Works Volume 4, Book 2 · Psalm 67
The Sixty Seventh PSALM.
TO the chief Muſitian upon Neginoth, a Pſalm, or Song.
Paraphrase. The ſixty ſeventh is a Pſalm of ſupplication and thankſgiving, and was committed to the Praefect of the Muſick, to be ſung to the ſtringed inſtruments. (See note on Pſal. 4. a.)
1. God be merciful unto us and bleſs us, and cauſe his face to ſhine ‖or, with us foreignupon us. Selah.
Paraphrase. 1. The good God of heaven pardon our ſins, ſupply our wants, beſtow his bleſſings both ſpiritual and temporal, behold us with favour and acceptation, and for ever continue them to us.
2. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy †ſalvation foreignſaving health among all nations.
Paraphrase. 2. And this will be a means of propagating the fear, worſhip, and ſervice of the true God to the whole heathen world, when they ſhall ſee and conſider the eminent miraculous acts of thy providence over us, in delivering us from the dangers and diſtreſſes that have been upon us.
3. Let the people *confeſs to foreignpraiſe thee, O God, let all the people ‖confeſs topraiſe thee.
Paraphrase. 3. And this of an univerſal reformation and acknowledgment of the one God of heaven and earth, is a mercy ſo much to be wiſhed for, and deſired by every pious man, (the inlargement of Gods kingdom) that I cannot but give my ſuffrage to it, and moſt affectionately call upon all to joyn in it, and beſeech God to give this grace of his to all the men in the whole world.
4. ‖letO let the nations be glad, and ſing for joy: for thou ſhalt judge the people righteouſly, and †lead or conduct.govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Paraphrase. 4. And for them that are admitted to this honour, of being ruled and directed by God, 'tis matter of infinite joy and exultation, his ſtatutes being ſo admirably good, and agreeable to all our intereſts, and the adminiſtration of his works of providence ſo perfectly wiſe and juſt, that all the world are, in prudence and care of, and love to themſelves, obliged with joy to ſubmit to the erection of his Kingdom in their hearts.
5. Let the people *confeſs to foreignpraiſe thee, O God, let all the people ‖confeſs topraiſe thee.
Paraphrase. 5. 'Twere a happy and bleſſed thing, if all the world would be duly ſenſible of it, and ſo all joyn to acknowledge and worſhip, ſerve and obey, and partake of this mercy of God, and ſo be induced to magnifie his Name for it.
6. †The earth hath yielded her fruit.Then ſhall the earth yield her increaſe, and *God bleſs us, evenGod even our own God ſhall bleſs us.
Paraphrase. 6. His mercies are afforded to all, the rain from heaven, and the fruitful ſeaſons, peculiar acts of his providence, (ſee note on Act. 14.17.) and ſuch as oblige all the moſt heathen men in the world to acknowledge, and bleſs, and give up themſelves to the obedience of the God of heaven. It remains, that we continually pray to the ſame God, who hath expreſt himſelf ſo gratiouſly to us, that he will beſtow his benediction both on us, and on all that he hath ſo richly afforded us.
7. God ‖bleſs us, and let— fear him. See note b.ſhall bleſs us, and all the ends of the earth ſhall fear him.
Paraphrase. 7. And may it thus be, The Lord of heaven crown us with his bleſſings, and may all the moſt barbarous people in the world be brought to the acknowledgment, and worſhip, and uniform obedience, and ſubjection to him.
Annotations on Pſalm LXVII.
foreignV. 4. Govern] foreign from foreign du…cit, ſeems here to ſignifie, in a comprehenſive latitude, all acts of conduct; as of a paſtor toward his ſheep, leading them into their paſtures, guiding and directing men into thoſe courſes which are moſt eminently profitatable for them; of a General toward his Souldiers, marſhalling them, and going before them, and ſo proſpering them in their fight againſt all kinds of enemies; and laſtly of a King, ruling and ordering his ſubjects, and ſo doth God thoſe, that will ſincerely ſubmit to him. All which the word [lead or conduct] may contain under it; and ſo that will be the fitter, becauſe the more literal, and withall more comprehenſive rendring, and to be preferred before that of governing.
foreignV. 6. Shall yeeld] The Hebrew foreign being in the praeter tenſe, is ſo interpreted by the Antients, The LXXII. foreign, the earth hath given or yeelded her fruit; the Chaldee, foreign, the earth hath given; and the Syriack in the ſame words, and ſo the Latine, Terra dedit, and the Arabick, and Aethiopick. And therefore although it be frequent, when the ſenſe requires it, to interpret the Hebrew praeter tenſe in the future; yet the ſenſe not requiring it here, and the Interpreters according in the contrary, there will be no reaſon here to admit of it, but to ſet it, as the Hebrew lies, as an argument to infer the univerſal confeſſing, and acknowledging, and ſerving of God, v. 5. as it is ſet by S. Paul to the heathens, Act. 14.17. And then that which follows, foreign,foreign will be beſt rendered, in form of benediction, God bleſs us, even our God: and ſo the LXXII. read, foreign, (and the Latins, Benedicat) both here, and in the beginning of the next verſe.