O God, thou art terrible, &c.— I would join the words thus; O God, the God of Israel, thou art terrible out of thy holy places. Heaven was his sanctuary of old; his earthly sanctuary was on Sion; he was worthy to be feared, as inhabiting both; and he is represented as going out of them, to take vengeance on the enemies of his people; and as dreadful, on account of the judgments, which from thence, as the places of his dwelling, he executes them. He it is that giveth strength and power unto his people. Though the marks of his displeasure are dreadful to his enemies, yet he gives fortitude and courage unto his people, inspires them with resolution and vigour, and renders them victorious over all who oppose them. Blessed be God! How glorious is the conclusion of this most admirable hymn! David exults in the successful translation of the ark into its fixed habitation; and that he had now his king and his God more immediately present with him, who marched in solemn procession with his ark, to take his future residence in Mount Sion. He describes that procession with pleasure, as accompanied with instrumental and vocal music, and at which the princes of all the tribes of Israel assisted, and which was graced with a choir of virgins exciting the whole assembly to celebrate the praises of the God of Israel. He particularly mentions the tribe of Benjamin as present; a happy circumstance, which he could scarce have expected, as the kingdom was departed from them, and the crown transferred to himself and family; the tribe of Judah, as the most powerful, and those of Naphtali and Zebulun, the farthest distant of all the rest, to shew the perfect unanimity of the whole nation in submitting to him, and acquiescing in Jerusalem as the capital of the kingdom. He devoutly acknowledges God as the author of his own and his people's prosperity; and prays that he would establish and continue it; that the kings of the earth might reverence God's sanctuary in Jerusalem, and there present their offerings before him; that God would restrain the Egyptian king, keep him from all hostile invasions of the city and people of God, and not permit the worshippers of crocodiles, and bulls, and calves, to harass his dominions, or corrupt his subjects; and that he would dissipate in general all who delight in the oppression and cruelties of war. He prays even for the conversion of Egypt to the knowledge and worship of the true God; that Ethiopia might stretch forth her hand in solemn adoration of him, and that all the kingdoms of the earth might celebrate the praises of Jehovah, who rules in the heavens, rides through them in the stormy clouds, and terrifies the nations with the voice of his thunders. He concludes with exhorting this grand assembly to acknowledge the almighty power of God, who was peculiarly the God and king of Israel; who was present in his heavenly and earthly sanctuary, dreadful in the judgments that he executed on his enemies, but the author and establisher of the power and prosperity of his people. On all these accounts, he was worthy to be blessed for evermore. How highly did this tend to promote the firm adherence of the whole assembly to the worship of their God, and to establish their faith and hope in the protection of his power! Dr. Chandler observes, at the close of his excellent comment on this psalm, that the divisions he has made of it seem natural and easy, are pointed out by the subject-matter, and render the whole of it a regular, well-connected, and elegant composition. Without this, or some such method, it appears broken, and its parts independent on each other; the expressions will be many of them unintelligible, and the occasion and propriety of them scarcely discernible. Michaelis has attempted to explain this psalm, but has fallen very short of Dr. Chandler. See the additional volume of his notes to Bishop Lowth's Prelections, p. 139. We shall conclude our critical annotations with a few of Dr. Chandler's remarks upon the whole anthem.
And, first, let us take notice of the great and glorious subject of the hymn. It is the God of the Hebrews, and designed to celebrate his praises, on account of the perfections of his nature, and the operations of his providence. And with what dignity is he described! How high and worthy the character given him; in every respect suitable to his infinite majesty, and the moral rectitude and purity of his nature! How grand are the descriptions of him, as the omnipresent God, inhabiting his sanctuaries both in heaven and earth! as the original, self-existent Being, which his name Jehovah signifies; the tremendous Being, worthy of all adoration and reverence, included in the name of Jah! As the Almighty God, encompassed with thousands and ten thousands of his angels, and innumerable chariots, which stand ready prepared in the armoury of heaven! who rides through the heavens in his majesty: whose voice is in the thunder, who makes the clouds and vapours of heaven subservient to his pleasure, and at whose presence the earth, the heavens dissolve, and the highest hills seem to melt away like wax! Descriptions the most sublime in their nature, and which tend to strike the mind with a holy reverence and awe. And as to his moral character and providential government of the world, he is represented as the righteous God, the hater and punisher of incorrigible wickedness, the father of the fatherless, the judge of the widow, who blesses men with numerous families, breaks the prisoner's chains, and restores him to his liberty; the God and guardian of his people, the great disposer of victory, and giver of national prosperity; the supreme author of every kind of salvation, and as having death under his absolute command, and directing the outgoings of it by his sovereign will. This was the God of the ancient Hebrews. This was the God whom David worshipped, and whom all wise and good men must acknowledge and adore. Nor is there one circumstance or expression in this noble composition, derogatory to the majesty and honour of the Supreme Being, or which can convey a single sentiment to lessen our esteem and veneration for him.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, We have here, in the first place,
1. David's prayer for the dispersion of the enemies of God and his people, and for the comfort and joy of the children of God. It may be considered as prophetical of the Messiah's appearing, Let God incarnate arise, and let his enemies be scattered, the powers of earth or hell which oppose his kingdom in the world: Let them also that hate him, whether men or devils, flee before him, vanquished by his almighty arm; as smoke is driven away, so easily and thoroughly drive them away: as wax melleth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God the Redeemer, when either in present judgments he shall visit them, or in the great day of his appearing and glory, arise to consume them with the brightness of his coming. But let the righteous, those who are accepted in him, and sanctified by his Spirit, be glad when they see his day: let them rejoice before God, in the present joy of his salvation, and in hope of the complete redemption which awaits them, from sin, death, and hell; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice, with exultation proportioned to the greatness of the salvation.
