Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 2 · Psalm 67
PSAL. LXVII. foreign.
THIS Pſalm contains a Prayer of Iſrael, firſt for the flouriſhing eſtate of their own Church and people, and then that the Mercy and Bleſſing of God might be ſo extended to them, that the Kingdom of Chriſt might be enlarg'd; and all Nations come in and bleſs and praiſe God with them, with joyful hearts, and exultation of ſpirit.
The parts are,
1. A general Prayer, verſ. 1. and the reaſon, verſ. 2.
2. A double vow, verſ. 3, 4. with the reaſon. The vow repeated, verſ. 5.
3. The effects which were to follow, verſ. 6, 7.
1. The firſt part A prayer for 1. Mercy.He firſt deſires of God, that he would ſo carry himſelf to his Church and people, that it might appear, that he hath a care of them, that he loves them.
1. Vers. 1 God be merciful to us, favour us, for his Mercy is the fountain of all our good.
2. 2A bleſſing.Then, Bleſs us. Give whatſoever is good. Temporal, ſpiritual bleſſings.
3. 3The bleſſing of favour and grace.Vers. 2 In particular. Cauſe his face to ſhine upon us. Clear up his countenance to us. Every man deſires a bleſſing, the good man this bleſſing, 4That this bleſſing be extended to all people.the bleſſing of the right-hand. Let him openly ſhew that he favours us.
And for this he gives his reaſon, viz. That the light may be communicative, and the benefit paſs over to others, The ſecond part.even unto all men, all Nations.
1. In which he votes praiſe to God, and deſires that all may join with him.That thy Way, thy Will, thy Word, thy Works, may be known on earth.
2. Thy ſaving health, not in Jury alone, but among all Nations. He deſires that all men may come to the knowledge of the Truth, and take notice of thoſe wayes, which he takes for the ſalvation of his people.
2. And upon it he Votes honour to God, for one will eaſily and naturally flow from the other, Vers. 3 his mercy brings knowledge, and his knowledge praiſe.
Let the people praiſe thee, O God: Let all the people praiſe thee. This verſe is Emphatical.
1. Vers. 5 In reſpect of the Object. Te. Thee. Not other ſtrange gods.
2. Celebrent omnes. All the people. Not mutter thy praiſes, but make them illuſtrious.
3. And do it he artily.And do it often. Repeat them again and again, as he doth this verſe, verſ. 5.
4. Vers. 4 And do it with a joyful and glad heart. O let the Nations rejoice, and ſing for joy.
And of this alſo he gives his reaſon, The reaſon.the Acts that flow from Gods ſpecial providence, his governing, his moderating, his directing his people.
1. 1Gods equity in judging.His equity in judging. Thou ſhalt judge the people righteouſly.
2. 2His wiſdom in ordering.His wiſdom in governing. Thou ſhalt govern, lead, and direct the Nations, and that on earth, that they know the way to eternal happineſs. Ʋia gratia, via gloriae.
3. The third part. The Conſequences.The effects of his bleſſing and our praiſe, are expreſſed in the two laſt verſes.
1. Vers. 6 Then ſhall the earth yield her increaſe. Which literally, is an ample Harveſt. Spiritually, 1An increaſe.the inhabitants of the earth ſhall increaſe in knowledge, thanks, &c.
2. And God ſhall bleſs this increaſe, for without his bleſſing, 2A bleſſing of that increaſe.the increaſe will be to little purpoſe. God, even our God ſhall bleſs. Which he ingeminates, that it be not forgotten. God ſhall bleſs. Vers. 7
3. The laſt effect is, 3Gods worſhip.that God ſhall be worſhipped and honoured all the world over. And all the ends of the earth ſhall fear him.
The Prayer collected out of the ſixty ſeventh Pſalm.
O God, great in power, but infinite in mercy, acknowledge we do, that thou art the Father of all gifts, and the Fountain of all goodneſs, Vers. 1 and from thy bounty and liberality it is, that we receive whatſoever we can call ours, and therefore we humbly beſéech thée to be favourable and merciful to us, to bleſs unto us whatſoever is good, and make it openly and plainly appear, that thou doeſt carry a ſerene aſpect, and a clear countenance towards us. That ſo while we remain in this earth, we may perfectly know that way, that leads to thée, and to our future happineſs.
And this mercy we ask not for our ſelves alone, but for all Nations. Vers. 2 O happy day, when not in Jury alone, but all the world over thy wayes ſhall be made known, when there ſhall be but one fold and one ſhepherd, and thy ſaving health made evident, and receiv'd by all Nations!
Bring to paſs, O God, that many may come from the Eaſt and Weſt, and ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God. Vers. 3 Thy name will be glorious, thy honour enlarg'd, when the Gentiles with the Jews, and the Jews with the Gentiles, ſhall with one heart and one voice ſing hymns to thy name. O then let the people praiſe thee, O God, let all the people praiſe thee.
Thou art a juſt God, in equity judge for us; thou art a wiſe God, in wiſdom govern and direct us. Deliver thy people from the tyranny of men, and from the rage and fury of Devils, direct and govern our hearts in the way of thy Laws, and in the works of thy Commandments, ſo ſhall we appear in thy preſence with joyful and glad hearts, and ſing merrily our ſongs of Zion to thy name.
Again and again I beg of thée, O Lord, that all men may come to the knowledge of thy truth, and confeſs thy name. O let the people praiſe thee, O God, let all the people praiſe thee. Let them caſt away their ſtrange gods; and fall low before thy foot-ſtool, and adore thée alone the Maker of all things, the Redéemer of all men, for then the Lord will hear the heavens, and the heavens ſhall hear the earth, and the earth ſhall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oyle, and they ſhall hear Iſrael.
Out of thy mercy, O God, beſtow upon us the light of thy countenance, and grateful hearts, that ſo all other things may be adminiſtred unto us, bleſs our fields with increaſe, and our houſes with abundance, and becauſe all plenty is no better than poverty without thy bleſſing, give thy bleſſing to that thou haſt given, ſo ſhall we fear thy name, and adore thy Majeſty, and admire thy wiſe providence, and in all reverence and humility ſet forth thy praiſe from generation to generation. Amen.