Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 68
PSAL. LXVIII.
A Pſalm or ſong of David] Made at that time, when having overcome his enemies, he brought arcam in arcem, the Ark of God into the Tower of Sion; conferre verſ. 1. with Numb. 10.35. Herein alſo he treateth of the greateſt ſecrets of Chriſts Kingdome, and propheſieth of things to come, as Act. 2.30, 31. witneſſe the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 4.8.
Verſ. 1. Let God ariſe] He need do no more, that his enemies may be ſcattered, though never ſo cloſe united, e…iamſi catapbractus incedat Satan, as Luther ſpeaketh; digitum ſunns tantum moveat, & diſſipabuntur hoſtes, Let the Lord but ſtirre his finger only, let him but look unto the hoſt of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire, and they ſhall be troubled, as Exod. 14.24. funduntur & fugantur cum primum ſe exferit Deus, as thoſe Philiſtines, 2 Sam. 5.
Let them alſo that hate him, flee before him] Athanaſius telleth us that evill ſpirits may be put to flight by this Pſalm; and that Anthony the Hermite fought againſt the Devill with this verſe, and worſted him. This may be done alſo as well with other texts of Scripture.Golloq. Menſ. Luther encountred the Devill with that ſentence, Thou haſt put all things under his feet; Another Dutch Divine with this, The Sbn of God came to diſſolve the works of the Devil. Cramerus.A third, with thoſe words, The ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head. As the rocks repel the boiſterous waves — c… nantia frangere, frangunt; ſo doth Chriſt the Rock (the ſtone cut out of the mountains without hands. Dan. 2.45.) all his Churches enemies.
Verſ. 2. As … is driven away, &c.] Smoak at firſt ſight ſeemeth formidable; but ſoon vaniſheth; and the higher it aſcendeth, the ſooner it is diſſipated: ſo here. Guicciardine ſaith of Charles the eighth of France, that he came into the field like thunder and lightening, but went out like a ſnuff; more than a man at fiſt, and leſſe than a woman at laſt. Semblably Gods enemies.
As wax melteth before the fire, &c.] Wax is a more ſolid ſubſtance than ſmoak, but held to the fire, it quickly diſſolveth. The Pſalmiſt both prayeth and propheſieth here; that the downfall of the Churches enemies may be praeceps & preſentiſſimum, ſad and ſuddain, as is elegantly ſet forth by theſe …wo ſimilitudes.
Verſ. 3. But let the Righteous be glad] When he ſeeth the vengeance, Pſal, 58.10. (See the Note there) whilſt this wiſe King ſcattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them, Prov. 20.26.
Let them rejoyce before God] Heb. At the preſence of God, from which the wicked muſt flee, verſ. 1. See Iſa. 33.14.
Yea let them exceedingly rejoyce] Heb. Rejoyce with gladneſs; over-abound exceedingly with joy as St. Paul … 2 Cor. 7.4. Joy is the juſt mans portion, which the wicked may not meddle with. Hoſ. 9.12.
Verſ. 4. Sing unto God ſing praiſes] … not in a cuſtumers … help hereunto was this Pſalm …
Excell him that rideth upon the Heavens] Exalt him ſo, as when a (… is made up unto a great height, Beza rendreth it, Sternite … Caſt upon pave the way for him that rideth in the deſert. Come… Iſai; 40.3, 4 Mat. 3.1. Mat. 3.3. The Septuagint render it, foreign Raiſe up the way, and make it ready (as they uſe to do before Kings that ride in triumph) that the King of glory may come into your hearts, thoſe deſerts indeed.
By his name J…h] the ſame with Jehovah, that proper and incommunicable name of God. Some of the Heathens called it Jo… as Dioderus Sicalan…, Mack…, &c. Holy and reverend is this name, foreign, Eſſentates, and it is here and elſewhere given to Chriſt, See it interpreted Rev. 1.4.
