Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 106
PSAL. CVI.
VErſ. 1. Praiſe yee the Lord] Though ſcattered among the heathen, and in a ſorrowful condition, verſ. 47. In proſperity praiſe the Lord, ſaith Auſtin, and it ſhall increaſe upon thee. In adverſity praiſe him, and is ſhall be better with thee.
O give thanks unto the Lord, &c.] This verſe was, ſay ſome, the foot or tenor of the Song in many ſacred hymns.
For his mercy indureth for ever] Even to thoſe alſo that have ſinned againſt his goodneſs.
Verſ. 2. Who can utter, &c.] i.e. To the juſt worth of them? None can; they are fitter to be admired than poſſible to be uttered. It is enough that we do what we can toward the work. God accepteth according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. he taketh it for no ſmall praiſe, when we thus acknowledge him to be above all praiſe.
Who can ſhew forth all his praiſe?] Surely none can… David ſaith he will, Pſal. 9.1.Quis fando expt…mat? but ſoon found his utter inability; for according to thy Name, O Lord, ſo is thy praiſe, faith he in another Pſalm. The beſt way is, as here in the inſuing verſes, to ſubmit to Gods juſtice, and to implore his mercy, and to ſtudy integrity, verſ. 3, 4, 5.6.
Verſ. 3. Bleſſed are they that keep judgement, &c.] That are of right principles and upright practices; this is real and ſubſtantial praiſing of God. Thank…-doing is the proof of Thankſ-giving; and the good life of the thankful is the life of thankfulneſs. Thoſe that ſay, God a thank only, and no more, are not only contumelious, but injurious.
And be that doth righteouſneſs] So preaching forth the vertues (or praiſes) of God who hath called him into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2.9.Jun. and compoſing his whole courſe, velut ſpectatum aliquod ſimulach…um & documentum laudi… ejus conſtans atque perpetuum.
Verſ. 4. Remember me, O Lord, with the favour, &c.] The Pſalmiſt would have favour, and ſpecial favour, mercies, and ſure mercies proper to Go is peculiar, and with theſe he would be remembred; grace, he would find ſuch as might help in time of need, Heb. 4.16. God remembred Noah, Gen 8.3. Your heavenly Father knoweth that hee have need of theſe things, Mat. 6. Though our Ark be driven in a tempeſtuous ſea, yet it ſhall neither ſink, nor ſplit, while we ſail in the thoughts of God.
O viſit me with thy ſalvation] A gracious ſpirit will not be ſatisfied with low things, common mercies.
Verſ. 5. That I may ſee the good of thy choſen] Ʋt videam in bonum, that I may ſee it, and partake of it, have both the viſion and fruition of thy great goodneſs, which thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, Pſal. 31.19. giving them a taſte thereof aforehand, as a few grapes of that promiſed Canaan.
Of thy Nation] i.e. By this name Gods elect, are here and elſewhere ſtiled, and therefore the Jews have no reaſon to reproach us, as they do by it; calling us Goi, and Ma…zer goi, baſtard heathens.
Verſ. 6. We have ſinned with our Fathers] Adding to their heap, and making up their meaſure, Mal. 23.32. People think the example of their Fathers a ſufficient excuſe. Jerom once (but not well) deſired leave of Auſtin to erre with ſeven Fathers whom hee found of his opinion. I will follow my forefathers, ſaith Cicero, although I fall together with them. See Jer. 44.17. But ſo would not theſe good ſouls, as neither Jeremy chap. 3.25. nor Daniel chap. 9.5. whoſe confeſſion ſuting and ſymbolizing with this (together with that we read, verſ. 47. maketh ſome think that this Pſalm was penned for the peoples uſe then, when they were captives in Babylon.
We have committed iniquity &c. Sin muſt bee confeſſed with utmoſt aggravation. Ile hear how full in the mouth theſe are againſt themſelves, laying on load, whilſt their ſins ſwell as ſo many toads in their eyes.
Verſ. 7. Our Fathers underſtood not] i.e. They weighed them not, improved them not, but as the dull earth is ſurrounded by the heavens, yet perceiveth it not; ſo were theſe with miracles and mercies, yet underſtood them not.
