Psalms 75

UNto thee, O God, do we I in my own, and in my Peoples name. give thanks, unto thee, do we give thanks, for that thy name (i. e.) Thy self; or thy Power. is near I... present with us, and most ready to help us, when we Cry unto thee, as this Phrase is taken; Psal. 34. 19 and 145. 18. Thou art not departed from us; thou dost not now stand a... ar off, as once thou didst, Psal. 10. 1., thy wondrous works Wrought on my behalf, and for the good of thy People. declare.

When I shall receive the congregation To wit, the whole Congregation, or Body of thy People, to wit, all the Tribes; which are now distracted and disordered by a Civil War, which is a great hinderance to the Administration of Justice. Or, when I shall receive or obtain the appointment, (i. e.) What God has appointed and promised to me, to wit, the full and firm Possession of the Kingdom: Or, the time, or place appointed by God for that work. Some make these and the following passages, the Words of God concerning his Church, or People. Which seems not probable; Partly, because he speaks of God in the third Person, a... one distinct from him that speaks these Words, v. 7, 8. and Partly, because it is Evident, that one and the same Person speaks from hence to the end of the Psalm, and the ninth Verse cannot be spoken by God. I will judge uprightly I will not use my Power Tyrannically and Wickedly, as Saul did, and as most other Princes do; but Holily and Righteously for the good of my People..

The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved Or melted, consumed or destroyed; Partly, by the ill Government of Saul and Ishbosheth, and the great Officers of State and War under them; and Partly, by intestine Divisions and Wars., I bear up the pillars of it Howsoever I am traduced by mine Enemies as the great disturber of the Land, I must do my self this Right to affirm that under God, I do support and Establish it, by maintaining Religion and Justice, and by setting up good Magistrates, and encouraging good Ministers, and good Men, which are indeed the Pillars of a Nation., Selah.

I said With Authority and Command; I charged them. unto the fools (i. e.) The wicked, as that is explained in the next Clause., Deal not foolishly Desist from your impious and injurious Practises, which shall not now go unpunished, as they have done.; and to the wicked, Li... t not up the horn Do not carry your selves either, Arrogantly boasting of your own strength, or scornfully and maliciously towards me, or others of God's People..

Lift not up your horn on high A Metaphor from untamed and Stiff necked oxen, which will not bow their Heads to receive the yoke, but lift up their Heads and Horns to avoid it. Or, against the High, (i. e.) Against God, who is mentioned under this same Title, Psal. 56. 2. though there it be rendred, most High., speak not To wit, against me and my Government. with a stiff neck With Pride and Contempt of my Person, and with Rebellion against God's Will declared concerning my Advancement, of which you are not ignorant See 2 Sam. 3. 17, 18..

For promotion cometh, neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south For though you Envy and oppose my Advancement, because I was but a poor Shepherd, and of a mean Family, yet you ought to know and consider; what is notorious and visible in the World, that the Dignities and Scepters of the World, are not always disposed according to humane Expectations, and Probabilities; but by God's Soveraign Will and Providence, as it follows. It is true, m... n that expect Preferment, have their Eyes fixed upon the great Persons of the World, who are thought to have the Disposition of them in their Hands, and according to their several Inclinations or Interests; some look East-ward, others West-ward, and others South-ward, expecting assistance from some of these Quarters; but all in Vain..

But God is the judge To wit, the righteous Judge, and supreme Lord and Governour of all the Kingdoms of the World, giving them to whomesoever he pleaseth., he putteth down one, and setteth up another It is he who has rejected Saul and his Family, and put me in his stead? And who art thou that disputest with God, and resistest his declared Will?.

For This Verse is added; Either, 1. As a Reason or Confirmation of the assertion, v. 7. and to show that God in removing one King to make way for another, did not proceed in a way of absolute Soveraignty, which yet he might have done, but in a way of Justice and Equity. Or, 2. As another Argument to inforce his Advice given, v. 4, 5. which he had now pressed by one Argument, v. 6, 7. in the hand of the LORD God is here Compared to the Master of a Feast, who then used to distribute Portions of Meats or Drinks, to the several Guests as he thought fit. there is a cup A Cup in Scripture, is sometimes taken in a good Sense, for God's Blessings, as Psal. 16. 5. and 23. 5. and sometimes, and more frequently in a bad Sense, for Gods Vengeance and Judgments, as Psal. 11. 6. Isa. 51. 22. Ier. 49. 12. Mat. 20. 2..., &c. And so it is here understood, as the following Words show, and the wine is red Such as the best Wine of Iudea was, Deut. 32. 14. Prov. 23. 31. and so strong and heady, and intoxic... ing. Or, is Troubled; as the Word more properly signifies, and is rendred by divers. Which may note its Newness, when it is in Fermentation, not yet cleared nor settled, and so more intoxicating. So he expresseth the Power and fierceness of God's wrath and Judgments., it is full of mixture The Wine is mingled not with water, as was usual in those hot Countries, Prov. 9. 5. but with Spices, as Ca... t. 8. 2. Or rather, strengthning and intoxicating Ingredients, which Drunkards used, Isa. 5. 21., and he poureth out of the same To wit, to the Children of men, promiscuously to good and bad. Whereby he removes the Scandal, which his Enemies might take from those Troubles which God saw fit to inflict upon David and his followers.: but the dregs thereof The worst and most dreadful part of those Tribulations. all the wicked of the earth Or, of the Land, to wit, of Canaan, of which he spake v. 3., shall wring them out Which Expression may imply either, that they shall be forced to squeeze out the worst for their own drinking; Or, that this dreadful draught was prepared for them, and brought upon them by their own choice and Wickedness., and drink them.

But I will declare To wit, this great and glorious work of God, or the Praises due unto God for it, as the next Words imply. for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

All the horns of the wicked Their Honour and Power, which they made an Instrument of mischief to oppress good Men. A Metaphor from horned and mischievous Beasts. also will I cut off When I shall be advanced to the Throne, and have Power and Authority to do what now I can only desire and pray for.; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted Good men shall be encouraged and promoted, and intrusted with the management of all publick Affairs, which will be a great Blessing to all my People..