Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 4 · Psalm 92
PSAL. XCII. A Pſalm or Song for the Sabbath-day. foreign.
THE Title of this Pſalm ſhews to what end it was to be compoſed, viz. To be a part of the Jewiſh Lyturgy, and on the Sabbath-day to be ſung to the honour and praiſe of God, whom, on that day eſpecially, they were to magnifie for his goodneſs and faithfulneſs in creating, and by his eſpecial Providence governing the World; of which Providence, the Prophet gives two eſpecial inſtances; the ſudden fall of the wicked, the proſperity and ſecurity of the godly; the parts then of this Pſalm,
Are two:
1. Firſt, A general Propoſition, Theſis, Axiom, or Maxim, ver. 1. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, &c. which is explained, ver. 2. & 3. and applied, ver. 4.
2. A particular Narration of ſuch works, in which the goodneſs and faithfulneſs of God doth eſpecially conſiſt, viz. The Creation and Government of the World, ver. 4, 5. And of the laſt he gives two inſtances.
1. One in wicked men: 1. Of their ſottiſhneſs and ſtupidity, 6. 2. Then of their ſudden extirpation, ver. 7, 8, 9.
2. Another in the godly, whoſe proſperity is great, from ver. 10. to 14. and ſecurity certain, ver. 15.
He begins with a Maxime. The firſt part. The general maxime.It is good, i. e. juſt, profitable, pleaſant, and commendable, to give thanks to the Lord. 2. And to ſing praiſes, with heart, Vers. 1 tongue, and with Muſical Inſtruments, to thy glorious Name, O thou moſt High.
2. The explanation of it.And both parts he explains. 1. That we give thanks at all times, Morning and Evening, in Proſperity and Adverſity, and in our praiſes eſpecially to remember his loving-kindneſs, Vers. 2 and his faithfulneſs. Theſe muſt be the matter of our thankſgiving. 1Good to praiſe God at all times for his loving-kindneſs.It is good to ſhew forth thy loving-kindneſs in the morning, and thy faithfulneſs every night, verſ. 2.
3. It is good alſo, to add to our voices, Inſtruments of Muſick, to that end, To ſing praiſes to thy Name and glory, upon an Inſtrument of ten ſtrings, and upon the Pſaltery, Vers. 3 upon the Harp with a ſolemn ſound, verſ. 3. As it was then uſual in the Temple.2Good to expreſs it always.
4. Vers. 4 And thus the Maxime being propoſed, and explained, he applyes it to himſelf, This he applies, and ſhews the reaſon, viz.and ſhews his own practice, and the reaſon of it. For thou, Lord, haſt made me glad through thy work, I will triumph in the works of thy hands, verſ. 4.
1. The delight he took in Gods works.Thou haſt made me glad. He was firſt delighted and affected with Gods work.
2. And then he exults and triumphs in it. The heart muſt be firſt truly affected with the work of God, before a man ſhall take any true content or delight in it. He muſt ſee God and his goodneſs in the Creature, before he ſhall take any delight or content in the Creature: Which yet came from Gods Spirit.He muſt diſcern Gods faithfulneſs in his works and wayes, before he ſhall take any content, and exult in his works and wayes. And this content and delight, is alſo a work of the Spirit. Tuexhilaraſti. Thou haſt made me glad.
2. The ſecond part.Mention he had made of the work and works of God, and now he farther opens what they are. Firſt, The Creation of the Univerſe. Secondly, His eſpecial Providence in ordering the things of this world, He ſhews what theſe works are in which he delighted.particularly about man.
1. Firſt he begins with the work of Creation, upon which he enters with an foreign, Vers. 5 not without leſs than an admiration. O Lord, how great are thy works? 1Of Creation, which he admires.and thy thoughts are very deep. As if he ſaid, I cannot be ſatisfied in the contemplation of them. Expleri mentem nequit, ardeſcit que tuendo. There is ſuch a depth in them, that I cannot attain to it, nor comprehend it.
2. And he ends it, not without an indignation, that the wiſe men of the world, Vers. 6 who yet in his judgement, for their diſregard of it, are but fools, But fools diſregard.ſhould not conſider it. In the Creature they look after nothing, but profit, and pleaſure, in which regard they are but fools, for this bruitiſh man knows not, how great are his works, this fool underſtands not, how deep are his cogitations.
2. 2Of Governance of the world, about which the miſtake is, That fools judge thoſe that flouriſh, happy men.And that he may illuſtrate their folly the more, from the work of Creation, he comes to Gods work of Governance of the world, and ſhews, that as they who would be, and are reputed wiſe, are miſtaken in the one, ſo alſo they are miſtaken in the other. For they think the ungodly, and ſuch as flouriſh in power and wealth, happy, and that the righteous men ſometimes oppreſſed, are unhappy, and upon theſe two inſtances he inſiſts to the end of the Pſalm.
