Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 105
PSAL. CV.
VErſ. 1. O give thanks unto Lord] Some tell us, that this, and the two following Pſalms, were the great Hallelujah ſung as ſolemn times in their aſſemblies. But others ſay better, that the great Hallelujah (as the Hebrews called it) began at Pſal. 113. and held on till Pſal. 119. which they at the Paſsover began to ſing, after that cup of wine they called, Poculum bymni ſen laudationis.
Call upon his Name] Call upon the Lord, whe is worthy to be prayſed, Pſal. 18.3. See the Note there. Our life muſt be divided betwixt praiſes and prayers.
Verſ. 2. Sing unto him, ſing] Both with mouth, and with muſical inſtruments.
Talk ye] Or meditate ye, Let your heart indite a good matter, and your tongue be as the pen of a ready writer, Pſal. 45.1.
Verſ. 3. Glory ye in his holy Name] Of his power and goodneſs. See 1 Cor. 1.31.Alſted. with Jer. 9.23. Non eſt glorioſier populus ſub caelo quam Judaicus, ſaith One; there i… not a more vain-glorious people under heaven than the Jews; But we are the circumciſion which worſhip in ſpirit, and glory in Chriſt Jeſus, and have no confidence in the fleſh, Philip. 3.3.
Let the heart of them rejoyce, &c. All others are forbidden to rejoyce, Hoſ. 9.1. and bidden to weep and howl, Jam. 5.1.
Verſ. 4. Seek the Lord and his ſtrength] That is, his Ark at the remove where of to Jeruſalem this Pſalm was ſung, 1 Chron. 16.7, 8. &c. Called it is Gods ſtrength, and Gods face here; yea even God himſelf, Pſal. 132.5. Its as if he ſhould ſay, Frequent holy Aſſemblies, as ever you deſire to draw nigh to God, and to have your faith in him confirmed.
Verſ. 5. Remember the marvellous works, &c.] Deeply, and diligently ponder both the works and words of God, comparing the one with the other, that ye may the better conceive of both.
Verſ. 6. O yee ſeed of Abraham &c.] Do thus, or elſe your pedigree will profit you no more, than it did Dives in the flames, that Abraham called him Son. An empty title, yeeldeth but an empty comfort.
Verſ. 7. For he is the Lord] Jehovah, the Eſſentiator, the promiſe-keeper, therefore praiſe him! He is alſo in Covenant with us, and will we not do him this right?
His judgement are in all the earth] His executions upon the Egyptians and Philiſtims, are far and near notified and diſcourſed.
Verſ. 8. He hath remembred his Covenant] I Chron. 16.15. it is, Bee ye mindful alwayes of his Covenant. God ever remembreth, though we many times forget it, and out ſelves.
The word which be commanded] The conditions of the Covenant.
Verſ. 9. which Covenant be made with Abraham, &c.] Whom hee found an Idolater, Joſh, 24.2. he juſtified the ungodly, Rom. 4.5.
And his Oath] That by two immutable things, &c. Heb. 6.
Verſ. 10. And confirmed the ſame, &c.] So God ſealeth, and ſweareth to us again and again, in every Sacrament, that all doubts of his love may be taken away, and out hearts lifted up (as Jeboſaphats, 2 Chron. 17.6.) in the way of the Lord.
Verſ. 11. Ʋnto thee will I give the land of Canaan] That pleaſanteſt of all lands, E…k. 20.6. a type and pledge of heaven to the faithful.
Verſ 12. When they were but a few men in member] Seventy ſouls at their going down into Egypt, which yet (ſay the Hebrews truly) were more worth than the Seventy Nations of the whole world beſides. Howb…t God choſe them not for their worth, or number, but loved them meerly becauſe he loved them, Deut. 7.7,8.
Verſ. 13. When they went from one Nation to another] There were ſeven ſeveral Nations in that Land, wherein they ſojourned, flitting from place to place, and having no ſetled habitation, foreign, 1 Cor. 4.11.
From one Kingdome] Forced by Famine, or other neceſſity. See Gen 10.12. and 20.1, 2, &c. and 26.1, &c.
