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. XCV.

The Author of this Psalm was David, as is affirmed Heb. 4. 7. and although the Psalm be delivered in general terms as an invitation to mankind to yield unto the true God that praise, and worship, and obedience, which he requireth and deserveth, yet it hath a special reference to the days of the Messiah; of which Christians have no great reason to doubt, seeing it is so understood by the Hebrew Do∣ctors themselves, as also by the Apostle, Heb. 3. 7▪ &c. and especially Heb. 4. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. where he not onely expounds it of those times, but proves that it cannot be meant of the former times and state of the Church.

1 O Come, let us a 1.1 sing unto the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us † 1.2 come before his presence b 1.3 with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3 For * 1.4 the LORD is a great God, and a great King above * 1.5 all gods c 1.6.

4 † 1.7 In his hand d 1.8 are the deep places e 1.9 of the earth: ‖ 1.10 the strength of the hills f 1.11 is his also.

5 † 1.12 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry lands.

6 O come, let us worship, and bow down: let us kneel g 1.13 before the LORD our maker.

7 For he is our God h 1.14, and * 1.15 we are the peo∣ple of his pasture i 1.16, and the sheep of his hand k 1.17: * 1.18 to day l 1.19 if ye will hear his voice m 1.20,

8 Harden not your hearts n 1.21, * 1.22 as in the † 1.23 pro∣vocation o 1.24, and as in the day of temptation p 1.25 in the wilderness:

9 When q 1.26 your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw r 1.27 my works s 1.28.

10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation s 1.29, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts t 1.30: and they have not known u 1.31 my ways x 1.32.

11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath y 1.33, † 1.34 that they should not enter into my rest z 1.35.

Notes

• a 1.1

  He speaks to the Israelites, whose backwardness to this work in the times of the Gospel was foreseen by the spirit of God which dictated this Psalm.
• † 1.2

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his face. Isai. 3•…•…. 33.
• b 1.3

  Which he will then afford us in a singular manner in his Son the Messiah, in and by whom he will be visibly present with the Sons of men.
• * 1.4

  Psal. •…•…6. 4. 135. 5.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 86. 8.
• c 1.6

  Above all that are accounted and called Gods, Angels, and Earthly Potentates, and especially the false gods of the Hea∣thens, which upon Christs coming into the World were struck dumb, and could no more deliver their Oracles, as Platarch and other Heathens observed with admiration, nor deceive the World, but were forced to give place to the true God, and to the knowledge and worship of him alone, which was propagated among all Nations by the Gospel.
• † 1.7

  Heb. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• d 1.8

  Under his Government.
• e 1.9

  Those parts which are far out of mens sight and reach, and much more those that are at mens disposal.
• ‖ 1.10

  Or, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the hills 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his.
• f 1.11

  The strongest or highest Mountains are un∣der his feet and at his disposal. The fence of the Verse is, All the parts of the Earth, whether high or low, are subject to his power and providence, and therefore it is not strange if all the Nations of the Earth be brought to the acknowledg∣ment of him, and if the Gentiles receive his Gospel.
• † 1.12

  Heb. whose the sea is.
• g 1.13

  By which expressions he teacheth that even in Gospel times God is to be glorified and worshipped as well with the members of our bodies as with the faculties of our Souls.
• h 1.14

  In a peculiar manner; and therefore it will be most un∣reasonable and abominable for us to forsake him when the Gentiles submit to his law.
• * 1.15

  Psal. •…•…9. 1•…•… & 80. 1. & 10•…•… 3.
• i 1.16

  Whom he feedeth and keep∣eth in his own proper Pasture, or in the land which he hath appropriated to himself.
• k 1.17

  Which are under his special care and conduct or government, which is oft expressed by the hand, as Numb. 4. 28. and 31. 49. Judg. 9. 29.
• * 1.18

