This Psalm is "the praise of Jehovah as the one true Helper." Israel is warned against putting its trust in men, however powerful they may seem for the moment to be a warning demanded perhaps by the particular circumstances and tendencies of the time and reminded of the privileges it enjoys in the g... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praise ve_Jah] Hallelujah! See note on Psalms 104:35. The words are omitted in P.B.V. as belonging to the title rather than to the Psalm. _praise_Jehovah, _O my soul_ Cp. _Bless Jehovah, O my soul_, Psalms 103:1; Psalms 103:22; Psalms 104:1; Psalms 104:35. In this and the following verse the worsh... [ Continue Reading ]
Almost identical with Psalms 104:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 118:8-9, and see notes there for illustration of the kind of circumstances which may have suggested the warning. Cp. also Jeremiah 17:5 ff. Heathen princes doubtless are meant. It is possible that a party in Jerusalem was advocating a foreign alliance. _in whom_there is _no help_ Or, _sa... [ Continue Reading ]
The central thought of the Ps., expressed in Psalms 146:5 ff., is prefaced by a warning against the temptation to rely upon the favour and protection of men, however powerful. Princes to-day, they may be I dust to-morrow; and their loftiest schemes crumble into dust with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 104:29; Isaiah 2:22. _to his earth_ The -ground" (_ădâmâh_) from which he was taken and -of which his name (_âdâm_= -man") reminds him. _his thoughts_ Or, _purposes_. The word is common in Aramaic, but occurs here only in the Heb. of the O.T. The author of 1 Macc, appears to have had b... [ Continue Reading ]
Happy is he, whose help is the God of Jacob; Whose hope resteth upon Jehovah his God. Cp. Psalms 33:12; Psalms 144:15; Psalms 20:1. The word for _hope_is Aramaic, and is found elsewhere only in Psalms 119:116: the cognate verb is used in Psalms 145:15 (A.V. _wait_).... [ Continue Reading ]
The omnipotence and faithfulness of Jehovah are contrasted with the frailty and transitoriness of man (Psalms 146:3). For similar references to the power of Jehovah manifested in creation as a ground for trusting Him see Psalms 121:2; Psalms 124:8; cp. Nehemiah 9:6; Acts 4:24. _all that_in them _is... [ Continue Reading ]
Illustrations of Jehovah's beneficent action, not without allusion to the circumstances of Israel. Observe how these Divine works were literally manifested in Christ's miracles. 7 _a_is abbreviated from Psalms 103:6; with 7 _b_cp. Psalms 107:9. _the Lord_&c. Five times the name of Jehovah stands emp... [ Continue Reading ]
Blindness is a figure for moral and spiritual ignorance and insensibility, and helplessness in general. Cp. Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 35:5; Deuteronomy 28:19; Job 12:25; Isaiah 59:9-10. _raiseth_up _them that are bowed down_ As Psalms 145:14. _loveth_ And therefore, as P.B.V., _careth for_them. But is... [ Continue Reading ]
As in Psalms 94:6 the sojourners [89] or resident aliens who had no rights of citizenship, orphans, and widows are typical examples of defencelessness. They are therefore specially under Jehovah's protection, and are commended in the Law to the care of the Israelites. [89] The LXX regularly renders... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Exodus 15:18. Such is Jehovah, Zion's God: and His reign is eternal, not transitory, like the dominion of earthly princes (Psalms 146:3). Cp. Psalms 145:13.... [ Continue Reading ]