Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 135
PSAL. CXXXV.
VErſ. 1 Praiſe yee the Lord, praiſe yee] Praiſe, praiſe; praiſe. When duties are thus inculcated, it noteth the neceſſity and excellency thereof; together with our dulneſs and backwardneſs thereunto.
O yee Servants of the Lord] See Pſal. 134.1.
Verſ. 2 Yee that ſtand in the houſe] See Pſal. 134.1.
In the Courts] Where the people alſo had a place, 2 Chron. 4.9. and are required to bear a part in this heavenly Halleluiah.
Verſ. 3 Praiſe the Lord, for the Lord is good] ſcil. Originally, tranſcendently, effectively; hee is good, and doth good, Pſal. 119.68. and is therefore to bee praiſed with mind, mouth, and practice.
For it is pleaſant] An angelicall exerciſe, and, to the ſpirituall-minded man, very delicious. To others indeed, who have no true notion of God but as of an enemy, it is but as muſick at funerals, or as the trumpet before a Judge; no comfort to the mourning wife, or guilty priſoner.
Verſ. 4 For the Lord hath choſen] Gods diſtinguiſhing grace ſhould make his elect lift up many an humble, joyfull, and thankfull heart to him.
And Iſrael for his peculiar treaſure] Such as hee maketh more reckoning of, than of all the World beſides. The Hebrew world here rendred peculiar treaſure, ſeemeth to ſignifie a Jewell made up of three precious ſtones, in form of a triangle. Segull…h. … dici S…gol, ….The Saints are Gods Jewels, Mal. 3.17. his ornament, yea the beauty of his ornament, and that ſet in Majeſty, Ezek. 7.20. his royall Diadem, Iſa. 62.3.
Verſ. 5 For I know that the Lord is great] As well as good, verſ. 3. This I beleeve and know, (Job. 6.69.) ſaith the Pſalmiſt; and do therefore make it my practice to praiſe him.
And that our Lord is above all Gods] Whether they bee ſo deputed (as Magiſtrates) or reputed, as Idols.
Verſ. 6 Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed] This the Heathens did never ſeriouſly affirm of any their dunghill deities: ſure it is, that none of them could ſay, I know it to bee ſo. De diis utrum ſint, non auſim affirmare, ſaid one of their wiſe men.
Verſ. 7 Hee cauſeth the Vapours] Not Jupiter, but Jehovah (See Jer. 10.13.) Hee is the right Nub…coga, Maker of the Metcors, whether fiery, aiery, or watery, Job 26.8, 9 & 28.26, 27, & 37.11, 15, 16. & 38.9. See the Notes there.
Hee maketh lightenings for the Rain] Or, With the Rain, which is very ſtrange, viz. that fire and water ſhould mingle, and hard ſtones come cut of the midſt of thin vapours.
Hee bringeth the winde out of his treaſuries] Or Coffers, ſtore-houſes, where hee holdeth them cloſe priſoners, during his pleaſure. This, the Philoſopher knew not, and thence it is that they are of ſo diverſe opinions about the winds. See Job 36.27, 28, &c. & Job. 37. throughout.
Verſ. 8 Who ſmote the firſt-born of Egypt] And thereby rouſed up that ſturdy rebell Pharaoh, who began now to open his eyes, as they ſay the blind mole doth, when the pangs of death are upon him; and to ſtretch out himſelf, as the crooked Serpent doth, when deadly wounded.
Verſ. 9 Who ſent tokens and wonders] Vocall wonders, Exod. 4.8. to bee as ſo many warning-peeces.
Verſ. 10 Who ſmote great Nations] Who, by their great ſins, had greatly polluted their land; and filled it with fi…th from one end to another, Ezra 9.11.
And ſlow mighty Kings] Heb. Bony, big, maſtiff fellows, quaſi …ſſ…t…s, five … as the word ſignifieth.
Verſ. 11 Sihon King of Amorites] A Giant like Cyclops.
And Og King of Baſhan] Of whom the Jews fable, that, being one of the … Giants, hee eſcaped the flood, by riding affride upon the Ark.
Verſ. 12 And gave their lands for an heritage] Which hee might well do, as being the true Proprietary, and Paramount.
Verſ. 13 Thy Name, O Lord, &c.] Elſe, O nos ingratos!
Verſ. 14 For the Lord will judge his people] Judicabit, id eſt vindicabit, hee will preſerve them, and provide for their wel-fare.
And hee will repent himſelf] This is, mutatio rei non Dei, effectus non affectus. Some render it, Hee will bee propitious, Others, hee will take comfort in his Servants. See Judges 10.16.
Verſ. 15, 16. The Idols of the Heathen] See Pſal. 115.4, 5, 6, &c.
Verſ. 17 Neither is there any breath in their mouths] If they uttered Oracles, it was the Devil in them, and by them. As for thoſe ſtatues of Daedalus which are ſaid to have moved,Ariſtot. Diod. Sic. Plato. ſpoken, and run away if they were not tyed to a place, &c. it is either a fiction, or elſe to be attributed to cauſes externall and artificiall, as quickſilver, &c.
Verſ. 18 They that make them, &c.] See Pſal. 115.8.
Verſ. 19 Bleſs the Lord] And not an Idoll, Iſa. 66.3. as the Philiſtines did their Dagon; and as Papiſts ſtill do their hee-Saints, and ſhee-Saints.
Verſ. 20 Yee that fear the Lord] Yee devout Proſelytes.
Verſ. 21 Bleſſed bee the Lord out of Sion] There-hence hee bleſſeth, Pſal. 134.3. and there hee is to bee bleſſed.
Which dwelleth at Jeruſalem] That was the ſeat of his royall reſiance, per inhabitationis gratiam, ſaith Auſtin, by the preſence of his grace; who by his eſſence and power, is every where.
Enter, praeſenter, Deus hic et ubi que potenter.