Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 148
PSAL. CXLVIII.
AFter all the grounds of praise laid, Psal. 146. and 147. now the Psalmist worketh hereupon to stirre up all things to praise God, both in Heaven and Earth, and in the Aire, and Waters, and men of all estates and degrees; and in the same argument the next two Psalmes goe on also to the end, all beginning with Halasujah.
Sunne, and Moone, and Starres of light, vulgar, Starres and light, whereupon Jerom questions what light this may be, which cometh not either Vers. 3.from Sunne, Moone, or Starres, and answereth the Light; that is, when none of them appeare; but because the Sunne being downe, or hid in a Cloud, still giveth some light, and also the Moone, neither is there any other light in heaven. It is therefore to be noted, that Hebr. the words goe thus, Sunne, Moone, and Starres light, that is, being a shining light. But in speaking upon this, that the Lights are bidden to praise God, he saith, that their cause given to them, for being delivered from a necessity of seeing so great abominations in the world, as were daily committed in the time of Heathenish Idolatry, from which by the going out of the word before spoken of, the Nations are now freed; and the Heavens, and heavenly bodies, and other Creatures are called upon to praise God, as intimating hereby, that men alone are not sufficient to praise him as he is worthy, but there had need be a concurrence of Angels, &c. to make a perfect harmony to his glory. If it shall seeme strange, that a man who cometh so farre short of Angels in zeale for Gods glory, should stirre them up to the praising of God, when as without any stirring up they doe it continually, Esa. 6. 6.
Calvin answers well, that he doth only by thus saying, shew his desire to Calvin.consert with them in praising God, which will be fuller, if we take in that said before by Jerom, that he calleth upon them to doe, as thinking all men insufficient to praise him as he is worthy, unlesse Angels come in and doe it also. Because the Sunne, Moone, and Starres are also called upon, we must not thinke that they have understanding, as Plato ascribes to them, but hereby is shewed, that in giving light and influence, for which they were created, they constantly, ever since they were made, give praise to God, and in keeping their course without intermission, to the reproofe of man, who is inordinate in the course of his life; yea, not only the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, but all other Creatures here enumerated doe, as is appointed them to the praise of God, only man for whom they were all made, dishonoureth him, by going from that order which God had prescribed unto him, which should make us, much ashamed, to repent.
Praise him yee Heavens of heavens, yee waters above the heavens; This is spoken because there are more heavens, every wandring starre having his orbe, Vers. 4.or heaven, as the fixed starres have their heaven much higher, above all which, is the empyrean Heaven, the Throne, and Seat of God, called 2 Cor. 12. 12. the third Heaven; the waters above the heavens are the waters spoken of Gen. 1. Then he separated the waters above the firmament from the waters beneath; of which see upon that place. Now they praise God, because to keep there, as he decreed above the Aire, called also heaven, in an hollow vast place, nothing supporting them, tends greatly to the praise of his Almighty power.
Here he proceedeth to inferiour things, beginning with the lowest in the waters beneath, as the Dragons, or great Whales, and then coming to Vers. 7. 8.raine and snow, &c. which are higher, made out of the waters above; Hee addeth, doing his will, to shew, that Clouds cover not the heavens, neither doth it raine, nor the wind blow, but according to the will and appointment of God, that if we have raine according to our desire, to doe us Note. good; or contrariwise, for harme to the fruites of the earth, being hereby corrupted, we may praise God, as the Author for the one, and turne from our sins, fearing before him for the other.
Kings and all people, Princes and Judges; Having stirred up the Creatures, Vers. 11.or speaking by way of exhortation shewed, how they in their kinde praise God; now he cometh to men, beginning with the highest, Kings and Princes, whom he calleth up on three times, to intimate how hardly they are brought to it in their places to glorifie God, being rather by their high dignity puffed up, and having their eyes dazeled by beholding their owne worldly glory. Then young men in the flower of their age are exhorted Vers. 12.to the same, and great need, because they are most prone to follow their owne Lusts; the word foreign signifieth choyce young men, and Virgins, both Sexes being bound alike. Lastly, old men and children, touching whom it is said, Out of the mouth of Babes thou hast perfected praise, and old men must Psal. 8.continue to the end in this duty.
He shall exalt the borne of his people, the praise of all his Saints, the children of Israel, a people neare unto him. Having shewed what great cause there is to Vers. 14.praise God, vers. 13, now he pitcheth in speciall upon that, for which his Israel had greatest cause of all other peoples to praise him; for he exalts their Horne, that is, graceth them singularly, making them for his speciall favours most famous, above even the Saints taken out of other Nations, some here, and some there; for God alwayes had his Church in all Countries, but specially under the New Testament; but to none hath he shewed so much favour in outward respects, as to Israels line, so that they that will speake of Gods most famous gifts, must above all speake of those done towards them, who are said to be neare unto him, because they were so deare above others, and from greatest obscurity raised to greatest dignity.