Psalms 95

A Song and Psalm for the, Sons of Korah. This Psalm seems to have been composed after the repulso of some army which invaded them, and intended to have destroyed Jerusalem. If all things else.would agree, it might not unfitly be applied to the defeating of Sennacherib the king of Assyria’s army, which actually begirt that city; but by a sudden pestilence, whieh in one night killed a vast number, was forced to quit the siege, and retreat with shame, (2 Kings xviii. 19.) But the fourth verse of this Psalm speaks of a combination of kings, who had joined their forces together upon this design: which makes it most applicable, in my judgment, to that history in 2 Chron. xx. where we read (ver. 1, 2.1(h) that Moab, andAmmon, and they of Mount Seir, came against Jehoshaphat, with an intention, I suppose, to fall upon Jerusalem. And though Jehoshaphat went out to oppose them, yet he acknowledges, (ver. 12.) their multitude was so great, that he had no power to resist them;. but they might do what they pleased with him: for he knew not which way to turn himself, but only depended upon God: who in a marvellous manner dispersed them, * as he told Jehoshaphat he would, without their striking one stroke against them. For which gracious message, sent him by a prophet, (ver. 14.) the Levites, and among others those descended from Korah, immediately praised the Lord beforehand, (ver. 19.) and after the victory gave solemn thanks, before they left the field, in the Valley of Blessing; (ver. 26.) and then returned to Jerusalem with psalters, and harps, and trumpets, unto the house of the Lord, (ver. 28.) At which time, it is probable, this Psalm was sung, and called, a Song and Psalm; that is, a. psalm of triumph, or of great joy; composed, perhaps, by some of the sons of Korah. But of a Song and Psalm, see Psalm lxvii. ARGUMENT.- > This Psalm likewise is without any title in the Hebrew r; but the Greeks call it A Psalm of David, because the apostle to the Hebrews cites a passage out of it under his name, iv. 7. Though that, it must be confessed, is no concluding argument of its being composed by him; because it is usual to call the whole five books by the name of the Psalms of David; when it is certain he did not make them all, but only the greater part. * Whoever was the author, it looks as if it were intended to be a TrQoafy&viimQ, or solemn invitation of the people (when they were all assembled together on the sabbath/ or some public occasion: Grotius, in Heb. iii. 7— 13* thinks on i& feast of tabernacles, for which this Psalm was composed) to praise the Lord their God, and hear instructions out of his law: and is justly employed still by the church, in the entrance of our morning service, for the very same purpose. For it plainly relates to. the days of Christ, as the Jews confess, and the apostlo proves, Heb. iii. iv. where ho demonstrates to them* of that nation, that the rest here spoken of could not be merely that in the land of Canaan, which their forefathers fell shortof, by their disobedience to God in the wilder-

Psalms 95:1

fjrREATis the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Great is the majesty and the power of the Lord; who is therefore to be celebrated with the highest praises: and no where so much as in his own city,.by the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in that mountain which he hath long ago set apart for the place of his worship, and hath now so marvellously defended.

Psalms 95:2

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion; on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. And a beautiful place it is which he hath chosen for