Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 138
PSAL. CXXXVIII.
APsalme of David, wherein he praiseth God for saving him according to his word given him, prophesieth that all Kings shall do the like. And Vers. 4. Vers. 6.from hence he draweth matter of praise, in that though the Lord be most high, yet he respecteth the lowly; and any of his, being in misery, he will not suffer to lye so alwayes, but deliver them; and having begun this good work, he will undoubtedly perfect it.
I will sing unto thee before the Gods: vulg. Before the Angells: and Calvin Vers. 7. 8. Vers. 1. Calvin.acknowledgeth, that the Angells most probably are meant, who are intimated to be in the Congregation of Gods people, 1 Cor. 11. so that in saying before them, he meaneth publickly: yet he saith, it may not unaptly be applyed to Kings and Judges, who are the principall in Congregations; but because in every congregation the Angells are present, but Kings rarely, the first is to be preferred: unlesse we shall say, that Kings heard the word of God, touching his Son Christ, by his Psalmes coming unto them; unto which we may the rather agree, because Verse 4. it is sayd, All the Kings of the Earth shall heare thy words.
Thou hast magnified above all thy name thy word: Vulg. Lat. Thou hast Vers. 2.magnified above all things thy holy name: Calvin, Thou hast magnified above all things thy Name by thy word: And he alleadgeth another reading of some: Thou hast magnified above all things thy Name and thy Word: Which he rejecteth as frigid, and yet concludeth, that the meaning is, thou hast magnified thy name above all things, by making good thy word, thy Promise, because that hereby God hah more Honour then by any thing else. Ainsworth following the first reading, giveth this for the sense; above all the names whereby thou art known, thou hast magnified thy word of Promise, Ainsworth.touching Christ. Junius, Thou magnifiest with all thy name thy word: But Hebr. it is, foreign above: and whereas Calvin hath it, In thy word, In, is understood. Junius.Any other reading the Hebrew may well be brought unto, but I preferre the first: and Ainsworth thereupon, because the words foreign are joyned together, and therefore the first word foreign is not to be taken from foreign as signifying all things, but as conjoined to be rendred, All thy name: as is before done.
All the Kings of the Earth shall praise thee O Lord, when they hear the Vers. 4. Calvin.words of thy mouth: This is by Calvin understood of the Kings then living, to whose eares the fame of Gods promise and performance to David coming, they could not but confesse him to be his praise to be most mighty and just. But because the words of God to David extended to Christ, it is rather to be held, that the meaning is, that the time shall come, when even Kings all over the world shall hear and beleive the word of God, and shall sing in the wayes of the Lord, for great is the Glory of the Lord. Thus also August. Vers. 5. August.who compareth the Earth unto Gedeons floore, and the Jews to his fleece; the dew fell first upon the fleece, and all the floore was dry; so the knowledge of God, and the dew of Heavenly Doctrine was a long time amongst the Jewes only, the Nations of the earth being all dry, and without this Heavenly dew of divine Doctrine; but at length, the floor was wet, and the fleece was dry; The Jews, to whom the Oracles had been committed, were left without the comfort of them, and they were published in all kingdomes of the Earth: Then all Kings of the Earth heard the words of the Lord, and sung as other ordinary Christians In the wayes of the Lord, that is, Righteousness and and Truth, of which they now have comfortable Experience, Great is the Glory of the Lord, not their own Glory; they falling down now in all humility to praise God, for which it is added Verse 5. Although the Lord be high, yet Vers. 6. Hieron.he respecteth the lowly. Jerom, by Kings here, understandeth such, as get the dominion over sin, not Kings properly so called; for Nero did not sing thus, nor Iulian, &c. I confess, that such are indeed sayd to be Kings, He hath made us Kings and Preists to our God; But there is no cause of turning that Rev. 1. 6.which is here said to all the Saints: For although many Kings have been, and are most wicked, yet it is truly said, All the Kings of the Earth, &c. First for their outward profession, to which they should in time be brought. Secondly, because in all parts of the Earth some Kings have been Godly, although generally hardned at the first by infidelity, and of all these Kings this is spoken, not of all without exception. So Esa 49. 23. Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers, and Queens thy nursing Mothers.
Although I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Here David Vers: 7:in his example commendeth to all the humble certain confidence, even when they are most oppressed with misery, and see no way to be brought out; for now especially is the time that God chooseth to work for his greater Glory in delivering his, as Daniell out of the Lions Den, the three Children out of the fiery furnace, and Jonah out of the Whales belly.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Hebr. The Lord will retribute Vers. 8.upon me, or towards me: But it is commonly expounded, will bring to perfection the good work of Deliverance, which he hath begun towards me, as the next words shew, that it must be expounded, Thy mercy endures for ever, forsake not the works of thine own hands: Give it not over til thou hast perfected it. Calvin.Thus also Calvin, who renders it, Retribue, expounds it.