Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 97 – Psalm 100
PSAL. XCVII.
VErſ. 1. The Lord reigneth] This is matter of greateſt joy to the Righteous. Gandeo quod Chriſtus Dominus eſt, al…oqui totus deſperaſſem, I am glad that Chriſt is Lord of all; for otherwiſe I ſhould utterly have been out of hope, ſaith Micon… us in an Epiſtle to Calvin, upon the view of the Churches enemies.
Let the multitude of Iſles be glad] As more happy herein than any of thoſe called the Fortunate Iſlands, Turk. Hiſt.or than Cyprus anciently called Macaria, that is, The bleſſed Iſle, for her abundance of commodities.
Verſ. 2. Clouds and darkneſſe are round about him] As once at the delivering of the Law; ſo now in the publiſhing Goſpel, he is no leſſe terrible, having vengeance in ſtore for the diſobedient, 2 Cor. 10.6. It is a ſavour of death to unbeleevers. Chriſt came to ſend fire on the earth, Luk. 12.49.
Righteouſneſſe and judgement, &c.] Mercy Chriſt hath for the penitent: judgement for the rebellious, who ſeek to dethrone him. Woe to thoſe Goſpel-ſinners.
Verſ. 3. A fire goeth before him] For even our God is a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.29. (and not the God of the Jews only) as ſhall well appear at the laſt day, 2 Theſ. 1.8. See the Note on verſe 2.
Verſ. 4. His Lightenings enlightened the World] His Apoſtles, thoſe fulmina Eccleſinſtica, ſhall ſpread Goſpel-light and amaze people; the Lord working with them, and confirming their word with ſignes following, Mar. 16.20.
Verſ. 5. The hills melted like wax] Nothing ſhall be ſo ſtout and ſteady as to be able to ſtand before them.
Before the Lord] Adon, Dominator, The Maker and Maſter of all, the rightfull Proprietary and Paramount. The Latine tranſlation hath it, All the earth is before the face of the Lord.
Verſ. 6. The Heavens declare his Righteouſneſſe] As ſo many Catholick Preachers, Pſal. 19.1. & 50.4.6. By Heavens ſome underſtand Angels, concurring with men to glorifie God. Others, the heavenly bodies pleading Gods cauſe againſt Atheiſts and Idolaters. They that worſhipped the Sun were Atheiſts by night; and they that worſhipped the Moon were Atheiſts by day, as Cyrill wittily.
Verſ. 7. Confounded be all they that ſerve graven images] Thoſe Inſtruments of Idolatry, and lurking-places of Devils, diabolicae inſpirationis & inſtine…us participes. Such and their Servants we may lawfully pray againſt.
That boaſt themſelves of Idols] As did that Idolatrous Micah, Judg. 17. Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 3. Julian called therefore Idolian, the Papiſts at this day. See D. Rainolds de Idololatria Romana.
Worſhip him all ye Gods] i. e. All ye Angels, ſaith the Greek and Arabick; and the Apoſtle ſaith the ſame, Hob. 1.6. proving Chriſt to be God-man. This Pſalm ſaith Beza is highly to be prized of all Chriſts, as containing a moſt divine Epitome of all Goſpel-myſteries.
Verſ. 8. Sion heard and was glad] Heard what? the downfull of the Devills Kingdom, and the erecting of Chriſts ſcepter; this was good news to the Church, and her Children. Bern was the firſt Town that after the Reformation burnt their images. Zurich followed on an Aſhwenſday, which they obſerve and celebrate every year to this day, with all mirth, playes and paſtimes,Act. & Mon. as an Aſhwedneſday of Gods own making.
Verſ. 9. For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth] Declared now to be ſo with power, as Rom. 1.4. and the World convinced of ſingularr ſottiſhneſſe in fancying other divinities.
Thou art exalted far above all gods] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this World, but alſo in that which is to come, Epheſ. 1.21. Here then we have the ſuperexaltation of Chriſts perſon; and the Apoſtle manifeſtly alludeth to it, Epheſians 4.10. Phil. 2.9.