Verſ. 14. He ſuffered no man, &c.] So as utterly to oppreſs them; for otherwiſe, they had their ill uſages, ſuch as was the taking away of Sarah, caſting out of Iſaac, the rape of Dinah, &c. Strangers meet many times with hard meaſure.
Yea be reproved Kings] Gen. 12.17. and 20.3. Kings and Queens muſt not think themſelves to good to nurſe Gods little ones, yea to do them homage, licking up the duſt under their feet, Iſa. 49.23.
Verſ. 15. Touch not mine anointed, &c.] This, God ſpeaketh not of Kings, but to Kings, concerning his people who have an unction from the Father, being ſanctified, and ſet apart for his peculiar. To touch theſe, is to touch the apple of Gods eye, Zach. 2.8. they are ſacred perſons.
And do my Prophets no harm] The Patriarchs were ſuch, Gen. 20.7. ſo are ſtill all godly Miniſters, whom they who harm by word or deed, have not ſo much knowledge as Pilats wiſe had in a dream. See Pſal. 14.4.
Verſ. 16. Moreover he called for a Famine] How eaſie is it with God ſoon to ſtawe us all by denying us an harveſt or two? If he do but call for a Famine it is done.
He brake the while ſtaff of bread] Either by withdrawing bread, that ſtaff of mans life, or his bleſſing from it; for man liveth not by bread alone (or at all) but by every word, &c. Mat. 4. without which, bread can no more nouriſh us than a clod of clay. In pane concluſus eſt quaſi baculus, qui nos ſuſtineat. See Hag. 1.6. with the Notes.
Verſ. 17. He ſent a man before them] An eminent and eximious man, Cujus vita fuit coelum queddam lucidiſſim is virtutum ſtellis exornatum, to be their friend in the Court, and to provide for their livelihood. No danger befalleth the Church, but God beforehand provideth and procureth the means of preſervation and deliverance, 2 Pet. 2.9.
Even Joſeph whom they had ſold] God ordereth the diſorders of the world to his own glory, and his peoples good.
Verſ. 18. Whoſe feet they hurt with fetters] God hereby fitting him for that great ſervice; as he did afterwards Moſes by forty years baniſhment in Mi…ian, and David by Sauls perſecution, till his ſoul was even as a weaned child, Pſal. 131.2.
He was laid in iron] Heb. His ſoul came into iron, or the iron entred into his ſoul; but ſin entred not into his conſcience. See a like phraſe, Luke 2.35.
Verſ. 19 Until the time that his word came] The time that Gods purpoſe and promiſe of deliverance was fulfilled. This word of God, prophane perſons call Fate, Fortune, &c.
The word of the Lord tried him] That he was Affliction-proof, and ſtill retained his integrity, 1 Pet. 1.7.
Verſ. 20. The King ſent and looſed him] By his own Maſter Potiphar, who had laid him there at his wives in ſtance; ſuch as are bound ignominiouſly for righteouſneſs ſake, ſhall be one way or other looſed honourably.
Verſ. 21. He made him Lord of his houſe] Thus, for his ſhort braid of impriſonment, where of he never dreamt, Joſeph hath eighty years preferment, more than ever he dreamt of; God retributions are very bountiful.
Verſ. 22. To bind his Princes at his pleaſure] To over-aw and to over-rule them, to bind them in priſon, if need ſo required, as himſelf had been bound, and that at his pleaſure, or according to his own ſoul, ſine conſenſu Pharaoh, ſaith Rabbi Solomon, without Pharaohs conſent, as he dealt by Potiphar, ſay other Rabbins.
And to teach his Senators wiſdome] Policy and piety, which yet the Egyptians long retained not.
Verſ. 23. Iſrael alſo came into Egypt] Whither he feared to go, till God promiſed him his preſence and protection, Gen, 46.3, 4. God ſaith the ſame in effect to us, when to deſcend into the grave, Fear not to go down, I will go down with thee, and be better to thee than thy fears, Jacobs beſt and happieſt dayes, were thoſe the ſpent in Egypt.
