Annotations on Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, Annotations 2 · Psalm 103 – Psalm 109
PSAL. CIII.
THe Penman of the Psalm is David. The matter of it thanksgiving. The duty is propounded in the two first verses, inlarged and confirmed in the rest to the twentieth, pressed, inforced, and concluded to the end.
Vers. 1. Bless the Lord O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy Name.]David summoneth all that is in him to bless God for all he hath from him. His soul, not alone his tongue: and all his inwards, that is, the powers and faculties of his soul, not the bodily parts, liver, lights, but the minde, affections. This noteth a most fervent, earnest and vehement manner of doing the exhortation, it being adorned with the rhetoricall figures of repeating the same word, and of speaking unto his own soul, to note the great desire which David had to become a pattern, as of all piety, so principally of this thanksgiving unto the Church.
His holy Name.] Or the Name of his Holiness, that is, himself as he hath in his Word shewed himself to be most holy and excellent.
Vers. 2. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.] As much as to say, by an ordinary Hebraism, Forget not any of all his benefits.
Vers 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth *Healing is applied to waters, 2 King 2. 20, 21▪ Made them wholsom to the land, 2 Chron. 7▪ 10. Make it fruitfull. When it respects man as the object, it is taken 1. Properly, for healing a corporall disease, Ma…k▪ 1. 34. 2 Improperly, for healing from spirituall evils, 2 Chron. 30. 20. Psal. 41. 5.all thy diseases.] He enumerates particular benefits. He meaneth the spirituall maladies of sinne, which only God could heal. He begins with pardon of sinne, because free reconciliation is the fountain of all other blessings.
Vers. 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction.] Frees thee from dangers of sudden and violent death, conspired against thee by thine enemies; and withall, from the second death, everlasting condemnation.
Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.] To Crown is to advance to a Kingdom by that sign of setting a Crown on the head, that being the ensign of Kings; and also this assured him of advancement to a heavenly Kingdom. To Crown with mercy and compassions, is out of great kindness and pity to bestow▪ most excellent things.
Vers. 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed Longum esset recensere, quae in hunc locum commenti sunt interpretes Hebraei, Graeci & Latini: omnes enim asserunt Aquilam senectute confectam, vel ad elementum ignis usque in altum evolare, ibique aduri, & decidere deorsum, ac tunc vitam ejus renovari; vel in altum sese a…tollere, & in praeruptam se projicere rupem, ad quam rostrum allidat, & cùm se in fontem immerserit, solis radiis & calore juvenescere. Croii Specim. Conject. & Observat. in quaedam loca Orig. Iren.like the Eagles.] Perhaps it might be more simply, and more to the letter translated thus▪ Thou shalt renew thy self, thy youth shall be as an Eagle. To renew the youth is to retain the same strength and health which youth afforded for a long season, that is, thou continuest long in health and strength as that bird doth. The Eagle casteth her feathers yearly, and new grow up, whereby she seemeth fresh and young, flieth high, and liveth long, whence the Proverb, Aquilae senectus.
Vers. 6. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed….] All manner of righteousness, or most▪ full and compleat righteousness, all manner of judgements, or most full and exact judgement. The oppressed are those which are wronged by strong hand; oppression is an injury done by violence: Those to whom such violence is offered, they are oppressed. Justice or righteousness is the giving to every man his own. Judgements signifie punishments here: Davids meaning is, he executeth just judgements in behalf of wronged and oppressed men and women, by delivering them out of the hands of the wrong doers, and punishing the wrong doers accordingly.
Vers. 7. He made known his waies unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.]Exod. 18. 20. Psal. 25. 4, 5. Those waies which he requireth us to walk in his statutes and judgements which God prescribed to them, for they were given to Moses that he might teach the people.
Vers. 8. The Lord is mercifull and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.] Mercy is that vertue by which one is ready to pity and help the miserable and afflicted. Graciousness signifies a promptness to do good, out of the free will of the doer, not out of any motive found in the receiver; slow to anger, or long of wrath, as the words are in the originall. To stand so disposed, that one is ready to bear much injury, and great provocations and indignities before he will punish.
Much, or abundant, or great in kindness. Kindness is an affection quite contraryErech apa…im] as you would say, one who hath wide nostrils, for these who have widest nostrils are most patient, as those who have narrow nostrils are …asily. Weemes. to anger. It is a readiness to accept and requite any courtesie, passing by the defects and weaknesses of it.