Verſ. 10. Ye that love the Lord] As having taſted of Chriſts ſweetneſſe, being juſtified by his merit, and ſanctified by his Spirit, 1 Pet. 2.4 1 Cor. 6.11. carried after him with ſtrength of Deſire, Pſal. 42.1. and Delight, Pſal. 73.25. Such as theſe only are Chriſts true ſubjects; others will pretend to him, but they are but Hangbies, unleſſe the love of Chriſt conſtrain them to hate evill, to hate it as Hell,foreign Rom. 12.9. Sin ſeemeth to have its name of Sana to hate (the word here uſed) becauſe it is moſt of all to be hated, as the greateſt evil; as that which ſetteth us furtheſt from God the greateſt good. This none can do but thoſe that love the Lord Chriſt in ſincerity; for all hatred comes from love. A naturall man may be angry with his ſin, as a man is ſometimes with his wife or friend for ſome preſent vexation; but hate it hee cannot; yea he may leave it (for the ill conſequents of ſin) but not loathe it. If he did, he would loathe all, as well as any; for hatred is ever againſt the whole kind of a thing, ſaith Ariſtole.foreign Rhetor. lib. 2…
Verſ. 11. Light is ſown for the Righteous] The Righteous is haeres cruc … the Heir of the Croſſe; and many are his troubles. A Child of light may walk in darkneſſe and have no light, Iſa 50.10. yet Chriſt will not leave him comfortleſſe, Joh. 14. Light is ſown for him; 'tis yet ſeeding-time, and that is uſually wet and dropping; and the ſeed muſt have a time to lye, and then to grow, ere a crop can be expected; there muſt be alſo weeding and clodding. &c. behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it. By ye alſo patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, &c. Jam. 5.7, 8. We look not to ſow and reap in a day, as He ſaith of the Hyperborean people far North, that they ſow ſhortly after the Sun-riſing with them, and reap before the Sun-ſer, ſo: becauſe the whole half year is one continuall day with them.Heresbach d… reruſt. Deliverance will come in Gods good time; and as before the morning-light is the thickeſt darkneſſe; as the ſeed that lyeth longeſt under ground, commeth up at length with greateſt increaſe, ſo here. Semen modicum, ſed me ſſis faecunda, ſaith Aben-Ezra on the Text.
And gladneſſe for the upright] This clauſe expoundeth the former.
Verſ. 12. Rejoyce in the Lord] See Pſal. 32. ult. with the Note.
At the remembrance of his holineſſe] That is, of himſelf; for whatſoever is in God is God; as alſo of his works and benefits, whereby he giveth you ſo good occaſion to remember him.
PSAL. XCVIII.
A Pſalm] The Greek addeth, of David; A man might think it were rather of John Baptiſt pointing out Chriſt, and his Kingdom, as it already come, with the great good thereby accrewing to the Saints.
Verſ. 1. O ſing unto the Lord a new ſong] See Pſal. 96.1. and obſerve how the compiler of the Pſalms hath hereabout ſet together ſundry Pſalms of the ſame ſubject.
His right hand and his holy arm] His is emphatical, and excluſive, q.d. Chriſt alone hath done the deed, he is our ſole Saviour, Iſa. 59.16. & 63.5. In the juſtification of a ſinner, Chriſt and faith are alone, ſaith Luther, Tanquam ſponſus & ſponſa in thalamo. As Wax and Water cannot meet together, ſo neither can Chriſt and any thing elſe in this work. Away then with that devilliſh Doctrin of the Saints Merits,foreign. Ariſtot, in Meteor. Quibuſcun que tandem pigmentis illita obtrudatur. If any commend or go after any other way to Salvation beſides Chriſt, hee doth according to the Greek Proverb, draw miſchiefs to himſelf; as the Wind Caecius doth Clouds.
Verſ. 2. The Lord hath made known his ſalvation] His way of ſaving his people by his Som Chriſt, Mat. 1.21. this Myſtery, ſo long kept ſecret, is now made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith, Rom, 16.25, 26.
His Righteouſneſs] Made ours by imputation; this, the Jews to this day deride, and the Papiſts call it putative, in a jeer.
Verſ. 3. He hath remembred his mercy, and his truth] His Mercy moving him to promiſe, and his Truth binding him to perform, 2 Sam. 7.18, 21. and hence all our happineſs.
Verſ. 4. Make a joyful noyſe] Bleſs God for a Chriſt. The Argives when delivered by the Romans from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, Quae gaudia, quae vociferationes fuerunt? quid florum in Conſulem profuderunt? what great joys expreſſed they? what loud out-crys made they? the very Birds that flew over them fell to the ground,Plut. in Flamin. aſſonied with their noyſes. They Cryer at the Nemean Games was forced to pronounce the word Liberty Iterum que iterum que again, and again.
Verſ. 5. Sing unto the Lord with the Harp] Tum cithararum tum vocum mutuis vicibus; do your utmoſt in the ſuperlativeſt manner you can deviſe.
Verſ. 6. Make a joyful noyſe] By the repeating, and inculcating of this exhortation is intimated our dulneſs, and backwardneſs to a buſineſs of this nature; the neceſſity of the duty, and the excellency of the mercy that can never be ſufficiently celebrated.
Verſ. 7, 8, 9. See the Notes on Pſal. 96.11, 12, 13.
PSAL. XCIX.
VErſ. 1. The Lord reigneth] Even the Lord Chriſt, as Pſal. 97.1.
Let the people tremble] Let them ſerve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling; by the people ſome underſtand the Jews, and by the Earth all other Nations; let there bee a general ſubjection yeelded to the Scepter of his Kingdom.
Verſ. 2. The Lord is great in Zion] In his Church he giveth many great teſtimonies of his power and preſence, and is therefore magnified by his people.
And he is high above all people] In the things wherein they deal proudly he is above them, Exod. 18.11.
Verſ. 3. Let them praiſe thy great and terrible Name] Nomen illud Majeſtativum; Some hereby underſtand the name Jehovah, of which Joſh. 7. What wilt thou do to thy great Name? And Jer. 44. I have ſworn by my great Name. But Gods Name is uſually put for Gods ſelf.
