Psalms 145
PATA Psalm. There is no title here but only this, A Psalm; to which the Greeks add of David: who, it is very probable, was the author; or ii he was not, it was made by some holy man, in imitation of what David saith in the ninety-sixth (of many of whose expressions this Psalm consists), upon occasion of some remarkable deliverance, which God had newly granted to Israel, as an earnest of future blessings; especially of the coming of that great blessing, the Lord Christ, to give complete salvation to his people. the mountains, and they shall smoke."] Proceed, O Lord, to perfect my conquest; and now that my enemies aro combined against me, (2 Sam. viii.) let thy majesty appear, as it hath done formerly, (see Psal. xviii. 9.) for my assistance and defence: and as soon as the proudest opposers feel that thou art present, they will vanish away like smoke. Ver. G. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them > shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.] Let them be dispersed by flashes of lightuing in their faces: and so terrified with thunder and hail, that they may not be able to recollect their forces.. David’s Psalm of Praise. After David had obtained those favours of God for himself and for the nation, which he begs in the foregoing Psalm, he composed (according to his promise there, ver. 9.) this admirable Hymn: which is contrived with such art, that it is manifest from thence, he made it when he was much at leisure; and God had given him rest from all his enemies: (2 Sam. vii. 1.) for every verse begins with a new IctteT of the alphabet in order: which are all here, except the letter nun, which is wanting: (ver. 13.) I suppose it was lost when this Psalm came to the hands of the collector of this book; and he would not adventure to supply.it with one of his own inventing. The Greek, indeed (that is, the present Greek copies; for Theodotion, and Aquila, and the ancient LXX. had it not), and Latin, and Arabic (which in effect are but one and the same), have another verse, which we may well think, if it ever wtrc in the Hebrew, began with that letter nun: but it differs so little from the seventeenth verse (when there is no repetition in any other part of the Psalm), that it doth not, in my opinion, look like the true original verse. And it may be doubted, whether there ever was any such verse in that place (where we suppose one wanting), for the Psalmist might be carried (see Psal. xxv.) by the strength of the inspiration, which was upon him, out of the method he had at first proposed to himself. Certain it is, this Psalm was always esteemed so excellent* that the title of the whole book of Psalms is taken from this; which is wholly spent in praising God with such admirable devotion, that the ancient Hebrews were wont to say (as Valentine Schindlcr hath long ago observed), He could not fail tobe a child of the world to come, ivho would say this Psalm three times every day. And for that reason, perhaps, it was composed alphabetically; that so useful a Psalm might be the more easily learnt, and remembered by every body. earth, how excellent thy majesty is; infinitely surpassing the highest of our thoughts: and will never cease to express the delightful sense I have of all thy glorious attributes; whereby thou art made known unto us. Vcr. 2. Every day will I bless thee; and I tvill praise thy name for ever and ever J] This shall be my daily employment; and I will sing joyful hymns in praise of thy glorious perfections, without any end.
Psalms 145:1
U SING unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him victory. O let the new and extraordinary benefits which the Lord hath bestowed upon us, provoke you to sing praises unto him with fresh devotion: for he hath done stupendous things, and, by his almighty goodness alone, and incomparable strength, hath wrought salvation for those who were as unworthy to be helped by him, as they were unable to help themselves. • 1 WILL extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.] I will proclaim to all the world, O my God, the supreme governor of heaven and
Psalms 145:2
The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. The Lord hath declared, by the wonders he hath done, how mighty he is to save and deliver: he made the gentile world apparently sec, that he is the just rewarder of all those who piously obey him; and will not let the wicked escape unpunished.
Psalms 145:3
lie hath remembered his mercy and his truth towards the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. He hath not forgot his ancient covenant with our forefathers: but so faithfully performed what his mere mercy moved him to promise, (Luko i. 54, 55.72.) that all mankind have seen what our gracious God hath done, and partake of his Divine benefits. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.] For the Lord is immensely great, in power and dominion, and all other ways, and therefore to be honoured with our highest, and with our endless praises: but when we have said all w r c can, our best praise of him will be, to confess that his transcendent excellences cannot be comprehended.