2. He magnifies God as the king of heaven, the self-existent Jehovah. Jesus is this JAH, the self-existent, self-sufficient God, the object of the eternal praises of men and angels, the guardian of his afflicted church and people, raising up families of the faithful among the Gentiles that were solitary and desolate; delivering the bonds-men of sin and Satan from their chains, and bringing them into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; but leaving the rebellious sinners, whether of Jews or Gentiles, or false professors, to perish in the dry land of ignorance, infidelity, and obstinate impenitence.
2nd, God's wondrous works are here recorded to his glory, and for his people's comfort; and they may be considered,
1. In a retrospective sense, as relating to past mercies conferred on the Jewish nation.
2. As a glorious prophesy of the gospel church, under their head Christ Jesus; leading up his faithful people from the bondage of sin, and his oppressed church from the power of antichristian foes; as the captain of their salvation going before them, and by his word and Spirit directing their march through this howling wilderness, the world which lieth in wickedness. At the promulgation of his Gospel the powers of earth were shaken; and before his presence, the hearts of proud sinners, though exalted as mountains in height, flowed down in lowliest abasement. By the plentiful effusion of his Spirit in the ministration of the Gospel, the souls of weary and heavy-laden sinners were refreshed, and, into his church admitted, dwelt with comfort there, where, with such a profusion of goodness, the blessings of pardon, grace, consolation, glory, were prepared for every poor and perishing soul. By his apostles and ministers, divinely commissioned, he gave the word; he qualified them for their work, and accompanied their preaching with demonstration of the Spirit; and multitudes, an army, as the word company may be rendered, readily engaged in the warfare, notwithstanding all the dangers: even women (alluding to the women who sung the victories of their generals) helped in the Gospel. The powers of the heathen, though long persecuting, were vanquished by the word of truth; and their kings, converted, became nursing-fathers, while the church, as a conqueror, divided the spoils, the souls of men rescued from heathenism, and the power of Satan. Long had these lain in the corruption and defilement of their fallen nature, as is the case of every sinner till saved by grace; but now were adorned with the garments of salvation, bright as the silver wings of the dove, and beautiful in holiness as her glowing feathers in the sun. And when the final day of recompence comes, and at the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 16:14-16 all opposing potentates shall finally be overthrown; then white as snow in Salmon shall the faithful shine for ever perfect in holiness.
3rdly, We have,
1. The strength and stability of the church of Christ. High and strong as Bashan, vain are all the efforts of the potentates of earth against it: though they threaten to overwhelm it, God's presence in the midst of her is a sure protection, and for ever he will watch over and preserve the interests of his faithful people.
2. Angelic hosts are her constant guard; the thousands of angels stand around their Lord in shining ranks, ready to obey his high commands, and minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Hebrews 1:14.
3. The Lord is ascended up on high, to take the throne, and guide, govern, and preserve his faithful people; angels, principalities, and powers, being made subject unto him. He hath led captivity captive: like a conqueror, death, hell, and all the powers of darkness, bound in chains, follow his triumphant car: his people are delivered, and shout for victory. He hath received gifts for men, or given gifts unto men, whether ministerial gifts, to qualify them for preaching his Gospel; or the gifts of grace, which he bestows on his people for strength, comfort, and edification: yea, for the rebellious also, such as all men are by nature and practice, till changed by divine grace, and made obedient to the faith; that the Lord God might dwell among them, as a reconciled God in Christ, manifesting his favour and love to those who were once rebel sinners, making them fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the houshold of God. Note; (1.) We can never enough admire and adore the triumphs, grace, and glory of our ascended Saviour. (2.) A pardoned rebel never felt such gratitude to his generous prince, as the pardoned sinner ought to feel towards his gracious lord.
