Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Ver. 1. _Praise the Lord_] And again, "Praise ye the Lord"; and so often, in this the rest of the hallelujatical psalms. In praising God the saints are unsatisfiable, and would be infinite (as his perfections are in... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Ver. 2. _Praise ye him, all his angels_] Whose proper office it is to adore and praise God, Job 38:7 Isa 6:3 Hebrews 1:6, which also they do constantly and completely; as those that both perfectly know him and love him. Jacob saw them, 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Ver. 3. _Praise ye him, sun and moon_] These do, after a sort, declare the glory of God, Psa 19:1-2 Habakkuk 3:3; not with mind and affection, as if they were understanding creatures (as Plato held, In Epimenide), but by their light in... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that [be] above the heavens. Ver. 4. _Praise him, ye heavens of heavens_] Whereby he meaneth not the lowest heavens, the air whereon we breathe, and wherein birds fly, clouds swim, &c., as some would have it; but the highest heaven, called by St Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created._ Ver. 5. _For he commanded, and they were created_] His fiat only made all; this is celebrated by that heavenly choir, Revelation 4:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Ver. 6. _He hath also stablished them for ever_] viz. The course and appointed motions of the heavens, which he hath settled by a covenant, and hath not falsified with them, Jeremiah 33:25; much less will he... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Ver. 7. _Praise the Lord from the earth_] The psalmist proceedeth to factor for God among the inferior creatures; beginning with the lowest in the waters beneath, as the dragons or great whales; and then coming to rain and snow, &c., which... [ Continue Reading ]
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: _Ver 8. Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours_] This latter is the matter of those former meteors which he purposely mingleth with those forementioned miracles of land and waters, the more to set forth the power of God, because these se... [ Continue Reading ]
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Ver. 9. _Mountains, and all hills_] These praise God by their form, hugeness, fruits, prospects, &c. _ Fruitful trees_] These, by the variety of their natures and fruits, do notably set forth the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Almighty;... [ Continue Reading ]
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Ver. 10. _Beasts_] _i.e._ Wild beasts, that are fullest of life; and therehence have their name in the Hebrew tongue. _ And all cattle_] Domestic and tame beasts, even to the elephant; which is said to turn up the first sprig towards heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Ver. 11. _Kings of the earth_] These are doublybound to God (as Queen Elizabeth wrote to the French king); first, as they are men; and next, as they are so great men; but this is little considered. Tamerlane, having overcome... [ Continue Reading ]
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Ver. 12. _Both young men, and maidens_] Souls have no sexes; let the choice youths and the _compt lasses quae totae occupantur in sese ornandis,_ saith Kimchi, who are much taken up in tricking and trimming themselves, leave that folly, and give g... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven. Ver. 13. _Let them praise the name of the Lord_] Join in this harmony of hallelujah. _ His glory is above_] Being deeper than earth, higher than heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. Ver. 14. _He also exalteth the horn_] _i.e._ He graceth them singularly. _ A people near unto him_] And in that respect happy above all people on the... [ Continue Reading ]