Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 87
PSAL. LXXXVII.
A Pſalm or ſong] Made, likely, by David, after that he had ſetled the Ark in Mount Sion, 2 Sam. 6. and underſtood that the Temple ſhould be built in Mount Moriah; In which two mountains (or rather one mountain with two tops) the Rabbines ſay that this Pſalm was compoſed; and thereunto they draw the next words, His foundation, or the argument of this Pſalm, is in and of thoſe holy Mountains. But this ſeemeth not to be the ſenſe.
Verſ. 1. His foundation is in the holy Mountains] Which cannot be removed, but abide for ever, Pſal. 125.1. Some read it, The foundation thereof, viz. of the Temple, but eſpecially of the Church univerſall that ſpirituall Temple (built of living ſtones by God the beſt Architect, Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone) is in the holy Mountains: For out of Zion went forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem; which is therefore called the Mother-Church, and foreign, the chief Church, the root of the Gentile-Churches, Rom. 11.Damaſc. l. 4. c. 13. the converſion whereof is here foretold, verſe 4. and perpetuall happineſſe promiſed.
Verſ. 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion] Nothing but his meer love moved him to make choice of it, above all other places there to declare his power, preſence, and goodneſs. He firſt choſe it for his love, and then loved it for his choice; and ſo he doth his Church.
Verſ. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee] Dicta & praedicta, told and foretold of thee, Heb. in thee, ſc. by the holy Prophets, eſpecially concerning the Chriſtian Church. See Iſa. 40. to the end of that Prophecy. Nihil honorificum non praedicatur de te; & nihil praedicatur dete quin ſit honorificentiſſimum.Jun.
Thou City of God] The God of glory, Act. 7.1. the great King, Mat. 5.35. the only potentate, 1 Tim. 6.15. who maketh his Church the place of his reſidence, &c.
Selah] O rem dignam perpetua admiratione, O wonderfull!
Verſ. 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon] Rahab is Egypt, and ſo called for its ſtrength, and pride. Babel the chief City of the Babylonians. Theſe were deadly enemies to Jeruſalem, which was ground betwixt them as betwixt a pair of Milſtones, but they ſhall be reckoned hereafter, ſaith God, among my domeſticks, among thoſe that know mee, or rather are known of mee. See Iſa. 19.19, 21, 25. 1 Pet. 5.13.
Behold Philiſtia] The Philiſtines were ever bitter enemies to the Iſraelites, but ſhall be converted and become children of the Church. See Iſa. 54.1. & 44.5.
And Tyre] Which ſhall leave heaping and hoarding, and imploy her Merchandiſe to feed and cloath Gods Saints. Iſa. 23.18. Act. 21.3, 4.
With Aethopia] Heb. Cuſh, of Cuſh, the ſon of Ham, their Father and founder, Gen. 10.6. Aethiopians they were called from their burnt faces. The Eunuch received the Goſpel, and publiſhed it, Act. 8. the Chriſtian faith was profeſſed among them, as 'tis thought, from the Apoſtles time; though now, for above an hundred years, they have again forſaken it.
This man was born there] Natus, id eſt renatus in illa. The men of theſe ſeveral and other Countries were born, that is, born a new, and ſo made free-deniſons of the new Jeruſalem, fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the houſe-hold of God, Epheſ. 2.19.
Verſ. 5. And of Zion it ſhall be ſaid, This and that man was born in her] i. e. Converted; and ſo a daily acceſſion made to the Church of Chriſt, as was by Peters …ermon, &c. and now ſo many Nations; Behold the World is gone after him, ſaid thoſe envious Phariſees, Joh. 12.19. and the Papiſts grudge as much at the late glorious Reformation begun by Luther, wherein ſo many rejoyce, and ſhall do to all eternity. Bucholcerus bleſſeth God that he was born in the dayes, and was bred under the diſcipline of holy Melancthon Luthers colleague,
Diviſae his operae, ſed mens fuit unica; pavit
Ore Lutherus oves, flore Melanethen apes.
Beatus Ludovicus would be called Ludovicus de Piſſiaco, rather than take greater titles, becauſe there hee became a Chriſtian. Hee thought no birth to a new birth in Chriſt; no parentage to that of God to his Father, the Church to his Mother, Chriſt to his elder Brother, &c. Some apply this text to the places of holy mens birth, and tell us, that he loves the very ground his ſervants tread on, the very air they firſt breath in, their walls are continually before him, Iſa. 49.16. he thinks the better of the houſes where they dwell.
And the higheſt himſelf ſhall eſtabliſh her] So that the gates of Hell ſhall not unſettle her. Other ſtates and Polities have their times and their turns, their riſe and their ruine; not ſo the Church.
Verſ. 6. The Lord ſhall count when he writeth up the people.] When he maketh his Cenſe-book (called the writing of the houſe of Iſrael, Ezek. 13.9. the Lords book of remembrance, Mal. 3.16. the Regiſter of the living in Jeruſalem. Iſa. 4.3.) he ſhall muſter them in the roll of his ſouldiers, number them in the catalogue of his Citizens, call them in the nomenclatura of his Diſciples, &c. A glorious priviledge ſurely.
As well the ſingers as the players, &c.] There ſhall be an exuberancy of joy in the holy Ghoſt, the only comfortable ſoul-raviſhing muſick, far beyond that of the materiall Temple.
All my ſprings are in thee] i. e. All my thoughts run upon thee, with greateſt; delight; My eyes are wholly fixt upon thee, Calvin. R. Solomon.ſo ſome read it: Others, My bowels are in thee, making theſe to be the words of the Pſalmiſt. But methinks they do better that make them to be the words of God, promiſing plenty of grace and comfort to his people, as from ever-flowing over-flowing fountains.