Firſt, He inſtances in the ungodly. When the wicked ſpring up, riſe on a ſudden (for ſuch a time there is) as the graſs, that grows inſenſibly, and in a night, Vers. 7 and when all the workers of iniquity do flouriſh, become very conſpicuous, But this is not ſo.exalted in pride, and power, and abound in wealth. Who would not now take them for happy men? For their felicity is but for a moment, and ends in infelicity.No, ſaith our Prophet, it is not ſo. He that governs the world, hath another end in it.
1. This their felicity, is the greateſt infelicity. It is, that they may periſh, be deſtroyed.
2. That they may periſh for ever. Remember Dives.
3. And this their deſtruction is from God, that ſits in the Throne, and is immutable in his decrees and wayes. They flouriſh, and are aloft, but it is but for a Moment: But thou, Lord, Vers. 8 art moſt high for evermore. And thou wilt execute thy decree upon them.
4. Which the Prophet fully opens in the next verſe, Vers. 9 which the Epizeuxis makes more Emphatical. For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for lo, thine enemies ſhall periſh, and all the workers of iniquity ſhall be ſcattered.
1. Behold, they were green, they flouriſhed, but the change ſhall be ſudden.
2. They were enemies, thy enemies, workers of iniquite: therefore curſed with a curſe.
3. They ſhall periſh, they ſhall be ſcattered, they roſe, 2But with the godly it is quite otherwiſe; whoſe happy condition he demonſtrates.they flouriſhed as graſs, and they ſhall be ſcattered as dry graſs, which the wind blows from the face of the earth.
His ſecond Inſtance is in the Godly, whoſe happy condition he demonſtrates. Firſt, in Hypotheſi, or in himſelf, verſ. 10, 11. And in foreign. In all others, that be true members of the Myſtical Church of Chriſt, from verſ. 12. to the end.1In himſelf.
1. He inſtanceth in himſelf, that his condition is not like the ungodly. Vers. 10 He ſhot not up, as the fading graſs, but his ſtrength and power ſhould be as an Unicorn.
1. But my horn ſhalt thou exalt as the horn of an Unicorn, which hath one, lofty, and ſtrong horn; that is, my power and glory, and felicity, ſhall ſtill mount higher.
2. And I ſhall be anointed with freſh oyle. Anointed to be King over Iſrael by Samuel with a horn of Oyle, by God with the gracious ſweet Oyle of his Spirit.
3. And that which adds to my flouriſhing eſtate. My eye ſhall ſee my deſire on my enemies, and my eares ſhall hear my deſire of the wicked that riſe up againſt me. Which he lived to ſee and hear in the ruine of Saul and his houſe.
2. And that which the Prophet ſaid of himſelf, 2In all other righteous perſons; that are like thehe transfers now to all juſt and righteous men, whom he compares to the Palm, and Cedar.
1. The righteous ſhall flouriſh like a Palm tree. Of which the Poet, Vers. 111Palm-tree.
Nititur in pondus palma, & conſurgit in altum
Quo magis & premitur, hoc mage tollit onus. So a good Chriſtian.
2. He ſhall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. 2And Cedar.Cedar wood is not conſumed by worms or time: Nor the Church by antiquity, Vers. 12 nor perſecution. The Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it: nor any true member of it.
Of which the reaſon is, becauſe theſe Palms and Cedars, Vers. 13 theſe righteous men, are planted, ſet by faith, water'd by the Word and Sacraments, The reaſon, they planted in the houſe of God.rooted by Charity in the Church, which is the houſe of the Lord, and therefore they ſhall flouriſh, be green and vigorous in the Courts of our God. Every plant that our heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted out, In which they 1. Shall flouriſh.as are all thoſe wild Olives, that grow out of the Pale of the Church, or thoſe that are in it, but were never truly engraffed into it, but the true plants ſhall flouriſh.
2. Nay, which is yet more, they ſhall be full of Sap, and loaden with fruit. Vers. 14
1. They ſhall bring forth fruit in their old age. 2Be fruitful.It ſhall be contrary to them, as to other trees: Thoſe grow fruitleſs, and bear not, when they grow old: Theſe are then moſt loaden with the fruits of grace.
2. 3Abound in grace.They ſhall be fat and flouriſhing: Other trees, when old, are zere and dry; Theſe then are fat in juice, and flouriſh in good works. 'Tis conceiv'd, that in the end of the laſt dayes, the eſtate of Chriſts Church ſhall moſt flouriſh.
3. And the reaſon of this their vigour, of the continuance of this their radical and vital moyſture to their old age, Which is done for that end, that they may extoll the praiſes of God.is, that they bring forth fruit, which is ſpecified in the laſt verſe. Ʋt annuncient: That they might ſhew forth Gods faithfulneſs, praiſe him for that, as it is at the ſecond verſe.
