Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Ver. 1. _Bless the Lord, O my soul_] This was much in David's mouth, as _Deo gratias_ was in Austin's. See Psalms 103:1; Psalms 103:22, after which this psalm is fitly set. There he blesseth God... [ Continue Reading ]
Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Ver. 2. _Who coverest thyself with light_] That lovely creature that first shone out of darkness, and is chief among all things sensible, as coming nearest to the unapproachable glory of God; like... [ Continue Reading ]
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Ver. 3. _Who layest the beams of his chambers in the waters_] God, as he hath founded the solid earth upon the fluid waters, Psalms 26:9; so the highest heaven upon those w... [ Continue Reading ]
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Ver. 4. _Who maketh his angels spirits_] Immaterial substances, fit to attend upon the Father of spirits, and with speed to move suddenly and invisibly into most remote parts. _ His ministers a flaming fire_] Seraphims they are called fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 104:5 [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever. Ver. 5. _Who laid the foundations of the earth_] Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases. See Psa 24:2 Job 38:4; Job 38:6. _See Trapp on "_ Psa 24:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Job 38:4 _"_ _See Trapp on... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. Ver. 6. _Thou coverest it with the deep as with a garment_] _Operueras,_ Thou hadst at first covered it, till thou for man's sake hadst made a distinction; for else such a garment would this have been to the... [ Continue Reading ]
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. Ver. 7. _At thy rebuke they fled_] At thy word of command and angry countenance, overawing that raging and ranging creature: so Christ rebuked the winds and waves. _ They hasted away_] They ran away headlong, as for life.... [ Continue Reading ]
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Ver. 8. _They go up by the mountains_] They run any way, in post haste, breaking through thick and thin, and nowhere resting, till embodied in the abyss, their elemental place and station. This... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. Ver. 9. _Thou hast set a bound, &c._] A certain compass and course; an argument of God's singular and sweet power and providence. See Job 38:10,11, _See Trapp on "_ Job 38:10 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Job 38:... [ Continue Reading ]
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, [which] run among the hills. Ver. 10. _He sendeth the springs into the valleys_] God doth this; he by certain issues or vents sendeth forth the waves of the sea (which here and there break out in springs, leaving their saltness behind them), that men and oth... [ Continue Reading ]
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. Ver. 11. _They give drink to every beast_] A great mercy, as we have lately found in these late dry years, 1653, 1654, wherein God hath given us to know the worth of water by the want of it, _Bona sunt a tergo formosis... [ Continue Reading ]
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, [which] sing among the branches. Ver. 12. _By them shall the fowls of the heaven_] _ Assuetae ripis volucres, et fluminis alveo_ (Virg.). _Which sing among the branches_] Most melodiously, many of them; therefore it is reckoned as a jud... [ Continue Reading ]
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. Ver. 13. _He watereth the hills from his chambers_] That is from his clouds, he giveth water to hills and high places, where wells and rivers are not. _ The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works_]... [ Continue Reading ]
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; Ver. 14. _He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle_] He caused it to grow at first, before cattle were created, Genesis 1:11,12. And so he doth still, as the first cause;... [ Continue Reading ]
And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart. Ver. 15. _And wine that maketh glad_] That he may the more cheerfully serve his Maker, his heart being lifted up, as Jehoshaphat's was, in the ways of obedience, Jdg 9:1... [ Continue Reading ]
The trees of the LORD are full [of sap]; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Ver. 16. _The trees of the Lord are fall of sap_] Heb. are satisfied, viz. with moisture, sucked by their roots out of the earth plentifully watered, whereby they are nourished, grow mightily, and serve man for m... [ Continue Reading ]
Where the birds make their nests: [as for] the stork, the fir trees [are] her house. Ver. 17. _Where the birds make their nests_] Each, according to their natural instinct, with wonderful art. _ As for the stork_] That Pietaticultrix, as Petronius calleth her (and her name in Hebrew soundeth as mu... [ Continue Reading ]
