Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, 4 [i.e. 5] (cont.) · Psalm 146
PSAL. CXLVI. A Hymn, Hallelujah.
THE Subject of this Hymn is the ſame with the former, and it hath,
Theſe four parts.
1. An Exhortation to praiſe God, ver. 1. which David is reſolved to do, ver. 2.
2. A Dehortation from confidence in man, how great ſoever, ver. 3, 4.
3. On the contrary, he pronounceth them happy that truſt in God, ver. 5.
4. And to this confidence in God he perſwades for many Reaſons, from ver. 6. to the laſt.
1. David exhorts to praiſe God. The firſt part.He begins with a Dialogiſm.
1. He ſpeaks to all, Praiſe ye the Lord.
2. Ver. 1 Then by an Apoſtrophe he turns to himſelf, Praiſe the Lord, O my ſoul.
3. And his ſoul anſwers, While I live will I praiſe the Lord, I will ſing praiſes to my God while I have my being; while I am, and ſhall be.
2. The ſecond part.But becauſe the foundation of this praiſe is the truſt and confidence which men have in God, Dehorts from confidence in Princes; for,from which they are retarded, by admiring over-much, and relying upon the power and help of Kings and Princes; the Prophet therefore ſubjoins his Dehortation, and gives his Reaſons for it.
1. Ver. 3 Put not your truſt in Princes, nor in the ſon of man.
2. His Reaſons for it are:
1. 1Their impotency.Firſt, Their Impotency: There is no help in them. They may ſeem potent, but they cannot ſave themſelves, much leſs other men. Ver. 4
2. 2Mortality.Their Fragility and Mortality: Their breath goeth forth, they return to the earth, in that very day their thoughts periſh.
3. The third part. But happy he that relies on God.Thoſe men cannot be happy that truſt to them; but now on the contrary. If a man will be happy, the Prophet ſhewes upon whom he muſt truſt and rely, which is on God; for,
1. Ver. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help; him to whom Jacob truſted.
2. And whoſe hope is in the Lord his God: Not in impotent, and ſhort-liv'd men.
And this he confirms by divers Reaſons.The fourth part. Becauſe he is,
1. 1OmnipotentFirſt, From his Omnipotence: He is God the Creatour, he made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that is therein. Able then to protect. Ver. 6
2. 2Faithful.From his Veracity: Who keeps Truth for ever. His word is paſſed for our protection, and he will perform it. Poteſt & vult, quia promiſit. Ver. 7
3. 3Juſt.From his Juſtice: He executeth judgment for the oppreſsed. He defends the innocent, and puniſheth the unjuſt: Good truſting then to him.
4. Ver. 8 4Merciful.From his Mercy.
1. He giveth food to the hungry: Relieves men in their wants.
2. The Lord looſeth the Priſoners. Another Act of grace, and the reſt follow.
3. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: Whether ſpiritually, or corporally.
4. The Lord raiſeth them that are bowed down: By ſin, wrath, miſery.
5. From his Love: The Lord loveth the righteous. Ver. 9 5Loving.Of which the effects are.
1. The Lord preſerveth the ſtrangers.
2. He relieveth the fatherleſs and widow.
3. But the ungodly find a quite contrary effect, becauſe they are no…ons of love, but wrath: But the way of the wicked he turns upſide down. Their glory periſheth, and with it the hope of thoſe fools that truſted to them.
6. From the Eternity of his Kingdom; therefore to be praiſed, 6Eternal.and truſted to for ever. Kings dye and periſh, but he is a King for ever in Zion, i.e. Ver. 10 in his Church. The Lord ſhall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all Generations, Praiſe ye the Lord.
The Hymn and Prayer collected out of the One hundred and forty ſixth Pſalm.
O Omnipotent and moſt Merciful God, Ver. 1 Thou art worthy to receive honour and glory, and therefore with all my heart and ſoul, while I live, I will praiſe thee; while I have any being, I will ſing praiſes to my God.
Thou art my ſtaffe to truſt to, my ſole confidence, and my hape; as for the greateſt and moſt potent of the ſons of men, I dare not rely on them; Ver. 3 for they are unable in their greateſt exigence to help themſelves, much leſs to relieve others: Their breath goeth forth, and they return to the earth whence they came; and in that very day all their high thoughts, and proud attempts, periſh, and vaniſh together with them.
Who then can be happy, that relies upon ſuch empty broken réeds? Ver. 5 that truſts to ſuch brittle earthen veſſels? Leaving then all earthly dependances, as weak and miſerable comforters, To thee will I truſt, who art the God of Jacob, the Lord of thy Church and people, being aſſured, That he is only happy, whoſe hope is in the Lord his God.
Thou, O Lord, haſt made Heaven and Earth, the Se…, and all that is in it. Ver. 6 Thou doſt confirm the Truth of thy promiſes, by an exact performance; Ver. 7 Execute then judgment for the oppreſſed, give food to the hungry, looſe thy priſoners from their bonds and chains, open the eyes, and illuminate the underſtandings of thoſe who are blinded in ſin and errour. Raiſe, O Lord, the hearts of ſuch as are contrite and bowed down, proſecute the righteous and innocent with thy love and favour, preſerve the ſtranger, relieve the fatherleſs and widow, and turn-upſide down the way, the plots, devices and frauds of wicked m…n; Turn, O Lord, the counſel of Achitophel into fooliſhneſs.
An which, ſince we know to be thy wondrous w…ks, and have experience of the performance of them to thy faithful ſervants in all Ages, our faith is thereby confirmed, Ver. 10 and our hope ſuſtained in the mi…ſt of our preſent troubles and calamities: Wherefore being encouraged by this hope, we humbly beſéech thée, look upon the ſad condition of thy Church, Thou, O God, reigneſt in Zion; build then the decayed and ruined walls of Jeruſalem, and preſerve and provide for this widow, and her fatherleſs children, amidſt the ſtorms and fury of her mercileſs oppreſſors, for the merits of Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.