Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Psalms 115:1.-Yahweh, vindicate the glory of thy name, at stake in thy people's misery (); let not the pagan taunt us, Where is their God? for our God is in heaven, and doth what He wills; but... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? WHEREFORE SHOULD THE HEATHEN SAY, WHERE IS NOW THEIR GOD? - from . The sneer of the pagan at the seeming inability of Israel's God to help her, is sure to bring God to her help, though for a time He has hidden His power. The contrast whic... [ Continue Reading ]
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. BUT OUR GOD IS IN THE HEAVENS. The "our" is emphatic. The pagan do not know the infinite distance that separates OUR God from their idols (; ; ). He is with heavenly majesty raised far above the earth, which is the home of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. THEIR IDOLS ARE SILVER AND GOLD, THE WORK OF MEN'S HANDS. THEY HAVE MOUTHS, BUT THEY SPEAK NOT; EYES HAVE THEY, BUT THEY SEE NOT. Drawn from Deuteronomy 4:28. The Hebrew for "idols" expresses literally 'pains,' expressing the sorrows which... [ Continue Reading ]
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: THEY HAVE EARS, BUT THEY HEAR NOT. Contrast with this and the description of our God, .... [ Continue Reading ]
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. THEY HAVE HANDS, BUT THEY HANDLE NOT; FEET HAVE THEY, BUT THEY WALK NOT; NEITHER SPEAK THEY THROUGH THEIR THROAT - literally, 'neither do they utter (even) a whisper' [ haagah (H1897... [ Continue Reading ]
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. THEY THAT MAKE THEM ARE LIKE UNTO THEM. first laid down this great principle, "Thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them (the idols) ... Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest tho... [ Continue Reading ]
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O ISRAEL, TRUST THOU IN THE LORD: HE IS THEIR HELP AND THEIR SHIELD - (.) "Their help" - namely, the help of the Israelites. From speaking to them, he passes to speaking of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O HOUSE OF AARON, TRUST IN THE LORD. The ministers of the sanctuary, as being the spiritual guides of the people, should lead the way in trusting in the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. YE THAT FEAR THE LORD, TRUST IN THE LORD. Reverential and filial fear of the Lord is close akin to trust in Him. The phrase, "Ye that fear the Lord," comprises all the true "seed of Jacob" (), "both small and great" ();... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. THE LORD HATH BEEN MINDFUL OF US - by releasing us from the Babylonian captivity. This group of psalms evidently alludes to some recent deliverance (Psalms 116:17: cf. Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. HE WILL BLESS THEM THAT FEAR THE LORD, (BOTH) SMALL AND GREAT - (.)... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. THE LORD SHALL INCREASE YOU MORE AND MORE, YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN - (.) The Hebrew is literally, 'The Lord shall add upon you, upon you and upon your children.' There is an allusion to the name Joseph, the same Hebrew, , "she called... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. YE ARE BLESSED OF THE LORD WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH - alluding to Melchizedek's blessing upon Abraham, the first father of Israel, the heir of Abraham's blessing, "Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth" ().... [ Continue Reading ]
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. THE HEAVEN, (EVEN) THE HEAVENS, ARE THE LORD'S; BUT THE EARTH HATH HE GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN. Though He owns earth and heaven alike (), He has given, in His goodness, the earth to be man's heri... [ Continue Reading ]
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD, NEITHER ANY THAT GO DOWN INTO SILENCE - not denying that God can receive praise from disembodied souls, but that the dead can praise God on earth. God will not allow His elect nation (or its spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD. BUT WE WILL BLESS THE LORD FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND FOR EVERMORE - i:e., we shall have the opportunity still given us by Him to bless Him from this time and forever (). These two verses contain the plea why Yahweh... [ Continue Reading ]