The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies. Ver. 18. _The high hills are a refuge_] These wild, but weak, creatures are so wise, as to secure themselves from violence; when pursued they run to their refuges; and should not we to God, for the securing of our com... [ Continue Reading ]
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Ver. 19. _He appointed the moon for seasons_] Most nations reckoned the year by the moon, rather than by the sun. _ The sun knoweth his going down_] As if he were a living and intelligent creature; so justly doth he observe the law... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep [forth]. Ver. 20. _Thou makest darkness_] Which, though it be dreadful, yet is it useful, and in the vicissitude of light and darkness much of God's wisdom and goodness is to be seen. We must see that we turn not t... [ Continue Reading ]
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. Ver. 21. _The young lions roar_] Rousing themselves out of their dens by night, and then usually seizing upon what prey God sendeth them in; for they are at his, and not at their own, finding. _ And seek_] Like as the young raven... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Ver. 22. _They yather themselves toyether_] viz. Into their dens and lurking holes, smitten with fear of light and of men. A sweet providence, but little considered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. Ver. 23. _Man goeth forth unto his work_] His honest employment in his particular place and calling, whether manual or mental; eating his bread in the sweat either of his brow or of his brain. _ Until the evening_] That time of res... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ver. 24. _O Lord, how manifold, &c._] _q.d._ They are so many and so great that I cannot recount or reckon them up, but am even swallowed up of wonderment; all that I can say is, that they are _m... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 104:25 [So is] this great and wide sea, wherein [are] things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. Ver. 25. _So is this great and wide sea_] _Latum manibus, id est sinubus; _ yet not so great and wide as man's heart, wherein is not only that leviathan, some special foul lusts, b... [ Continue Reading ]
There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan, [whom] thou hast made to play therein. Ver. 26. _There go the ships_] The use whereof was first showed by God in Noah's ark, whence afterwards _Audax Iapeti genus,_ Japhet's offspring sailed, and replenished the islands. _ There is that leviathan_] Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give [them] their meat in due season. Ver. 27. _These wait all upon thee_] The great housekeeper of the world, who carvest them out their meet measures of meat, and at fit seasons. Of thee they have it, _per causarum concatenationem._... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Psalms 104:28 _[That] thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good._ Ver. 28. _That thou givest them they gather_] Neither have they the least morsel of meat but what thou castest them by thy providence. _Turcicure imperium quantum quantum est nihil est nisi... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Ver. 29. _Thou hidest thy face_] _i.e._ Thou withdrawest thy favour, thy concurrence, thine influence, they are troubled, or terrified, a cold sweat sitteth upon their limbs, _animam agunt,_... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. Ver. 30. _Thou sendest forth thy spirit_] _Virtutem vivificam._ They are created] Others of the same kind are; and so the face of the earth is renewed, while another generation springeth up. This is matter of... [ Continue Reading ]
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. Ver. 31. _The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever_] Or, Let glory be to the Lord for ever, _sc._ for his great works of creation and conservation. _ The Lord shall rejoice in his works_] As he did at the creation... [ Continue Reading ]
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. Ver. 32. _He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth_] This must be considered, that God may be as well feared as loved and praised. _ He toucheth the hills, and they smoke_] It is, therefore, ill falling into his han... [ Continue Reading ]
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Ver. 33. _I will siny unto the Lord_] Though others be slack to do God this right, to help him to his own, to give him the glory due to his name, yet I will do it, and do it constantly, so long as I hav... [ Continue Reading ]
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Ver. 34. _My meditation of him shall be sweet_] Or, Let it be sweet unto him, let him kindly accept it, though it be mean and worthless, through Christ's odour poured thereinto. _ I will be glad in the Lord_] Withdrawing my heart fro... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. Ver. 35. _Let the sinners be consumed, &c._] Such sinners against their own souls, as when they know God, or might know him by his wonderful works, glorify him not as God... [ Continue Reading ]