Even at the red Sea] Not only whiles they were on the bank they feared to enter, but alſo even when they were paſſing and walking over that dry land made for them by a miracle, they did ſtill continue their murmurings and mu…inings.
Verſ. 8. Nevertheleſs be ſaved them for his Names ſake] Here he comes in with a Non-obſtante. So Iſa. 57.17. Now if God will ſave for his Names ſake, wheat people is there whom he may not ſave?
That be might make his power to be known] The Lord hath other things to look unto, than preſently to puniſh his people, when they moſt deſerve it.
Verſ. 9. He rebuked the red ſea alſo] Ingentia, beneficia, flagitia, ſupplicia, as appeareth in the ſubſequent verſes.
So be led them through the depths] Inter duas aquarum congeries, betwixt two mountains of waters which ſtood on each hand of them as a wall, and made a lane. Every main affliction is our red ſea; which while it threatneth to ſwallow us up, preſerveth us.
Verſ. 10. And be ſaved them, &c.] From Pharaoh that perfect enemy of theirs, that purſued them with a deadly deſign, but was happily prevented.
Verſ. 11. And the waters covered their enemies] The preſervation of the Church is ever accompanied with the deſtruction of its enemies, that the mercy may appear the greater.
Not one of them was left] Left alive to carry the news.
Verſ. 12. Then they beleeved his words] Then for a flaſh, whilſt the memory of the mercy was freſh and warm? but ere they were three dayes elder, they murmured again; It proved not ſo much as a nine dayes wonderment; they were ſoon at old ward.
They ſang his praiſe] Exod. 15. A tempory faith and joy.
Verſ. 13. They ſoon forgat his works] Heb. They made baſte, they forgat. This is an aggravating circumſtance. See Gal. 1.6. Exod. 32.8. Deut. 9.16.
They waited not for his counſel] For the performance of what he had purpoſed and promiſed; they were ſhort-ſpirited and impatient.
Verſ. 14. But luſted exceedingly] Heb. Luſted a luſt. See Num. 11. they had a ſufficiency, but muſt have ſuperfluities, as belly-gods; not want, but wantonneſs ſet them a luſting, and that in the wilderneſs, where they knew that in an ordinary way it was not to be had.
And templed God] Whom they ſhould have truſted rather, ſith he waiteth to be gracious. and being a God of judgement, knoweth beſt when to deal forth his favours, Iſa. 30.18 and 49 8.
Verſ. 15.Aug. And he gave them their requeſt] Deus ſaepe dat iralus quod negat propitius. Munera magna quidem miſit, ſed miſit in bamo.Martial.
Quales they had, but to choake them; as afterwards, a King, but to vex them, &c.
But ſont leaneneſs into their ſoul] i.e. Into their bodies, ſuch a loathing as cauſed leanneſs, Num 11.20. a plague upon their bodies, a curſe upon their ſouls. Many men eat that on earth, which they digeſt in hell. It is dangerous ſeeding on ſins murthering-morſels.
Verſ. 16. They envied Moſes alſo] Korah, and his complices did; and becauſe the people puniſhed them not, they are all accuſed as guilty of that conſpiracy, and looked upon as a rabble of rebels againſt heaven.
And Aaron the Saint of the Lord] Separated to the Prieſthood. The Rabbins tell us that they had choſen Dathan inſtead of Moſes, and Abiram for Aaron.
Verſ. 17. The earth opened and ſwallowed up Dathan, &c.] Korah is not here mentioned, haply for his ſons ſakes, who were famous Prophets and Muſick-maſters in Davids dayes. As for On the ſon of Peleth (one of the chief conſpirators) the Rabbins ſay that by the good counſel of his wiſe he repented, and ſo eſcaped.
Verſ. 18. And a fire was kindled in their company] It is both a juſt preſage and deſert of ruine, not to be warned. Let ſeditious perſons and Schiſmaticks take heed; for even our God alſo is a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.ult.
