Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 149
PSAL. CXLIX.
VErſ. 1 Praiſe yee the Lord] See Pſal. 148.1.
Sing unto the Lord a new ſong] A new-Teſtament-ſong, of a new argument, and for new benefits by the comming of Chriſt, whereof this Pſalm is propheticall. Old things are paſt, all things are become new, 2 Cor. 5.16. new Commandements, new promiſes new ſacraments, new grace, new praiſes, new priviledges.
For the Congregation of the … ] His …, whoſe joyne praiſes muſt come before him as the found of many waters: this is Heaven upon Earth.
Verſ. 2 Let Iſrael rejoyce in him that made him] And new made him, Epheſ. 2.10. and thereby highly advanced him, as 1 Sam. 12.6. The Hebrew hath it, In his makers, to ſhew the Trinity of perſons, concurring in the work both of creation and regeneration. So Gen. 1.2… Job 35.1…. Iſa. 54.5. Eccleſ. 12.1. See Pſal. 100.3.
Bee joyfull in their King] i. e. In Chriſt, whoſe Kingdome is ſuch as ſhould ſwallow up all diſcontents, and make us everlaſtingly merry, Mic. 4.9. I… Seneca could ſay to his friend, Polybius, Fas non eſt ſalvo Caeſare, de fortuna tua queri. … salvi tibi ſunt tui, &c. It is not fit for thee to complain of thine hard fortune, ſo long as Ceſar is alive, and well: how much more may it bee ſaid ſo to Chriſtians, ſo long as Chriſt is alive, and reigneth?
Verſ. 3 Let them praiſe his name in the daunce] Or, with the pipe, tibi is & tympanis & omni muſices organicae genere, by all lawfull means poſſible.
Verſ. 4 For the Lord taketh pleaſure in his people] Pſal. 35.27. when they are under the Croſs eſpecially, and thereby meekened. This, the very Heathen ſaw, Lib. de provid. 2and could ſay, Spectant Di… magnos viros, cum calamitate aliqua …oll…ctantes. E…ce ſ…ctaculom, ad quod reſpiciat operi ſuo intentus Deus, ſaith Seneca of Ca…, and other gallant Roman ſpirits. How much more may wee ſay the like of Gods-looking with ſingular delight on Abraham (Jehova …ire…, the Lord ſeeth, Gen. 22.14.) Job, Stephen, Laurence, and other faithfull Martyrs, ſuffering couragiouſly for his truth, and …ealing it with their blood?
He will beautifie (or glorifie) the meek with ſalvation] i. e. Not only deliver them, Mr. Bolton.but dignifie them in the eyes of all, Pſal. 91.15. I will deliver him, and glorifie him. …radford and ſuch, wee ſhall look upon, likely (ſaith a grave Author) with thoughts of extraordinary love and ſweetneſs in the next World through all eternity: as Bonner and ſuch, with execrable and everlaſting deteſtation.
Verſ. 5 Let the Saints bee joyfull in glory] i. e. In their glorious eſtate by Chriſt, notwithſtanding their preſent poverty. Let the Brother of low degree rejoyce (or glo…y) in that hee is exalted, Jam. 1.9.
Let them ſing aloud upon their beds] How hard ſoever: Act & Mo…as Philpot and his fellow-ſufferers did, when they rouſed in the ſtraw. Jacob had never more ſweet intercourſe with God, than when his head lay upon the hard ſtone, at Bethel. Some by beds here underſtand the Temples and Schools. Confer Iſa. 57. Others render it, … de cubilibus ſuis, They ſhall ſing aloud for their beds, that is, for their ſweet and ſolid tranquillity.
Verſ. 6 Let the high praiſes (or the exaltations) of God bee in their mouth] Heb. In their throat. So Iſa. 58.1. cry aloud; Heb. cry in the throat, ſet up thy note. — Sic clames, ut Stentora vincas.
And a two-edged ſword in their hand] Such an invincible power ſhall the Saints have, as whereby they ſhall ſubdue all their enemies corporall and ſpirituall. See Heb. 14.12. Rev. 1.16. & 19.15. there was more than metall and form in Goliahs ſword, delivered by the Prieſt to David; whoſe arm was not ſo much ſtrengthened by it as his faith: ſo is every good Chriſtians by that two-edged ſword of the Spirit: he may well write upon it as that renouned Talbot in the reign of Henry the ſixth did upon his ſword, Speed.in blunt and boiſterous language, Sum Talbotti (this was ingraven upon the one ſide of the blade, and upon the other) pro vincere inimic…s …. See a Cor. 10.4, 5.
Verſ. 7 To execute vengeance upon the Heathen] viz. Upon a juſt calling, and not for private revenge; yea that ſouldier can never anſwer it to God, that ſtrikes not more as a Juſticer than as an enemy, bee his cauſe never ſo good. But that's the moſt noble vengeance that is executed upon mens luſts; whilſt they thruſt the ſword of the Spirit into the throats of them, and let out their life-blood. That's a good ſenſe that ſome give of theſe words, viz. that the Saints when they go forth to battel, ſhould go with holy ſongs in their mouths, as well as with ſwords in their hands. See Judg. 7.19, 20, &c. Uſſier. Brit. … cleſ. … mord.& 2 Chron. 20.21, &c. the victoria Hallelujatica, was got on this manner here in Britaine, under the conduct of Germanus, againſt a mighty army of Pelagian Picte and Saxons. This was the courſe and cuſtome of the … in … againſt their Popiſh perſecutors; and the like wee read of the other French Proteſtants at the ſiedge of …, that I mention not thoſe gallant Spirits at … battel with their reboated, Now for the fruit of prayer; together with the many Pſalms ſung by that religious army in their ſeverall ſtations, whereof I have been an ear-witneſs.
Verſ. 8 To bind their Kings with chains] Reſtraining their vices, and bringing them to the obedience of faith; See Iſa. 45.14. This is doubtleſs a deſiteable ſervitude, or rather freedome; this is not as chains and fetters, but as girdles and garters, to gird up their loins, and to expedite their courſe the better.
Verſ. 9 To execute upon them the Judgement written] The Jews thought they might kill any Idolaters; and now to kill a Chriſtian is counted by them a meritorious work. The wicked are apt to exceed their commiſſion, Zech. 1.15. So may the Saints. David was too cruel to the Ammonites, 2 Sam. 11. Theodoſius to the Theſſalonians. Here therefore they are limited to the word written.
This honour have all his Saints] As having obtained like precious faith, 2 Pet. 1.1.