The Thirteenth Day. Morning Prayer. A Pfalm or Song of David. It feems manifeftly to have been compofed, and used at the folemn carrying the Ark out of Zion into the Camp, in hopes of obtaining Succefs, in a War against fome very formidable Enemy, by this means. It is certain, That the Ark was in the Army in the War against Rabbah, 2 Sam. xi. 11. And it was carried out of Zion again in the War an gainst Abfalom, but was sent back before it came to the Camp, 2 Sam. xv. 24. Now that this Pfalm was endited on fome fuch occafion, appears from the firft Verfe, which are the very words ufed by Mofes, Numb.x. 35. when the Ark and Army began their March. And as the former part of the Pfalm is a Recital of thofe former Mercies and Victories which were owing to God's efpecial Prefence among them: So from the 20th Verfe to the end, it contains Petitions for Succefs in their prefent Expedition, and pious prefages of it: But it does not appear what Nation or Prince it was, against whom this War was waged, whether that against Rabbah, or fome other. Further, This Pfalm contains a Prophecy of Chrift Jefus, of whom the Cloud of Glory, and the Ark, were but faint Refemblances; because in Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; that is, in a more perfect manner than they did either in the Cloud or the Ark: And the Victories obtained by thofe Tokens of God's Prefence, are fcarce to be compared with thofe Conquests of Chrift over Hell and Death. Exurgat Deus. Pfal. LXVIII. Et God arife, and let his enemies be scattered: let them alfo that hate him, flee before him. 2 Like as the fmoke vanisheth, fo fhalt thou drive them away and like as wax melteth at 5 He is a father of the fatherlefs, and defendeth the cause of the widows: even God in his holy habitation †. 6 [He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an houfe,] and bringeth the prifoners out of captivity : but letteth the * runagates con→ tinue in fcarceness. 4 [Sits upon, and governs,] + Fab. st The Ark here be low, and the Heaven above. 6 ['Tis he that has \ brought all the Tribes to his House, united as if they were but one Family,to join and fight against the common Enemy. See ver. 27, 28.] + Who being taken by the Heathens, yet keep true to God, and their Religion. *Runagates, Apoftates, fuch as to ingratiate with thofe that have taken them Prifoners, worship their falfe Gods, and fo in effect renounce the true One. The Hebrew word fignifies those who go afide. 7 O God, when thou wenteft forth before the people; when thou wenteft through the wilderness †, 8 The earth fhook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God: even as Sinai alfo was moved at the prefence of God, who is the God of Ifrael. 9 Thou, O God, fenteft a 7 In a Pillar of Cloud and Fire, Exod, xiii. 21. Exod. xix. 16.: 9 The Rain here graciousrain upon thine inhe-mentioned, might be ritance; ritance : and refreshedst it that Shower which dropt from the Cloud, when it was weary. (as Gataker and other Learned Men fuppofe) when the Cloud removed over the Peoples Heads from the Van to the Rear, Exod. xiv. 19. by which St. Paul fays, the People were washed, or baptized, I Cor. x 3. or we may hereby understand the Manna which is faid to be rained down from Heaven. 10 Thy Congregation] or Army, viz. of Angels: The Hebrew word fignifies either Living Creatures, or great 10 Thy congregation shall dwell therein for thou, O God, haft of thy goodness prepared for the poor. Companies. Angels are frequently called Living Creatures (Beasts in our English Tranflation) in the Book of Revelations. And God's Congregations, Armies, or Hofts, are his Angels in an efpecial manner; fo that however the Word be turn'd, hereby is meant God's Angels, who are faid to dwell in his Inheritance, or among his People; for God used the Miniftry of Angels, in giving the Law, Deut. xxxiii. 2. Acts vii. 53. in conducting the People, Exod. xiv, 19, and in all his Providences towards, them; and he ftill uses the Service of Angels for the benefit of his Church, Heb. i. 14. 1 Cor. xi. 10. and the Cherubims or Resemblances of Angels which over-fhadowed the Ark, were an Emblem of this. See ver. 17. 11 The Word probably fignifies here, as it does, Ephef. vi. 19. where it is tranflated 11 The Lord geve *the word: great was the company of the preachers. [Utterance,] that is, a Gift or faculty of Speaking, explaining Difficulties, refolving Doubts, or the like. This was the Gift be ftowed on the Seventy Elders, Numb. xi. 16, 25. and on the Apoftles, and other Difciples in the New-Teftament. See the word Preachers in the Vocabulary. 