Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 92

PSAL. XCII.

A Psalme, a song for the day of Sabbath.

IT is good to confesse to Iehovah, and to sing Psalme to thy Name, O most high.

To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy faithfulnesse in the nights. Vpon the ten-stringed instrument, and upon the Psaltery, with meditation upon the Harp.

For thou hast rejoyced me, O Iehovah, with thy worke; in the acts of thy hands will I shout. How great are thine acts, Iehovah! very deepe are thy thoughts. A brutish man knoweth not, and an unconstant foole understandeth not this. When wicked men spring up as the grasse, and all that worke iniquitie doe flourish; that they shall be abolished unto perpetuitie. But thou art high for ever, Iehovah. For loe thine enemies, Iehovah; for loe thine enemies shall perish: they shall be scattered, all that worke iniquitie. And my horne shall be exalted as the Vnicornes; mine old age shall be anointed with fresh oile. And mine eye shall behold on mine enviers; of evill doers that rise up against me, mine eares shall heare. The just, he shall spring up as a Palme-tree, as a Cedar in Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of Iehovah, in the courts of our God shall they flourish. Yet shall they sprout in grainesse: they shall be fat and greene. To shew that Iehovah is righteous; my Rocke, and no injurious evill is in him.

Annotations. OF Sabbath] that is, of Cessation, or Resting, to wit, from our owne workes, wills, waies, and words, Exod. 20. 10. Esay 58. 13. Heb. 4. 10. which day was the seventh from the creation, wherein God rested from all his worke, and blessed and sanctified it, and commanded it to be kept holy unto him, Gen. 2. 2, 3. Exod. 20. 8. which was a token of his mercy unto, and sanctification of his people, Nehem. 9. 14. Exod. 31. 13, 14. This day was sanctified by an holy convocation or assembly of the people, Levit. 23. 3. offering of sacrifices, Numb. 28. 9, 10. singing of Psalmes, as this title sheweth, with 2 Chron. 29. 26, 27. reading and expounding the Scriptures, Act. 13. 15. and 15. 21. praying, Act. 16. 13. disputing, conferring, meditating of Gods word and workes, Act. 17. 2. and 18. 4. and doing workes o[illegible: 1 letter] mercy to them that were in need, Matth. 12. 2,—7, 8, 11, 12. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus, An hymne, a song which the first man Adam said for the Sabbath day. Vers. 3. in the nights] see Psal. 134. 1. Vers. 4. with meditation] or meditated song, or upon Higgajon with the harpe. The word signifieth meditation, as Psal. 9. 17. Here some thinke it to be the name of an instrument, or a solemne sound: the Greeke turneth it a song. Vers. 5. with thy worke] which is all done well and perfectly, Gen. 1. 31. and 2. 2, 3. Deut. 32. 4. Vers. 10. shall be scattered] or shall dispart themselves: The Chaldee Paraphrast saith, shall be separated from the congregation of the just in the world to come. Vers. 11. shall be exalted] or, thou wilt exalt as the Vnicornes, therewith to smite mine enemies, as Deut. 33. 17. The horne signifieth kingdome, and strength, and glory: and the Chaldee here translateth it strength. See Psal. 75. 5, 11. Psal. 22. 22. mine old age] so also the Greeke translateth it: or, when I am old. After which seemeth to be understood, shall be anointed (or, as before, shall be exalted) with oile. Oftentimes words are not expressed, which are understood; as is observed on Psal. 69. 11. and 18. 7, 29. Others, for mine old age, doe turne it, I shall be anointed. fresh] or, greene oile. Vers. 12. mine eye shall view] to wit, evill, or destruction, as the Chaldee explaineth, or the reward of my foes. See Psal. 54. 9. and 91. 8. shall heare] the Chaldee addeth, the voice of their breakings. Vers. 13. palme-tree] or date-tree, which groweth not in these cold parts: it is a tree of tall and upright stature, whereto the Scripture hath reference, Song 7. 7. the branches faire and greene, wherwith they made boothes at their solemne feasts, Levit. 23. 40. the fruit pleasant to eat, Song 7. 8. Exod. 15. 27. This tree, though loaden and pressed, yet endureth and prospereth; therefore the branches carried in the hand, or worne in garlands, were signes of victory, Revel. 7. 9. With such graven trees, the walls of Gods house, and other holy things were beautified, 1 King. 6. 29. and 7. 36. figures of the flourishing estate of the godly alwaies, as this Psalme sheweth, with Ezek. 40. 16, 26, 31. and 41. 18, 19, 20. whereas the wickeds prosperitie is momentany as grasse, vers. 8. a Cedar] see the note on Psal. 29. 5. V. 15. sprout] or grow, wexing in stature and fruitfulnesse, through the blessing of God, in whose house they are planted, 1 Cor. 3. 6. Vnto this are all Gods people exhorted, Ephes. 4. 15, 16. Colos. 1. 10. The Chaldee paraphraseth, Yet, as their fathers shall they procreate children. in grainesse] or hoary age, when naturall strength decaieth; God ministreth vigour above nature. See Psal. 71. 9. 18. Esay 65. 22. Heb. 11. 11, 12. Vers. 16. no injurious evill] no manner of injustice, for the Hebrew hath a letter more than ordinarie, to increase the signification, as Psalm. 3. 3. and 125. 3. And this respecteth Moses speech, Deut. 32. 4: where injurious evill is opposed to Gods faithfulnesse in his administration.