Verſ. 24. And be increaſed his people greatly] Againſt all the power of Egypt ſet againſt them.
And made them ſtronger than their enemies] They were not ſo for preſent, but the Egyptians conceited and feared they would be ſo.
Verſ 25. He turned their hear… to hate] Mens hearts are in Gods hands, and he formeth and faſhioneth their opinions of, and affections to others, at his pleaſure, yet without ſin.
To deal ſubtilly with his ſervants] Seeking to imbaſe and enervate their ſpirits by baſe drudgeries impoſed upon them. So afterwards dealt the Perſian Tyrant with Hormiſaus, and the great Turk with the Chriſtians.
Verſ. 26. He ſent Moſes his ſervant] Quande duplicantur lateres, venit Moſes, ſay the Jews as this day.
And Aaron, &c.] God uſually ſendeth his by two and two for mutual helps and comfort.
Verſ. 27. They ſhewed his ſigns] Heb. The words of his ſigns; for Gods wondrous works are vocal, they are real ſermons of Gods power and juſtice. See Exod. 4.8.
Verſ. 28. He ſent darkneſs] Palpable darkneſs by reaſon of moſt black and thick vapours of the earth, mingling themſelves with the air; ſuch as Aben-Ezra ſaid that hee once felt ſayling upon the Ocean, the groſs vapours there putting out the light of fire and candle, and not ſuffering them to be re-inkindled.
And they rebelled not againſt his word] They, that is, the plagues called for, came immediately, with an Ecce me. Or, They, that is Moſes and Aaron refuſed not to denounce, and inflict thoſe plagues, though Pharaoh threatned so kill them; where a man would wonder at Pharaohs hardneſs and hardineſs, that being in the midſt of that deep and dreadful darkneſs he could rage againſt God, and threaten with death his ſervant Moſes. The Arabick (reading. foreign for foreign) rendreth it, Et irritarunt ſermonem ejus; And they (the Egyptians) provoked his word, or rebelled againſt it.
Verſ. 39. He turned their waters into blood] A juſt hand of God upon them for their cruelty in drowning the Hebrew Infants, and a real forewarning, if they could have ſeen it, of the death of their firſt-born, and their final overthrow at the red Sea.
And ſlew their fiſh] Which was a great part of their food; Piſcis à paſcendo dictus.
Verſ. 30. The land brought forth frogs in abundance] Like graſs that grows upon the ground, or as fiſhes ſpawned in the Sea, as the word ſignifieth; Gen. 1.20 Some think they were not common frogs, ſed venenat as & h…rrendas, quales ſunt rubetae & bufones, Ab. Ezra.but Toads and Lizards; Crocodiles, ſome think, came out of the River, and deſtroyed people.
In the chambers of their Kings] Regis & regulorum inter medias enſe…, medias cuſtodias: This was the finger of God; as it was likewiſe when a Town in Spain was overturned by Conies, and another in Theſſaly by Moles, a City in France undone by Frogs,Plin. l. 8. c. 29 and another in Africa by Locuſts, &c.
Verſ. 31. He ſpake, and there came divers ſorts of Flyes] Heb. a mixture, ſo. of Waſpes Hornets, Dog-flyes (the moſt troubleſome of all other foreign) all ſorts of Inſects.
And Lice in all their coaſts] This, the Magicians could not do. Quid ciniphe vilius, &c? ſaith Philo, What's baſer than a Louſe? yet hereby God can tame the ſturdieſt of his rebels. Some Kings, and other Grandees have dyed of the louſie diſeaſe; as Herod, Philip of Spain, &c.
Verſ. 32. He gave them Hail for Rain] Rain was geaſon in Egypt; but now they had hail for rain, a giftleſs gift, Heb. He gave their rain hail, Exod. 9.23.
And flaming fire in their land] That they might ſee that he was Lord of all the four Elements.
Verſ. 33. He ſmote their Vines elſe, and their Figtrees] Of the fruitfulneſs of theſe trees in Egypt, ſtrange things are reported by Solinus and others; but this extraordinary hail mingled with fire, marred them in the Spring, when they promiſed great ſtore of fruit, truſis botris & baccis.