Verſ. 5. A Father of the fatherleſs, &c.] Pupillerum pater, & … vindex, a title that God much glorieth in; and although hee rideth upon the Heavens, and is higher than the higheſt, yet ſo low ſtoopeth he to our meanneſs; neither will he leave his people orphans or comfortleſs, J…. &c. 18. for
God is in his holy habitation] Not in Heaven only, but in and with his Church on earth; the Ark and Mercy-ſeat were never ſundred.
Verſ. 6. God ſetteth the ſolitary in families] i.e. He bleſſeth them with Iſſue. See Pſal. 113.9. and ſo he doth the Church, Iſa. 54. It in theſe dayes of the Goſpel eſpecially.
He bringeth out thoſe which are bonnd in th…ing] As he did Peter, Act 12. Paul and Silas, Act. 16. Some read it thus, He bringeth out thoſe which are bound, in accomoditates, into places where they may live commodiouſly and chearfully. As on the other ſide,
The rebellions dwell in a dry land] In le…s torridis, arridis, exſucis & …, in … and deſert Countries, where they are deſtitute of Gods bleſſing and his ſoul-refreſhing comforts. The Hebrew word ſignifieth a bleak or white ſoil, ſuch as is all Egypt where the Nile arriveth not, viz. a whitiſh ſand, bearing no graſs but two little weeds, of which they make glaſs. Where the river w…reth is a black mould, ſo fruitfull, ſay travailers, as they do but throw in the ſeed; and have four rich harveſts in leſſe than four months. Hence Egypt is called The World Gra…y.
Verſ. 7. O God when thou wenteſt forth before thy people] Here the former benefits of God to his people are recited. & additis … coloribus … potius quam deſcripta, and rather depainted out in lively colours, than deſcribed. Wet muſt ſtirre up out ſelves to thankfullneſs for what God hath done for our forefathers; neither muſt the memory of his mercies ever grow ſtale with us.
Verſ. 8. The earth ſhook, the Heavens alſo dropped] Velut in ſudoviut ſoluts, as if they had been put into a ſweat; In ſo terrible a manner was the Law given, that Gods ſear might fall upon us, Exod. 20. As for the Goſpel, it is than … of Liberalities, verſ. 9. confirming Gods inheritance, when it is weary.
Even Sinai it ſelf was moved at the prefence of God. Some render it, a facie Dei h…jus Sinaice, à facie Dei, Dei I ſrael. Theſe two verſes are taken our or … ſong, Jud. 5.4.5.
Verſ. 9. Thou O God didſt ſend a plentifull rain] Heb. Thou … rain of liberalities. Spiritually this meaneth the Doctrin of the Goſpel, Deut 3.…. 2 Iſa. 45.8. Hoſ. 14.6. and the gifts of the Holy Chriſt beſtowed hereby and plentifully.
Verſ. 10. Thy Congregation hath dwelt therein …,] thy …, ſoſome render it, and interpret it of the flocks and heards, whereby of his goodneſſe God prepared fot his poor, thoſe creatures being profitable both ….Deus obrulit occaſionem laetandi, ovandi & triumphandi.
Verſ. 11. The Lord gave the word] That is, the occaſion …, de victoria ſaith Vatablus. How God provided his people of … Pſalmiſt had told us, now of the victory, the good news whereof ſhall … in every ones mouth, like the word in an army, with joyfull acclamations and out-cryes.
Great was the company (Heb. army of the forbad publiſhed …)] Such are thy Preachers of the Goſpel, Rom. 10.15. an office taken now from the Angel…, and given to the Miniſters, where… that Angel turned over. … to … information, …. The Hebrew word for … is … continuance out … of New-England) but to ſhew the weakneſſe of the means (fiſherman and the like) that God is pleaſed to uſe in this great work,Ut imbecillitatem miniſtrorum Eccleſiae nocet. Moller. for the greater manifeſtation of his power in the ſucceſſe, as ſome conceive.
