297 lines
22 KiB
XML
297 lines
22 KiB
XML
<div2 id="Ps.xlvii" n="xlvii" next="Ps.xlviii" prev="Ps.xlvi" progress="37.51%" title="Chapter XLVI">
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<h2 id="Ps.xlvii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
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<h3 id="Ps.xlvii-p0.2">PSALM XLVI.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="Ps.xlvii-p1">This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God,
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and his power, and providence, and gracious presence with his
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church in the worst of times, and directs us to give him the glory
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of what he has done for us and what he will do: probably it was
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penned upon occasion of David's victories over the neighbouring
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nations (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.1-2Sam.8.18" parsed="|2Sam|8|1|8|18" passage="2Sa 8:1-18">2 Sam. viii.</scripRef>),
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and the rest which God gave him from all his enemies round about.
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We are here taught, I. To take comfort in God when things look very
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black and threatening, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.1-Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|1|46|5" passage="Ps 46:1-5">ver.
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1-5</scripRef>. II. To mention, to his praise, the great things he
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had wrought for his church against its enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.6-Ps.46.9" parsed="|Ps|46|6|46|9" passage="Ps 46:6-9">ver. 6-9</scripRef>. III. To assure ourselves that God
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who has glorified his own name will glorify it yet again, and to
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comfort ourselves with that, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.10-Ps.46.11" parsed="|Ps|46|10|46|11" passage="Ps 46:10,11">ver.
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10, 11</scripRef>. We may, in singing it, apply it either to our
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spiritual enemies, and be more than conquerors over them, or to the
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public enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world and their
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threatening insults, endeavouring to preserve a holy security and
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serenity of mind when they seem most formidable. It is said of
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Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, he would say,
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Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.</p>
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<scripCom id="Ps.xlvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46" parsed="|Ps|46|0|0|0" passage="Ps 46" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="Ps.xlvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.1-Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|1|46|5" passage="Ps 46:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.46.1-Ps.46.5">
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<h4 id="Ps.xlvii-p1.7">God the Protection of His
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People.</h4>
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<div class="Center" id="Ps.xlvii-p1.8">
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<p id="Ps.xlvii-p2">To the chief musician for the sons of Korah. A song upon
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Alamoth.</p>
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</div>
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<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlvii-p3">1 God <i>is</i> our refuge and strength, a very
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present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear,
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though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried
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into the midst of the sea; 3 <i>Though</i> the waters
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thereof roar <i>and</i> be troubled, <i>though</i> the mountains
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shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 <i>There is</i> a
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river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the
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holy <i>place</i> of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God
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<i>is</i> in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall
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help her, <i>and that</i> right early.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p4">The psalmist here teaches us by his own
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example.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p5">I. To triumph in God, and his relation to
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us and presence with us, especially when we have had some fresh
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experiences of his appearing in our behalf (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.1" parsed="|Ps|46|1|0|0" passage="Ps 46:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>God is our refuge and
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strength;</i> we have found him so, he has engaged to be so, and he
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ever will be so. Are we pursued? God is our refuge to whom we may
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flee, and in whom we may be safe and think ourselves so; secure
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upon good grounds, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.18.10" parsed="|Prov|18|10|0|0" passage="Pr 18:10">Prov. xviii.
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10</scripRef>. Are we oppressed by troubles? Have we work to do and
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enemies to grapple with? God is our strength, to bear us up under
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our burdens, to fit us for all our services and sufferings; he will
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by his grace put strength into us, and on him we may stay
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ourselves. Are we in distress? He is a help, to do all that for us
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which we need, <i>a present help, a help found</i> (so the word
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is), one whom we have found to be so, a help on which we may write
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<i>Probatum est—It is tried,</i> as Christ is called a <i>tried
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stone,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.28.16" parsed="|Isa|28|16|0|0" passage="Isa 28:16">Isa. xxviii.