Psalms 145:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Let them all therefore shout for joy; let them cry aloud, and with strong and cheerful voices sing hymns of thanks and praise unto the Lord. Ver. 5- Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.] Let nothing be wanting to express your joyful sense of the goodness of the Lord; but let the harp accompany your songs: let the sweet souud of the harp, I say, and the sound of your voices, be mixed together with your psalms. Ver. G. With triunpets, and sound of cornet, make a joyful noise before the Lord the King.] And let the trumpet also and cornet proclaim with a louder sound, the exceeding greatness of your joy; while you shout with triumphant acclamations to him, and acknowledge Uie Lord to be your King. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.] For there are none of thy works, which we see, that we are able to understand; but, though this age transmit its observations to the next,, and that recommend the study of them to posterity, yet still we are ignorant, and cannot praise them enough; no, nor sufficiently declare the prodigious acts of thy miraculous providence, for the preservation of thy people, which shall be perpetually commemorated. Vcr. 5. J will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.’] It shall be my business, in this present age, to speak of the dazzling splendour and beauty of thy majesty; which I want words to express, but appears in thy stupendous works. Ver. G. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness.] Which they that come after shall rehearse; and from the narratives thatl shall make of thy magnificent greatness, declare to their posterity, what dreadful things were done, by thy irresistible power, for the subversion of our enemies.
Psalms 145:7
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the tvorld, and they that dwell therein. Let the noise of his praises be heard like thunder, throughout all the habitable world: both among those that live on the sea, and those that are upon the land. $end thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver we out of great waters, from the hand of strange children.’] Send powerful aid unto me from heaven, (Psal. xviii. 16.) for I rely upon nothing on earth: relieve me in all my straits; and deliver me out of these great and manifold dangers, wherewith I am threatened by a foreign power of idolatrous people, which now invade me: They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.] And with the same diligence shall they continue the constant memory of thy numerous benefits to us: which they shall no more cease to celebrate with their praises, than a spring doth to pour out water; but publish, in their perpetual hymns, how just and faithful thou art to thy word..
Psalms 145:8
Let the’floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Let high, as well as low, applaud their happiness, and join together with one consent/to express, by all the tokens of joy, the singular pleasure and satisfaction they feel in their hearts. Whose mouth speaketh vanity; and their right hand is a. right hand of falsehood.] Who, as they have been wont to brag of rnore than they do, so promise more than they will ever perform: for whatsoever treaties of peace and leagues of friendship I make with them, they break them all; and falsify so shamefully both their words and their oaths, that there is no trust to be given to them, (ver. 11.) The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.] For the Lord (this shall be the subject of their and of my song) is exceeding propensc to do us good; and very indulgent when we do amiss: which makes him that he doth not presently punish, but rather chooses to bestow new and greater benefits upon us, if we repent of our faults. Vcr, 9. Hie Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies arc over all his works.] Nor is his goodness confined unto us; but extends itself in various acts of bounty to all mankind: who need not doubt of his kindness, when they see ho takes so tender a care of all his creatures. Vcr. 10. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.] Who all in their several kinds declare, O Lord, throughout all generations, how great, how wise, how powerful, and provident, thou art; which such as we, who are particularly bound unto thec for special favours bestowed upon us, ought most sensibly to acknowledge with thankful praises.
Psalms 145:9
Before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: ivith righteousness shall he judge the world, and tJie people with equity. Let them meet the Lord with forward affections; who is coming to reform the earth: and will * govern mankind by righteous and merciful laws;.distributing to every man according to his work. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: itpona psaltery, and an instrument often strings, will J sing praises unto thee.] 1 will never prove ungrateful to thee for so great a benefit: but hero solemnly vow to compose, with my best skill, new hymns of thanks unto thee, O God; and with the usual instruments of music sing thy praises, saying,
Psalms 145:10
It is he that giveth salvation to kings; who delivereth David his sewantfrom the hurtful sword. It is not merely by the conduct and valour of our captains and soldiers that we have overcome; but the most powerful kings owe their safety, and their victories, unto the Lord: to whom 1 am more particularly bound; first, for the high honour he hath done for. me, in making me his minister; and now, for this deliverance from these mighty armies, which threaten my destruction, (2 Sam. viii.)
