Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 120
PSAL. CXX.
A ong of Degrees.
HEre are fifteene Psalmes together thus intituled, Hebr. foreign a Song of Ascentions: whereupon some conjecture, that there were fifteene staires up to the Temple, upon each one of which, one of these Psalms was sung: Some upon the ascent of the people from Babylon; and some, the voice being lifted up on high in singing of them, which seemeth the most probable, because 2 Chron. 20. 19. the same word is used, where it is said, that the Levites lifted up their voice on high in singing. Ainsworth saith, that these Psalmes might be thus intituled for the high and eminent matters Ainsworth.herein set forth, as 1 Chron. 17. 17. there is one called, A man Hamangnalah, a man of high degree, or eminency.
For the Author of the Psalm, Calvin is confident, that it was David, who thus prayed and complained before the Lord being in angered by Saul, and Calvin.suffering much in his good time by evill tongues. Jerom, and August. take it to be meant of Christ, and of Hereticks, by whose tongues he suffered much; Hieron. August.but they will not have the words of Verse 4. Even sharp arrowes of the mighty, and coales of Juniper, or as they render it, Coales making desolate, understood as the threatning of Judgment, but an expression of Efficacy of the word taught by the Apostles, peircing mens hearts, and like most hot fire, burning up corruption there, and making the Heart empty of evill, and rebellious thoughts, of which before it was full; even as a Land full of Inhabitants, they being destroyed, is made desolate. And here Jerom illustrates it by the like, Esa. 6. where one of the Seraphims, with a burning Coale touching the lips of the Prophet, said, This coal hath touched thy lips, thou art purged from thy sinne.
Then Verse 5. where he cryeth out of his dwelling with Mesheck, and the tents of Kedar, he for Mesheck, hath, The time of my Sojourning is prolonged: Expounding it of the faithfull Soul held still in this life, destring that this Tabernacle may be dissolved, as 2 Cor. 5. 1. and Kedar signifying darkness, he understands as a further description of them that sojourn in this world; they are as it were in a land of darkness and misery, amongst those that wander in darkness; yet as the light shineth in darkness, so they by a vertuous life.
And Verse 6. My soul hath long dwelt with them that hate peace, when I speake, they are for war: Unbeleivers, both of the Jews and Gentiles were averse from peace with Beleivers,, insomuch that when they went out preaching peace, as they were bidden, they raised persecution against them. Thus by some all the Psalme is applyed to Christ, and his Church; and some things do not disagree, only those words of that which should be done to an evill tongue, being so plainly spoken by way of threatning, I cannot see how they can be expounded as spoken in way of favour: And therefore I rather take the whole psalme, after the first, and second verses, to consist of threatnings and complaints against Enemies of the truth, that harden themselves in their sins, to persecute the faithfull; they shall one day be peirced with Gods judgments, as with sharp arrows, of which also read Psalm. 45. and suffer by most ardent burning: to shew which, Dives is propounded for an Example, Luke 16. see also Psal. 140. 10. Calvin, and Junius understanding this Psalme according to the Letter of David, thus ill handled by Saul Caluin. Iunius.and the incendiaries about him, will have Verse 4. a discription of the evill tongue, spoken of Verse 3. as if it were meant, that it is like sharp arrows and hot burning coales, or coales of Juniper: But it is plainly an answer to the question moved, Verse 3, which otherwise goes unresolved as hath been before expounded: and Basil and Ainsworth agree hereunto▪ although Ainsworth Basil. Ainsworth.saith also, that the hurt of an evill tongue is here set forth, as Psalm. 64. 4. Prov. 25. 18. yet he expounds it of Judgments upon evill tongued men, noting Psal. 45. 6. Deut. 32. 23. Ezek. 5. 16. and coales of Juniper are spoken of as most durable, because these coales are more ardent then those that come of any other wood, and as some write, may be kept alive under ashes a whole year together; so that the long continuance of the torments of the wicked is hereby set forth, as also Esa 42. 11. Jer. 49. 2. of Mesheck, see Gen. 10. 25 and of Kedar, Gen. 26. 13. Psal. 83. 6. those that came of Mesheck, and Ishmaelites are meant, and by them Israelites of like barbarous qualities: so 28. Ezek. 27. 21.