Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The four psalms (and probably the preceding psalm, Psalms 146:1), 147-150, form one whole. All (Psalms 147:1; Psalms 148:1; Psalms 149:1; Psalms 150:1) are severally marked by 'Hallelujah' at... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. THE LORD DOTH BUILD UP JERUSALEM. The city was built up by Nehemiah first (), and afterward the walls, which completed the work (; ; ). HE GATHERETH TOGETHER THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL - in consonance with the promise,... [ Continue Reading ]
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. HE HEALETH THE BROKEN IN HEART, AND BINDETH UP THEIR WOUNDS - (; ; ; ; Isaiah 57:18.) The Lord Jesus fulfils this promise spiritually (). The "wounds" of the spiritual Israel are now being bound up by the great Healer. Hereafter, also,... [ Continue Reading ]
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. HE TELLETH (OR, LITERALLY, DETERMINES) THE NUMBER OF THE STARS; HE CALLETH THEM ALL BY THEIR NAMES. From earth the Psalmist turns to heaven; because the most glorious manifestations of God's power are there: it therefore fill... [ Continue Reading ]
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND OF GREAT POWER: HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE - literally, 'there is no number,' i:e., measure, 'of his understanding' (); therefore His wisdom has infinite resources whereby to save His people in all da... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. THE LORD LIFTETH UP THE MEEK: HE CASTETH THE WICKED DOWN TO THE GROUND - parallel to Psalms 146:8. Another proof of the connection of Psalms 146:1 with this cycle of psalms.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: SING UNTO THE LORD WITH THANKSGIVING - literally, 'answer;' i:e., 'sing ye responsively' () (DeBurgh). Rather, 'respond unto the Lord with thanksgiving' - i:e., let your thanksgiving be the corresponding return to His... [ Continue Reading ]
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. WHO COVERETH THE HEAVEN WITH CLOUDS, WHO PREPARETH RAIN FOR THE EARTH, WHO MAKETH GRASS TO GROW UPON THE MOUNTAINS. The gloomy-looking "clouds" are the harbingers of the refreshing... [ Continue Reading ]
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. HE GIVETH TO THE BEAST HIS FOOD. (; ), AND TO THE YOUNG RAVENS WHICH CRY - (.) The ravens, with their hoarse cry, are unconsciously appealing to their Maker and Preserver for their necessary food. They depend not on the regula... [ Continue Reading ]
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. HE DELIGHTETH NOT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE HORSE; HE TAKETH NOT PLEASURE IN THE LEGS OF A MAN. THE LORD TAKETH PLEASURE IN THEM THAT FEAR HIM, IN THOSE THAT HOPE IN HIS MERCY - (Psalms 33:16.) Mere animal... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. PRAISE THE LORD, O JERUSALEM. FOR HE HATH STRENGTHENED THE BARS OF THY GATES. The walls of Jerusalem had just been built, and the gates set up, under Nehemiah. This was the crowning of the secure re-establishment of the city and nation. This... [ Continue Reading ]
He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. HE MAKETH PEACE IN THY BORDERS (ISAIAH 60:17 ), AND FILLETH THEE WITH THE FINEST OF THE WHEAT - literally, 'with the fat of wheat' (). Thus God was now fulfilling His promise in .... [ Continue Reading ]
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. HE SENDETH FORTH HIS COMMANDMENT (UPON) EARTH: HIS WORD RUNNETH VERY SWIFTLY. God's Word is a servant which He sends forth upon earth to execute His will. It carries into effect His decree with instantaneous swiftness. S... [ Continue Reading ]
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. HE GIVETH SNOW LIKE WOOL: HE SCATTERETH THE HOAR-FROST LIKE ASHES. HE CASTETH FORTH HIS ICE LIKE MORSELS: WHO CAN STAND BEFORE HIS COLD? God giveth forth the widely extending and intensely chilling snow, hoar-frost, and ice, with... [ Continue Reading ]
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. HE SENDETH OUT HIS WORD, AND MELTETH THEM: HE CAUSETH HIS WIND TO BLOW (AND) THE WATERS FLOW - a warm wind, which causes a thaw. So God mercifully caused the spring of mercy to Israel now to succeed to t... [ Continue Reading ]
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. HE SHOWETH HIS WORD UNTO JACOB, HIS STATUTES AND HIS JUDGMENTS UNTO ISRAEL. HE HATH NOT DEALT SO WITH ANY NATION: AND AS FOR HIS JUDGMENTS, THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THEM. The same reference to God's 'statutes and judgments' oc... [ Continue Reading ]