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16</scripRef>. Or, <i>a help at hand,</i> one that never is to seek
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for, but that is always near. Or, a <i>help sufficient,</i> a help
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accommodated to every case and exigence; whatever it is, he is a
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very present help; we cannot desire a better help, nor shall ever
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find the like in any creature.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p6">II. To triumph over the greatest dangers:
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<i>God is our strength and our help,</i> a God all-sufficient to
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us; <i>therefore will not we fear.</i> Those that with a holy
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reverence fear God need not with any amazement to be afraid of the
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power of hell or earth. <i>If God be for us, who can be against
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us;</i> to do us any harm? It is our duty, it is our privilege, to
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be thus fearless; it is an evidence of a clear conscience, of an
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honest heart, and of a lively faith in God and his providence and
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promise: "<i>We will not fear, though the earth be removed,</i>
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though all our creature-confidences fail us and sink us; nay,
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though that which should support us threaten to swallow us up, as
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the earth did Korah," for whose sons this psalm was penned, and,
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some think, by them; yet while we keep close to God, and have him
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for us, we will not fear, for we have no cause to fear;</p>
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<verse id="Ps.xlvii-p6.1">
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<l class="t1" id="Ps.xlvii-p6.2">——Si fractus illabatur orbis,</l>
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<l class="t1" id="Ps.xlvii-p6.3">Impavidum ferient ruinæ.</l>
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<l class="t1" id="Ps.xlvii-p6.4"/>
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<l class="t1" id="Ps.xlvii-p6.5">—Let Jove's dread arm With thunder rend the spheres,</l>
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<l class="t1" id="Ps.xlvii-p6.6">Beneath the crush of worlds undaunted he appears.</l>
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</verse>
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<attr id="Ps.xlvii-p6.7">—Hor.</attr>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p7">Observe here, 1. How threatening the danger
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is. We will suppose the earth to be removed, and thrown into the
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sea, even the mountains, the strongest and firmest parts of the
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earth, to lie buried in the unfathomed ocean; we will suppose the
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sea to roar and rage, and make a dreadful noise, and its foaming
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billows to insult the shore with so much violence as even to
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<i>shake the mountains,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.3" parsed="|Ps|46|3|0|0" passage="Ps 46:3"><i>v.</i>
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3</scripRef>. Though kingdoms and states be in confusion, embroiled
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in wars, tossed with tumults, and their governments incontinual
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revolution—though their powers combine against the church and
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people of God, aim at no less than their ruin, and go very near to
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gain their point—yet will not we fear, knowing that all these
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troubles will end well for the church. See <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.93.4" parsed="|Ps|93|4|0|0" passage="Ps 93:4">Ps. xciii. 4</scripRef>. If the earth be removed, those
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have reason to fear who have laid up their treasures on earth, and
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set their hearts upon it; but not those who have laid up for
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themselves treasures in heaven, and who expect to be most happy
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when <i>the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burnt
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up.</i> Let those be troubled at the troubling of the waters who
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build their confidence on such a floating foundation, but not those
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who are led to <i>the rock that is higher than they,</i> and find
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firm footing upon that rock. 2. How well-grounded the defiance of
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this danger is, considering how well guarded the church is, and
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that interest which we are concerned for. It is not any private
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particular concern of our own that we are in pain about; no, it is
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the city of God, <i>the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most
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High;</i> it is the ark of God for which our hearts tremble. But,
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when we consider what God has provided for the comfort and safety
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of his church, we shall see reason to have our hearts fixed, and
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set above the fear of evil tidings. Here is, (1.) Joy to the
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church, even in the most melancholy and sorrowful times (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.4" parsed="|Ps|46|4|0|0" passage="Ps 46:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>There is a river the
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streams whereof shall make</i> it <i>glad,</i> even then when the
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waters of the sea roar and threaten it. It alludes to the waters of
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Siloam, which <i>went softly by Jerusalem</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.6-Isa.8.7" parsed="|Isa|8|6|8|7" passage="Isa 8:6,7">Isa. viii. 6, 7</scripRef>): though of no great depth
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or breadth, yet the waters of it were made serviceable to the
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defence of Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.22.10-Isa.22.11" parsed="|Isa|22|10|22|11" passage="Isa 22:10,11">Isa. xxii. 10, 11</scripRef>. But this must be
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understood spiritually; the covenant of grace is the river, the
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promises of which are the streams; or the Spirit of grace is the
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river (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:John.7.38-John.7.39" parsed="|John|7|38|7|39" passage="Joh 7:38,39">John vii. 38,
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39</scripRef>), the comforts of which are <i>the streams, that make
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glad the city of our God.</i> God's word and ordinances are rivers
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and streams with which God makes his saints glad in cloudy and dark
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days. God himself is to his church a place of <i>broad rivers and
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streams,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.21" parsed="|Isa|33|21|0|0" passage="Isa 33:21">Isa. xxxiii.
