Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 2 · Psalm 46
PSAL. XLVI. foreign.
THIS Pſalm is wholly Gratulatory, ſung by the Church for ſome very great deliverance after the victory from confederated enemies.
Two eſpecial things to be conſidered.
1. The confidence the Church hath in God, from verſ. 1. to 8.
2. An Exhortation to behold it, and that he is the Lord of Hoſts, the Authour of Warre and Peace, verſ. 8, 9, 10.
1. The firſt part. The Churches confidence.He begins with a foreign or Maxime, which is the ground of all the confidence which the people of God can have. God is our Aſylum or refuge to fly to, our ſtrength, Vers. 1 ſtay, munition, on which to relie, a very preſent help to deliver us in trouble.
Upon which Gods people inferre this Concluſion, The inference upon it: boldneſs in perſecution.Therefore will we not fear, no not in the greateſt calamities and multitude of enemies. Which he expreſſeth, Firſt, Metaphorically, then in plain proper terms. Fear we will not, Vers. 2
1. Though the earth be moved, or removed, on which the Church is ſeated.
2. Though the Mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea; i. e. the great and ſtrongeſt Empires and Kingdoms ſhould be ruin'd and overwhelm'd.
3. Though the waters roar and be troubled. Vers. 3 Though a multitude of people threaten and join their forces to ruine the Church.
4. Though the Mountains, i. e. Kingdoms ſhake at the tumour and ſwelling pride of theſe Compiratours. For the waters are people, Revel. 17.
More plainly, for we have the interpretation of theſe Metaphors, Verſ. 6. Vers. 6 Though the heathen raged, the Kingdoms were moved: yet will we not be afraid.
Juſtum & tenacem propoſiti virum, non civium ardor prava jubentium Non vultus inſtantis tyranni Mente quatet ſolidâ: Neque Auſter Dux inquietus turbidus Adriae, Nec fulminantis Jovis, manus Si fractus illabatur orbis Impavidum ferient ruina.
2. And of this he next deſcends to ſhew the reaſons.
1. There is a River, The reaſons of this.the ſtreams whereof ſhall make glad the City of God, the holy place of the Tabernacles of the moſt high. Vers. 4 The City of God, was Jeruſalem, the type of the Church; and the holy place of the Tabernacles, the Temple. The little Siloah that ran ſoftly, did water Jeruſalem, and the Goſpel-promiſes that ſhall flow alwayes in the Church, ſhall make glad the hearts of Gods people. Vers. 5
2. God is in the midſt of her, to keep, to defend her, therefore ſhe ſhall not be moved, that is, utterly removed, but ſhall remain for ever.
3. God ſhall help her, and deliver her: yea, and that right early in a fit ſeaſon. He that ſhould come, will come, and will not tarry.
4. He uttered his voice, and the earth was melted. The hearts, Vers. 6 of the men of the earth, that exalted themſelves againſt his Church, at the leaſt word uttered from his mouth, melted, were ſtruck with fear and terrour.
5. The Lord of hosts is with us. He is Dominus exercituum, Vers. 7 their Armies then are at his command, verſ. 7, 11.
6. The God of Jacob is our refuge. He is our Aſylum, and he will ſaye us, verſ. 7, 11.
The ſecond part contains two Exhortations.
1. He calls to all to behold the works of the Lord, Exhortations. The ſecond part.and of two he gives inſtance for to behold.
1. That War is his work. Vers. 8 See what deſolations he hath made in the earth. Vers. 9
2. That Peace is his work. Vers. 10 He maketh War to ceaſe to the end of the earth, &c.
2. Then in the perſon of God, he exhorts the enemies of the Church to be quiet, for their endeavours are but in vain, and their rage to no purpoſe. Be ſtill, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Prayer out of the forty ſixth Pſalm. Or an Hymne.
O Bleſſed Lord God, Vers. 1 upon whom we have depended ever ſince we were born, forſake us not now in this néedful time of trouble, but be our refuge to whom we may flie, our ſtrength on whom we may relie, our preſent help in theſe diſtracted times, either by fréeing us from our preſſures, or giving us patience to undergo them.
So ſhall we not fear in the greateſt ſtorms; No, Vers. 2 though the Devil raiſe the greateſt perſecutions againſt thy Church to remove it from the earth, no not though a multitude of people conſpire and ſwell with pride, though they compaſs us about as a flood of waters: Vers. 3 Though we behold the ſhaking and commotions of all other Kingdoms and Empires about us.
For thy rich promiſes will ſuſtain our fainting hearts. Vers. 4 A River of mercy there is in thee, whoſe ever flowing ſtreams ſhall make glad the City of our God the moſt high, in which he hath ſet his Tabernacle to dwell, and which we know he will uphold for ever. Vers. 5 God is in the midſt of her, and ſhe ſhall not be removed by any incurſion, help her he will in a fit ſeaſon, right early he hath promiſed to come, and he will not tarry.
Ariſe, Vers. 6 O God, to fight for us, utter thy voice to defend our cauſe, for then the Nations will tremble, the Kingdoms will be moved, the hearts of our enemies ſhall melt like war, and all that have exalled themſelves againſt us, ſhall loſe their courage, and be ſurprized with an aſtoniſhing fear.
Certainly the Lord of hoſts, Vers. 7 at whoſe command there is an Army, an Army of Angels is with us. The God, whom Jacob worſhipped, and by whoſe power and mercy he was defended from the fury of his brother Eſau, will defend us, when we flie to him.
O come then, Vers. 8 and conſider the works of the Lord, behold what wonders he hath done for his people in all ages. For their ſakes he hath deſtroyed mighty Armies, and brought ſtrange deſolations upon the mightieſt Kingdoms. Vers. 9 Again for their ſakes he hath made Wars to ceaſe in all the World, he hath broken the Bows of the mighty, cut their Spears in ſunder, and burnt up their Chariots with fire from Heaven, giving to his people the bleſſing of peace.
All then you who are enemies to his Church, Vers. 10 be ſtill, ceaſe from your wicked plots and conſpiracies, for know this for certain, that he is God, he will get himſelf honour upon you, Vers. 11 and he will be exalted not only in the Heaven above, but he will alſo be exalted by what he doth for his people on Earth. So that when we ſhall ſee his wonderful deliverance that he ſends his people, and the revenge he takes on their enemies, we ſhall have reaſon to ſay, and ſay again, The Lord of Hoſts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.