1._Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised. _The prophet, before proceeding to make mention of that special example of the favor of God towards them, to which I have adverted, teaches in general that the city of Jerusalem was happy and prosperous, because God had been graciously pleased to take... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion _For the confirmation of the statement made in the preceding sentence, the prophet celebrates the excellencies for which mount Zion was at that time renowned; and in them was to be seen the glory of God, of which I have just now s... [ Continue Reading ]
3._God in her palaces is known for a defense _Here the sacred poet again brings forward, for the purpose of setting forth the dignity of the city of Jerusalem, the protection which God afforded it; as we have seen in Psalms 46:5, “God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved: God shall help... [ Continue Reading ]
4_For, behold! the kings assembled _Here that special deliverance of which I have spoken is touched upon. The prophet relates how, when the kings were assembled together to destroy Jerusalem, their efforts passed away without producing any effect, even as clouds in the atmosphere vanish away; yea, h... [ Continue Reading ]
7._By the east wind _(194) _thou breakest in pieces the ships of Tarshish _Commentators are divided in their view of this passage. (195) But let us rest contented with the natural sense, which is simply this, that the enemies of the Church were overthrown and plunged into destruction, just as God by... [ Continue Reading ]
8._As we have heard, so have we seen. _There are two senses in which this passage may be understood, either of which is suitable. The first is, that the sacred writer, speaking in the name of true believers, declares that the same power which God in the days of old had displayed in delivering their... [ Continue Reading ]
9_O God! we have waited for thy mercy _This verse teaches us that the faithful were preserved by the power of God; for, when all things were in a state of the greatest confusion, they continued tranquil and patient until God at length, having pity upon them, brought them help. The Hebrew word, דמם,_... [ Continue Reading ]
10._As is thy name, O God! so is thy praise _Some connect this verse with the preceding sentence, as if it had been said, Lord, it is not in vain that thou hast enjoined upon us the duty of celebrating thy name; for thou furnishest at the same time matter of praise. Thus the sense will be, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
11_Mount Zion shall rejoice _The Psalmist now concludes his exhortation to rejoicing, telling us that Jerusalem and the other cities of Judea shall have cause to commend the righteousness of God, (202) because they had found from undoubted experience that he was the protector of their welfare. He he... [ Continue Reading ]
12and 13_Encompass Zion, etc. _Here the prophet again commends the situation and beauty of Jerusalem, intimating that the city was strongly fortified and impregnable; and he does this, because in these external things the blessing of God in some respect shone forth. We must always bear in mind what... [ Continue Reading ]
14._For this God is our God for ever and ever _From these words it appears still more clearly, that when the prophet spake of the palaces of Jerusalem, it was not that the godly should keep their eyes fixed upon them, but that by the aid of these outward things they should elevate their minds to the... [ Continue Reading ]