PSAL. XX.
THIS Psalme is by Calvin expounded of David, as if the prayers con∣tained * 1.1 Verse 1, 2, 3, 4. Were made by the Church, or prescribed to be made for him, and the exultation, Verse 6, 7. &c. Were in ful assurance of being heard, and that he should in all his devotions be accepted of and be established, when all his enemies should fal; thus also some others, but Augustine understands it as a prophesie touching Christ, whom God * 1.2 heard, and was so well pleased with and exalted, wherein the Church triumphed, crying down his and his Churches enemies, but making accla∣mations to him and her as highly exalted; and this is also followed by Ainsworth, yet not so as to exclude the other, which is first to be received as the proper and literal sense, and then it may be allegorically applyed, as hath been said.
The Lord heare thee in the day of tribulation, the name of the God of Ja∣cob * 1.3 protect thee. According to the first sense, the Church of the Jews here pray for David, whose tribulations were many, that he might well come out of them all; by the name of the God of Jacob is meant his power, for his name is a strong Tower to all that flee unto him, Prov 18. 10. And God is set forth with this addition, in alluding to Jacobs words, Gen. 35. 3. I will make an Alter to God, who heard me in the day of my tribulation. And God stiles himselfe the God of Abraham, Isaack, and Jacob, for ever, Exod. 3. 15. According to the mystery David hereby prophesieth of Christs being heard by the Father, when in his great tribulations he cal∣led unto him, as is shewed, Heb. 5. 7.
Remember all thy Oblations and burnt Offerings, turn to ashes or make * 1.4 fat. So the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth, and is rendred the first way, Gen. Tran. The second, Calvin, New Tran. Accept thy burnt offerings. Because when God accepted sacrifices, he sent fire from Heaven to burn them to ashes, as the Sacrifices of Solomon, and of Elijah, and as is general∣ly held of Abel, the Oblation called Minchah consisted of Flower and Oyle, being otherwise called Peace-Offerings or Meat-Offerings, the burnt Of∣fering was wholy consumed by fire, being a Lamb, Goate, Ram, or Bul∣lock; but of the meat-offering, part only was offered, part eaten▪ Both sorts were often offered by K. David, and so Solomon at the beginning of his Kingdome, that it might be auspicious, offered a thousand burne Offerings, and so did all godly Patriarks before and Kings after, and from them a custome was taken up amongst the Heathen and the Romans in particular, not to go forth in any expedition against their enemies, but having first done Sacrifice to their Gods. Christs Sacrifice was that of himselfe, when he gave his life a ransome for us, and by this once offered, eternal redemption is attained for us.
We will rejoyce in thy salvation. The words are stil directed to David, * 1.5 although some take these words indifferently, either for the saving of David, or the Salvation that cometh from God upon prayer; Calvin prefixeth, That we may rejoice. As if here were only propounded what the Church would do, if God should save her King, Viz. rejoice and set up Banners in token of thankfulness: But because here is no word That, I rather assent to them, that understand it as an expression of the Churches present joy, out of an assured hope that it should be so, as she had pray∣ed: But in Christs being saved from that, which he feared the whole