the note on Psal. cxv. 6. Neither is there any breath in
their mouths; they are lifeless statues, they have not so
much as what the brute creatures have, breath; our
Jehovah, as the living God, is rightly opposed to them,
who gives life, and breath, and all things, unto man;
and yet What amazing stupidity is it, that any of them
should worship such as gods, who have not what they
themselves have.
Vet. 18. They that make them are like unto them, &c.]
Are as blind, stupid, and senseless as they; or let them
that make them,&c.{q}; so some versions and interpreters;
see the note on Psal cxv. 8. So is every one that trusteth
in them; alike ignorant and sottish: and so are all such
that set up idols and lusts in their own hearts, and
serve them; or trust to their own righteousness; even
all unregenerate and self-righteous persons: they can-
not speak a word for God and his grace, for Christ and
his righteousness, for the Spirit of God, and his work
upon their hearts, of all which they are ignorant; they
are blind and have no sight and sense of their sin and
misery, and of their need of Christ and his righteous-
hess; they are deaf to his Gospel, and the charming
voice of it; they are lifeless and breathless, are dead
in trespasses and sins, and have no p-antings and desires
after spiritual things.
Ver. 19. Bless the Lord, 0 house of Israel, &c.] Who
are chosen by the Lord to be a special people to him
above all others; redeemed from ]Egyptian bondage;
through a variety of surprising providences brought
into and settled in the land of Canaan; distinguished
by various blessings, favoured with the word, worship,
and ordinances of God, and not left to worship idols of
gold and silver, as other nations; and theretbre had
great reason to bless the Lord: as also the spiritual
Israel, or the household of God and of fidth, the family
of Christ; and that because they are of his family,
because of the love of God to them, his choice of them,
his covenant with them, their redemption by Christ,
their effectual calling; or for being made Israelites
indeed, and the provisions made for them in the house
of God for their spiritual welfare. Bless the Lord, 0
house ofAaron: who were separated from their bre-
thren to minister in the priest's oilice; to offer gifts and
sacrifices for the people, and to bless them, Exod.
xxviii. 1. Numb. vi. e3--27. which was a very sacred
and honourable employment, and they were under
obligation to bless the Lord, who had called them to it,
and put this honour on them; as are the ministers of
the Gospel, who have received gifts from Christ;
whom he has counted faiithful, and put into the mi-
nistry; made stewards of the mysteries of his grace,
and ambassadors in his stead; and especially if made
useful for edification and conversion: and indeed all
the Lord's people, who are all made priests unto God,
and have nearness unto him, liberty and boldness to
enter into the holiest of all, as Aaron once a year into
the most holy place; and who have better sacrifices to
offer than he, the living sacrifices of their own bodies
and souls, and not slain beasts; spiritual sacrifices of
prayer and praise; and, above all, the sweet-smelling
sacrifice of Christ they bring in the arms of faith, and
so entcr into the courts of God.
Ver. 20. Bless the Lord, 0 house of Levi, &c.] These
were of the same tribe with the house of Aaron, but
inferior ministers; they ministored to the priests, and
had the charge of things in the tabernacle and temple;
many of them were porters in the latter, and others
were singers, and of these Kimchi interprets the words;
whose work it was to give thanks morning and even-
ing, and so are with great propriety called upon to bless
the Lord, Numb. iii. 6--8. 1 Chron. xxiii. 5, 30. and
may mystically design inferior officers in the church,
who are helps and assistants to ministers in the govern-
meat and discipline of it, arid have the care of its secu-
lar affairs; and who, when they behave well, purchase
to themselves a good degree, and boldness in the faith;
and even doorkeepers in the house of the Lord have
reason to bless his name for a place there; and all the
saints arc the sweet singers of Israel, have the new
song of electing, redeeming, and calling grace, put into
their mouths, and therefore should bless the Lord.
Ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord; these arc distinct
from the Israelites, priests, and Lcvites, and design
the proselytes among them of other nations that truly
feared God, as Jarchi notes; and all such persons, who-
ever and wherever they arc, have reason to bless the
Lord for the fear of him they have, which is not from
nature, but from grace; and for the layouts shown
them, the blessings bestowed upon them, thc good
things laid up tbr them, and the guard that is about
them, which the Scriptures abundantly declare, and
experience conlirms.
Vet. c2_1. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, &c.] This,
according to Aben Ezra, was the formula of blessing
to be used by the houses of Israel,, Aaron, and Levi,
and all that feared God; or a direction to them in what
manner they should bless him; and may both point
out the persons that were to bless, and the place where;
those that were inhabitants of Zion, where praise
waited for the Lord, and was his due; and the blcssings
and benefits he was to be praised for, such as came
out of Zion, strength from the Lord there, the rod of
his strength, the word of the Gospel, and the Saviour
himself. Which dwelleth at Jerusalem; in the temple
there; and which distinguishes him from the idols of
the Heathens before mentioned; and who dwells in the
heavenly Jerusalem, in Gospel churches; and will
dwell in the New Jerusalem, where his tabernacle will
be with men, Rev. xxi. 3. Praise ye the Lord; or hal-
lelujah; and so the psalm ends as it begun, being from
first to last an exhortation to praise.

{q} So V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, sept. Syr. Arab. Ethiop.