Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 127 – Psalm 129
PSAL. CXXVII.
THis is the eighth Psalme of Degrees, compiled by Solomon, as the title sheweth, although the Hebrews say, it was made for Solomon to considet. But it is usuall in sayings Psalms of David, to say foreign as here it is, foreign the letter foreign signifying as well Of, as To, And it is most probable, as Ierom saith, that he made it, when he went about that great work of building the Temple, acknowledging, that he should attempt it in vain without Hieron. Vers. 1.God. And it extendeth to the building of any house, or houses; by building the house and watching the City, all other works also, to which men put their hands, being meant: And not only material, buildings, and watching of Cities or Townes by watchmen, that hold weapons in their hands; but because the Temple figured out the Church of Christ, and this is also called a City set upon an Hill, it is spoken also of Spirituall builders and watchmen, as Pastors be called, 1 Cor 9. Heb 13. 17. They labour in vain, except the Lord work with them, as 1 Cor. 3. it is said, That Paul and Apollo are nothing.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit late, to cate the bread of sorrowes, Vers. 2.for so he giveth his beloved sleep: This is spoken to worldlings, that are covetoufly carryed after the things of this life; they use all means to increase their Estate, rising up early to work, and continuing long at it in the night, and using a most sparing and course dyet, that they may purse up the more. For it is called the bread of sorrowes, both because it is gotten with hard and continuall Labour, as the covetous man is grieved, that he must spend any thing upon his Belly, and his Families, and that time must be spent this way to interrupt his work. So he giveth his beloved rest, or sleep: that is When the worldling is toyling thus, and distracted through anxious cares, the faithfull hath that quietly coming in, which is sufficient for him, not breaking his sleep therefore, Gods blessing giving him it: Or as the one toyleth and pincheth unreasonbly, denying even sleep to his weary Body, which is necessary for it, so the other hath the grace given him of god to take his necessary rest, having yet no want of these worldly things, becau… God supplyeth him by his blessing: to express which Calvin thinks it may be read, he giveth Calvin.his Beloved things Per somnum, whilst he sleepeth, which is not yet spoken by way of indulgence towards those that li…e in idleness, and work little, but sleep or go about idlely, or stand here and there, when they should be at their work; but to taxe such Worldings as place all prosperity in their own industry, never looking up to God, or his Blessing, labouring unreasonably, and unseasonably for the world, as in all increase by herein; and to comfort the Godly Labourer, by shewing, that although he doth not as the other, but prayes, reads, & meditates more, taking pains seasonably and moderately in respect of the time for his living here, yet he shal in thus doing have that given him by Gods blessing, which shal be sufficient for him. For even the Author or this Psalme in his Proverbs doth often reprove, and threaten the idle, and stir up to diligence in the works of our calling, so that upon this Ground no man may go from labouring in his Calling, in hope to have it given him, as the superstitious Fryers amongst the Papists: neither may he, being poor, and having Wife and Children, spend a great part of his time in going to hear, although that be food which endureth to eternall life. For such must work upon the six dayes, as is commanded and work with their hands, that they may have to give to the necessities of others wife and Children, and according as Gods blessing is upon them, to the poor. Verse 3. Lo Eph. 4. 28. Vers. 3.Children are an heritage from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward: From building, watching the City, and labouring, he proceedeth to the getting of Children, wherein men may haply think, that they only are the agents; but contrariwise he sheweth, that in this is Gods hand also; as he builds the house by men, so by men and women he grueth this blessing when he pleaseth, and not according to the good pleasure of his own will; from whence it is, that some as strong and likely in Nature to be fruitfull, are barren: Therefore even herein also God is to be looked at by them that have Children, and to be praised: The poor, that hath no inheritance of house or land, comes thus to have an inheritance, & a reward or benefit from God. For which, that they may be the more stirred up to thankfullnesse, be addeth, as arrowes are in the hands of the mighty, so are Children of youth, Vers. 4.that is, good Children, and obedient to parents For even Aristotle questioning, whether foreign be a blessing, unlesse it be foreign, answereth, that Calvin.it is better to be without Children, then not to have Good Children; but when it is foreign, Blessed is the man that hath his quiver full of them. The Vers. 5.words are indeed, Young Sonnes, that is, being growen to the strength of youth, because they are by their Goodness and courage, as it were, a Guard unto him against Enemies that shall seek to presse in upon him at his door; as they did in Sodom upon Lot, for which it is added, He shall not be ashamed Vers. 6.when he speaketh with his enemy in the Gate. And he brings in this of Children, because poor men, that are full of Children, are ready to be full of Care, and think they had need toil Night and day to keep them: Against this it is opposed, They are an heritage from the Lord, &c. and God will doubtlesse Note. have a care of his own heritage, for which cause parents should labour by prayer, and Education, to make their Children such, and then not distract themselves with caring to provide portions for them. Thus for them that have Children: but they on the other side that have none, are naked as it were, and destitute of armes, and means to continue long; for they shall shortly dye, and then when as others live still in their Children, their life and memory is quite gone. Against this the Lord tells us of a name better then that of Sons and Daughters, and of a name written in Heaven, and of a white stone with a new name written in it: And of children also in the spirit, Esa. 56. 5. Luk. 10. 20. Revel. 2. 17. Gal. 4. 19. 1 Cor. 4, 15.according to which Saint John sayth often, My little Children; and Saint Paul, My little Children, of whom I travell again in birth, &c. and again, I have begotten y…. And who converteth others, hath Children thus, wherein far great… comfort lyeth; and to such spirituall Children begotten by the Gospell, Jerom referreth all this, making Christ the Gate, or Doore, in which he shall not fear his Enemy.