The flame burnt up the wicked] And among the reſt Korah, as ſome conceive, Dathan and Ab…ram are ſtigmatized for their ſtubbornneſs, Num. 26.9. as was afterwards Abaz, 2 Chron. 28.22. and before them all Cain, Gen. 4.15. and Lamech, 23, 24.
Verſ. 19. They made a Calf in Horch] i. e. In the Country near to that mountain, where they at ſame time ſaw viſible tokens of Gods dreadful preſence. Well might Aaron ſay of this people that they were wholly ſet upon wickedneſs, Exod. 3….22. This peece of Idolatry they had learned belike of the Egyptians, who worſhipped Apis in ſuch a ſhape; ſo catching is ſin,Lege Lact…nt. & …. 1. de muab. Scrip. cap. 15. and ſo dangerous is ill company.
Verſ. 20. Tous they change their glory] i.e. Their God, Rom. 1.23. the Creator for a contemptible creature.
Of an O…e that eateth graſs] Tun… ſtercora egerit, & multam inquinat…r, as R. Solomon here gloſſeth. They pretended not to worſhip the Calf but God in the Calf, as did alſo Jehu, a King. 10.16.29. 2 Chron. 11.15. and as the Idolatrous Papiſte do at this day. See Exod. 32.5. yet the text here ſaith, They worſhipped the mo…en Imago, they changed their glory into the ſi…ilitude of an Oxe. And although ſome of the Rabbins would excuſe this groſs Idolatry of their fore-fathers, yet others more wiſe bewail us, and ſay that there is an ounce of this golden Calf in all their preſent ſufferings.
Verſ. 21. They forget God their Saviour] This is often mentioned as the Mother of all the miſ-rule amongſt them.
Verſ. 22. Wondrous things in the land of Hon] i.e. Among the Egyptians, Hams poſterity.
And terrible things at the red Sea] All which were buried, together with the remembrance of God the doer.
Verſ. 23. Therefore he ſaid that he would deſtroy them] Idolatry is a people-deſolating sin. God was once in a mind to have deſtroyed this people utterly, and to have left none but Moſes, Exod, 32.10.31, &c. promiſing him a great fortune if he would have ſuffered it; But he tendring Gods glory, more than his own greatneſs, refuſed it: Choice and excellent ſpirits uſe to do ſo.
Had not Moſes his choſen] Choſen to repreſent Chriſt in his mediatorſhip.
Stood up in the breach] A metaphor from Military matters. When a ſtrong Hold is beſieged, and a breach made, valiant Souldiers uſe to make up that breach with their own bodies, till the enemy be beaten back. Gods wrath was even breaking in upon the people. Moſes prayed inſtantly and conſtantly, even the moſt part of thoſe forty dayes and nights he ſpent in the Mount, Deut. 9. and at length prevailed. See Ezek. 13.5. and 22.30.
Verſ. 24. Yea they deſpiſed the pleaſant land] Heb. The land of deſire, flowing with milk and hony, ſumen totius terre, as One calleth it; Egypt they preferred before it, though it were a gage of heaven, as Cardinal Burbon did his part in Paris, before his part in Paradiſe.
They beleeved not his word] ſo. That he would, or indeed could give them that good land. He that beleeveth not, maketh God a liar.
Verſ. 25. But murmured in their tents] Where they ſate diſcontented (after the report of the Spies) and as we ſay, Sick of the Sullens, they would not attempt a conqueſt, but bewayled their hard fortune, and let flye on all hands, keeping a clutter, and a rattle.
Verſ. 26. Therefore he lifted up his hand] i.e. He ſolemnly ſwore, as Nun. 14.30. or he was fetching his full blow at them.
To overthrow them in the wilderneſs] Which alſo befel them according to their own wicked wiſh: Let men take heed of wiſhing evil to themſelves, left God ſay Amen to it.
Verſ. 27. To overthrow their ſeed alſo among the Nations] This clauſe of Gods oath is not expreſſed in Numbers, but drawn there-hence as a fearful conſequence, both here by the Pſalmiſt, and alſo by the Prophet Ezekiel, chap. 20. And R. Solomons note upon this text is, Tunc erat decretum de deſola…e Temple, ut lachrymas pro re magna, ſicut ante pro nibilo effunderent, Then was the deſolation of the Temple (though it fell out long after) determined, that thoſe male-contents who cryed for nothing before, might have ſomewhat to cry for.