Verſ. 12. Kings of armies did flee apace] Heb. Did flee, did flee. Or, ſhall flee, ſhall flee; which one interpreteth of Devils (called Principalities and Powers) formerly uſing to give Oracles; but after Chriſts birth ceaſing to do ſo. As alſo of Licius… and other tyrants fleeing before Conſtantine the firſt Chriſtian Emperour. See Rev. 9.11. Antichriſt is the King of Locuſts, and he fleeth daily before the Evangelies, Lib. 3. de. Pont. Rom. cap. 21.the New-Goſpellers, as he calleth them. Bellarmine complaineth, that ever ſince we held the Pope to be Antichriſt, non mode non crevit ejus imperium, ſed ſemper magi…ac magis decrevit, his Kingdome hath not only not increaſed, but more and more daily decreaſed.
And ſhe that tarried at home divided the ſpoil] That is, toto congregatia que non pugnabat, ſaith Kimchi. Or the women alſo (thoſe domi porta) came forth to pillage. Theſe dayes of the Goſpel do abound with many godly matrones and holy Virgins. And it is eaſie to obſerve, that the New Teſtament affordeth more ſtore of good women, than the Old.
Verſ. 13.Inter Chytropod…s. Though ye have ly…n among the Pots] Quaſiobruti roti & oppleti fuligine & tenebris, black and ſooty, as the black guard of an army, or as Skullions in a Kitchin, who lye ſometimes all right, like beaſts, in a chimney-corner; or as your Fore-Fathers in Egypt, when their ſhoulders were not yet removed from the burden, nor their hands from the pots, Pſal. 81.6. The meaning is, though ye have been in a low and loathſome condition, yet now. ye ſhall ſhine and flouriſh, Verba ſunt maliorum, ſaith Kimchi, theſe are the words of thoſe women, annunciatrices in the eleventh verſe. Beza maketh them to be the Pſalmiſts words to thoſe women that divided the ſpoil, verſ. 12. Vixiſtis adhuc puella, &c. ye have hitherto dwelt at home, and waſht pots, &c. but now being enriched by the ſpoils, yee may come abroad fair and trimme, like white Doves with gilt feathers.
Yet ſhall ye be as the wings of a Dove] Ye ſhall flye ſwiftly from the ſtorm of cruel perſecution, ſaith the Syroack Interpreter; yea you ſhall ſhine, and make a glorious ſhew, ficut nivea columbae per medium aercus inter volitandum aureum quendam ſplendarem ejaculantur. See Iſa. 54.11, 12, 13. the Churches bricks made in her bondage ſhall be turned into Saphires.
Verſ. 14. When the Almighty ſcattered Kings in it] i.e. In the wilderneſs as they paſſed; or in Canaan which they poſſeſſed, according to verſ. 1. Or, ſcattered Kings for her, that is, for his Church, or for her that tarried at home, verſ. 12. a periphraſis of the Church, in the times of primitive perſecution eſpecially, till the Almighty ſcattered thoſe perſecuting Princes. Some of the Jew-Doctors underſtand it of Gog and Magog.
It was white as ſnow in Salmon] Or, She was white as ſnow in Salmon; not only as the wings of a Dove, but glorious and glittering as ſnow on that high hill, Judg. 9.47, 48. At the top of the Alpes nothing is to bee ſeen but ſnow, which hath lain there beyond the memory of man, and as ſome ſay, ever ſince the flood. The ſame may be as true of Salmon, which ſome here take for a Noun ſubſtantive common, and render its albe ſees in …ligine, thou ſhalt wax white in darkneſſe. The old Emperour Andronicus lighting upon this verſe in his Pſalter, and applying it to himſelf,Turk. hiſt. fol. 164. was much ſetled and ſastisfied concerning his troubles.
