Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 122 – Psalm 125
PSAL. CXXII.
THis Psalme is in the title shewed to be Davids, conceived to be made, when God had shewed him the place where his house should be built; and he had now pitcht a Tabernacle there, and brought the ark into it. For now the tribes came to Ierusalem toworship at festival times, as they had formerly gone to Shiloh. It serves to expresse the affections of the Faithfull to Gods worship and service, it is a joy unto them to see men come chearfully Vers: 1, 2: Vers. 3.together to his house about it.
V. 3. It is a city builded, that is compact together. having spoken of the house of God, which is one name wherby the Church is set forth, now he speaks of a nother, viz. Jerus, where this house stood; & he praisethit from the unity that is therein: unity in the Church being as great a Decorum unto it, as to a building to have the parts made conform to one another: but divisions disgrace & deform her, and therfore we ought to pray that sects and errours being taken away, here may be all good agreement in all things; and if this cannot be, yet in fundamentals, which is the unity most commended, and such an unity, as that particular Churches or persons that herein disagree, can by no means be justified to be members of the holy Catholike Church, at what unity soe-they be amongst themselves; as Papists, who bear themselues to their unity, as an undoubted mark of the true Church: for their unity is no better then that of Simeon and Levi, of Herod, and Pontius Pilate, as long as it is in Superstition, and Persecution of them that oppose, and protest against such Gross Errours: neither doth it make against our Church, although distracted by divers opinions, to prove it no true Church, as long as we agree in all fundamentalls set forth in the Creed of the Apostles. However they are to be noted, that make these divisions, and avoided, as having a black brand upon them; and therefore the ignorant people that are drawn after them are to be admonished hereof and reproved, as bearing a part in these infamous making and deforming divisions.
Thither the Tribes go up to the testimony of Israel: That is, the Arke, Vers. 4.which is so called, Exod. 25. 21. and here the word foreign is used, from whence the Title of the Psalme is derived.
There are set Thrones of Judgment: Not only the service of God being Vers. 5.at Jerusalem made it famous, but also it was the Seat of Davids Kingdome, and famous for that, Generation after Generation, as God had promised him, till the Seed Christ coming, his Kingdome should be made everlasting; Isa. 9. 6.
Jerome understands all of the new Jerusalem, where God shall alwayes be Hieron.praised, and his Tribes shall come up, and twelve Thrones are set for the twelve Apostles to sit upon, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel; because the Church upon Earth is never thus united, but alwayes somewhat blemished by divisions and errours therein; as it is said, There must be errours 1 Cor. 11. 19.amongst you, that the approved may be known: But in the new Jerusalem shall be no blemish by differences, the 144000, that follow Christ, singing Revel. 14.altogethet in a most sweet harmony the same song, and the foure Beasts, setting forth the foure parts of the World, from whence the Saints come, Revel. 4. 9, 10, 11.making all the same confession, wherein myriads of Angels joyne also.
Thus indeed it shall be most perfectly in the Church triumphant, but bere this unity is begun amongst those of the true Church; and that it may be more and more, we are exhorted to pray, Verse 6. Pray for the peace of Vers. 6.Jerusalem: And therefore to indeavour it, one by yeilding to another in humility, where strength of reason is from the word, and not puffed up by Note. pride, each one striving to make good his own conceptions, in matters that be not of any great moment. Finally he concludeth his own resolution, to seek this peace, in respect of his Brethren, amongst whom unity is a most sweet thing; as followeth, Psal. 133. and therefore discord stinketh before Vers. 8, 9.God. 2. In respect of the Lords house, which of all other Buildings, should be most uniform, and hereby glorious.
PSAL. CXXIII.
UNto thee lift I up mine eyes, (O thou that dwellest in the Heavens) Jerome here noteth, how he proceedeth by degrees, in these Songs of Vers. 1. Hieron.degrees; for Psalme 120. he saith, He cryed to the Lord; Psal. 121. He lifted up his eyes to the Hills, where Gods house was; Psal. 122. he went up to his house; now he lifts his eyes up higher, even to the highest Heavens, where God dwelleth. For the comparison used, As the eyes of a Servant Vers. 2.eye towards the hand of his Master, and a Maid to her Mistris: He also saith, it is easie to give a reason why he should say, To the hand of his Master, but why of her Mistris, is not so easie; for although the Lord be our Master, yet how is he a Mistris? Sol. as he is the power of God, and the wisdome of God, in Latine, Potentia & sapientia Dei, in Greek it is a Feminine 1 Cor. 1. 24.likewise; and the Church is a Daughter, or a Maid; and therefore the Christian Soule ought, as an hand-maid, to bow to the hand of her Mistris wisdome, as Christ is called. And what doth he lift up his eyes for, but for mercy; as it followeth, Till he hath mercy upon us. And herein the Prophet teacheth us in prayer to lift up our eyes, that thus we may shew our faith, whence we beleive our help shall come: And for this cause lifting up of hands is also commended, and the voice, in saying Amen. The Public Psal. 134. Nehem. 8.an indeed durst not lift up his eyes, as being ashamed, because he was then labouring to be justified from his sinnes; but David being full of faith, and so justified, lifteth them up, as being by the grace received the more imboldned: one position of body then best becometh the penitentiary, another the justified, and one confirmed in Gods grace.
