Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 65:9

9. Thou visitest the earth and waterest it : thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it .

To wit, in Mercy or with thy Favour, as this Word is oft used.

The whole Earth, which is full of thy Bounty. So he continues to declare the general Providence of God, to all Men and People. Or rather the Land, or this Land, for here is an Emphatical Article. And so he comes from God's general Providence, over all Pieces and Nations, to his particular and special Providence, over his People in the Land of [illegible: 1 word], whereof he gives one Eminent and Considerable instance, to wit, his giving them Rain and fruitful Seasons, that after a time of drought and scareity, to which it is not improbably supposed, but this Psalm relates. And this may be the particular occasion, for which the Psalmist said, that Praise [illegible: 1 word] for God in Zion, v. 1.

This is added to determine and explain the former general Word, or to shew how or wherein God visited it.

Either, 1. With the Rivers which God hath made in the several parts of the Earth, to make it moist and fruitful. Although the fertility of the greatest part of the Earth, doth not depend so much upon the Rivers below, as upon the Rains from above. Or, 2. With the River Iordan, which sometimes overflowed its Banks. But that overflow reached onely to a small part of the Land. Or rather, 3. With showers of Rain, which he very significantly calls a River for their plenty, and the River of God, (i. e.) Of God's immediate making and providing when he sees fit; which is opposed both to those little Rivolets or Channels, which Husbandmen or Gardiners cut for the watering of their Grounds and to those greater Rivers, which run with a constant Course, and by their little Channels derived from them, or by their overflows do Water and inrich the Earth, as N[illegible: 1+ letters]lus did Egypt; to which these Words may seem to have a special Reference, especially if they be Compared with Deut. 11. 10, 11, 12, &c.

By this means thou preparest the Earth, for bringing forth Corn, and Ripenest the Corn in the Earth.

For them; To wit, the Inhabitants of the Earth, or Land here mentioned, for their use and Benefit.

Or, disposed or ordered, or prepared it, to wit, the Earth, which without this would be hard and Barren.

Marginal references: Or, after [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] made it to desire Ra[illegible: 1+ letters]n, or tho[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] it.; Psal. 68. 9, 10.