Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 4 [i.e. 5] · Psalm 113
PSAL. CXIII. foreign.
THE Scope of this Pſalm is the ſame with thoſe that went before, viz. to excite men to praiſe God.
Three parts of this Pſalm.
1. An Exhortation to praiſe him, directed to his ſervants, ver. 1.
2. A Form ſet down for it, expreſſing how, when, and where to praiſe him, ver. 2, 3.
3. The Reaſons that perſwade us to it; firſt, his infinite Power, ver. 4, 5. ſecondly, his Providence moſt conſpicuous in Heaven, and in Earth, ver. 6. in Earth both in Common-wealths, ver. 7, 8. and in private Families, ver. 9.
1. The Prophet exhorts men to praiſe the Lord: And,
1. Firſt, He doubles and trebles his Exhortation, Praiſe the Lord, praiſe, The firſt part. He exhorts to praiſe God.praiſe the Name of the Lord; that it be not coldly and dully, but zealouſly done; or elſe to ſhew, that he alone is worthy of all praiſe; Ver. 1 The Kingdom is his, and therefore the Glory.Eſpecially his ſervants.
2. He ſhewes us by whom he would have it done, by his ſervants; Praiſe the Lord, O ye ſervants; He is your Lord, you his ſervants, praiſe him then, and do it with a pure heart: For praiſe is not comely in the mouth of a ſinner.
2. The Form in which it is to be done, is this: Say,The ſecond part. A Form of thankſgiving.
1. Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, Job 1.
2. And ſay it at all times: Begin it ab ipſo nunc, From this time forth, and continue in it, from this time forth for evermore. In proſperity, adverſity, in this life, in the future.1For all times.
3. And let it be ſaid in all places, even all the World over: From the riſing of the Sun, unto the going down of the ſame, 2All places.the Lords Name is to be praiſed.
3. And now follow the Reaſons, The third part. The reaſons for it.by which he perſwades men to praiſe him.
1. The firſt is his Majeſty, his infinite Power, Glory; this extends not to men alone, but to the Heavens, and all above the Heavens: Ver. 4 The Lord is high above all Nations, and his Glory above the Heavens; above Princes, 1Gods Majeſty.Heavens, Angels; therefore praiſe him.
2. The ſecond is, his admirable Providence, Benignity and Bounty, 2His. Providence, and Condeſcenſionwhich being joyned with ſo great Majeſty, appears the more admirable. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high? None in Heaven and Earth to be compared to him; and yet, which ſets forth his goodneſs, Ver. 5 the care he hath of all things: He, as it were, humbleth himſelf to behold the things that are in Heaven and in earth. He is preſent with the greateſt Angels, and ready to help the meaneſt creature.Two inſtances of it.
Now of his Providence, in humbling himſelf to behold the things on earth, he gives two inſtances; the firſt is, in States and Kingdoms; the ſecond, in private Families.
1. In States: He raiſeth up the poor out of the duſt, and lifteth the needy out of the Dunghil: 1In Kingdoms, in which he exalts men of low degree.The examples of it, may be Joſeph, Moſes, David, Daniel, Job, Mordecai; let then no man ſay, Non vacant exiguis rebus adeſſe Jovi. And the end is, That he may ſet him with the Princes, even with the Princes of his people. He vindicates their name, not only from contempt, but exalts them to the higheſt places of honour.
2. 2In private Familes, opening the womb.In private Families: As the infelicity of men is a low and deſpiſed condition, ſo the infelicity of women, is barrenneſs; as therefore he looks upon humble men, and raiſeth them to a Crown; ſo he looks upon humble women, and makes them fruitful, in which the happineſs of a Family conſiſts; and therefore the Prophet adds this other inſtance of his Providence, He maketh the barren woman to keep houſe, and to be a joyful mother of children. A joyful mother; for that women rejoyce in nothing more than in bearing of children; the examples may be Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, Annah, Elizabeth, Jo. 16.21.
But by moſt Expoſitors, This appliable to the Church of the Gentiles.this laſt verſe hath a higher meaning, and relates unto the Church of the Gentiles, which was the barren woman before Chriſts coming, but hath now more children than ſhe that hath a Husband, i. e. the Jewiſh Synagogue: Iſa. 54.1. Rejoyce, O barren, that didſt not bear, break forth into joy, and rejoyce thou that didſt not travel with child, for the deſolate hath more children than the married wife; and is to this purpoſe applied by St. Paul, Gal. 4.27.
The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and thirteenth Pſalm.
O Omnipotent Lord, Ver. 1 whoſoever are addicted in faith and fincerep…ety to thy worſhip and ſervice, are bound at all times, in all places to return unto thy Name immortal praiſes; Ver. 2 we then, who acknowledge thée to be our Lord, and our ſelves thy daſſals and ſervants, with our whole hearts, both ſecretly, and in the Congregation of Saints, do ſound forth with full voyce, Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord our God, Ver. 3 from this time forth, for …vermore; from the riſing of the Sun, unto the going down of the ſame, our Lord's Name be praiſed.
O Lord, thy Majeſty is great, thy Glory illuſtrious, thy Goodneſs, Clemency and Providence wonderful, Ver. 4 thy Power is high above all Nations, and the greateſt in thoſe Nations; thy Glory above the Heavens, and the moſt glorious in thoſe Heavens: Ver. 5 Who, O Lord our God, is like unto thée? or among men or Angels may be compared with thée? And yet, though thou dwelleſt on high, ſuch is thy care, thy proviſion, thy clemency toward us men below, Ver. 6 that thou doſt, as it were, humble thy ſelf, and deſcend from thy Throne of Majeſty, to behold the things that are in Heaven, to take a care for the things that are done in, and on the Earth; there is no action, no event, either in Heaven or Earth, which thou ruleſt not, which thou guideſt not, and orders not. If the proud Angels in Heaven aſpire to thy Throne, Thou beholdeſt it, and they ſhall féel thy power. If inſolent men on earth ſhall exalt themſelves againſt thée, they ſhall drink of the cup of thy wrath; when thy ſervants ſin againſt thée, and yet ſhall humble themſelves before thée, Thou wilt behold their contrition, and accept their tears, and forgive their ungracious behaviour.
Look down, O Lord, at this time from thy dwelling place, and behold the afflicted ſlate and condition of this thy Church; Ver. 7 we have for many years béen trod under foot, and lain in the duſt; we have béen, and are yet oppreſſed, and caſt aſide, as it were, to the Dunghil. Thy judgments, O Lord, are juſt, and thy wayes equal, for unſavoury ſalt we were, and deſerved no better: But thou, who raiſeſt the poor out of the duſt, and lifteſt the needy out of the Dunghil, vouchſafe to ſtretch out thy arm of power, and right hand of help to our Princes and Armies; ſet our King, whom thou haſt hitherto dejected, once again with Princes, even the Princes of his people.
O Lord, who makeſt the barren woman to keep houſe, Ver. 8 and be a joyful mother of children; take pity on the afflicted woman, thy Church, and let her not mourn and longer for her barrenneſs; grant, that by thy Word and Spirit, Ver. 9 ſhe may be a mother of many children, with whom ſhe may rejoyce in thy houſe, and celebrate thy Name with perpetual praiſes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.