This psalm has no title in Hebrew; and the author, and the occasion on which it was written, are alike unknown. It is general in its character, though its imagery is taken mostly from Hebrew history. The sole design of the psalm is to excite to the praise of God; or to show reasons for that praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE YE THE LORD - Hebrew, Hallelu-jah. Literally, “Praise Jah,” an abridged name for Yahweh. See the notes at Psalms 68:4. PRAISE YE THE NAME OF THE LORD - The same as praising God himself. PRAISE HIM, O YE SERVANTS OF THE LORD - You who are especially designated or appointed to this service, P... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THAT STAND IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - See the notes at Psalms 134:1. That is, those who were appointed to conduct the services of religion, the priests and Levites. IN THE COURTS OF THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD - The areas, or parts assigned for different classes of worshippers around the tabernacle and... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE THE LORD, FOR THE LORD IS GOOD - See Psalms 107:1. SING PRAISES UNTO HIS NAME, FOR IT IS PLEASANT - See Psalms 33:1; Psalms 92:1. The idea here is, that it is a source of happiness, and that it is proper in itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD HATH CHOSEN JACOB UNTO HIMSELF - The descendants of Jacob. He has selected them from among all the inhabitants of the earth to be his special people. AND ISRAEL FOR HIS PECULIAR TREASURE - The word here rendered treasure, means that which is acquired; property; wealth. They were what Go... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW - I, as the representative of Israel, and speaking in the, name of the people. This is said as the foundation or the reason for praise. It was the thorough conviction of the psalmist that God was great above all who were claimed to be gods, and that he only was worthy of worship. THAT TH... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER THE LORD PLEASED - God is an absolute sovereign. He has formed a plan, and has carried it out. He has made the world as he chose, and he has ordered all its arrangements according to his own pleasure. As a universal sovereign, he has a right to universal adoration. See the notes at Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAUSETH THE VAPOURS TO ASCEND FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH - The word rendered vapors means literally risings; things raised up; and it may be applied, therefore, to vapors or clouds. The Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and Luther render it clouds. It is among the proofs of the divine wisdom and pow... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SMOTE THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT - As the last and the greatest of the plagues brought upon the Egyptians; the chief and crowning judgment under which they were made willing that the children of Israel should go, and which was in fact the judgment which secured their freedom. This is selected here e... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SENT TOKENS AND WONDERS - Tokens: that is, signs or evidences of the divine power. Wonders: things suited to impress the mind with awe; things outside of the ordinary course of events; things not produced by natural laws, but by the direct power of God. The allusion here is, of course, to the pl... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SMOTE GREAT NATIONS ... - To wit, those specified in the following verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES ... - These are specimens of what was done, or instances of the mighty kings who were subdued. It is not pretended that all were enumerated. The subjugation of these nations and kings showed the power of God, and laid the foundation for praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE THEIR LAND FOR AN HERITAGE ... - See the notes at Psalms 111:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY NAME, O LORD, ENDURETH FOR EVER - Thou art the ever-living, the unchanging God. The generations of people pass away; the kingdoms of the earth change; the idols perish, but thou art the same. The object here seems to be to bring the image or the idea of God before the mind as he was when he perf... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE - He will interpose in their behalf by his judgments, or by directing the course of events in their favor. This language is copied literally from Deuteronomy 32:36 : “For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants.” It is there a part of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IDOLS OF THE HEATHEN ARE SILVER AND GOLD ... - To show more fully the propriety of praising God, and him alone as God, the psalmist instituted a comparison between him and idols, showing that the gods worshipped by the pagan lacked every ground of claim to divine worship and homage. They were, a... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL ... - This passage, also, is evidently an imitation of the passage in Psalms 115:9. The form in Psalms 115, however, is rather an exhortation to trust in the Lord, and an assurance that God would bless the classes spoken of, than a call on them to bless the Lord. St... [ Continue Reading ]