Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

PSAL. CXLVII.

This Psalm may seem from v. 2. & 13. to have been compo∣sed by some holy Prophet after the return of Israel from the Babylonish Captivity. It containeth an ample celebra∣tion of Gods praises both for common mercies, and for special favours.

1 PRaise ye the LORD: for it is good a to sing praises unto our God; for it is plea∣sant, and praise is comely.

2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem b: he gathereth together the out-casts c of Israel.

3 He healeth the broken in heart d, and bind∣eth up their † wounds.

4 He telleth the number of the stars e: he calleth them all by their names f.

5 Great is our LORD, and of great power: † his understanding is infinite.

6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he cast∣eth the wicked down to the ground.

7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving: sing praises upon the harp unto our God.

8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

9 He giveth to the beast his food, ‖ and to the young ravens g which cry.

10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man h.

11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy i.

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Zion.

13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates k: he hath blessed thy children within thee.

14 † He maketh peace in thy borders l, and filleth thee with the † finest of the wheat.

15 He sendeth forth his commandment m upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly n.

16 He giveth snow like wool o: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes p.

17 He casteth forth his ice q like morsels: who can stand before his cold r?

18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his † wind s to blow, and the waters flow t.

19 He sheweth † his word u unto Jacob x, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

20 He hath not dealt so with any nation y: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Notes

• Psal 92. 1•…•…
• a

  It is acceptable to God, and greatly comfortable and beneficial to our selves.
• Psal. 33. 1.
• b

  It is the Lords own doing, and not mans.
• Deut. 30. 3.
• c

  Or, the banished, who were carried captives out of their own land, and dispersed in divers strange countries.
• d

  Either with the sence of their sins: or with their sorrows and grievous calamities. He seems to speak peculiarly of the captive Israelites now returned.
• †

  Heb. griess.
• Isa. 40. 26.
• e

  Which no man can do, Gen. 22. 17. For those thou∣sand and twenty five which Astronomers number, are onely such as are most distinctly visible to the eye, and most con∣siderable for their influences.
• f

  This signifies, 1. that he exactly knows them as we do those whom we can call by name; he is able to give distinct names to each of them, be∣cause he accurately understands their several natures and operations: 2. That he hath a Soveraign power over them, as men have over their children or servants or souldiers whom they can call by name, that he appointeth and governeth all their motions and influences to the fulfilling of his own plea∣sure and purposes.
• †

  Heb. of his understanding there is no num∣ber.
• Psal. 146. 9.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 104. 13, •…•…
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 38. 41. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 104. 27, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•… 136. 25.
• ‖

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…5. 15.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Job 38. 4.
• g

  Which he mentions partly because they were most con∣temptible, especially to the Jews, to whom they were un∣clean and forbidden for food: partly because they are greedy and voracious: and partly because they are not onely neglect∣ed by men, but also forsaken by their dams as soon as ever they can flie, and so are wholly left to the care and keeping of Divine providence.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 33. 16. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 7.
• h

  As if he needed either the one or the other for the ac∣complishment of his designs.
• i

  That believingly and patiently expect and seek relief and happiness from God alone, and from his meer grace and mer∣cy, and not from any creature, nor from their own merits.
• k

  Thy strength consists not in thy walls and gates and bars, but in his protection.
• †

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy bor∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• l

  In all thy land, even to its utmost borders, which are most liable to the incursion of enemies.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 132. 15.
• †

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…at of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 16.
• m

  Which is sufficient without any instruments to execute whatsoever pleaseth him, either in works of nature or of pro∣vidence.
• n

  The thing is done without delay or difficulty.
• o

  Not onely in colour and shape and softness, but also in use, keeping the fruits of the earth warm.
• p

  In colour and smalness of parts, as also in its burning quality.
• q

  Either, 1. pieces of ice, which God may be said to cast forth or to cast down, because he sendeth it, and oft-times suddenly: or, 2. great hail-stones, which are of an icy na∣ture and substance, and which are very properly cast forth or cast down out of the clouds, and that like morsels or frag∣ments, the particles being congealed in them.
• r

  The cold which he sometimes sends into the air is so sharp, that it would be intolerable, if men did not defend themselves from it by houses, cloaths, fire, &c.
• †

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. spirit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 40. 7.
• s

  The Southern or some other warm wind sent with com∣mission to dissolve the ice.
• t

  The rivers return to their course which before were bound up by, or turned into, ice.
• †

  Heb. his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• u

  He fully declared his mind and will by revelation and in his word.
• x

  To the children of Iacob or Israel, and to them alone, as it follows.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rom 3. 42.
• y

  He left all others to their own native darkness and blind∣ness, and to those dim discoveries of God and of themselves which they had from the light of Nature.