Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 107 – Psalm 108
PSAL. CVII.
VErſ. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good] He is good, and doth good, Pſal. 119.68. not to his Iſrael only, as is ſet forth in the two foregoing Pſalms, but to all mankind, which is Divini ingenii cura, as One ſaith, whatever Atheiſts and Epicures ſay to the contrary, denying a divine providence, witneſs that profane Diſtitch of theirs.
Nempe nibil poſitum eſt, & ſers incerta vagutar,
Fortque refertque vices, & habent mortalia caſunt.
For his mercy endureth for ever] Notwithſtanding mens many and mighty provocations.
Verſ. 2. Let the Redeemed of the Lord] Four ſorts of whom are afterwards inffanced; 1 Exiles; 2 Priſoners; 3 Sick perſons; 4 Sea-men. Theſe, and the like muſt praiſe him in to ſpecial manner for their deliverance.
From the hand of the emmy] Or, of diſtreſs.
Verſ. 3. And gathered them cut of the lands] He beginneth with wayfaring men, and exiles, becauſe according to Tyr…aens, Non exul cure dicitur eſſe Deo.
And from the South] Heb. From the Sea, that is (as the Chaldee expoundeth it) from the Southern Sea, called the Red Sea.
Verſ. 4. They wandred in the wilderneſs, &c.] This is a ſad caſe, Mendicum pa…ria amiſſa laribuſque vagari. foreign.
And yet this is the caſe of all Gods Redeemed ones whiles they are here, Heb. 11. I Pet. 2.12.
Per varies caſus per tot diſcrimina rerum
Tendimus in patriam veram vitamque perennem.
Verſ. 5. Hungry and thirſty, &c.] The Lords exiles meet many times with the like exigents in the wilderneſs of this wicked world; but let them be content, and ſay, We are well for the preſent, and it will be better with us hereafter.
Exul erat Chriſtus comites nes exulis bujus
Eſſe decet, cujut nos quoque membra ſumus.Meloncthon.
Verſ. 6. Then they cryed unto the Lord] Though under a wrong name it may be, as of Jupiter Mercury, &c. and in an uncertain way, as He…ba did with her, O Jupiter quicquid es ſine coelum boc, ſine mens, que vebitur in coele, &c. And as thoſe Mariners in Jonah 1.5. who cryed, Every man to his god, and left they might all miſtake the true God, they awaken Jonah, to call upon his God.
And be delivered them out of their diſtreſſes] Out of his general goodneſs, and compaſſion to the poor creature; Like as he heareth the young Ravens that cry unto him, no otherwiſe than by implication only, and out of meet neceſſity, God is the Saviour of all men, but eſpecially of theſe that beleeve.
Verſ. 7. And he led them forth by the right way] Better than that Dee Vibilia among the Romans, of whom they fancied, that ſhe ſet them right when out of the way at any time; or Minerva among the Athenians, who, they ſaid, turned all their evil counſels to the beſt unto them.
That they might go to a City of habitation] Grow to a ſtate of ſettlement, to Jeruſalem, ſaith the Chaldee, to that City which hath a foundation may we ſay, whoſe Maker and Founder is God, Heb. 11.10.
Verſ. 8. O that men would praiſe the Lord, &c.] Heb. That they would confeſs it to the Lord, both in ſecret, and in ſociety. This is all the rent that God requireth; he is content that we have the comfort of his bleſſings, ſo he may have the honour of them; This was all the fee Chriſt looked for, for his cures, Go and tell what God hath done for thee. Words ſeem to be a poor and ſlight recompence; but Chriſt, ſaith Nazianzen, calleth himſelf the Word.
Verſ. 9. For he ſatisfieth the longing ſoul. &c.] This is a reca…i…ulation of the firſt part, verſ. 5, 6, 7. and ſetteth forth the reaſon why the Redeemed ſhould praiſe God out of the ſweet experience they have had of his wonderful providence and goodneſs toward them.
And filleth the hungry ſoul with good things] This flower the bleſſed Virgin picketh out of Davids garden (among many others out of other parts of holy Scripture, wherein it appeateth ſhe was ſingularly well verſed) and puts it into her Poſie, Luke 1.53.
Verſ. 10. Such as ſit in darkneſs, &c.] Here come in the ſecond fort of Gods redeemed or reſcued Ones, viz. captives and priſoners, whoſe dark and doleful condition is in this verſe deſcribed.