1. Vers. 15 That they might ſhew, that the Lord is upright. Juſt and righteous in himſelf.
2. That he is a Rock. A ſure, ſtable foundation to truſt to.
3. And that there is no unrighteouſneſs in him. No injuſtice, though for a time he ſuffer the wicked to flouriſh, and the juſt to be under the Croſs. For in his good time, he will ſhew his Juſtice, in rewarding the juſt, and puniſhing the unjuſt.
The Prayer.
O Almighty God, Vers. 1 and Merciful Father, ſince it is a good thing in it ſelf, juſt, and to be paid as a due debt, honourable, being the work of Angels, Vers. 3 to give thanks to the Lord, and to ſing praiſes to thy Name, O thou moſt High: Enable me by the power of thy Spirit, that with heart, and tongue, that upon an inſtrument of ten ſtrings, Vers. 2 and upon the Pſaltery, that upon the Harp with a ſolemn ſound, I may ſhew forth thy loving-kindneſs in the morning, Vers. 4 and thy faithfulneſs in keeping thy promiſes, in the night ſeaſon.
Make me glad, O Lord, and give me delight in the conſideration in thy work and beauty of the whole Vniverſe, Vers. 5 and let me triumph and rejoice in the ſerious meditation of thy immenſe power, wiſdom and goodneſs declared in the works of thy hands. Vers. 6 So great and wonderful they are, that no man can ſufficiently admire them; ſo déep and ſecret are thy thoughts in them, that no underſtanding of man is able to ſearch them. The bruitiſh man, who is deſtitute of thy Spirit, ſéeks no farther into them, than to ſatisfie his pleaſure or profit, and therefore he knows not the depth of thy counſels; the natural man, who is the true fool, ſéeks only in theſe to ſatisfie his curioſity, and therefore in his underſtanding he is darkned, and erres. Oh therefore ſend down thy Spirit of wiſdom into my heart, that ſhe may labour with me in the ſearch of thy wayes and works, that ſo all ignorance being removed, and all bruitiſhneſs being expell'd, I may attain to the true knowledge of them, and thée, and be moved to ſet forth thy loving-kindneſs, and extol thy wiſdom and faithfulneſs, firſt in Creating, and then in wiſely governing the whole world.
Sinners, Vers. 7 when they ſpring up ſuddenly as the graſs, and the workers of iniquity, ſo long as they flouriſh, think themſelves the ſole happy men. Put into their hearts, O Lord, to conſider their latter end, and give me grace to conſider their fall and puniſhment: Their proſperity is not laſting, their ſtate is not immutable, that is a property that belongs only to thée, for thou, Lord, art the moſt High for evermore. Their raiſing is for their ruine, and their end to be deſtroyed for ever. For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo thine enemies ſhall periſh, and all the workers of iniquity ſhall be ſcattered.
But, Lord, I fear thy name, and tremble at thy judgements, I admire thy power, and adore thy wiſdom, be gracious then to thy Servant, and let me, partake of that bleſſing, which thou haſt promiſed to thy Catholique Church. Vers. 10
O Lord, exalt her horn as the horn of an Vnicorn, ſhe is depreſſed, raiſe her, ſhe is weak, ſtrengthen her, ſhe is in ſadneſs, and her ointment putrified, anoint her, O Lord, with freſh oyle. Her enemies are many that riſe up againſt her, bring upon them a ſudden deſtruction, and let her eye ſee her deſire on her enemies, and her ears hear her deſire of the wicked that riſe upagainſt her. But for thy righteous Servants, who adhere to the Truth, and ſerve thée in ſincerity of heart, let them flouriſh like a Palm tree, grow higher and gréener by their preſſures, let no time conſume them, nor ſtorm of perſecution more ſhake them than a Cedar in Lebanon, the more they are hewed, the more make them to grow; the more they are cut, the more cauſe them to ſpread.
Theſe being by nature, Cyences of the Wild-Olive, Vers. 13 thou haſt engraffed into the good Olive-trée, and planted them in thy houſe, thy Church, water them by thy Word and Sacraments, root them in Charity, Vers. 14 prune them by thy Diſcipline, that they may flouriſh in the Courts of the houſe of our God, let them be fat and full of ſap in this old age of the world, and when other Trées are barren, let them ſtill bring forth fruit. Be unto them a ſtrong Rock, to which they may fly in every ſtorm, Vers. 15 and on which they may ſtand ſecure and undanted in the greateſt tempeſt. Let them live to praiſe thy name, and ſhew that the Lord is upright, and acknowledge that there is no unrighteouſneſs in thee, though thou doſt ſuffer the wicked man to flouriſh for a time, and thy beſt Servants to lie under the Croſs. Ah, good Father, cheriſh our fainting hearts with this hope, comfort us with this thy loving-kindneſs and faithfulneſs in Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, and only Saviour.