Annotations on Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, Annotations 2 · Psalm 110 – Psalm 118
PSAL. CX.
CHrist applies the first verse of this Psalm to himself*Mat. 22. 44. Mark 1…. 36. See Act. 2. 34. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 1. 13.
Rabbi Saadia Gaon upon Daniel interprets this Psalm of the Messiah.
Vers. 1. Jehovah.] That is, God the Father.
Assuredly said.] See Psal. 36. 2.
To my Lord.] That is, to Christ.
Sit thou at my right hand untill. I make thine enemies thy footstool.] Sitting notesSinne, the devil; death it self, 1 Cor. 15. 25, 26. reigning with continuance, 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 10. 12, 13. This implies,
1. Victory, a perfect conquest over them, conquerours used to make their enemies their footstool.Mos erat in Oriente, ut victores victo pedibus sui… …ubjicerent. Jos. 9. 24. Grotius.
2. Ignominy, the lowest subjection. Sapores King of Persia overcoming Valerian the Emperour in battel, used his back after for a stirrup, when he got upon his horse: so Tamberlane served Bajazet.
The footstool is a piece of State, and both raiseth and easeth him that sits on the Throne, so Christs enemies raise and ease him.
Vers. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion.] Or Scepter. Hoc est insigne regiae potestatis. Hieron. The Gospel.
Vers. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.] The people of GodVide Amamae Antibarb. bibl. l. 3. are Christs five waies, 1. By way of gift, Psal. 2. John 17. 6. 2. By purchase and redemption, Gal. 3. 13. 3. By way of conquest. 4. By way of Covenant, Luk 1. 57. Servus a servando. 5. By way of communion, 1 Cor. 3. ult.
Willing.] Willingnesses, the abstract, and in the plural number, see Psal. 68. 10.They are thus made willing, 1. An Almighty power is put …orth in the Ordi…ances of the Gospel. 2. A glorious discovery of holiness. as if the holy Ghost could not speak enough how willing they are, to note exceeding great willingness to submit to every Commandment of the Lord; or it may signifie free-will offerings, voluntary oblations.
In the day of thy power.] That is, on the Sabbath day, when his people are assembled before him, as an Army before the Generall: or in that day when thou sendest forth thy Army, that is, the Apostles and other Preachers of the Gospel into the world.
In the beauties of holiness.] In, with, or by the beauties of holiness. The Temple, say some, Ezek. 7. 20. That is, thy people shall be willing when they comeIn die fortitudinis five victoriae tuae] hoc est tempore universalis per totum terrarum orbem Evangelii praedicationis, per quam Satanae regno debellato, & devicto, ingentes populorum copiae tuo regno eaelesti & Evangelicae veritati adduces & aggregabis in decoribus sanctitatis, hoc est, vel in decoris locis, seu in Ecclesia, quae appellatione à veteris Ecclesiae templo deducta Psal. 29. 2. ita vocitatur, vel in decoris vestibus, metaphora it idem a vestimentis sacris, quae sacerdotum propria erant, ad Christianos qui sacerdotes spirituales à Christi constituti, 1 Pet 2. 9. Apoc. 5. 10. deducta, ab utero aurorae, Pagninus, Arias, Jun. & alii vertunt à tempore ascensus aurorae, Tremellius, ab utero, id est, quamprimum per spiritum tuum semine incorrupto verbi regenerati fueru…t in Ecclesia …a, & revelatus fuerit in ipsis Dei fi…ius, ut loquitur Apostolus ad Galat. 1. 16. ab aurora, id est, diligent ssimè se sistent tibi: quae diligentia ferè in scriptura hac tempo…is circumstantia notari solet, Job 8. 5. Psal. 68 34. Prov. 7. 15. tibi ros juventae tuae, sc. erit tùm propter mirandum regenerationis hominumque conversionis modum: …icu… enim roris generatio mira hominum cognitioni est, Job 38. …8. ita mirandus quoque est regenerationis & conversionis hominum modus, Johan. 3. 8. tum ptopter membrorum Ecclesiae multitudinem. Glassti Onomat. to publick Ordinances, glorious and beautifull. Others interpret it when God discovers holiness in its beauty.
From the womb of the morning.] The Greeks translated divinely, From the wombBrought Epist. to the Nobility. Se… Ainsw. Ros juventutis tuae haud dubie ponitur pro multitudine foreign tanta quanta est guttarum roris, i. simul etiam notatur jucundi…as conspectus tantae multitudinis, nulla enim species oculis majorem affert voluptatem quàm roris matutini exoriente primum sole. Cameron. before the morning starre have I begotten thee.
Thou hast the dew of thy youth.] The holiness and righteousness of Christ is called the dew of the morning, not in regard of its fading nature, as ours, Hos. 6. 4. but in regard of its multitude, because it maketh dewy.
Vers. 6. He shall wound the heads over many Countries.] Satan the head of all the ungodly, as Conquerours use to do, Gen. 3. 15. In the head of the Serpent lies both virus & dolus.