And in the ſhadow of death] In dark caves and horrid priſons, where there is Luctus ubique, pavor, & plurima mortis imago. Such was Joſephs firſt priſon, Jeremies miry dungeon, Lollards Tower, the Biſhop of Londons Cole-houſe, &c.
Being bound in affliction and ir… ] Or, in poverty and iv…n, as Manaſſeb was. Many are the miſeries that poor priſoners undergo: Good … had the experience of it, and Zegedians, and the Matty…, and divers of Gods dear ſervants in the late wa… h…t….
A certain-pious Prince diſcourſing of the dangers that were to b…e then expected for the profeſſion of Religion, ſaid, Nibiſſe mag…s metuere qu…m diururnos carceres, that he feared nothing ſo much as perpetual impriſonment.
Verſ. 11. Becauſe they rebelled againſt the words of God] Sin is at the bottome of all mens miſeries, as the procreant cauſe thereof; For God afflicteth not willingly, nor grieveth the children of men, Lam. 3.35. but they rebel againſt his words written in the Scriptures, or at leaſt in their hearts; and ſo he is concerned in point of honour to ſubdue them.
And contemned the counſel] A foul fault. See Luke 7.30.
Verſe. 12. Therefore he brought down their heart] That proud peece of fleſh, Quod erat elatum & verba Dei contempſit, ſaith Kimchi, which had ſtouted it out with God, and thought to have carried it away with a ſtrong hand; as Manoſſeh that ſturdy Rebel, till God had hampered him, and laid him in cold irons.
Verſ. 13. Then they cryed unto the Lord] See verſ. 6.
And be ſaved them, &c.] This is comfort to the greateſt finners; if they can but find a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart, and rebels ſhall be received with all ſweetneſs, if at length they return, though brought in by the croſs.
Verſ. 14. He brought them out of darkneſs] He ſent his Mandamus, as Pſal. 44.4. and that did the deed, as Act. 5.19. and 12.7.
Verſ. 15. Oh that men, &c.] See verſ. 8.
Verſ. 16. For he hath broken the gates of braſs] If Sampſon could do ſo, how much more the Almighty, whom nothing can withſtand? Nature may be ſtopped in her courſe, as when the fire burnt not. Men may not be able to do as they would. Angels good or bad may be hindred, becauſe in them there is an eſſence and an executive power, between which God can ſtep at his pleaſure, and interpoſe his Veto; But who, or what ſhall hinder the moſt High?
Verſ. 17. Fo…ls becauſe of their tranſgreſſion] Propter, viam defectionis ſuae, by means of their defection, their departing away from the living God, through an evil heart of unbeleef, Heb. 3.12.
And becauſe of their iniquities] The flood-gates whereof are ſet open as it were by that their defection from God; For now what ſhould hinder?
Are afflicted] Heb. Do afflict themſelves, procure their own ruthe, if not ruine, and ſo prove ſinners againſt their own ſouls, as thoſe Num 16.
Verſ. 18. Their ſoul abborreth] That is, their…ſt mach loatheth it as unſavoury, though it be never ſo dainty; An appetite to our meat is an unconceivable mercy, and as we ſay, A ſign of health.
And they draw neer to the gates of death] Jam ipſum mortis limen pulſant; as till then, little ſenſe of ſin or fear of the wrath to come. See Job 33.19, 20, 21, 22, 23. with the Notes.
Verſ. 19. Then they cry, &c.] Quando medicus & medicine non proſunt, ſaith Kimchi, when Phyſicians have done their utmoſt. See verſ. 6.
Verſ. 20. He ſent his word and bealed them] He commanded deliverance, and it was done; unleſs there be an alluſion to the eſſential Word, who was afterwards to take fleſh, and to heal the diſeaſed.
And delivered them from their deſtructions] Heb. From their corrupting-pits or graves, which do now even gape for them. And he calleth them theirs, quia per peccatum faderunt eas. ſaith Kimchi, becauſe by their ſin themſelves have digged them.
Verſ 21. Oh that men, &c.] See verſ. 8.
And for his wonderful works] Men are miſericordiis & miraculis obſeſſe, and it were no hard matter to find a miracle in moſt of our mercies.