PSAL. CXXVIII.
THis Ps. as Bas. noteth, begins where the former ended, for there he is pronounced Basil.blessed, that is ful of children, blessed is the man that hath his quiver ful of them; Here, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and walketh in his ways &c. thy Wife shal be as fruitfull trees, thy children as olive branches round Vers. 1. Vers. 3.about thy table: Least any man should think blessednesse to consist meerly in having Children, the fruit of the womb, the fear of God, and walking in his wayes, are premised, as the foundation of all blessing, according to Deut. 28. And although such as feared God, commonly were herein blessed, that they had numerous of-springs under the old testament, yet under the new it is not so; for now is the time, that some make themselves Eunuchs, or chast for the Kingdome of Heaven, and many that are married go without Children, and yet have a better name in Gods house, then they that have Sonnes Matth. 19. 12. Hieron.and Daughters, as was before said out of Esa. 56. 5. Now the Wife that is as the fruitfull vine, saith Jerom, as wisdome so much by Solomon commended, is wisdome; and the Children, good works coming from an heart that feareth God; for these are the fruits of which Christ saith, Herein is my Father glorified, that yee bring forth much fruit: and the Childrens Children, which Ioh. 15.he saith they shall see, are the rewards bestowed upon them that do good, in heaven, according to that, Give thy almes in secret, and thy Father that seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. And thou shalt see Peace upon Israel, when, all Enemies being subdued, the Faithfull shall live in peace and rest for Matth. 6.ever.
Here nothing hath been omitted throughout the Psalme, but only Verse 2. Thou shalt eat the fruit of thy labour, or the labour of thy hands; for it is threatned as a curse, Strangers devour your land. Esa 1. 7. and thou shalt plant a vneyard, and others shall eat the fruit thereof: But to eat of that for Deut. 28. 30.which a man laboureth, is a blessing, Eccl. 2. 24.
PSAL. CXXIX.
THis Psalme is not amisse placed after the former, wherein the blessednesse of them that feare God was set forth, and their blessing in this, that they should eat the labour of their hands, and their Posterity should be increased, and they should live long to see their Childrens Children. Now on the contrary side he sheweth, that the evill attempts of wicked Enemies shall be frustrated, how often soever they fight against the Righteous.
Often have they afflicted me from my youth, now may Israel say, but they have not prevailed against me.
The Plower have plowed, &c. The Lord hath cut asunder the cord of the Vers. 3. Vers. 4.wicked: And that their labours shall come to nothing, but be as the Grasse upon the house-top, which groweth a little, and withereth again, no man having benefit thereby, and therefore no man blessing them; whereas they that feare God, are seen and acknowledged to be abundantly blessed by all men. For plowing long surrowes upon our backs, this is a metaphoricall speech, wherein the faithfull are likened unto Ground, and the wicked fighting Calvin.against and persecuting them, to Plow-men, tearing them in all parts most cruelly: But as the Plow-man can plow no more, when his Harnis, whereby he draweth the Plow, is cut in sunder; so the just God cuts their cords a sunder, breaks their power, so that they are not finally able to hurt the faithfull any more. Then he setteth forth the same again, by another similitude of Grasse upon the house-top, which groweth green indeed, and high; so they seem flourishing, and in their pride boast and brag of great matters, but they are soon brought down, and the Posterity promised to themselves, vanisheth.