Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 46:1-11

PSAL. XLVI.

To the master of the musicke, to the sons of Korach, upon Alamoth a song.

GOd will be to us an hopefull shelter and a strength, a helpe in distresses we shall find very great. Therefore we will not feare though the earth change, and though the mountaines be moved into the heart of the seas. Though the waters thereof make a noise, be muddy, though the mountaines quake for the haughtinesse therof Selah. A river, the streames thereof shal make glad the citie of God, the holy, the dwelling places of the most high. God in the mids of it, it shall not be moved, God will helpe it at the looking forth of the morning.

The nations made a noise, the Kingdomes were moved, he gave his voice, the earth melted. Iehovah of hosts is with us, the God of Iakob a high refuge for us Selah. Come on, behold the workes of Iehovah, who putteth wondrous desolations in the earth. He maketh warres to cease unto the utmost end of of the earth, he breaketh the bow and cutteth the speare, the charriots he burneth in fire. Surcease and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Iehovah of hosts is with us, the God of Iakob, a high refuge for us Selah.

Annotations. ON Alamoth] This seemeth to be some musicall instrument, or tune, 1 Chron. 15. 20. [illegible: 1 word] We may call it Uirginals, or Virgin tunes having high and shrill voyces or notes: for Alamoth signifieth also Virgins, Song 1. 2. The originall word Alam signifieth Hid: whereupon the Greeke translateth it here, kruphioon, hidden ones, or hid things. And the Chaldee after mention of the sonnes of Korah, addeth, by their hand was it spoken in prophesie, at what time their father was hidden from them, but they were delivered and said this song. If it be not referred to the musicke, it seemeth rather to intend the hid counsels of God appertaining to his Church in Christ. Vers. 2. we shall find] to wit, an helpe: or in distresses that we shall find; as in Ps. 116. 3. distresse and sorrow I did find; that is, did feele, or fall into. And thus the Greeke saith here, in tribulations that have found us vehemently. Or we may translate it, hee is found, that is, God is present, at hand; as in Gen. 19. 15. thy daughters which are found, that is, which are present. very great] or very mightie, vehement. Vers. 3. though the earth] or, when the earth change, to wit, her place. By the changing of the earth, and removing of the mounts, are often meant the alteration of states and polities, Hag. 2. 22, 23. Revel. 6. 14. Ier. 51. 25. hart of the seas] that is, the middest, or deepest bottomes of them; as the Chaldee expoundeth it, the gulfe of the great sea. The like phrase is in Exod. 15. 8. Io[illegible: 1 letter]. 2. 3. Prov. 23. 34. Vers. 4. be muddy] or cast up mud, that is, rage, or be troubled, as the Greeke translateth it, Waters, are peoples, Rev. 17. 15. Ier. 47. 2. and their restlesse stirre is likened to the seas that cast up mire and dirt, and foame out their own shame, Isa. 57. 20. Iude verse 13. for the haughtinesse] the proud swelling rage and surges. Vers. 5. A river, the streames thereof] or, There is a flood, whose riverets (or streames.) In the earthly Ierusalem this may be meant of the river Kidron, 2 Sam. 15. 23. Iob 18. 1. and the streames or lesser rivers of Gibon and Shiloah, 2 Chron. 32. 4, 30. Isa. 8. 6. In the heavenly Ierusalem, there is a pure river of the water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lambe, Rev. 22. 1. Ezek. 47. 1. &c. See also Ioel 3. 18. Gen. 2. 10. Psal. 65. 10. But as waters sometimes signifieth peoples, so here the Chaldee paraphraseth, peoples as flouds, & the streams of them shal come & make glad the citie of God, and shall pray in the house of the Sanctuary of the Lord, in the tabernacles of the most high. the citie of God] that is, Ierusalem; called also the citie of the great King, Psal. 48. 3. the citie of Iehovah, Isa. 60. 14. the holy citie, Esay 52. 1. Matth. 4. 5 the holy] meaning the holy place Sion, or the Sanctuary there. dwelling places] or habitacles; see Psal. 43. 3. Esay 4. 5. Vers. 6. at the looking forth of the morning] that is, as the Greeke explaineth it, very early, when the morning peereth, or sheweth the face. The like phrase is in Exod. 14. 27. Iudg. 19. 26. and so of the looking forth of the evening, Gen. 24. 63. Deut. 23. 11. Vers. 7. gave his voice] that is, spake aloud, or thundred; See Psal. 18. 14. or, gave with his voice: but the word with or in, seemeth to be superfluous in the Hebrew, as else-where, Ier. 12. 8. Psal. 68. 34. So to seeke in Iehovah, 2 Chron. 34. 26. is to seeke Iehovah, 2. King. 22. 18. The Chaldee referreth it to Gods voice on mount Sinai; whe[illegible: 1 letter] the gave the Law to his people, the nations were troubled, the kingdomes trembled. melted] that is, was dismaied with feare. So Psal. 75. 4. and 107. 26. Exod. 15. 15. Amos 9. 5, 13. Ios. 2. 9. Vers. 10. chariots] or round shields, as both the Greeke and Chaldee Paraphrast here taketh it: but else-where it is not to found, but for wagons very often. Vers. 11. Surcease] or, Leave off: see Psal. 37. 8. The Chaldee expounds it of Surceasing from wars.