Verſ. 22. And let them ſacrifice, &c.] If they have eſcaped ſickneſs, let them offer a Paſſeover; and if they have recovered, a Thank-offering. Heathens in this caſe praiſed their Eſculapius; Papiſts their Sebaſtian, Valentine, Apollonia, &c. Ear… of wax they offer to the Saint, who as they ſuppoſe cureth the ears; eyes of wax to the Saint that cureth the eyes, &c. But it is Jehovah only who healeth us.
And declare his Works, &c.] Memorize, and magnifie them.
Verſ. 23. They that go down is the Sea in ſhips] Here we have a fourth ſpecimen or inſtance of Gods gracious and wiſe diſpenſations towards men, in their trading or traffiquing by Sea. Theſe are ſaid to go down to Sea, becauſe the banks are above it; but the water is naturally higher then the land, and therefore Saylers obſerve, that their ſhips flye faſter to the ſhore than from it. But what a bold man, ſaith the Poet, was he that fi…ſt put forth to Sea?
Illi robur, & et triplex
Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci
Commiſit pelage ralem
Primus, Hec timuit praetipitem Africum, &c.Harat. Od lib. ….3.
That do buſineſs in great waters] Merchants and Matriners, who fiſh, and find Almug, or Coral, ſaith Kimcht, who do export and import commodities of all ſorts.
Verſ. 24. Theſe ſee the works of the Lord &c.] In Sea-monſters, as Whales and Whirlepools, and ſudden change of weather, and the like, not a few; Ebbs and Flows, Pearls, Iſlands, &c. Theſe are juſt wonders, and may fully convince the verieſt Atheiſt that is.
Verſ. 25. For he commandeth and raiſeth the ſtormy wind, &c.] Of this Seneca, though an heathen could ſay, Inter caetera providentiae uivina opera boc quoque dignum eſt admiratione, &c. Among other works of the Divine providence, this is admirable, that the winds lye upon the Sea for the furtherance of Navigation, &c.
Verſ 26. They mount up to heaven, they go down &c.] An elegant hypolypoſis or deſcription of a ſtorm at Sea; like whereunto is that in Virgil.
Tollimur in coelum curvate gurgite, & iidem
Subducta admanes imos deſcendimus undâ.Tollimur in c…um, nanc …. tadimus undas.
Their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble] They are ready to dye, through ſear of death. Junius underſtandeth it of extreme vomiting, as if they were caſting up their very n…ts. Anocbarſes for this cauſe doubted whether he ſhould reckon Marriners amongſt the living or the dead. And another ſaid, that any man will go to Sea at firſt I wonder not; but to go a ſecond time thither, is little better than madneſs.
Verſ. 27. They reel to and fro, &c.] Nutart nautae, & vacillant cerebro & pedibus.
And are at their wits end] All their skill and ſtrength faileth them at once; they can do no more for their lives. Heb. All their wiſdome is ſwallowed up; that is, the art of Navigation is now to no uſe with them.
Verſ. 28. Then they cry unto the Lord] Then, if ever: Hence that ſpeech of One, Qui neſcit ora…e, diſcat navigate, He that cannot pray, let him go to Sea, and there he will learn. See verſ. 6.
Verſ. 29. He maketh the ſtorm a calm] He, that is God Almighty, whoſe the Sea it, and he made it, Pſal. 100. not the Pagans, Neptune, or the Papagans, St. Nicholas.
So that the waves thereof are ſtill] If therefore the voluptuous humors in our body (which is but as a cup made of the husk of an Acorn in reſpect of the Sea) will not be pacified, when the Lord ſaith unto us, Be ſtill; every drop of water in the Sea, will be a witneſs of our monſtrous rebellion and diſobedience.
Verſ. 30. Then are they glad becauſe they be quiet] All is huſht on the ſudden, as Mat. 8.26. both their fears, and the Seas outrages being quickly reduced to a peaceable period.
So he bringeth them to their deſired haven] This is more than they then wiſhed for, God is many ties better to men than their prayers.
Verſ. 31. Oh that men would, &c.] See verſ. 8.
Verſ. 32. Let them exalt him alſo in the Congregation, &c.] i.e. In all publick meetings Eccleſiaſtical and Civil.