Vers. 9. He will not alwaies chide, neither will he keep his anger for▪ ever.] He will neither be angry too much, nor too long, nor too often.
Vers. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.] This is the highest comparison which the world will afford, yet not sufficient to express the greatness of Gods mercy.
Vers. 12. As farre as the East is from the West, so farre hath he removed our So as they shall never come …eer us again …o … us hurt.transgressions from us.] They are at such a distance that they cannot come together. The two points of heaven, East and West, can never concurre. The word translated transgressions, properly signifies wilfull acts of rebellion▪ God will pardon their sins of obstinacy.
Vers. 17. And his righteousness unto childrens children.] He meaneth those which succeed one another from time to time▪ Righteousness taken here for faithfulness in standing to his word, and keeping his promises.
Vers. 20. Bless the Lord ye his Angels, that excell in strength, that do his Commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his Word.] Angels are set out, 1. By their power, they excell in strength. 2. Do his Commandments. 3. Have an eye to the precept. 4. Desc…ibes them by their multitude, Hosts, vers. 21. they are MinistersPsal. 104. 4. Dan. 7. 10. of God in that verse also. That Hebrew word being spoken of men, Isa. 61. 6. signifies not any servant promiscuously, but only such a one as gives attendance upon his Masters person in his presence.
Vers. 22. Bless the Lord all his works.] The Hebrew word signifies both motum & rem motu factam, the action and the effect or work thereby produced. The former, Psal. 19. 1. that is, the excellency of the workmanship, whereby it was made; the later, Psal. 102. 25. and here.
PSAL. CIV.
HE speaks of Creation to the 10th vers. of Government to the 27th, of Preservation to the end.
Vers. 2. Who coverest thy self with light as with a garment.] He first commandedAlludit enim quod & Abraham Esdras monuit, ad lucem primitus creatam, Gen. 1. 3. licet Theodoretus ad lucem illam inaccessam reserat 1 Tim. 6. 1…. & est sanè phrafis foreign qua Deus luce amictus perhibetur. Gatakeri Cinnus l. 2. c. 17. light to shine out of darkness, 2 Cor. 4. 6. wherewith he decked the world, Gen. 1. 3. and dwelleth in the light that none can artain unto. See Dr Hackw. Apol. p. 72, 73.
Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain.] That is, as a canopy or tent, Cantic. 1. 5. Jerem. 49. 29. See Genesis 1. 6. Isaiah 44. 24. & 51. 13. Job 37. 18.
Vers. 5. Who laid the foundation of the earth.] Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases; he useth the plurall number, because he speaks popularly, for great buildings are wont to be upheld with props and bases. See Psal. 24. 2 & 78. 69. Job 38. 4, 6.
Vers. 13. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.] That is, the rainPluvia nuncupatur fructus operum Dei, id est, nubium, quemadmodum liberi fructus uteri materni. Drusi…. which God only giveth, Jer. 14. 22. & 10. 13. and consequently the corn and herbs that grow after rain; compare Job 38. 26, 27, 28. Deut. 11. 14, 15.
Vers. 15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oyl to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth mans heart.] Which three are here Synecdochically put for all things needfull to strength, ornament and delight. See Judg. 9. 8, 9, 12, 13.
With oyl.] Wherewith they used to anoint them, Psal. 23. 5. or more then oyl, Ut nitidam reddat faciem magis quam oleum est, aut quam oleum reddere solet. Drus. Observat. Sac. l. 3. c. 9.that is, wine makes the face seem more cheerfull than if it were oynted.
Vers. 16. The trees of the Lord.] That is after expounded, which he planted.Arbores Jehov… nominat proceras & quae pulchritudine excellunt, Calvinus. Id est arbores procerae proverbiali quodam genere sermonis nam quicquid in suo genere excellit id sacra scripta nomine Dei appellare solent. Sic flamma Domini, civitas magna Deo, cedri Dei, id est, altissimae, potius eae quae proveniunt absque cultura humana: cujus generis sunt abios, pinaster, celastrus, atque similes, quae non solum sponte proveniunt, sed ne cultum quidem patiuntur, cultuque deteriora redduntur, ut Theophrastus scribit. Drus. Observat. Sac. l. 3. cap. 9. So the Chaldee expoundeth, Trees which the Lord created.
