Bibelkommentare

« To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. » We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Maschil — i.e. Making wise, or giving instruction; for which purpose this psalm was composed by David (as it is most probable), or some other excellent prophet, for the use of the Church, which is haeres crucis, the heir of the cross, as Luther speaketh; and is here instructed how to carry herself under it, and to get benefit by it.

We have heard with our ears — i.e. We have both heard and heeded it, with utmost attention and affection. It is not a redundancy, but an emphasis that is here used.

Our fathers have told us — According to that they were commanded, Deuteronomy 6:1-10 and elsewhere, to whet good things upon their young children, and to propagate the memory of God’s noble acts to all posterity, Exodus 12:26 ; Exodus 13:14 Joshua 4:6-7 Psalms 78:4 ; Psalms 78:6 . Hear this, saith Basil, and blush, ye fathers, that neglect to teach your children. They made their mouths as it were books, wherein the noble acts of the Lord might be read to his praise, and to the drawing of their children’s hearts unto him.

What work thou didst — All which they faithfully related and carefully recorded, for the use of after ages. Psalms 102:18 , "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord."

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[How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

How thou didst drive out the heathen — i.e. The Canaanites. These God, the great proprietary of all, supplanted, after that they had for a long time grown there as trees, and abounded with all kind of sensual delights, till they had filled the land from one end to the other with their uncleanness, Ezra 9:11 .

How thou didst afflict (or break in pieces) the people, and cast them out — Or, cause them (the Israelites) to spread and propagate (so Mollerus readeth it), as the vine sendeth out her branches.

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For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, … — Men are apt to arrogate to themselves, and say, as Luther hath it, Hoc ego feci. I made this, Sesostris, king of Egypt, when he had conquered any country, was wont to set up pillars, and thereupon to engrave these words, This land I got in possession by my own power, he was afterwards slain by his own servants (Herod. lib. 2).

But thy right hand — Quia per eam praelia et opera facta sunt, saith Kimchi. God is the great doer in all achievements.

And the light of thy countenance — i.e. Illustris praesentia tua qua praeivisti et praeluxisti eis, thy gracious presence and conduct (Junius).

Because thou hadst a favour unto them — Free grace was the fundamental cause of all their felicity. God loved them because he loved them, Deuteronomy 7:7 . He chose them of his love, and then loved them for his choice.

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Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

Thou art my King, O God — Heb. Thou art he, my King; Or, Thou art the same, my King, i.e. the same that thou wast to those of old. Oh, see to thy subjects, as ever thou hast done.

Command deliverances for Jacob — A Mandamus from thee will do it; he spake the word, and it was done. Some read it, Command deliverances, O Jacob; that is, O God of Jacob, as Psalms 24:6 .

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Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

Through thee will we push down our enemies — Cornu petemus, a metaphor from horned creatures, as Deuteronomy 33:17 . This we shall soon do if thou do but only give the word of command; for together with thy word goeth forth a power.

Through thy name — Tuo nomine et numine, auspicio et ductu.

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For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

For I will not trust in my bow — To trust in men or means is the ready road to utter ruin. Idas, one of the Argonauts, is brought in by the poet, bragging that he trusted not in the gods, but in his own arm and arms. αιια ουδε η οφελλει αιιευς τοσον οδατιον περ εμον δορυ .

What need we to fear the Turks (said Sigismund, the young king of Hungary, in his pride and jollity), who need not at all to fear the falling of the heavens, which, if they should fall, yet were we able with our spears and halberds to hold them up for falling upon us? He shortly after this received a notable overthrow. Carnal confidence endeth in confusion.

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But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

But thou hast saved us — Thou hast wrought and fought for us against those that sought to destroy us. Thou hast, and, therefore, thou will for thou art the same, my King, Psalms 44:4 .

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In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

In God we boast all the day long — The Spaniards are said to be great boasters in the very lowest ebb of fortune. A godly man may be, and must be so by a holy gloriation; he must make his boasts of such a King, immortal, invisible, … The three children did so: Our God can deliver us, …

And praise thy name — Thou alone shall have the praise of all our prosperity.

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