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21</scripRef>. The streams that make glad the city of God are not
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rapid, but gentle, like those of Siloam. Note, The spiritual
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comforts which are conveyed to the saints by soft and silent
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whispers, and which come not with observation, are sufficient to
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counterbalance the most loud and noisy threatenings of an angry and
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malicious world. (2.) Establishment to the church. Though heaven
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and earth are shaken, yet <i>God is in the midst of her, she shall
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not be moved,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|5|0|0" passage="Ps 46:5"><i>v.</i>
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5</scripRef>. God has assured his church of his special presence
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with her and concern for her; his honour is embarked in her, he has
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set up his tabernacle in her and has undertaken the protection of
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it, and therefore she shall not be moved, that is, [1.] Not
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destroyed, not removed, as the earth may be <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.2" parsed="|Ps|46|2|0|0" passage="Ps 46:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. The church shall survive the
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world, and be in bliss when that is in ruins. It is <i>built upon a
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rock,</i> and the <i>gates of hell shall not prevail against
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it.</i> [2.] Not disturbed, not much moved, with fears of the
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issue. If God be for us, if God be with us, we need not be moved at
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the most violent attempts made against us. (3.) Deliverance to the
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church, though her dangers be very great: <i>God shall help
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her;</i> and who then can hurt her? He shall help her under her
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troubles, that she shall not sink; nay, that the more she is
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afflicted the more she shall multiply. God shall help her out of
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her troubles, <i>and that right early</i>—when the morning
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appears; that is, very speedily, for he is <i>a present help</i>
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(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p7.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.1" parsed="|Ps|46|1|0|0" passage="Ps 46:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and very
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seasonably, when things are brought to the last extremity and when
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the relief will be most welcome. This may be applied by particular
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believers to themselves; if God be in our hearts, in the midst of
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us, by his word dwelling richly in us, we shall be established, we
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shall be helped; let us therefore trust and not be afraid; all is
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well, and will end well.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlvii-p7.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.6-Ps.46.11" parsed="|Ps|46|6|46|11" passage="Ps 46:6-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.46.6-Ps.46.11">
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<h4 id="Ps.xlvii-p7.12">Confidence in God.</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlvii-p8">6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he
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uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xlvii-p8.1">Lord</span> of hosts <i>is</i> with us; the God of
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Jacob <i>is</i> our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works
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of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xlvii-p8.2">Lord</span>, what desolations he
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hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the
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end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in
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sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and
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know that I <i>am</i> God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I
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will be exalted in the earth. 11 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xlvii-p8.3">Lord</span> of hosts <i>is</i> with us; the God of
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Jacob <i>is</i> our refuge. Selah.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p9">These verses give glory to God both as King
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of nations and as King of saints.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p10">I. As King of nations, ruling the world by
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his power and providence, and overruling all the affairs of the
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children of men to his own glory; he does according to his will
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among the inhabitants of the earth, and none may say, <i>What doest
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thou?</i> 1. He checks the rage and breaks the power of the nations
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that oppose him and his interests in the world (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.6" parsed="|Ps|46|6|0|0" passage="Ps 46:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>The heathen raged</i> at
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David's coming to the throne, and at the setting up of the kingdom
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of the Son of David; compare <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.1-Ps.2.2" parsed="|Ps|2|1|2|2" passage="Ps 2:1,2">Ps. ii.
