THE Author of this Psalm, and the time when it was penned, are uncertain. Some think it was composed after the return of the Jews from Babylon, upon the Erection of the second Temple, and designed to be sung in their constant Public Assemblies. Others think it was composed by David, when he brought the Ark to Zion, as the Repository for it, till the Building of the Temple, wherein it might honourably rest. It seems, whoever was the Author, to be Ecstatical. The Penman breaks out into a holy rapture and admiration of the firmness and stability of the Church. 'Tis also Prophetical of the Christian Church, of the glory of it, the largeness of its bounds, and perpetual duration. The Jews ridiculously interpret it of literal Jerusalem in regard of the excellency of its Climate, the goodness of the air, being seated in the middle or navel of the earth, and the seat and spring of all the wise men, accounting all fools that were to be found in other parts; 'tis true, others were not wise with a wisdom to Salvation; they were not instructed in the high Mysteries of Religion by God, as those People were. But was there not Learning among the Greeks, & Wisdom among the Chaldeans, and a ripeness in Mechanic Arts among the Tyrians which lived in the same Climate with the Jews? It can by no means be understood of the material Jerusalem and Zion; that was ruined by the Babylonians, and tho re-edified, yet afterwards subverted by the Romans, and the remainders of it at this day become a Stable for Mahomet, and the bringing in those Nations mentioned, v. 4. overthrows any such interpretation, which never were enrolled in the registers of Zion, nor became Votaries to the true Religion, while the walls of that place were standing in their glory. Zion was the place whence the Law was to come, Mich. 4.2. a Law of another nature, than that which was uttered with Thunders from Mount Sinai. Zion was the place where the Throne of Christ was to be settled, where he was to be crowned King, Psal. 2.6. and where he was to manage the Sceptre and rule in the midst of his enemies, Psal. 110.2. and therefore 'tis here celebrated as the figure of the Christian Church; of that City which Abraham expected, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11.10. And the Christian Church is particularly called by this name of Mount Zion, Heb. 12.21. And Believers are called the Sons of Zion, Joel 2.23.
THE Author of this Psalm, and the time when it was penn'd, are uncertain. Some think it was compos'd after the return of the Jews from Babylon, upon the Erection of the second Temple, and designed to be sung in their constant Publick Assemblies. Others think it was compos'd by David, when he brought the Ark to Sion, as the Repository for it, till the Building of the Temple, wherein it might honourably rest. It seems, whoever was the Author, to be Ecstatical. The Penman breaks out into a holy rapture and admiration of the firmness and stability of the Church. 'Tis also Prophetical of the Christian Church, of the glory of it, the largeness of its bounds, and perpetual duration. The Jews ridiculously interpret it of literal Jerusalem in regard of the excellency of its Climate, the goodness of the air, being seated in the middle or navel of the earth, and the seat and spring of all the wise men, accounting all fools that were to be found in other parts; 'tis true, others were not wise with a wisdom to Salvation; they were not instructed in the high Mysteries of Religion by God, as those People were. But was there not Learning among the Greeks, & Wisdom among the Chaldeans, and a ripeness in Mechanick Arts among the Tyrians which lived in the same Climate with the Jews? It can by no means be understood of the material Jerusalem and Sion; that was ruin'd by the Babylonians, and tho re-edified, yet afterwards subverted by the Romans, and the remainders of it at this day become a Stable for Mahomet, and the bringing in those Nations mention'd, v. 4. overthrows any such interpretation, which never were inrol'd in the registers of Sion, nor became Votaries to the true Religion, while the walls of that place were standing in their glory. Sion was the place whence the Law was to come, Mich. 4.2. a Law of another nature, than that which was uttered with Thunders from Mount Sinai. Sion was the place where the Throne of Christ was to be settled, where he was to be crowned King, Psal. 2.6. and where he was to manage the Scepter and rule in the midst of his enemies, Psal. 110.2. and therefore 'tis here celebrated as the figure of the Christian Church; of that City which Abraham expected, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11.10. And the Christian Church is particularly called by this name of Mount Sion, Heb. 12.21. And Believers are called the Sons of Sion, Joel 2.23.