Vers. 26. There is that Leviathan, which thou hast made to play therein.] Or, playing Chaldaeus Paraphrastes sic interpretatur, quem creasti justis devorandum in convivio, domus mansionum ejus, id est, mossiae, atque his verbis voluit significare cerum Deo creatum esse ut justi & electi exhilarent se eo comedendo in convivio seculi venturi, id est, diebus Messiae Rainold. de lib. Apoc. praelect. 150. Rabbini seribunt Deum quinto di… creasse pisces duos magnitudinis penè interminatae Leviathan appellates, quorum corporum vari…tatem cum ipse secum animo perpenderes, veritus ne omnium piscium genus tam magnis piscibus deglutiretur, & ne ab ipsis mare universum navigiis invium redderetur, & sic humani generis commercia penitus tollerentur, si ex ii… prolos propagaretur, occidit femellam & ex ejus salitis carnibus salsamenta delicatissima paravit justis & electis suis post hanc vitam comedenda, mascula vero sibi reservavit, ut cum eo succis…vis dici horis, quotidie luderet, juxta hanc sententiam hoc versu. Rainold. de lib. Apoc. praelect. 27. Balaenam vel cetum pr…cipu… celebrat quia solum hoc animal sati… superque formidabilem Dei virtutem ante oculos exhibet, quare & de eo tam longus sarmo in libro Job texitur: Propheta ejus motum Jus… nomine designat, respectu Dei: ac si dicer… balaenis datum e…e campum illum in quo se exerceant. Calvinus.in it, as Job 40. 15. That is, to expatiate and take his swinge.
PSAL. CV.
THe first part of this Psalm is part of that which David appointed to laud the Lord with, when his Ark was seated in Jerusalem, 1 Chron. 16. 7, 8, 22.
Vers. 1. Call upon his Name.] That is, desire him to act attributes for you according to your necessities.
Vers. 3. Glory ye in his holy Name, let the heart of them rejoyce that seek the Lord.] That is, the heart of them shall rejoyce that seek the Lord.
Vers. 4. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face evermore.] Since those thatHis strength, that is, his Ark, from which God gave his Oracl…s, Numb. 7. 89. See Psal. 78. 61. seek the Lord shall have such cause to rejoyce, then seek the Lord again, and again I say, seek him.
Vers. 14. He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea he reproved Kings for their sakes.] Reproved by restraining their power, this hath speciall reference to the story of Abraham, Gen. 20.
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm.] Meaning notEx ea lege saltem id sequitur, nefas esse illos attingere, quibus cum Patriarchis hoc commune est, ut appellentur & sint Christi Domini, quales praeter Christum Filium Dei & Reges temporales nulli sunt. Quid quod Pa…iatch… ob id ipsum videntur dici Christi Domini, quod aliquo modo Reges erant aut Regum instar. Bocharti Epistola ex Kimchio. Vide 1 Sam. 24. 7. & 26 9. 2 Sam. 1. 14, 16. only Patriarchs, Kings and Prophets, but all true beleevers who are indued with the gifts of the same spirit in some measure, wherewith Christ in his manhood was filled above measure. Unctos vocat quos sibi sanctificavit in peculium▪ Calvin. He calleth his faithfull by the name of Prophets, because they ought to have the knowledge of his will, and be able in due time and upon just occasion to teach the same to others, that so the Gospel of Christ may flourish.
Vers. 18. Whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in irons.] That is, he was so laden with chains, that his flesh was eaten with them. Quod tametsi à Mose non narratur, certum est tamen ut dere nota & vulgata loqui. Calvinus.
Vers. 24. And he increased his people greatly.] See Exod. 1. 7, 9. of 70 souls…i…r…. Moll…r…. in 220 years, the increase was 60000 men, besides women and children.
Vers. 25. He turned their heart to hate his people.] The sin was the Kings, God only gave the occasion. 2. He also let out their thoughts that way, God withdrew his restraint.
Vers. 33. He s…ote their Vines also, and their Fig-trees.] As in the promises where mention is made of pleasures granted by God, the Fig-tree and Vine are joyned together, 1 King. 4. 25. 2 King. 18. 31. Isa. 36. 16. Jer. 5. 17. Joel 2. 22. Micah 4. 4. So on the contrary in the comminations they are seldom separated, Hos. 2. 11. Hag. 2. 19.