Verſ. 15. The Hill … God is as the hill of Baſan] Baſan was fat and fettile, but Sion was better, becauſe the place where Gods honour dwelled, any relation to whom d…th greatly ennoble any place or perſon: ſo Gen. 17.21, 22, Iſrael, have bleſſed, twelve Princes ſhall he beget; but my covenant will I eſtabliſh with Iſ…, Since thou haſt been precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable, Iſa. 4….…
Verſ. 16. Why leap ye, ye high bills?] Why do ye pride and pleaſe your ſelves in your privileges of nature, ſo faire above this of …, Quare … ſo ſome render it, and tell us, that the originall word … is Syriack, …, to irritate, to inſult, or contend with any one.
This is the Hill which God deſireth to … in]. This … and doth ſtill of the Church from the reſt of the World. The Lamb Chriſt is on Mount Sion, Revel. 14.1.
Verſ. 17. The Chariots of God are twenty thouſand] Heb. The Chariot, to note the joynt-ſervice of all the Angels, who are here called, Shinan, of their changeableneſs now taken away by Chriſt, ſay ſome: of their precellency above other Creatures, ſay others, as being ſecond or next unto God, the chief Princes, the Nobles of that Court, as Dan. 10.13. Michael one of the chief Princes. The Seventy render it foreign, The cheerful ones ſuch as are in joy and tranquillity, freely ſerving God in all his Warres, carrying the Elect, and marching about them.
The Lord is among them, as in Sinai] i.e. The Angels make Sion as dreadful to all her enemies, as thoſe Angels made Sinai at the delivery of the Law. See Heb. 12.22.
In the holy place] Holy for the time whilſt God appeared there, ſo 2 Pet. 1.18. Tabor is called the holy Mount.
Verſ. 18. Thou haſt aſcended on high] As a Conquerour doth on his triumphal Chariot; the Romans aſcended up to the Capitol,Plut. in Aemyl. leading their Captives bound behind them, and giving gifts unto the people. They might have this cuſtom from David, and theſe words might be the peoples acclamation to: David, or as ſome think, both the Kings and peoples acclamation to the Ark, that notable Type of Chriſt, to whom St. Paul applieth it, Epheſ. 4.8, 9. and teacheth us to underſtand it of his wonderful Aſcenſion.
Thou haſt led captivity captive] i.e. Thou haſt captivated thoſe that once held us in captivity: for ſo Gods juſtice required, Iſa. 33.1. ſo he had fore-promiſed, Iſa. 24. Rev. 13.10. and ſo Chriſt hath fulfilled, Coloſſ. 2.15. ſaving his people to the uttermoſt, from Sin, Death, Hell, and the Devil, who had taken them alive captive at his pleaſure, 2 Tim. 2.26.
Thou haſt received gifts for men] Heb. In man; ſome render it in Adam, Qualia erant in Adams, talia dat Chriſtus, ſaith Eugubinus, Chriſt gave ſuch gifts to his people (for if he received with one hand, he gave with the other,Sed Beth ſervilis non praeponitur proprio nomini. and the fruits of his Victories are all for his Subjects) as were in Adam. True it is, that hee repaireth Gods once-loſt Image in them, but the gifts here meant are mentioned by the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 4 11. viz. Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors, Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtery, for the edyfying of the body of Chriſt, &c. Lo theſe were thoſe gifts that Chriſt beſtowed upon his Church at the day of his Coronation. and ſolemn inauguration into his Throne, at the time of his triumphant Aſcenſion. Theſe he received that he might give: and he held it more bleſſed to give than to receive. A like expreſſion wee have, Hoſ. 14.2. Receive us graciouſly, Heb. Take good, ſc. to beſtow it upon us, as Acts 2.23.
Yea, for the rebellious alſo] Rebellion at firſt till thou haſt given them a better heart. See Rom. 4.5. & 5.6. or, if they continue ſo, yet they may ſhare in common gifts, and external priviledges.
That the Lord God might dwell among them] viz. in his religion and true worſhippers, for which end he giveth reſtraining grace to the very rebellious.
Verſ. 19. Bleſſed be the Lord who daily loadeth us] ſc. With bleſſings, or with croſſes turned into bleſſings, as being ſanctified, and having their properties altered; for of themſelves they are fruits of ſin, and a peece of the Curſe. Let us not load him with our iniquities, &c.
