Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 75

1 UNto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee, do we give thanks, for that thy name is near , thy wondrous works declare.

I in my own, and in my Peoples name.

(i. e.) Thy self; or thy Power.

I[illegible: 1+ letters] 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[illegible: 1+ letters]ar off, as once thou didst, Psal. 10. 1.

Wrought on my behalf, and for the good of thy People.

2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly .

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 hath 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[illegible: 1+ letters] 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 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.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]hen I shall take a set [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1+ letters]o Gr.

3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved , I bear up the pillars of it , Selah.

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.

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.

Marginal references: Psal: 60. [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ 3. & 82. 5.

4 I said unto the fools , Deal not foolishly ; and to the wicked, Li[illegible: 1+ letters]t not up the horn .

With Authority and Command; I charged them.

(i. e.) The wicked, as that is explained in the next Clause.

Desist from your impious and injurious Practises, which shall not now go unpunished, as they have done.

Do not carry your selves either, Arrogantly boasting of your own strength, or scornfully and maliciously towards me, or others of God's People.

5 Lift not up your horn on high , speak not with a stiff neck .

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.

To wit, against me and my Government.

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.

6. 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[illegible: 1+ letters]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.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word].

7 But God is the judge , he putteth down one, and setteth up another .

To wit, the righteous Judge, and supreme Lord and Governour of all the Kingdoms of the World, giving them to whomesoever he pleaseth.

It is he who hath rejected Saul and his Family, and put me in his stead? And who art thou that disputest with God, and resistest his declared Will?

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 2. 7.

8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup , and the wine is red , it is full of mixture , and he poureth out of the same : but the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth , shall wring them out , and drink them.

This Verse is added; Either, 1. As a Reason or Confirmation of the assertion, v. 7. and to shew 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.

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.

A Cup in Scripture, is sometimes taken in a good Sence, for God's Blessings, as Psal. 16. 5. and 23. 5. and sometimes, and more frequently in a bad Sence, for Gods Vengeance and Judgments, as Psal. 11. 6. Isa. 51. 22. Ier. 49. 12. Mat. 20. 2[illegible: 1+ letters], &c. And so it is here understood, as the following Words shew

Such as the best Wine of Iudea was, Deut. 32. 14. Prov. 23. 31. and so strong and heady, and intoxic[illegible: 1+ letters]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.

The Wine is mingled not with water, as was usual in those hot Countries, Prov. 9. 5. but with Spices, as Ca[illegible: 1+ letters]t. 8. 2. Or rather, strengthning and intoxicating Ingredients, which Drunkards used, Isa. 5. 21.

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.

The worst and most dreadful part of those Tribulations.

Or, of the Land, to wit, of Canaan, of which he spake v. 3.

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.

9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

To wit, this great and glorious work of God, or the Praises due unto God for it, as the next Words imply.

10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off ; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted .

Their Honour and Power, which they made an Instrument of mischief to oppress good Men. A Metaphor from horned and mischievous Beasts.

When I shall be advanced to the Throne, and have Power and Authority to do what now I can onely desire and pray for.

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.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters]ech. 1. 20. [illegible: 1+ letters]1.