Vers. 45. That they might observe his Statutes, and keep his Laws.] Shamar translated here observe, imports▪
1. To minde or reserve in memory, Gen. 37. 11.
2. To preserve in safety, Gen. 28. 20.
Natzar translated keep, properly signifies to keep with care and vigilancy, asThe end of all Gods mercies was that he might be glorified in his peoples obedience. See Exod. 19. 4. 3. 6. Deut. 4. …. 40. & 6. 21, 24, 25. ammunition is preserved from fire and false hands, when an enemy is expected, Nah. 2. 1.
Statutes.] The Hebrew word Coch is translated, 1. A decree, Psal 148. 6. 2. A portion, Prov. 31. 15.
Laws.] Thorah is used for any Law or prescript, as the Law (Thorath) of the sin-offering, the Law of the trespass offering.
PSAL. CVI.
Verse 7. BUt provoked him at the sea, even at the red sea.] Some reade it, provoked himThere is the emphasis, that sea which God carried them through. Antithesis inter nomen Dei & hominum merita vel dignitatem notanda est: quia Deus seipsum respiciens, causam in nobis minimè reperit qua ad nos servandos flectatur. Calvinus. in the sea when they saw that glorious work: The new Testament calleth it the red sea, Heb. 11. 29. The Hebrew is the sea suph, that is, the sea of sedges or weeds which grew thereon.
Vers. 8. Nevertheless he saved them for his Nam…s sake] With an outward salvation. The Name of God is that whereby he is made known unto us, his working for his Names sake is opposed to our deservings, that it might not be polluted, or that his glory might shine out the more, Isa. 63. 11, 12, 13, 14.
Vers. 13. They soon forgat his works, they waited not for his counsels.] Not the history, but so as to have their faith strengthened by them.
Counsels] may be taken
1. For direction given us.
2. For Gods determination what to do with or for us, so rather here, waited not the time when his counsell was to be fulfilled concerning them.
Vers. 15. But sent leanness into their soul.] That is, the Lord did not bless theirGod sent a sudden plague, whereby their lives were taken away. See Psal. 78. 30, 31 meat to their nourishment, but it proved to their destruction; so it is commonly expounded, but both a spirituall and temporall judgement went together. See Psal. 36. 8. & 63. 23.
Vers. 20. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an Oxe that eateth grass.] That is, whereas God had shewed himself unto them gloriously in the PillarThat is, their God, so Jer 2▪ 11. a similitude somewhat to represent God unto them, and to bring his properties to their minde. and Cloud, otherwise they could not be satisfied with these glorious signes of his presence, but they must needs set up the Image of an Oxe, a most beneficiall creature, whose labour did yield them, through Gods blessing, the best means of maintenance. They did like the Heathens, Rom. 1. 23.
Vers. 23. Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach.] In the gap which their sinne had opened for God, as an enemy to enter and destroy them. A similitude taken from War, when by a breach in the wall the enemy entreth the City:Deus apertionis. The God of Moab and Madian, to whom by Balaams counsell, Israel joyned, Numb. 25. 3. & 31. 16. Rev. 2. 14. Baal signifieth a Lord, Master, Husband, or Patron. Pehor was the name of a mountain where this god was worship…. so Eze. 13. 5. & 22. 30. But Moses earnest prayer stopped this breach, Ex. 32. 11, 14.
Vers. 28. They joyned themselves unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.] The Fathers make him to be the beastly God Priapus. See Athanasius Kirchers O…dipus AEgyptiacus, Tom. 1. Syntag. 4. c. 5.
Sacrifices of the dead.] Meat offerings to the Idoll, a liveless, dull, dead and inanimate thing, therefore God in opposition thereto is above thirty times styled the living God: See Jer. 10. 5, 10. 1 Thess. 1. 9.
Vers. 30. Then stood up Phinehas and executed judgement, and so the plague was stayed.] Vajephallel, and he prayed, saith one translation; and he executed judgement, saith another. The Originall word bears both, to note, that Religion doth marvellously fit a man for works of justice.
Vers. 31. And that was counted unto him for righteousness.] Not to justifie him,There is justitia personae & causae, this was the later, Num. 25. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. God approved the work, and imputed it to him as an eminent service, and rewarded him accordingly. Though he was a Priest, and not a publick Magistrate, and the thing was done without ordinary authority.
Vers. 33. Because they provoked his spirit.] Imbittered or exasperated, it being in Hiphil, some take it transitively, that the people caused Moses to rebell, quod mihi non displicet, saith Calvin.
Vers. 37. Yea they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.] God neverSee Deut. 32. 17. 2 Chron. 11. 15. 1 Cor▪ 10. …0. required this but of Abraham, and would not let him do it, they would not be behind Abraham.