Psalms 145:11
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. Grant my renewed requests, therefore, I beseech thee, (ver. 7, 8.) and send me seasonable relief and deliverance from this foreign invasion of an idolatrous people: who have no faith nor honesty, but shamefully falsify both their words and their oaths; and when they shake hands with others, as if they were their friends, intend thereby to deceive them. They shall speak of the m glory of thy kingdom, vol. ni. and talk of thy power.] It is their duty to discourse of the incomparable wisdom, and goodness, and care, which thou exercisest in the government of the whole world; especially of us: and to recount the memorable acts of thy invincible power among us. Vcr. 12. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.] That all mankind, who regard not such things so much as they ought, may be made sensible how mighty the Lord is: and adore the amazing splendour of his illustrious works; and the admirable order he observes in his government of all things.
Psalms 145:12
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. Let not our country be overrun by such barbarians; but >e so preserved by thee in peace and tranquillity, that our hopeful sons may grow wp like young flourishing trees, till they attain their full strength and stature, and our daughters be tall and beautiful, like those polished pillars, which are the ornaments of a royal palace.
Psalms 145:13
That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets. Our granaries also and storehouses, being as full as they can hold, may afford us all sorts of provision from year to year: and our flocks of sheep bring forth thousands; which may multiply into ten thousands, in their walks. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.] Which as they are all entirely subject to him, so his empire over them is immoveable; and neither ends nor decays: but when earthly kingdoms fail, and arc transferred from one to another, his dominion is still the same throughout all successions. * Ver; 14. TIte Lord npholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.] In which he doth not neglect any of his subjects that depend upon him (as mortal princes too frequently do), but supports and comforts the meanest of them that are oppressed with grievous afflictions; and gives them a seasonable deliverance, when they are in danger to sink and perish under the heavy weight of their burdens.
Psalms 145:14
That our oxen may be strong to labour; tliat there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Our cows also, being great with young, may neither be driven away by the irruption of our enemies, nor cast their calves at home: but we may be free from this and all other causes of crying, or complaining, in our streets.
Psalms 145:15
Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people ivhose God is the Lord. Jlappy is that nation, which is settled in such a prosperous condition! That is, happy is that nation, which truly worships the great Lord of the world; who hath promised (Deut. xxviii.) to bless his faithful servants with these and all other fruits of his love. TJie eyes of ail wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.] He makes a constant provision also for them; which every creature, when their necessities call for supply, daily receive from thee, O Lord, in the proper season for it.
Psalms 145:16
TJiou openest thy hand, and satisjiest the desire of every living thing. And thou art not sparing of thy blessings; but dispensest them with such a bountiful hand, that there are none of them live without satisfactions, but have all their appetites filled, by thy liberality to the smallest of them.
Psalms 145:17
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. And therefore let us not doubt, but thankfully acknowledge, that the Lord is not only just in all the dispensations of his providence to us (though perhaps wc do not apprehend it), but exceeding merciful and kind in every thing that bcfals us. Vcr. 18. TIte Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.] We need do no more but piously commend ourselves to him, and he will take care of us: for he is ready, on all occasions, to relieve every one that addresses himself unto him, with a sincere heart, truly disposed to be faithful to him. Vcr. 10. Tie will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry 9 and tvill save them.] He that satisfies the appetite of all creatures, (vcr. 16.) will not fail, wc may be confident, to gratify in their desires, such religious persons as fear to offend him: but though he let them fall into troubles and straits, in due time will be moved, by their importunate prayers, to send them a seasonable deliverance.
Psalms 145:20
Tlie Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. For since they love him so well, that they had rather suffer any tiling than disobey him; the Lord undoubtedly will preserve them: and dc-