4. He is glorified in the salvation of his faithful ones, for which they ever bless and praise him. He loadeth us with benefits, spiritual and temporal; or, he will bear us up, carry us in his arms, that we may be safe. He is our God, ever interesting himself for the faithful; the God of our salvation, who hath begun, and will perfect it in their behalf; and unto him belong the issues from death; he will preserve the faithful from the deadly devices of their foes, Satan, the world, and sin; will open a door of hope to them in the grave; and, in the resurrection-day, give them victory over death for ever.
5. He will destroy every enemy at last. The head of the old serpent shall be finally bruised, and the obstinately impenitent, who have joined the devil and his angels in their rebellion, shall be thrust down with them into the place of torment.
4thly, Such as were the former deliverances of God's people, such, and more eminent, shall be the salvation and glory of Christ's church.
1. They shall be brought from Bashan, as Israel from the mighty army of Og, victorious over every oppressing and persecuting power, whether pagan, Mahometan, or papal; and shall come up from the depths of their distresses, under the leading of the great Captain of their salvation. Note; However oppressed the cause of Christ may be for a while, the triumphing of his foes is momentary, and their ruin near and terrible.
2. The people of God will celebrate this victory, as of old in the temple the Levites and singers magnified God, on their successes gained by the armies of Israel. They have seen thy goings, O God, how thou, my God and king, goest in the sanctuary, manifesting his presence in his church, and exerting his power for the salvation of his faithful people, and the destruction of their foes. The apostles and preachers, as sweet singers, proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, and all the congregations of true believers, without distinction of sex or station, male and female, princes and subjects, shall unite in the song of praise for Gospel mercies, flowing from the fountain of Israel, the incarnate Saviour. Little Benjamin may have some reference to Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles, who was of that tribe, as Zebulun and Naphtali to the first apostles, who were chiefly of the land of Galilee, where these tribes lay; while the princes of Judah, and their council, may signify the first Gospel churches and their ministers, established at Jerusalem and in the neighbourhood.
3. They will depend on God for the perfecting of his own work in the faithful, and in the world. Thy God hath commanded thy strength; which may be considered as an apostrophe to the Messiah, strengthened for the great work of redemption; or as the encouragement which the Psalmist suggests to the people of God. Since God, their God, hath commanded their strength, they may be assured of an answer to their prayer, Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Note; (1.) All our spiritual strength comes from God: whatever we enjoy, it is by his grace that we are what we are. (2.) If we have experienced the supports of his arm, we must in faith continue to wait upon him, and may be in this way assured he will strengthen us unto the end.
4. They expect to see the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom universally, and the subdual of all his enemies. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem, shall kings bring presents unto thee, becoming converts to the gospel, and joining themselves to the church of Christ; Princes from Egypt, the old enemy of God's people, shall make their submission; and Ethiopia, the most distant realms of the heathen, stretch out their hands unto God in prayer, or as laying hold on Jesus's strength to make peace with him; and those who will not bow to him, must perish. The enemies of God, though strongly armed, furious, and numerous as herds of bulls, and supported by a deluded people, kept like calves in ignorance and stupidity, will be rebuked, till every one submit himself, be made to yield; or rather, as the words may signify, though glorying themselves, or treading proudly, because of their riches, they shall be brought low; and the people who delight in war, have long waged it against the saints, be finally and eternally scattered from the face of the earth.
5thly, The psalm concludes with an exhortation to the church of God to unite heart and voice, as in duty bound, in ascribing glory to God their Redeemer.
1. As ascended to his throne in the heavens, and ruling over all.
2. For the mighty efficacy of his Gospel, sent forth into all lands.
3. For his operations of grace and providence, towards his faithful people. In him is everlasting strength; his excellency, all his glorious perfections, is over Israel, engaged for their comfort and support; and his strength is in the clouds: they are his instruments of vengeance; on them he went up to heaven, with them he shall descend to judgment.
4. For the awful visitations on his enemies. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places; in present strokes of vengeance, and especially as ready to consume the wicked with the brightness of his coming.
5. For the preservation of his Israel. The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people; supports them under all difficulties, strengthens them for their work, and enables the faithful to persevere in their fidelity. Blessed be God: let that Redeemer, whose grace works all for us, and in us, receive the praise of all.