PSAL. CXXIV.
IF the Lord had not been on our side. Hebr. and Vulgar Latine, In us: Which is yet an higher degree then any hitherto; for it is more to have Vers. 1.the Lord in us, then to lift up our eyes unto him; for now who can be against us to do us hurt? as Rom. 8. 31.
When men rose up against us, they had swallowed us up alive. To what deliverance this is to be referred, is not agreed; some referring it to the deliverance Vers: 2. 3: Basil.from Babylon, some from Antiochus Epiphanes, and some not to any certain, but to deliverances at sundry times, the enmity of men of all Nations about being herein looked at, as they were alwayes infest Enemies to the Iewes, especially in Davids time, who made this Psalme, the Philistims: Calvin.For they often rose up and invaded Israel, but he by the help of God alwayes overcame and routed them. It doth not so well agree to the deliverances before spoken of, because they were long after, as to these in Davids time: and he speaketh not herein as prophesying, but relating a thing done. And the word swallowing up alive, intimateth their power, and Israells weaknesse, after their overthrow under Saul, & all his time after Samuels death; for he that swalloweth a thing, must be much greater; and needeth no weapon to do it withall. Jerom expounds it mystically of our Soules, which men, the evill instruments of the Devill, by their seeking to draw us to sin, are even ready to swallow up, were we not by Gods Grace and spirit preserved: and this danger is especially by hot persecution, as the next words shew; When their wrath waxed hot against us.
The waters had gone over our soule: A Metaphor, whereby he further setteth forth the irresistible power as of a floud of waters; and not only by Vers: 4:force do the wicked seek to carry away the Faithfull, but by subtilty, as followeth, Our Soul is delivered as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler: Not unlike unto that Psal. 91. 3. where by this snare it is shewed, that the Vers. 7.Devills subtill temptations are set forth.
PSAL. CXXV.
THis is another Psalm of Degrees, wherein the Prophet yet ascendeth higher, in speaking of the Faithfull, Psal. 124. he speaketh of God in them; but here he setteth them forth as being in Gods compassing them about so, that no evill can come unto them.
First, He saith, They that trust in God, are like mount Zion, that shall never Vers. 1. Matth. 7be moved: So the Faithfull is built upon a rock, and stands unmoveable what weather soever comes.
Then he likens them them to Jerusalem, about which the mountaines stand, making it inaccessible by enemies.Vers. 2.
Verse 3. The rod of the wicked shall not alwayes be upon the back of the right ous, that the righteous stretch not out their hands to wickednesse: By Rod here Expositors generally understand a Scepter, or Dominion, to which the faithfull are often times subject, and so do suffer greivously, as it is sayd, Psal. 2. 9.When the Righteous are exalted, there is joy, but when the wicked rule, sorrow and heavynesse: And to such they are made subject for their sins, notwithstanding their safe being hitherto spoken of. But their comfort is, that God will put an end to these their sufferings, and so keep them that they shall not, being overcome by the Tediousnesse thereof, fall away from their godly care to serve the Lord; but by Experience finding, that to be thus afflicted was profitable for them, be the more confirmed herein.
Therefore when such gracious promises of safety are made as before, they are to be understood of safety from being moved by Enemies prevailing to cast away their faith and hope in God, and consequently their care of Godliness.
For none either men or Devills shall ever thus prevail against the truly faithfull; but they shall stand firm as mount Zion; and if any being broken Note. by afflictions are overcome, it is a signe that they were Hypocrites: For a true Job, being thus tempted to fall from his righteousness, will say, Shall we receive Good at the hands of God, and not Evill?
Such as turne aside to their crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth Vers. 5.with the Workers of iniquity.
Here he concludeth on the contrary side against Hypocrites, that under a pretence of Godliness are licentious in their lives, being full of deceit and Guile; covertly seeking worldly profit and honour amongst men. Such he threatneth, that God shall lead, awe, as the word signifieth, make them go with the Workers of iniquity, that is, Into Hell, as it is said, Goe Matth. 25.yee cursed into Hell fire, &c. They being all alike before God, both that profess the faith dissemblingly, and that are notorious for their wicked lives. And indeed they are also workers of iniquity, what shew soever they Matth. 7. 22make; and therefore it is just, that they should go altogether to the same place of torment.
To expresse which, the singing Psalm hath it, Such will the Lord scattter abroad, with …ypocrites thrown down to Hell.