again repeated, thereby covertly to cry down, as it were, either the infidelity of thoſe that would not truſt in ſo ſure a refuge, or the ingratitude of thoſe that lived upon Gods bleſſings, but would not acknowledge the Donour.