1._Blessed be Jehovah, my strength _(257) It is very evident that David, since he celebrates the favor of God in such high terms, had not only obtained the kingdom, but gained signal victories. When he calls God _his strength_, he acknowledges that any courage he had was given him from above, not on... [ Continue Reading ]
2._My goodness_, _etc_. This way of using the word in a passive sense, as in the Hebrew, sounds harsh in Latin; just as elsewhere (Psalms 18:50) he calls himself “God’s king,” not in the sense of his having dominion over God, but being made and appointed king by him. Having experienced God’s kindnes... [ Continue Reading ]
3._O Jehovah! what is man_, _etc_. He amplifies the goodness shown by God by instituting a comparison. Having declared how singularly he had been dealt with, he turns his eyes inward, and asks, “Who am I, that God should show me such condescension? “He speaks of man in general; only the circumstance... [ Continue Reading ]
5._O Jehovah! bow thy heavens_. After extolling, as was due, the great goodness of God, he requests him to furnish such help for the preservation of the kingdom as was necessary in the present exigency. As formerly we saw that he had gloried in God with a heroical courage, so here he makes use of th... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Send thy hand_, etc. In one word we are now made to see what was meant by the figures formerly used — that in the absence of all earthly help, God would put forth his hand from above, the greatness of the exigency making extraordinary help necessary. Accordingly he compares his enemies to great a... [ Continue Reading ]
9._O God! I will sing a new song to thee_. He again sets himself, with self-possession, to the exercise of praising God, not doubting but he would continue those mercies which he had once bestowed. I have taken notice in another place that by a _new song _is meant one of a singular or uncommon kind;... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Because our sons_, _etc_. These three concluding verses some consider as being a wish or a prayer. (271) Others think that David congratulates himself, and all the people, that through the divine blessing every species of mercy was showered down prosperously upon them. I have no doubt that David... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Our recesses full_, _etc_. Some read _storehouses_, (272) and I would not reject this meaning. But as the word comes from the same root with זוה, _zavah_, which is rendered corner in the previous verse, it seems more agreeable to the etymology to translate the words as I have done — “that the re... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Our oxen_, _etc_. The Hebrew word סבל, _sabal_, is properly to carry. Accordingly some understand מסובלים, _mesubbalim_, to mean robust, (274) as unless they were strong oxen they would not be fit for carriage, or bearing burdens. Others think they are spoken of as laden with fat. There is no ne... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Happy the people_, _etc_. He thus concludes that the divine favor had been sufficiently shown and manifested to his people. Should any object that it breathed altogether a gross and worldly spirit to estimate man’s happiness by benefits of a transitory description, I would say in reply that we m... [ Continue Reading ]