  Heb. 3. 7. 4. 7.
• l 1.19

  i. e. Forth∣with or presently, as this word is used Deut. 4. 4, 8. and 27. 9. Ios. 22. 16, 18, &c. Or this day, in this solemn day of grace or of the Gospel, which the Psalmist speaks of as pre∣sent according to the manner of the Prophets. And this word though belonging to the following clause, as appears from Heb. 3. 7. may seem to be thus placed to shew that it had some respect to the foregoing words also. For the sence of the place may be this. We (Jews) are or shall be the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand, God will still own us for his people this day, i. e. in the days of the Messiah, if this day or in that time we shall hear his voice. Otherwise God will reject us and receive the Gentiles in our stead.
• m 1.20

  If you will hearken to his call and obey his further commands. Which may be added as a necessary caution and admonition to the Israelites, that they might understand and consider that Gods presence and favour was not absolutely, necessarily, and ever∣lastingly fixed to them, as they were very apt to believe, but was suspended upon the condition of their continued obedi∣ence, which if they violated they should be rejected, and the Gentiles performing it should be received to his mercy. And this clause may be connected either 1. with the former words, as the condition of their interest in God as their God, as was now said. Or 2. with the following Verse, If you are willing to hearken to Gods call delivered by his Son, take the following counsel.
• n 1.21

  By wilful disobedience and obstinate unbelief rebelling against the light, and resisting the Holy Ghost and his clear discoveries of the truth of the Gospel.
• * 1.22

  Exod. 17. 2▪ 7. Numb. 14. 2•…•… & 20. 13. Deut. 6. 16.
• † 1.23

  Heb. con•…•… tion.
• o 1.24

  As you did in that hold and wicked contest with God in the Wilderness. Or, As in Meribah, which was the proper name of the place where that happened, and which also was called Massah, as is evi∣dent from Exod. 17. 7. and Deut. 33. 8.
• p 1.25

  In the day in which you tempted me. Or, as in the day of Massah, i. e. when you were at Massah.
• q 1.26

  Or, In which place. Which may belong either to Meri∣bah and Massah; or to the Wilderness last mentioned. Or, Surely, as this word is oft used in Scripture, as hath been ob∣served once and again.
• r 1.27

  Or, Although or After that they saw or had seen. Which is added as a just and great aggravation of their unbelief after such a sensible and evident experience of Gods power and goodness to them.
• s 1.28

  Both my works of mercy which gave them abundant cause to trust me; and my works of justice, for which they had reason to fear and please me. Heb. my work, to wit, that great and stupendous work of bringing my people out of Egypt with a strong hand, and of conducting them safely through the Red Sea into the Wil∣derness, and of destroying the Egyptians. For not many more of Gods great works were done before they came to Meribah.
• s 1.29

  Or rather, with that generation which then lived, who were your Ancestors.
• t 1.30

  They do not onely sin through in∣firmity and the violence and surprizal of temptations, but their hearts are unsincere and inconstant, and given to back∣sliding, and therefore there is no hopes of their amendment. Compare Psal. 78. 8.
• u 1.31

  Or, they do not know, to wit, with a practical and useful knowledge, as that word commonly notes in Scripture. They did not rightly understand nor du∣ly consider, nor seriously lay to heart. They remain igno∣rant after all my teachings and discoveries of my self to them.
• x 1.32

  Either 1. my laws or statutes, which are frequently called Gods ways. Or rather 2. my works, as it is expressed, v. 9. which also are commonly so called. They did not know, nor consider and remember, those great things which I had wrought for them and among them.
• y 1.33

  Being full of just wrath against them I passed an irrever∣sible sentence and confirmed it by an Oath; of which we read Numb. 14.
• † 1.34

  〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ if they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• z 1.35

  Into the promised land, which is called the rest, Deut. 12. 9. See also 1 Chron. 23, 25. Psal. 132. 14. And this History the Psalmist propounds to the men of his Age, not as a matter of meer speculation, but as an instructi∣on for all after Ages, and particularly for those Israelites who should live in the times of the Messias, that they should take heed of falling after the same example of unbelief, as the Apostle insers from this place, Heb. 4. 11.