For it is Holy] And therefore to be ſanctified in righteouſneſs, Iſa. 5.16.
Verſ. 4. The Kings ſtrength alſo loveth judgement] i.e. abeſt à Tyrannide. God abuſeth not his Kingly power to Tyranny, but Joyneth it with his Juſtice and Uprightneſe. Regiment without Righteouſneſs is but robbery with authority. The Ara bick hath it, Magnificentia Regis eſt, ut diligat aequitatem.
Verſ. 5. Exalt the Lord our God] Have high apprehenſions of him, and anſwerable expreſſions: Set him up, and ſet him forth to the utmoſt.
And worſhip at his footſtool] i.e. At his Temple, ſaith the Chaldee: At the Ark of the Covenant, ſay the Rabbins, Auſtin interpreteth it of Chriſts humanity; which although of it ſelf, it is not to be adored, becauſe it is a creature, yet as it is received into unity of perſon with the Divinity, and hath a Partner-agency with the God-head according to its meaſure in the works of Redemption and Mediation, 1 Tim. 2.5. it is to be worſhipped. But how hard driven was that ſecond Synod of Ni…e, when they abuſed this Text, among many others, to prove the worſhipping of Images and Pictures?
Verſ. 6. Moſes and Aaron among his Prieſts] or chief Officers, as 1 Chron. 18.17. Moſes was, if not a Prieſt, yet a continual Interceſſor for the people, and a type of Chriſt the great Mediator of his Church. Aben-Ezra calleth him Cohen bacco…ani…, the Prieſt of Prieſts; And Philo writing his life, concludeth, This was the life and death of Moſes the King, the Lawgiver, the prophet, and the chief Prieſt.
And Samuel] A man that could do much with God like wiſe, Jer 15.1. and is therefore (as ſome conceive) called Pethuel, that is, a perſwader of God, Joel. 1.1.Alſted.
Verſ. 7. They kept his teſtimonies] And ſo ſhewed that they called upon God with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, Heb. 10.22.
Verſ. 8. Thou waſt a God, &c.] A ſin pardoning God, Neb. 5….17. So thou waſt to them under the Law, ſo thou wilt be to thoſe under the Goſpel.
Though thou tookeſt, &c.] Though Moſes might no… enter for his unbeleef, and Samuel ſmarted for indulging his ſon….
Verſ. 9. Exalt the Lord] Verſus amaelaus. See Verſ. 5.
PSAL. C.
A Pſalm of prciſe] Suavis & gravis, ſhort and ſweet; appointed likely to be ſung at the Thank-offerings, quando pacifica erant offerende, ſay the Italian, Levit. 7. ….and Spaniſh annotators. See verſ. 4. Enter with Thanks-giving, or with Thank-ſacrifice.
Verſ. 1. All ye lands] Both Jews and Gentiles, Rom. 15.10, 11. for your common ſalvation.
Verſ. 2. Serve the Lord with gladneſs] The Ca…baliſts have a Proverb, The Holy Ghoſt ſingeth not, but out of a glad heart. Cheerfulneſs is much called for in both Teſtaments, God loveth a cheerful ſerver.
Verſ. 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God] Be convinced of it, ye Heathens whoſe fantaſies have forged falſe gods; and ye Jews, acknowledge the true God to be Three in One, and One in Three.
It is he that hath mode us] And new made us; for we are his workmanſhip (a ſecond time) created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works. Eph. 2.10. The word ſignifieth, ſaith Kimchi, Ornate beneficiis, afficere donis, gratiis cumula…e (confer 1 Sam. 12.6.) and ſo is diſtinguiſhed from Bar… to create, and Ja…ſar to form. William of Malmsbury telleth of a certain Emperor of Germany, who coming by chance into a Church on the Sabbath day found there a moſt miſ-ſhapen Prieſt, penè portentum natura, inſomuch as the Emperor much ſcorned and contemned him: But when he heard him read thoſe words in the Service, For it is be… that bath made us, and not we our ſelves; the Emperor checkt his own proud thoughts, and made in quiry into the quality and conditions of the man, and finding, upon examination, that he was a very learned and devout man, he made him Archbiſhop of Collen, which place he diſcharged with much commendations.
We are his people, and the ſheep] See Pſal. 95.7. This is a priviledge proper to the Communion of Saints.
Verſ. 4. Enter into his gates, &c.] As ſheep into his ſheepfolds, frequent his publick Ordinances, wait at the poſts of the gates of Wiſdome; there, as at an heavenly Exchange, the Saints preſent duty, and God confers mercy.
Verſ. 5. For the Lord is good] Though we be evil, he giveth us all theſe good things gra…e; and although we provoke him daily to puniſh us, yet his mercy is everlaſting; like a fountain, it runneth after it hath run; And as the Sun which ſhineth after it hath ſhined. See Zach, 13.1. Job. 1.27.
And his truth endureth to all generations] Heb. to Generation and Generation. He ſaith, not for ever, ſaith an Interpreter, becauſe his promiſes are true, but under a condition, which perhaps the following Generations will not obſerve; The condition is to the promiſe as an Oar in a Boat, or ſtern of a Ship, which turns it another way.