Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 85
PSAL. LXXXV.
VErſ. 1. Lord, thou haſt been favourable, &c.] Gods free grace and favour is fitly premiſed, as the Fountain and Mother of all the following Mercies. This is that other Book, Rev. 20 12. that hath our names in it, and our pardon.
Thou haſt brought back the captivity of Jacob] Of old from Aegypt, and alate from the Philiſtines; who after Sauls death miſerably tyrannized over Iſrael, till David delivered them. Some hold that this Pſalm was compoſed at the end of the Babyloniſh Captivity. Others conceive it may be a prayer for the converſion of the Gentiles, who are brought in ſpeaking, the whole Pſalm throughout.
Verſ. 2. Thou haſt for given the iniquity, &c.] This is worthily mentioned as a main mercy, as a chief fruit of Free-grace.
Thou haſt covered all their ſin] That, that filthy thing may be no longer an eyeſore unto thee. In the Original there are Six Homoioteleuta, which is an elegancy not to be engliſhed.
Verſ. 3. Thou haſt taken away all thy wrath] Heb. Thou hast gathered it, thou haſt recollected it, that we might not bear it; when Sin is once remitted, Wrath is ſoon removed.
Thou haſt turned thy ſelf from the fierceneſs, &c.] Here are ſix Haſts drawing in the next Turn, verſ. 4. God hath, and therefore God will, is a ſtrong Medium of hope, if not a demonſtration of Scripture-Logicks. See 2 Cor. 1.10.
Verſ. 4. Turn us, O God of our ſalvation] Turn us, and we ſhall be turned; do as thou ever haſt done, for thou art Jehovah, thou changeſt not, but art yeſterday, today, and the ſame for ever.
And cauſe thine anger, &c.] I abefacta iram tuam erga nos.
Verſ. 5. Wilt thou he angry with us for ever?] Dilato Chriſto two vel tuo adventu? Such expoſtulations mixt with faith are Vis Deo grata, as ſaith Tertullian, ſuch as God is well pleaſed with.
Verſ. 6. With thou not revive us again?] Who for preſent are all amort, as it were, free among the dead? free of that company?
That thy people may rejoyce in thee] A joyleſs life is a lifeleſs life, Mortis habet vices quae trahitur vita gemitibus.
Verſ. 7. shew us thy mercy, O Lord] Thy fatherly mercy, foreign.
And grant us thy ſalvation] Thy Chriſt, and our Jeſus, Luke 2.30.
Verſ. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will ſpeak] I will not repine, but liſten what anſwer God giveth to my prayer, and patiently wait a good iſſue of my troubles.
For he will ſpeak peace unto his people] viz. by his Promiſes, and by his Providences.
And to his Saints] For all Gods people are righteous ones, Iſa. 60.21. juſtified and ſanctified, 1 Cor. 6.11.
But let … them turn again do folly] i.e. to the ways of the world, and of … real ſon leſt they ſmart for their raſhneſs, and God … to their words again.
Verſ. 9. Surely his ſalvation is nigh them, &c.] Though they be ſo … with tears, that they cannot ſee it and ſo diſcouraged, that they have even done looking for it. Luke … 7,….
That glory may dwell in our Land,] The Fathers hath by ſalvation and glory dwelling with man, underſtand Chriſt, Job. 1.26.
Verſ. 10.Jam fides & pax, & honor pudor que Priſcu…, & neglect… redire virtus Audet; apparet que beata pleno Copia cornu. Horat. Iren. Aug. Mercy and … are met together] … (his) Mercy is ever … ded by … conjunction his people there is a … and … … tion of Graces, 2 Pet. ….…. and this is an effect of Chriſt Kingdom in m… … Rom. 14.17.
Righteouſneſs and peace have killed each other] Have friendly ſaluted, in alluſion to the manner of the Eaſtern Nations. See Iſa. 12.17. Pſal. 119.169.
Verſ. 11. Truth ſhall ſpring out of the earth] i. e. Heaven and … ſhall be … both of truth and righteouſneſs. Many underſtand all concerning Chriſt. See J…. 3.13. Others, concerning extraordinary plenty of all good things.
Verſ. 12. Yea the Lord ſhall give that which is good] Yea h…ſt of all, viz. his holy Spirit (Luke 11.13. with Matthew 7.11.) with a largeſs of outward comforts.
Verſ. 13. Righteouſneſs ſhall go before him] Men ſhall walk before God in holinels and righteouſneſs all the days of their lives, Luke 1.75, they ſhall not reſt in outward bleſſings, verſ. 12. or be ſatisfied with ſuch low things, but be led up thereby to the care of higher.
And ſhall ſet us in the way of his ſteps] So that we ſhall go an upper (and … fore a better) way, Prov. 15.24. having our feat where other mens heads are: and ſo departing from Hell beneath, which … gapeth for the unrighteous.