PSAL. CVII.
HEre are four instances of Gods providence in this Psalm.
1. To pilgrims or strangers, vers. 3. which he concludes with, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men! v. 8.
2. To the captives and imprisoned, ver. 10. and concludes likewise as formerly, vers. 15.
3. To such as were sick and diseased, ver. 17, 18. and concludes so, v. 21.
4. To those that go to sea, ver. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. and concludes so, ver. 31.
Vers. 20. He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.]Modus sanandi notandus est, quod scilicet Deus solo nutu vel mandato morbes omnes mortemque ipsam procul abigat. Calvinus. The Serpent lifted up by Moses, in it self, and by its own vertue, was a bare sign and no remedy to cure distressed Israelites, but they were cured by their faith in the word of Gods promise annexed unto the sign. The cure (saith Austin) came not from the Serpent, but from Gods Commandment obeyed, and his promise beleeved.
Vers. 23. They that go down to the Sea in Ships, that do business in great waters.]Est eis quaedam cum discriminibus pelagi non notitia solùm, sed etiam familiaritas. Sidon. Apollin. l. 8. Epist. Non solum fluctus vasti illi saevientis Oceani cum montibus jucundissimè comparantur (quod nec omisit Virgilius in tempestatis descriptione, Montes vol…untur aquarum) sed & ipsa verbi Mount compositione & pronuntiatione nescio quid arduum & praeruptum, quod pronuntiantibus speciem nitentium quandam ac laborantium ingerit. Casaub. de lingua Saxonica, p 403. Here in another kinde the Prophet shews what great care God hath of mankinde, while he brings those that suffer shipwrack into the haven, as if he should raise them up out of the grave.
Vers. 26. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again into the depths, their soul is melted because of trouble.]
Vers. 42. And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.] Will be forced to be silent, the same kinde of speech there is Job 5. 16.That is, all evil persons that deny Gods providence, or blame his administration, shall have their mouthes stopped. Ainsw.
Vers. 43. Who is wise, and will observe those things, even they shall understand A complaint how few there be that mark these things, and an inti mation that every wise man will observe them, so Jer. 9. 12. Hos. 14. 10. Ainsw.the loving kindness of the Lord.] The loving kindness of God may not so clearly appear in every action, one had need to be wise to discern that.
PSAL. CVIII.
THis Psalm is composed of the 57 Psalm, from the 8 v. to the end, and of the 60 Psalm, from the 7 v. to the end.
Vers. 1. O God my heart is fixed.] Fixed as a throne. See Psal. 57. 7. that is, I will go to duty, I have got a heart fit for it; Heb. a heart established and setled, there is a fixed heart in regard of Gods providences and various dispensations, Psal 112. 2. in reference to the word of God, so here.
Vers. 2. I my self will awake early.] In the Originall it is more emphaticall,Weemes on the Law. Hagnira shahber, I will awaken the morning: As if David should say, the morning never took me napping, but I wakened it still.
Vers. 9. Moab is my washpot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe.] or, washing pot.Ad verbum est, olla lotionis mea, ita malim, quam cum Junio, Piscatore aliisque, meae. Washpot.] Nos vocabulum de servis mediasti…is usurpamus; quorum ad ollas & paropsides in culina proluendas & abste…gendas operâ abuti consuevimus. Verum ad vasa potius quam servitia vates videtur alludere. Melius itaque Ainsworthus noster reddidit, My washing pot, olla in qua loturus sum. Nec desunt, qui ad paludes Moabiticas quae in ea regione frequentes, respectum habitum existiment, quod & Mollerus autumat. Gatakeri Cinnus l. 2. c. 19.
PSAL. CIX.
Verse 4. BUt I give my self unto prayer.] A broken sp…ech, But I prayer, or I was allVaani tephilla, ego autem oratio, sensus est, ego autem etiam vir orationis, id est, orationi deditus. Mayer. de LXX. Hebdom. Dan. prayer. So, I peace, Psal. 120. 7.
Vers 6. And let Satan stand at his right hand.] To hinder him in action, or letThis is spoken of all his foes, as of one man, or some one speciall, as Doeg enemy to David, 1 Sam. 22. 9. Judas to Christ, John 13. 2. him in his accusation overcome him, Zach. 3. 1. An allusion to the custom of ancient times, in which the adversary stood at the right hand of him that was condemned, and at the left hand of him that was acquitted.