Verſ. 28. They joyned themſelves alſo unto Baal-peor Heb. They were unequally ye aked, as 2 Cor. 6.14. Quam male in equales veniunt ad ar atra juvenci.Ab opertione … nud…tione pudondorum.
They ſeperated themſelves to that ſhams, Priapus, Hoſ. 9.10. who had his name from ſhewing all; and his worſhippers were moſt impudent Varlets.
And ate the ſacrifices of the dead] i.e. Of Idols oppoſed to the living God: The beginning of Idolatry ſome ſay, was the attributing of divine honours to great perſons when they were dead. The heathens ſhewed the ſepulchres of their oldeſt Deities.
Verſ. 29. Thus they provoked him] God cannot brook mans devices in matters of Religious; he will have no other worſhip than what himſelf hath appointed.
And the plague brake in upon them] As a Deinge, or as an Army, very impetuouſly, to the deſtroying of; twenty four thouſand perſons.
Verſ. 30.Animoſe ſurtexit. Vatab. Thou … By a ſecret, heroical and extraordinary motion of Gods Spirit, ſuch as may not be drawn i… … example… All things reported and commended in … may not … imitated… O… Birche…, by example of P…i…as and … thought he might have killed a great per…o…age in this land whom he looked upon as a naughty man, and Gods enemy. A patricular example will afford a general inſtruction where the equity of the thing done is univerſal, and the cauſe common, otherwiſe not ſaith learned Junius.
And exe…ed judgement] Not tarrying for the ſentence of the Judge…. The Chaldee rendreth it, And prayed. Execution of juſtice, is that actual, magiſterial, and majeſtical king of prayer, that will ſtay the plague, when nothing elſe will.
Verſ. 31. And that was counted unto him for righteouſneſs] God not only condemned him not of r…ſh zeal, but looked upon what he had done, as a peece of ſingula… ſervice, and rewarded it accordingly.
Verſ. 32. They angred him alſo at the waters of ſtrife] Yet he made not the leaſt ſemblance of it to Moſes, but only bad him ſmite the Rock, which if he had then done, and no more, he had done right. God is Bagnal Chemah maſter of his anger, Nab. 1.2. ſo was not meek Moſes at this time. The beſt are miſcarried by their paſſions ſometimes to their coſt.
So that it went ill with Moſes for their ſakes] i. e. By their means he was kept out of Canaan, which was a great croſs to him, and his repentance, as to that favour, came too lare, for God was reſolved.
Verſ. 33. Becauſe they provoked his ſpirit] So that he was in a pelt to the grieving of God… good Spirit within him, Eph. 4.30, 31. O tantaene anim is coeleſtibus …?
So that be ſpake unadviſedly] Some render it only, be ſpake, or be pronounced; he ſhould not have ſpoken at alſ to the people (as having no order from God ſo to do in that tranſaction) but only to the Rock.Et perperam locutus eſt. Contra charita…, foreign 1 Cor. 13. Whereas he not onelyonly ſmote the Rock, and ſmote it twice but ſpake to the people, and ſpake raſhly, or idlely (the Greek word foreign is thought to come from the Hebrew Bate here uſed) yea bitterly, calling them Rebels, and falling foul upon them, with diſtruſtful interrogations, and miſ-implications. This is called Rebellion, Numb. 20.10, 11.24. and ſeverely puniſhed in Gods favourite Moſes.
Verſ. 34. They did not deſtroy the Nations] For which neglect of theirs, pity would be pleaded. But there is a cruel mercy, ſaith One; There is a pious cruelty ſaith another Curſed is he that doth the Lords work deceitfully, and curſed is he that reſtraineth his ſword from blood, when God biddeth him ſtrike. Saul and Ahab felt the dint of this curſe, and ſo did theſe Iſraelites, for ſparing the Canaanites, whether out of puſillanimity, or fooliſh pity.