Verſ. 20. He that is our God, is the God of Salvation] Or, This God is unto us a God of Salvations, in the Plural, ſo that he can ſave us, and doth, from a thouſand deaths and dangers; and when he hath delivered us to day, he both can and will do it again to morrow: he hath for his people omnimodam ſalutem.
And unto God the Lord belong the iſſues from death.] When we think there is no way but one for us, he appeareth as out of an Engin, and pulleth us out of Deaths jaws. The Lord knoweth how to deliver his, 2 Pet. 2.9. from the moſt deſperate and deadly dangers. Peter might well ſay it, for he had the experience of it, Acts 12. Chriſt hath the Keys of death, Rev. 1.18. the ſole dominion and diſpoſal of it. … mortis.
Verſ. 21. But God ſhall wound the … of his enemies] … caput, a wound in the head if deep (and God ſtrikes no ſmall blows) is mortal. Chriſt will break the head of thoſe that bruiſe his heel, that attempt any thing againſt Him, and his. By Head here Diodate underſtandeth the Devil, that Prince of the World, Deut. 32.42. Pſal. 110.6. Hab. 3.13. Evil ſpirits in Scripture are called Shegnirim, ſhag-haired, Levit. 17.7. Iſa. 13.21. And they go on in their treſpaſſes; they do infinitely hate God, and ſin that ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt every moment. But the moſt underſtand it of wicked men.
And the hairy ſcalp of ſuch a one as goeth on ſtill, &c.] This is Gods enemy, that by his wilful wickedneſs ſtriketh, and as it were ſhooteth at God, runneth upon him, even upon his neck, and upon the thick boſſes of his Bucklers, Job 15.25, 26. his hairy ſcalp, ſetting forth his fierceneſs, Job 5.5. Note this againſt Anti-Roundheads. See Ezek. 44.20.
Verſ. 22. The Lord ſaid] That is aſſurance good enough.
I will bring again from Baſhan] Og the Giants Country, where Iſrael was in no ſmall diſtreſs, and danger, till that Monſter was taken out of the way. Numb. 21.33. Deut. 3.1, 2. q. d. I will, if need require, and as occaſion ſerveth, do as much for mine again, as I did once at Baſhan, and at the red Sea. Some interpret this, and the following Verſes, of the calling of the Jews. The glorious things (ſaith one) which God will effect in their behalf are here reduced to five heads; Firſt, the bringing of them home from moſt extreme difficulties, naming Baſhan, becauſe of the ſlaughter ſpoken of, verſ. 14. and the deep of the Sea, alluding to Exod. 14.16. peradventure he meaneth the drying up of Euphrates before them. For this firſt Head aimeth at thoſe times, the beginning of the Jews repair unto their Country. The Second Head is, the great and famous Victory that God will give, delivering them out of thoſe difficulties and diſtreſſes, verſ. 22. See Iſa. 63.1, 2, 3, 4. The Third Head is, the Jews thorough converſion, by occaſion of that ſingular mercy of God, verſ. 23. and the form of a goodly Church (under the Type of the old Synagogue) ſet up among Jacobs poſterity, verſ. 24. the Ten Tribes as well as the Tribe of Judah, which is concluded by acknowledging their ſtrength to come from God, a prayer to perfect his Work begun, and a ſpur to put into theſe Kings of the East (as they are alſo called, Rev. 16.12.) to preſent in the Temple at Jeruſalem (in the publick Congregation) teſtimonies of their thankfulneſs, verſ. 25, 26, 27, 28. The Fourth Head is, the taming of their proud enemies, and the forcing them at leaſt to counterfeit a ſubjection, verſ. 29. The Fifth Head is, the general calling of all the Kingdoms of the earth to joyn themſelves unto the Church of Chriſt, which ſhall follow the converſion of the Jews. And this he ſhutteth up with provoking all Nations, to give unto God the praiſes that are due unto him for it: and his own particular thankſgiving, verſ. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Thus he.