Vers. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.]Multi interpretationem amplectuntur quae Bucero placuit, nempe significari tantum sanguinis fundendum ut bibi possit tanquam ex rivo, id est, ut sanguis caesorum fluat & omnia inundet; & hac phrasi bibere sanguinem hostilem denotari plenam & perfectam victoriam. Num. 23. 28. …ivetus. An allusion to the brook Kedron, wherein they were wont to throw all the carnages of the Temple.
By the way is meant the whole course of Christs life, every man is resembled to a traveller or wayfaring man, Psal. 119. 1. The whole course of a godly mans life is called a narrow way, Matth. 7. 14. by brook a Land-flood. Waters in Scripture…bal torrens, ex pluviis natus. Christ was to suffer, and so to enter into his glory, Matth. 26. 39, 42. note afflictions, miseries, Psal. 18. 5. & 69. 1. Great miseries are called many waters. The expression implies
1. A great measure of afflictions, therefore they are not called a Cup, but a Brook, Psal. 36 8.
2. A confluence of all manner of misery.
To drink of this river, is to suffer and sustain all these evils, Psal. 60. 3. Jer. 25. 15, 16. Matth. 20. 22. or it may mean a short refreshing of himself, and then a hotLuke 24. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Phil. 2. 8, 9. Descriptio bellatoris ala…ris, qui dum hostes persequitur, non quaerit diversoria aut cauponas ut vino se refoveat, sed aquâ contentus est, quam obiter & rap…im sumit ex quovis quem repe…it non fluvio tantùm, sed & torrente, Sic Christus nullum tempus omifit quo opera Diaboli destruere possit. Grotius in loc. pursuit of his enemies without delay, till he hath got a full conquest of them. See Judg. 7. 4, 5, 6.
Lift up the head.] An allusion to the release of Pharaohs Butler, He shall lift up thy head, Gen. 40. 13. so Christ, as one that saw an end of his troubles, and enjoyed a better state, Luke 21. 28.
PSAL. CXI.
Verse 2. THe works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.] The word signifies serious and diligent enquiry. The Jews called their School Domus inquisitionis, because there they diligently sought after truth.
PSAL. CXII.
Verse 3. WEalth and riches shall be in his house.] That is, things sufficient and competent, Psal. 37. 16.
2. If by riches be understood abundance, the words must be taken with this condition, if they be for their good, for all temporall promises must be understood with exception.
Vers. 10. And melt away.] By degrees, so the Hebrew word signifies.
PSAL. CXIII.
Verse 6. WHo humbleth himself.] The word notes a great degree of humiliation.
Vers. 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the It … a Proverb, Fimo contemp…ior, of one that is most contemptible.dunghill.] From the dust, That is, from base estate, as 1 King. 16. 2. This speech is taken from 1 Sam. 2. 8.
The last words signifie a most abject condition.
PSAL. CXIV.
Verse 2. FRom a people of strange language.] This word is here only used, and meaneth allAinsw. A populo Barbaro. Chald. LXX. Vulg. AEgyptii ibi planè innuuntur. Seld. de Syned. lib. 3. cap. 9. Vide Buxtorfii Lexicon. Talmud. in hoc verbum. speech that was not understood of Gods people; which he that speaketh is called of the Apostle a Barbarian, that is, a stranger, 1 Cor. 14. 11. even as here also the Chaldee turneth it.
R. Salomon and Kimchi expound it, a people speaking any other language besides the Hebrew, such they called Lognazim, as the Greeks and Romans called all besides themselves Barbaros.
PSAL. CXV.
Verse 1. NOt unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory, for thy mercy, Eripe nos tyrannidi hostium, non gloriae nostri nominis, sed … caussâ. Muis. Effice quicquid novisti nomini tuo fore honorificum, non propter nos, sed propter naturam tum, promissionemque …oederis. Junius.and for thy truths sake.] It is redoubled for the greater emphasis, the Prophet …eacheth us to pray twice against our own praise; we are so apt to praise our selves, so ready to glory in our prosperity, Repetitio ardorem indicat. Muis.
Some Divines think it is repeated as a rebuke of a temptation, because they had thick thoughts of revenge, they say, it is not a Doxology, but a prayer when the people of God went out against Pagan adversaries, they did not desire revenge or deliverance, but prosperity and successe, that Gods mercy and truth might be magnified.
These two Attributes are mentioned,
1. Because they are the chief part of the divine glory.
2. They yeeld most consolation to the creature.
3. For the better strengthning of their abnegation.
4. Because these are the two federal Attributes, and fit for the Church to mention, Psal. 25. 10. The Covenant was made in mercy, and kept in truth, Micah 7. 20.
Vers. 4. Their Idols are silver and gold: the work of mens hands.Hoc & tribus sequentibus versiculis graphice depingit Idolorum, in quibus Gentes fiduciam collocabant vanitatem. Simeon de Muis.
5. They have mouths but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not.] The Psalmist even as if he should set forth the vanity of babes and children about their puppets, so doth he describe the Heathen Idols, Inanitatem idolorum deridet potius quam deseribit. Bucerus.
They cannot be beneficial to men, which have their whole existence from them. He derides their madnesse who worship mute and empty Images, and adore the work of their own fingers.
