WHY] or, For what? David was the wri∣ter [unspec 1] of this Psalme, (as the Greeke prefix∣eth this title, A Psalme of David:) and he begin∣neth with marvelling at the rage and folly of the Iewes and Gentiles, in persecuting Christ and his Church, Acts 4. 25, &c. And as David himselfe was a figure of Christ in his kingdome, and a father of him according to the flesh: so suffered hee the like opposition at the hands of his owne people, and of the nations round about him, 2 Sam. 2. 10. and 3. 1. and 5. 17. and 10. 6, 7, &c. Tumultu∣ously rage] or, burtle together, conven•• with rage and uprore mutinously. This word is also used in Daniels case; Dan. 6. 6. 11. and after in Psal. 64. 3. The Greeke eph••••axan, whereby the holy Ghost tranflateth it, Act. 4▪ 25. denoteth rage, pride, and fiercenesse, as of horses that neigh and rush into the battell. peoples] or nations: under these names are comprehended the Iewes with the Gentiles, Act. 4. 27, 28. meditate vanitie] mutter a vaine or emptie thing, which shall have no effect. And here the Hebrew changeth the time (as it doth very often otherwhere▪) will meditate▪ noting by such phrase a continuance of the action, as they that did still or usually meditate vaine things. But the holy Ghost in Act. 4. 25. keepeth like time here as before: whose example I follow, according to the proprietie of our tongue. So after in this Psalme and many other. The Hebrew text it selfe sometime doth the like, as Isai. 37. 3••. compared with 2 Kings 19. 33. See the notes on Psal. 18. 7.
Vers. 2. Set themselves] or present themselves, [unspec 2] will stand up, noting a setled purpose in the heart, with a standing up in person to act the same, 1 Chr. 1••. 14. princes] rulers, or pri••••e counsellors, sub∣tile, prudent, and imployed in making decrees, Prov. 8. 15. next therefore in place to Kings, and joyned with them, as here, so in Iudg. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hab. 1. 10. Prov. 31. 4. plot] conspire, or, are founded, that is, have their foundation, plot, or ground-worke laid, as, Exod. 9. 1••. Is••. 44. 28. and this by assembling and consulting, and is therefore inter∣preted, gathered together, Act. 4. 26. So the Chaldee translateth it, consociate (or joyned together) to re∣bell before the Lord, & to fight against his anointed. Christ] or Anointed, in Hebrew, Mashiach or Mes∣sias, which word, though it be generall for the an∣cient Kings, and Priests, and Prophets that were anointed with oile, (Psal. 89. 31. and 105. 15. Isa. 45. 1. Num. 3. 3. 1 King. 19. 16.) yet is it principal∣ly the name of the Sonne of God, our Saviour, Dan. 9. 25, 26. who was knowne in Israel by the name Messias, Ioh. 1. 41. and 4. 25. and among Greekes, by the name Christ; of whom wee that beleeve in his name, are also called Christians, Act. 11. 26. because wee have an Anointing from him that is holy, 1 Ioh. 2. 20. 27. himselfe being first anointed with the Spirit, and with the oile of glad∣nesse above his fellowes, Luke 4. 18. Psal. 45. 8. Of him is this Psalme interpreted by his Apostles, saying; Of a truth, Lord, against thy holy Child Ie∣sus, whom thou anointedst, gathered were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and peoples of Is∣rael, to doe whatsoever thy hand and thy counsell had fore-determined to be done, Act. 4. 27, 28.
Vers. 3. their bands] These were signes of sub∣jection, [unspec 3] Ier. 27. 2, 3. 6, 7. And thus the Kings and nations speake, refusing to serve Christ, though his yoke be easie, Matth. 11. 29, 30. Ier. 5. 5. The He∣brew phrase mo, importeth their bands and his; speaking of the Father and the Sonne jointly, and of the Sonne in speciall: but he that honoureth not the Sonne, honoureth not the Father which sent him, Ioh. 5. 23. So in the verse following, the Lord moc∣keth at them and at him; meaning them all jointly, and each severally. The like manner of speech see in Esay 53. 8. and 44. 15. Lam. 4. 10. Psal. 5. 12. and 11. 7. and 49. 14. and 59. 9. Iob 22. 19. Exod. 15. 15. Deut. 32. 23. 32. 35. 37. cords] or ropes, thicke twisted bands: signes also of subjection and restraint, Iob 39. 13. Ezek. 4. 8. and sometime of love, Hos. 11. 4.
Vers. 4. The Lord] in Hebrew, Adonai; which [unspec 4] in this forme is the peculiar title of God; having the forme plurall, and vowels of Iehovah, mystical∣ly signifying my staies, or my sustainers, my pillars. And where in one place Adonai is used, another speaking of the same thing hath sometime Ieho∣vah: See Psal. 57. 10. with Psal. 108. 4. It com∣meth of Aeden, a hase or pillar which sustaineth any thing. The Chaldee translateth it, the Word of the Lord, that is, the title of Christ, Ioh. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. Our English word Lord hath much like force, being contracted of the old▪ Saxon Laford, or Hlafford, which commeth of Laef, to sustaine, refresh, cherish▪ mocketh] will mock, deride. This implieth both their folly, their punishment for it, and how God will leave them helplesse in their miserie, Psal. 59. 9. Prov. 1. 26. 28. It is spo∣ken of God, after the manner of men, that hee laugheth, mocketh, is angry, and the like, not that he hath such passions as men, but because he doth such things as men use to doe when they are mo∣ved with such passions: and as the Hebrew Do∣ctors say, The law speaketh (of God) according to the language of the sonnes of Adam. See the An∣notations on Gen. 6. 6.