Verſ. 23. That thy foot may be dipped] Heb. Redded, imbrewed, made gore-bloudy; Hereby is implied a very great ſlaughter. Confer Rev. 19.17, 18, 21.
Verſ. 24.Diod. They have ſeen thy goings, O God] Namely, the holy manner of conducting the Ark with even and proportionable reſtings, and ſettings down. See 2 Sam. 6.13. The Ark is here and elſewhere called, God, becauſe a ſymbol of his ſpecial preſence. When we are called to hear Gods Word, and pray publickly, though we ſee not God,ab. yet we may ſee his goings: Deus enim ipſe chorum agit, & primas tenet in illo inceſſu.
Of my God, my King] David though he were a King, yet held himſelf but Gods Mandatary, or Subſtitute.
Verſ. 25. The ſingers went before, &c.] Thus they were Marſhalled, when the Ark was conducted to Mount Sion, every thing being done decently and in order. Chriſt aſcending into Heaven, and ſetling his Kingdom, is perpetually praiſed of his Church.
Verſ. 26. Bleſs yee God in the Congregations] i.e. Catervatim ac turmatim, by Troops and Companies.
Even the Lord from the fountain of Iſrael] That is, from the Heart, ſay ſome, which is the true fountain of praiſing God. Others underſtand it of Chriſt, who is … the fountain of Iſrael, Rom. 9.5. there are, that think that the ſtudy of the … Tongue is here recommended to us. Reuchlin was wont to ſay, than the … drank out of Ciſterns, the Greeks out of Ponds, but the Hebrews out of the Fountain it ſelf. Calvin, and the moſt Interpreters read the words, Yee that are of the fountain of Iſrael, ſpringing out of his loyns. See Deut. 33.28. Iſa. 48.1. & 51.1.
Verſ. 27. There is little Benjamin, with their Ruler] Though before they had ſtood out for Saul, and his houſe, yet now they bore a part in this ſolemn celebrity, as being next unto the Sanctuary. Of this Tribe was St. Paul, Tricubitalis ille homuncio, ſed inſatiabilis Dei cultor, as Chryſoſtom calleth him, little in ſtature, but in labours more abundant. The firſt precious ſtone in the foundation of the New Jeruſalem is a Jaſper, Rev. 21.19. which in Aarons breſt-plate was the laſt, Exod. 28.20. on which Benjamins name was graven. This intimateth, ſaith one,Ainſw. the laſt now to be firſt, and chief in Chriſtian Churches.
The Princes of Judah, and their Council] Or company, or purple-arrayed ones. Beza rendreth it, Lapidatores corum, the ſtoners of the enemies. The word is found here only: and Forſterus thinketh that our Saviour alluded to it, when as Mar. 3. he calleth James and John Boanerges.
The Princes of Zebulon] Sic abſolvitur pempae triumphalis. Theſe are mentioned as moſt remote, bringing up the rear. In thoſe Tribes Chriſt walked, and there-hence he called ſundry of his Diſciples.
Verſ. 28. Thy God hath commanded thy ſtrength] A brave expreſſion, admired by Longinus a Heathen Rhetorician. See the like Deut. 28.8. Pſal. 42.8. & 44.4. & 33.9. God both made and ruleth the World without Tool or toyl, he enableth his people to ſubſiſt, and to reſiſt their enemies by his Will only, and by the efficacy of his Word. Suppeditavit tibi Deus tantum robur, nequid ſuperbias, ſaith Varablus.
Strengthen, O God, that which thou haſt wrought for us] Petamus ut det, qued ut habeamus jubet. Pray to the God of all Grace, to make us the ſame that hee requireth us to be.
Verſ. 29. Becauſe of thy Temple] Or, out of thy Temple at Jeruſalem, q. d. ſtrengthen us out of thy Temple, out of the fulneſs that is in thy Son, thereby typified.