Vers. 8. They that make them, are like unto them.] That is, they have even asEzra & Kimhi hunc versum imprecativè volunt accipi. Alii accipiunt enuntiative, quasi diceretur, Idolorum artifices & cultores non minus sunt stupidi, quam Idola ipsa. Simeon de Muis. little wit and reason as they.
Vers. 16. The Heaven, even the Heavens are the Lords.] Made for the manifestation of his own glory, and the habitation of Angels.
But the earth hath he given to the children of men.] q. d. The Lord hath challenged the Heavens to himself in which he lives a blessed life, he hath given this earthBucer. to men in which they should live and glorifie him.
PSAL. CXVI.
Verse 1. I Love the Lord.] There is but one word in the Hebrew, I love, but he shewethSignificatur continuus actus. Mui…. not whom he loveth; its a broken word, because as Ambros… faith, he loved the most desirable thing.
Vers. 7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul.] Rests in the plural number, all mannerThat is, thy God, say some. Rest is taken pro tranquillo & composito animi statu, Calv…. to its own wo…nted quiet sereue temper. Ress is opposed not to diligence or labour, but fear or doubt. Ergo habuit ante requiem, quam perdidit. Nemo enim convertitur, nisi qui pergit illuc ubi prius erat. Hiero…. Id est, Ne ampli… esto perturbata, sed conquiescito in Deo propter naturam & beneficentiam ejus. Ju…u…. of rests, because it hath attained its chief good.
Vers. 11. I said in my haste, All men are liars.] That is, when I remembredEven the Prophets who told me I should be King, have deceived me. Vide Junium. Verum dicit David; …n mentitur? Si verum est, omnis homo mendax, & hoc quod dicit, omnis homo mendax, verum est, ergo & ipse mentitur, quia & ipse homo est, Si autem & ipse mentitur: ergo hoc quod dixit: omnis homo mendax, non est verum. Hiero…. in loc. not the word of God: but forgat my own duty, and was carried away with the stream of my own affections against faith, then I failed and was foiled.
Id est, quum pracops raperer in perturbationes carnis, ut accipitur, Psal. 31. 23. Juniu….
Vers. 16. Oh Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant.] Repet…tio valet ad exaggerandum. Muis. He doubleth it, and addes an asseveration truly, q. d. Lord, I am all thine, and thou maist do with me what ever thou pleasest.
PSAL. CXVII.
Verse 1. GE…tiles.] Or, Nations; All which are exhorted to glorifie God, for obtainingVide Ju…. l. 2. Paral. …7. Rom. 15. 9, 10. mercy by Christ, who hath received us into the glory of God, as the Apostle sheweth from this Scripture, Rom. 15. 7.—11.
PSAL. CXVIII.
Verse 6. WHat man can do unto me.] Some reade it by way of Interrogation, WhatHeb. 13. 6. can man do unto me?
Vers. 12. They compassed me about like Bees.] 1. For multitude, go by troops.Mag…o scilicet ard…e, … vehementi impetu, & summa vindictae cupiditate, Si…o… de Mu…. Tanquam ap…, quae cum, qui c… offendit, conf…rti… & denso agmine ab omni p…rte aggrediuntur, De…. 1. 44. & quae in vindictam etiam cum suo damno, i… ex…tio ac n…ce ruunt veloci…i…ae inf…si…imae. Vide Pli… l▪ 1. …. 18. T…r…o…i… in loc. Vide Ju…ium. 2. Malice, they sting him. 3. Very fierce, the Bees will destroy themselves to hurt another.
Ani… ásque in vuluere p…nunt. Virg Georg. l. 4.
Vers. 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall.] Some expound it of the enemies, some of God, he thrusts with the one hand, and relieves with the other, but the words following oppose this interpretation. In the Hebrew it is, Thrusting, thou thrust est me to fall; the iteration of the same verb notes a great force, and a vehement impression of his enemies, and the great danger into which they had cast him. It is an apostrophe (saith Simeon de Muis) to some peculiar enemy, which he and Bucer thinks to be Saul.
Vers. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made.] That is, the day of the Resurrection. To make a day is put for sanctifying of it, 1 Sam. 12. 2▪ Exod. 34. 22. Deut. 5… 15. made it otherwise then all other dayes.
Divers of the Ancients bring this Scripture to prove the change of the Sabbath-day.
Vers. 27. Binde the Sacrifice with cords.] Ai…sworth reads it, Binde ye the feastofferings Sic ad verbum legitur in Ebraeo: Ligate festum funibus, festum hic ponitur pro hostia quae die festo immolatut, sane quidem Jesaias idem verbum eodem significatu usurpat, Jes. 29. 1. Drus. observat. Sac. l. 1. c. 16. Festum seu solennitas metonymic…s usurpatur hic pro nostia, agno aut simili pecore, cujusmodi die festo plerúmque offerebatur. Sic censent Rafi, Ezra, Kim…i. Simeon de Muis in loc.with cords. This word is sometimes used figuratively for the Sacrifices offered at those feasts, as Exod. 23. 18. Isa. 29. 1. and so the Chaldee explaineth it here.