1_Sing joyfully to God our strength. _This psalm, it is probable, was appointed to be sung on the festival days on which the Jews kept their solemn assemblies. In the exordium, there is set forth the order of worship which God had enjoined. They were not to stand deaf and dumb at the tabernacle; for... [ Continue Reading ]
4_For this is a statute to Israel. _To give the more effect to the preceding exhortation, it is here taught that this law or ordinance had been prescribed to God’s ancient people, for the purpose of ratifying the everlasting covenant. And as in covenants there is a mutual agreement between the parti... [ Continue Reading ]
5_He set it for a testimony in Joseph. _The Hebrew word עדוה _, eduth, _is by some derived from עדה _, adah, _which signifies _to adorn; _and they translate it _the honor _or _ornament _of Joseph. But it rather comes from the verb עוד _, ud, to testify; _and the scope of the passage requires that it... [ Continue Reading ]
6_I have removed his shoulder from the burden. _Here God begins to recount the benefits which he had bestowed upon the Israelites, and the many ways in which he had laid them under obligations to him. The more galling the bondage was from which they had been delivered, the more desirable and preciou... [ Continue Reading ]
7_Thou didst cry in trouble, and I delivered thee. _Here the same subject is prosecuted. By their crying when they were in distress, I understand the prayers which they then offered to God. It sometimes happens that those who are reduced to extremity bewail their calamities with confused crying; but... [ Continue Reading ]
8_Hear, O my people! _The more effectually to touch the hearts of the people, God is here invested with the character of a teacher, and introduced as speaking familiarly in the midst of the congregation; and this is done for the purpose of instructing them, that all assemblies are unprofitable and t... [ Continue Reading ]
9_Let there be no strange god _(414) _in thee. _Here there is propounded the leading article of the covenant, and almost the whole sum of it, which is, that God alone must have the pre-eminence. Some may prefer this explanation: O Israel! if thou wilt hearken to me, there is nothing which I more str... [ Continue Reading ]
10._I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide. _God, by making mention of the deliverance which he had wrought for the people, put a bridle upon those whom he had taken under his protection, by which he might hold them bound to his service; and now he assur... [ Continue Reading ]
11._But my people hearkened not to my voice. _God now complains, that the Israelites, whom he endeavored gently to allure to him, despised his friendly invitation; yea, that although he had for a long time continued to exhort them, they always shut their ears against his voice. It is not a rebellion... [ Continue Reading ]
13._O if my people had hearkened to me! _By the honorable designation which God gives to the people of Israel, He exposes the more effectually their shameful and disgraceful conduct. Their wickedness was doubly aggravated, as will appear from the consideration, that although God called them to be hi... [ Continue Reading ]
14._I would soon have brought their enemies low. _Here the Israelites are taught, that all the calamities which had befallen them were to be imputed to their own sins; for their enemies did not fight against them with any other strength than that with which they were supplied from above. God had pro... [ Continue Reading ]
15._The haters of Jehovah would have lied to him. _Here the same thought is pursued, when the Israelites are informed that their enemies would have humbly submitted to their authority had not their impiety emboldened them to run to excess, when they shook off the yoke of God, and waxed wanton agains... [ Continue Reading ]