And brake the trees] Yea brained men and beaſts that were abroad, as Moſes addeth.
Verſ. 34. He ſpake, and the Locuſts came] Theſe are called Gods great army, and their terrible invaſion is graphically deſcribed; Joel 3, 4, 5, &c.
Verſ. 35. And did eat up all the herbs] All that the fiery hail had not blaſted, and beaten down.
And devoured the fruit of their ground] But not yet the fruit of their bodies, that plague was reſerved to the laſt, to ſhew Gods long-ſuffering, and loathneſs to deſtroy men.
Verſ. 36. He ſmote alſo all the firſt-born] This he did laſt of all; the next ſpring after the firſt plague inflicted, & non niſi c…actus, as that Emperor once ſaid when he ſubſcribed a writ for execution of a certain Malefactor.
The chief of all their ſtrength] Et ubi non erat primogenitus, moritur epitropus, ſay the Hebrews, where was not a firſt-born, there the ſteward died; ſo that there was no houſe in Egypt without a dead corps, as there are few amongſt us, without many dead ſouls.
Verſ. 37. He brought them forth alſo with ſilver and gold] Which they had dearly earned in Egypt, but could not get, till God the right owner of all, ſet them in a courſe, Exod. 12.35, 36. diſpencing with his own Law.
There was not one feeble perſen, but all able and fit for their journey, Viatico & firma valetudine inſtructi.
Verſ. 38. Egypt was glad when they departed] For they ſaid, we are all dead men, Exod. 12.33. The Devil for like cauſe ſpake Chriſt fair to be rid of him, Mar. 1.
For the fear of them fell upon them] God can make the very name and countenance of his ſervants fearful to their oppreſſors.
Verſ. 39. He ſpread a cloud] It muſt needs be a very large one, that could cover ſuch an army from the extraordinary heats there; For the Deſerts of Arabia are extreme hot, both by reaſon of the climate, and alſo of the ſands reflecting the Sun-beams. So ſtill upon all the glory (the Church) ſhall be a covering, Iſa. 4.5.
And fire to give light, &c.] A fiery pillar againſt the error, terror, and danger of the darkneſs. See Neb. 9.19.
Verſ. 40. The people asked] Not as ſuppliants, but as male-contents, and therefore had what they asked, with a vengeance.
And ſatisfied them with the bread of heaven] Never was any P…ince in his greateſt ſtate ſo ſerved as theſe miſcreants were: and yet we fare better than they in Gods holy Ordinances.
Verſ. 41. He opened the rock] Set it abroach, giving them pluviam …ſcatilem; & petram aquatilem, as Tertul. hath it.De patient.
They ran in the dry places] Per deſerta Sinis & Tzinis, ſaith Junius. See 1 Cor. 10.4.
Verſ. 42. For be remembred his holy promiſe] Holy, that is, firm, and inviolable, Heb. The word of his holineſs, that is, his ſacred and gracious ingagement, whereby he had made himſelf a voluntary debtor to Abrahams poſterity.
And Abraham his ſervant] To whom he had paſſed his promiſe four hundred and thirty years before. Nullum tempus occurrit Regi.
Verſ. 43. And be brought forth his people with joy] According to his promiſe made to Abraham; and according to the time they were afflicted, ſo were they comforted, Pſal. …0.15.
Verſ. 44. And gave them the lands of the heathen] God doth not his work to the halves, he will perfect that which concerneth us, Pſal. 138.8. and preſerve all his unto his heavenly Kingdome, 2 Tim. 4.18.
And inherited the labour of the people] Their Cities, Towns, Villages, Fields, Vineyards, all done to the hand of the Iſraelites, We ſhall alſo enter into our Maſters joy, Manſions made ready for us, &c.
Verſ. 45. That they might obſerve his Statutes] Here the Pſalmiſt ſheweth the final cauſe of all the ſervice of God; what ſhould be the reſult, his praiſe.
Praiſe yee the Lord] Loquitur ad prudentes, ſaith Aben-Ezra, This he ſpeaketh to thoſe that are wiſe; For high words become not a fool, ſaith Solomon.