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1, 2</scripRef>. <i>The kingdoms were moved</i> with indignation,
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and rose in a tumultuous furious manner to oppose it; but God
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<i>uttered his voice, spoke to them in his wrath,</i> and they were
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moved in another sense, they were struck into confusion and
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consternation, put into disorder, and all their measures broken;
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the earth itself melted under them, so that they found no firm
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footing; their earthly hearts failed them for fear, and dissolved
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like snow before the sun. Such a melting of the spirits of the
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enemies is described, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.4-Judg.5.5" parsed="|Judg|5|4|5|5" passage="Jdg 5:4,5">Judg. v. 4,
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5</scripRef>; and see <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.25-Luke.21.26" parsed="|Luke|21|25|21|26" passage="Lu 21:25,26">Luke xxi. 25,
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26</scripRef>. 2. When he pleases to draw his sword, and give it
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commission, he can make great havoc among the nations and lay all
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waste (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.8" parsed="|Ps|46|8|0|0" passage="Ps 46:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>):
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<i>Come, behold the works of the Lord;</i> they are to be observed
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(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.66.5" parsed="|Ps|66|5|0|0" passage="Ps 66:5">Ps. lxvi. 5</scripRef>), and to be
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sought out, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.111.2" parsed="|Ps|111|2|0|0" passage="Ps 111:2">Ps. cxi. 2</scripRef>. All
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the operations of Providence must be considered as the works of the
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Lord, and his attributes and purposes must be taken notice of in
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them. Particularly take notice of the <i>desolations he has made in
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the earth,</i> among the enemies of his church, who thought to lay
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the land of Israel desolate. The destruction they designed to bring
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upon the church has been turned upon themselves. War is a tragedy
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which commonly destroys the stage it is acted on; David carried the
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war into the enemies' country; and O what desolations did it make
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there! Cities were burnt, countries laid waste, and armies of men
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cut off and laid in heaps upon heaps. Come and see the effects of
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desolating judgments, and stand in awe of God; say, <i>How terrible
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art thou in thy works!</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.66.3" parsed="|Ps|66|3|0|0" passage="Ps 66:3">Ps. lxvi.
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3</scripRef>. Let all that oppose him see this with terror, and
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expect the same cup of trembling to be put into their hands; let
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all that fear him and trust in him see it with pleasure, and not be
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afraid of the most formidable powers armed against the church. Let
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them gird themselves, but <i>they shall be broken to pieces.</i> 3.
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When he pleases to sheathe his sword, he puts an end to the wars of
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the nations and crowns them with peace, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.9" parsed="|Ps|46|9|0|0" passage="Ps 46:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. War and peace depend on his word
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and will, as much as storms and calms at sea do, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.25 Bible:Ps.107.29" parsed="|Ps|107|25|0|0;|Ps|107|29|0|0" passage="Ps 107:25,29">Ps. cvii. 25, 29</scripRef>. <i>He makes wars to
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cease unto the end of the earth,</i> sometimes in pity to the
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nations, that they may have a breathing-time, when, by long wars
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with each other, they have run themselves out of breadth. Both
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sides perhaps are weary of the war, and willing to let it fall;
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expedients are found out for accommodation; martial princes are
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removed, and peace-makers set in their room; and then the bow is
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broken by consent, the spear cut asunder and turned into a
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pruning-hook, the sword beaten into a ploughshare, and the chariots
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of war are burned, there being no more occasion for them; or,
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rather, it may be meant of what he does, at other times, in favour
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of his own people. He makes those wars to cease that were waged
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against them and designed for their ruin. He breaks the enemies'
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bow that was drawn against them. <i>No weapon formed against Zion
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shall prosper,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.17" parsed="|Isa|54|17|0|0" passage="Isa 54:17">Isa. liv.