12 [Many Kings,and their People were conquered, while Mofes and the High-Prieft, and they who attended the 12 [Kings with their armies did flee, and were discomfited: and they of the houfhold divided the fpoil.] Tabernacle, and employ'd themselves in Divine Service and Prayer for the Succefs of the War, who were the Houfhold, or Family of God, had not only their share in the Booty, but the privilege of dividing the whole.] Numb. xxxi. 8, 12, 26, 27. 13 [Though ye have *lien among the pots, yet fhall ye be as the wings of a dove: that is covered covered with filver-wings, and of Slaves or Scullions. her feathers like gold.] * The Wings of a Dove denotes a moft gay and fplendid State. Ham. Patr. Ainfw. [Tho' you of the Houfhold of God, efpecially they of the Priesthood, have fuffered much during the Reign of King Saul, 1 Sam. xxii. 17, 18. who was a Prince that had no regard for Religion, Chron. xiii. 3. yet now under a King, who is a Patron of the Priesthood, and has a Zeal for the Service of God, you may hope for more bright and thining Days.] 14 To be white deand happy State, Luke notes a moft glorious ix. 29. Rev. ii. 5. When God de 14 [When the Almighty fcattered kings for their fake then were they as*white as fnow in Salmon.] feated fo many Kings for the fake of his Family, that is, the Priefts and their Adherents, (See ver. 12, 13.) When the Almighty gave us fuch Succefs in War, in anfwer to the Devotions and Sacrifices of those who attended the Altar, and the Tabernacle, then they, for whofe fake God had done fo much, were loved and honoured by all, they were look'd upon with admiration, like the Snow on the lofty Mountain of Salmon.] 15 [As the hill of Bafan, fo is Gods hill: even an high hill, as the hill of Bafan.] Is [And the Family of God is now as ho nourable as ever; and the Hill of Zion, where this Family dwells, or to which they refort to Worship Him, is, upon this account, fo confiderable, that it does not only outvy Salmon, but exceeds even the Mountain of Basan, tho' in bulk it be inferior to both.] 16 Why hop ye fo, ye high hillst this is Gods hill, in the which it pleases him to dwell: [yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.] of his Prefence, fhall never have any other 16 As if ye hoped by this means to increase your height, and outdo Zion. A Poetic Profopopaia. [The Ark, the token fixt place of abode.] * 17 In what fenfe Angels are the Chariots of God. xviii. 10. See Pfalm [And the Lord is as effectually present a mong the Angels, which attend our Worship in Zion, and who are reprefented by the Golden Cherubims over-fhadowing the Ark, as ever he was in Sinai, when he gave the Law from thence.] Deut. xxiii. 2. K 2 18 [Thou captive.] The Hebrew Phrafe thus rendred in 18 Led captivity 18 [Thou art gone up on high, thou haft led captivity * captive, and received gifts for men: yea, even for thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.] this place, is turn'd, Numb. xxi. 1. to take, Prifoners, and Deut.xxi. 10. to take Captive, and that is the plain mean ing of it here. The whole Verfe, if apply'd to the Ark, may thus be understood, viz. [Thou, O Symbol of the Divine Prefence, waft folemnly brought up into the Hill of Zion, 2 Sam. vi. thou haft often, by virtue of the Divine Prefence, brought home great numbers of Enemies, as Captives, to attend thy Triumphs: The greatest Gift that ever was given to the Sons of Men, the Moral Law, writ on two Tables, is depofited in thee, Deut. x. 2, 5. which was defigned for the direction, not only of us, but all Men, even thofe who hate and dread thee, Sam. iv, 7. and by obferving which, they may be fure of the Divine Favour, and that God will dwell among them.] But the words may, in a more ftrict and proper fenfe, be underftood of Chrift, and fo, without doubt, were intended by the Divine Spirit. See Eph. iv. 8. viz. [Thou, O Son of God and Man, art afcended into the highest Heavens; thou haft vanquish'd and triumph'd over the Kingdom of Darkness, and haft receiv'd the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, in order to confer them on Men, even the Heathens, and fuch as were formerly Enemies to Thee by their wicked Works; fo that the Lord does as really dwell in Nations that were formerly Idolatrous, as ever he had done amongst his own People the Jews.] 19 Praised be the Lord daily : even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us. 20 He is our God, even the God of whom cometh falvation: God is the Lord, by whom we efcape death. 21 God fhall wound the head of his enemies: and the hairy *fcalp of fuch a one as goeth on ftill in his wickednefs. 22 [The Lord hath faid, I will bring my People again, as I did from Bafan: minę own |