Verſ. 33. He turneth vivers into a wilderneſs] Hitherto the Pſalmiſt hath ſet forth Gods good providence in delivering men from divers deaths and dangers; now hee declareth the ſame in his juſt and powerful tranſmutations in nature, whilſt according to the good pleaſure of his will, he changeth mens condition, either from good to evil, or from evil to good, beyond all expectation; It is even He that doth it, whatſoever a company of dizzy-headed men dream to the contrary, as One phraſeth it. It is God who dryeth up thoſe Rivers, whereby the land was made fat and fertile, Iſa. 41.17.
Verſ. 34. fruitful land into barrenneſs] Heb. Sal…eſs. See Luke 14.34, 35. Deut. 29.23. Jud. 9.45. Sals beendeth barrenneſs, by eating up the lat and moiſture of the earth. Some think the Pſalmiſt here alludeth to Sod…me and her ſiſters turned into the dead Sea.
For the wickedneſs of them that dwell therein] Hereof Judea is at this day a noble inſtance (beſides many parts of Aſia, and Africa, once very fruitful, now, ſince they became Mabemetan, dry and deſert) Judea, ſaith One, hath now onelyonly ſome few parcels of rich ground found in it; that men may gueſs the goodneſs of the cloath by the fineneſs of the ſhreds. Greece which was once Sol & ſal gentium, ſaith Another, terrarum flos, fons lite rarum, nunc vel Priams miſerands manus—nunc in Graecia deſideremus Graeciam; 'tis nothing like the place it was once.
Verſ. 35. He turneth the wilderneſs, &c.] Some place a again, God (to ſhew his power and providence) of ſteril maketh to become fertil; Pol…ia for inſtance, and other Northern Countries. Germany and France were of old full of Woods and Lakes, as Ceſar and Tacitus teſtifie, now 'tis otherwiſe. So in America at this day. So divers deſert places of Egypt and Ethiopia, when once they became Chriſtian, became fruitfull.
Verſ. 36. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell] As our Engliſh, and other Plantations in America, where ſundry poor people get fair eſtates.
That they may prepare a City] The building of Cities is of God, and ſo is their conſervation.
Verſ. 37. And ſow the fields, and plant vineyards] Theſe are noble imployments, ſuch is the ancient Patriarchs we re much in, and the moſt honorable among the Romons, as Coriolanus, M. Curius, Cate Major, &c. Our forefathers, if they could call any one, Bonum colonum, a good husbandman, they thought it praiſe enough ſaith Cicero.
Which may yield] The thankful earth yeelding by Gods bleſſing, her gratum onus, full burden to the laborious tiller.
Verſ. 38. He bleſſeth them alſo, &c.] See Prov. 10.12. Pſal. 127.1. Jam. 4 15. They are out, that reſt in natural cauſes.
Verſ. 39. Again they are miniſhed] Minorati ſunt; This alſo is of the lord, who hath treaſuries of plagues, and cannot be exhauſted.
Verſ. 40. He poureth contempt, &c.] See Job. 12.21, 24. with the Notes. Poena tyrannoram eſt contemptus, exilium, nex, ſaith Genebrard. All their policy or King craft cannot ſave them.
Verſ. 41. Yet ſetteth be abe poor] The godly poor, as he did David.
And maketh him families like a flock] of ſheep, which multiply exceedingly in a ſhort ſpace.
Verſ. 42. The righteous ſhall ſee it, and rejoyce] It ſhall cheer them up to ſee that the reigns of Government are in Gods hand; and to behold ſuch love in ſuch providence.
And all iniquiry ſhall ſtop her mouth] Shall be down in the mouth, as we uſe to fay. See Job 5.16. and have her tongue chambered.
Verſ. 43. Whoſe is wiſe] Heb. who is wiſe? q d. not many. Rari quippe boni. Exclamatio querulatori… Piſcat.None but thoſe that obſerve providences, and lay up experiences; which if men would do, they might have a Divinity of their own, were they but well read in the ſtory of their own lives.
Even they ſhall understand, &c.] And as for thoſe providences that for preſent he underſtandeth not, rejicit in Dei abyſſ…s; he beleeveth there is a reaſon for them, and that they ſhall one day be unridled.
PSAL. CVIII.
VErſ. 1. O God, my heart is fixed] For the five firſt verſes of this Pſalm, ſee the Notes on Pſal. 57.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. And for the eight laſt, ſee the Notes on Pſal. 60. verſ. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.