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17</scripRef>. The total destruction of Gog and Magog is
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prophetically described by the burning of their weapons of war
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(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p10.12" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.39.9-Ezek.39.10" parsed="|Ezek|39|9|39|10" passage="Eze 39:9,10">Ezek. xxxix. 9, 10</scripRef>),
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which intimates likewise the church's perfect security and
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assurance of lasting peace, which made it needless to lay up those
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weapons of war for their own service. The bringing of a long war to
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a good issue is a work of the Lord, which we ought to behold with
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wonder and thankfulness.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p11">II. As King of saints, and as such we must
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own that <i>great and marvellous are his works,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.15.3" parsed="|Rev|15|3|0|0" passage="Re 15:3">Rev. xv. 3</scripRef>. He does and will do great
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things,</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p12">1. For his own glory (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.10" parsed="|Ps|46|10|0|0" passage="Ps 46:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>Be still, and know that I
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am God.</i> (1.) Let his enemies be still, and threaten no more,
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but know it, to their terror, that he is God, one infinitely above
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them, and that will certainly be too hard for them; let them rage
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no more, for it is all in vain: <i>he that sits in heaven, laughs
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at them;</i> and, in spite of all their impotent malice against his
|
||
name and honour, he will be exalted among the heathen and not
|
||
merely among his own people, he will be exalted in the earth and
|
||
not merely in the church. Men will set up themselves, will have
|
||
their own way and do their own will; but let them know that God
|
||
will be exalted, he will have his way will do his own will, will
|
||
glorify his own name, and <i>wherein they deal proudly he will be
|
||
above them,</i> and make them know that he is so. (2.) Let his own
|
||
people be still; let them be calm and sedate, and tremble no more,
|
||
but know, to their comfort, that the Lord is God, he is God alone,
|
||
and will be exalted above the heathen; let him alone to maintain
|
||
his honour, to fulfil his own counsels and to support his own
|
||
interest in the world. Though we be depressed, yet let us not be
|
||
dejected, for we are sure that God will be exalted, and that may
|
||
satisfy us; he will work for his great name, and then no matter
|
||
what becomes of our little names. When we pray, <i>Father, glorify
|
||
thy name,</i> we ought to exercise faith upon the answer given to
|
||
that prayer when Christ himself prayed it, <i>I have both glorified
|
||
it and I will glorify it yet again.</i> Amen, Lord, so be it.</p>
|
||
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvii-p13">2. For his people's safety and protection.
|
||
He triumphs in the former: <i>I will be exalted;</i> they triumph
|
||
in this, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.7" parsed="|Ps|46|7|0|0" passage="Ps 46:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef> and
|
||
again <scripRef id="Ps.xlvii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.11" parsed="|Ps|46|11|0|0" passage="Ps 46:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. It is
|
||
the burden of the song, "<i>The Lord of hosts is with us;</i> he is
|
||
on our side, he takes our part, is present with us and president
|
||
over us; <i>the God of Jacob is our refuge,</i> to whom we may
|
||
flee, and in whom we may confide and be sure of safety." Let all
|
||
believers triumph in this. (1.) They have the presence of a God of
|
||
power, of all power: <i>The Lord of hosts is with us.</i> God is
|
||
the Lord of hosts, for he has all the creatures which are called
|
||
<i>the hosts of heaven and earth</i> at his beck and command, and
|
||
he makes what use he pleases of them, as the instruments either of
|
||
his justice or of his mercy. This sovereign Lord is with us, sides
|
||
with us, acts with us, and has promised he will never leave us.
|
||
Hosts may be against us, but we need not fear them if the Lord of
|
||
hosts be with us. (2.) They are under the protection of a God in
|
||
covenant, who not only is able to help them, but is engaged in
|
||
honour and faithfulness to help them. He is the God of Jacob, not
|
||
only Jacob the person, but Jacob the people; nay, and of all
|
||
praying people, the spiritual seed of wrestling Jacob; and he is
|
||
our refuge, by whom we are sheltered and in whom we are satisfied,
|
||
who by his providence secures our welfare when without are
|
||
fightings, and who by his grace quiets our minds, and establishes
|
||
them, when within are fears. The Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob,
|
||
has been, is, and will be with us—has been, is and will be our
|
||
refuge: the original includes all; and well may <i>Selah</i> be
|
||
added to it. Mark this, and take the comfort of it, and say, <i>If
|
||
God be for us, who can be against us?</i></p>
|
||
</div></div2> |