Verſ. 35. But were mingled among the beathen] With whom they made leagues, and mariages, Jud. 3. and ſo were ſoon corrupted by them. It is dangerous to converſe with graceleſs people, their very example is a compulſion. See Gal. 2.14. how much more their evil counſel?
Verſ. 36. And they ſerved their Idols] The Devil is foreign faith Syneſius, a lover of Idolatry, and hee ſpeaks through Idolaters as through his truncks, perſwading people to like practiſe, as did Julian, whom an Ancient therefore called Idolian
Which were a ſnare unto them] Or a tuine, as ſome render it; they were firſt drawn in, and then undone by them.
Verſ. 37. Yea they ſacrificed their ſons, &c. The Devils are here called Shedim Deſtroyers (in oppoſition to … the Almighty) and worthily; for they make it their work to waſte and ſpoyl people of their deareſt children (as here) of their precious fools, with the blood where of they do daily glut themſelves.
Verſ. 38. And ſhed innocent blood &c.] This was futor …; but what may not the Devil do with is drudges, when Gods word cannot obtain the ſmalleſt things of …?
Whom they ſacrificed unto the Idols of Canaan] Prompted thereunto by that old manſlayer. This was practiſed by Maniſſ…, … and others not a ſew, Jer. 7.19. Ezek. 16. Haec … frequent ….
And the land was polluted with blood] … See Ezra 9.11. As an hypocrite is a fair …
Verſ 39. Thus they were … ] Great ſins do greatly pollute; neither are men by any thing more diſadvantaged than by doating upon their own devi…s.
And went a whoring] They followed it earneſtly, and with delight.
Verſ. 40. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kind…ed] Sin doth as naturally draw and ſuck judgements to it, as the Loadſto… doth iron, or Turpentine fire.
Inſomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance] This was the greateſt of all miſeries, and a peece of hell.
Verſ. 41. And hee gave them into the hand of the beaten] That they might ſuffer by them with whom they had ſinned, and with whom, by compliance, they hoped to have ingratiated.
Verſ. 42. And they were brought into ſubjection] Heb. They were bowed down, or humbled, who would not humble themſelves under the mighty hand of God, that he might exalt them.
Verſ. 43. Many times did be deliver them] And as many times told them, Servati eſt is ut mibi ſervatis, I have therefore ſaved you that ye might ſerve me the better V Sed ſurdo fabulam, but they would not hearken. foreign.Theogn.
Verſ. 44. Nevertheleſs be regarded their affliction] See for proof hereof the whole book of Judges, and take notice of Gods Philanthropie, who heareth mens afflictions as he did Hegars, Gen. 16.11. and is oft found of them that ſeek him not, Iſa. 65 1. See 2 King. 14.26 27.
When he heard their cry] Heb. Their ſhril out-cry; not for joy (as the word is moſtly tak…) but for grief.
Verſ. 45. And he remembred for them his Covenant] Which could not bee vacated or aboliſhed by the wickedneſs of men, but ſtood firm and inviolable, in as much as God is faithful and merciful.
And repented] That is, changed his ſeverity into clemency. Gods repentance is not a change of his will, but of his work, Mutatio rei, non Dei.
Verſ. 46. And he made them alſo to be pitied] God can ſoon turn the hearts of Tyrants, and make them of Lions, Lambs, &c.
Verſ 47. Save us O Lord our God] This is the main requeſt of the Pſalm, and the chief thing intended; for, for this cauſe prefaced the Prophet, as verſe 1.2. &c. and reckoned up the peoples ſins, and Gods deliverances, that he might bring in this, Save us, as thou ever haſt done.
To give thanks unto thy holy Name] Good ends propounded in prayer is a ſpecial means of ſpeeding. Hypocrites do all in themſelves ſo do not the Saints, Hoſ. 14.8.) and all for themſelves, as Zach. 7.5. Hoſ. 10.1. which is not the Saints practice, Cant. 5.1 they have good aims in their good actions.
Verſ. 38. Bleſſed be the Lord] viz. For our return out of captivity, which we foreſee, beleeve, and give thanks for aforehand.
Praiſe ye the Lord] Thus they ſpeak one to another, by way of excitation foreign ſo Juſtin Martyr rendreth it.