Kings ſhall bring preſents unto thee] See the Note on verſ. 22.
Verſ. 30. Rebuke the company of Spear-men] Or, Launce-men; Heb. The beaſt of the reeds; that is, ſay ſome, voluptuous perſons that wallow in Wealth, plenty,Arab. Sicut Pontifices, Cardinales, Epiſcopi & horum ſatellites. and pleaſure, Job 40.21. Behemoth lyeth in the Fennes, which Gul. Pariſunſis applieth to the Devil in ſenſual hearts; Reeds grow not but in fat and moyſt places: But they do better, who render it the Rout, or crue of the Cane; that is, men that bear Reeds or Canes, whereof Spears, Arrows, and Launces were wont to bee made: theſe men, or rather beaſts, cruel, ſavage, and bloudy, rebuke, that is, repreſs.
The multitude of the Bulls] The Commanders and Chieftaines.
With the Calves of the people] The common Souldiers.
With pieces of ſilver] With an Homage-penny, as they call it.
That delight in War] That make a ſport of it, as Joab, 2 Sam. 2.14. as Pyrrhus King of Epirotes, who made a recreation of Warfare. So did not David, though neceſſitated thereunto for the glory of God; hee was a man of Warre from his youth. If we Princes (ſaid our Hen. 7.) ſhould delight in War, or take every occaſion that is offered, the World ſhould never bee quiet, but wearied with continual Wars.
Verſ. 31. Princes ſhall come out of Aegypt] The Gentiles ſhall one day be called, and cauſed Drum veruns cognoſcere & colere: even Aegypt, that Arch-enemy of the Church, and Aethiopia, the Off-ſpring of curſed Cham.
And Ethiopia ſhall ſoon ſtretch out her hands to God] Heb. Shall make her hands to run; whereby is noted her ſpeedineſs in giving, or in receiving the Goſpel: Manibus pedibuſ que … omnia faciat. It is likely that that good Eunuch, Acts 8.Terent. preached the Chriſtian verity which himſelf had imbraced, for goodneſs is diffuſive and Birds, when they come to a full heap of Corn will chirp,Hiſt. Aethi…. cap. 137. and call in for their fellow. The Habaſſines are ſtill a kinde of Chriſtians, the Nubians have forſaken the Furtherance delivered, and embraced inſtead of it partly Mahumetaniſm, and partly Idolatry: through lack of Miniſters, as Alvarro reporteth.
Verſ. 32. Sing unto God, ye Kingdoms] No ſuch joy as that of the converted, Iſa. 35.10 the ranſomed of the Lord ſhall return and come to Zion with Song, and everlaſting joy upon their heads, &c. Bernard, for a certain time after his Converſion, remained as it were deprived of his ſenſes, by the exceſſive conſolations hee had from God. The like befell Cyprian, Auſtin, and others.
Verſ. 33. To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens] i.e. the higheſt heaven, Deut. 10.14.
Which were of old] And do ſtill remain in the ſame ſtate.
Lo he doth ſend out his voyce] i.e. Thundreth, as Pſal. 29. whenſoever therefore we hear it thunder, Sciamus Deum ipſum laqui, hoc eſt ſenſibilem reddi.
Verſ. 34.foreign Altitonans. Aſcribe ye ſtrength unto God] The High thunderer; acknowledge your own nothingneſs, ſubmit to his government.
His excellency is over Iſrael, and his ſtrength, &c.] i.e. His glory ſhineth no leſs in Iſrael, than the Thunder roareth in the Clouds.
Verſ. 35. O God, thou art terrible out of thine holy places] So the Sanctuary is called, becauſe divided into three parts; and here hence God was terrible in his manifeſtations to his people, and in his operations to his enemies. See Pſalm 67, 2, 3.
Bleſſed be God] Hereupon ſaith one, God was called in Iſrael, Baruc-hu, the Bleſſed, as Mark 14.61. with Mat. 26.63. See Luke 1.68.