The author of this psalm is unknown; nor can the occasion on which it was composed be ascertained with any degree of certainty. In the Septuagint, the Arabic, and the Syriac versions, it is ascribed, like the previous psalm, to the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The Syriac has this title: “A Psalm o... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE YE THE LORD - Hallelu-jah. See Psalms 146:1. FOR IT IS GOOD TO SING PRAISES UNTO OUR GOD - See the notes at Psalms 92:1 : “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” FOR IT IS PLEASANT - See the notes at Psalms 135:3 : “Sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant.” The Hebrew word... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD DOTH BUILD UP JERUSALEM - He builds up the walls; he restores the city; he has caused the temple to be reconstructed. This language would be applicable to a return from the captivity. There may be an allusion here to the language in Psalms 102:16 : “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he sha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HEALETH THE BROKEN IN HEART - Referrring primarily to the fact that he had healed those who were crushed and broken in their long captivity, and that he had given them comfort by returning them to their native land. At the same time, however, the language is made general, as describing a characte... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TELLETH THE NUMBER OF THE STARS - He counts them all. God only can do this. The stars are so numerous that no astronomer can count them; they lie so far in the depths of space, and are so remote from each other, that no man can be so presumptuous as to suppose that he has even seen any considerab... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IS OUR LORD - See the notes at Psalms 48:1. AND OF GREAT POWER - This seems to be added, as in Isaiah 40:28, in view of the power required in making the heavens, and in guiding and numbering the stars: “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD LIFTETH UP THE MEEK - The humble; the poor; the bowed down; the oppressed. See the notes at Psalms 146:8 : “The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.” HE CASTETH THE WICKED DOWN TO THE GROUND - See the notes at Psalms 146:9 : “The way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO THE LORD WITH THANKSGIVING - Accompany the praise of God - the expression of worship - with a grateful remembrance of the past. The one will aid the other, and the two will constitute acceptable and proper worship. The first word here means properly to answer, or respond; and the idea woul... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO COVERETH THE HEAVEN WITH CLOUDS - Clouds that are designed to convey refreshing rain to the earth. The reasons for praise here stated Psalms 147:8 are derived from the goodness of God as exhibited in his providential arrangements for the good of man. WHO PREPARETH RAIN FOR THE EARTH - By causing... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH TO THE BEAST HIS FOOD - To the wild beast; to the animals that cannot toil for it themselves, as man does. Compare Psalms 104:21, note; Psalms 104:27, notes. TO THE YOUNG RAVENS WHICH CRY - Compare the notes at Job 38:41. See also Psalms 145:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DELIGHTETH NOT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE HORSE - The horse is among the noblest works of God - perhaps the noblest of all the animals that he has made. See the notes at Job 39:19. Yet God regards with more interest and pleasure humble piety than he does any mere power, however great and wonderful it... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD TAKETH PLEASURE IN THEM THAT FEAR HIM - In those who truly worship him, however humble, poor, and unknown to people they may be; however unostentatious, retired, unnoticed may be their worship. Not in the “pride, pomp, and circumstance of war” is his pleasure; not in the march of armies; no... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE THE LORD, O JERUSALEM ... - In addition to this general praise in which all may unite, there are special reasons why Jerusalem and its inhabitants should praise God: just as now, in addition to the general reasons pertaining to all people why they should praise God, there are special reasons... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH STRENGTHENED THE BARS OF THY GATES - He has made thee safe and secure - as if he had given additional strength to the fastenings of the gates of the city. Cities were surrounded by walls. They were entered through gates. Those gates were fastened by bars passed across them, to which the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKETH PEACE IN THY BORDERS - Margin, he maketh thy border peace. The word border here refers to a boundary, and stands for all the domain or territory included within the boundaries of a country. The idea is that peace prevailed throughout the land. AND FILLETH THEE WITH THE FINEST OF THE WHEAT... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENDETH FORTH HIS COMMANDMENT UPON EARTH - That is, with reference to the productions of the earth; to the changes which occur; to the seasons; to snow, frost, ice, cold, heat, wind; and he is universally and immediately obeyed. Nature everywhere yields a ready acquiescence to his will. HIS WORD... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH SNOW LIKE WOOL - He covers the earth with snow, so that it seems to have a clothing of wool. Compare the notes at Job 37:6 : “For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth.” HE SCATTERETH THE HOARFROST LIKE ASHES - As if ashes were strewed over the earth; or, as easily as one strews ashe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CASTETH FORTH HIS ICE LIKE MORSELS - The word rendered morsels means properly a bit, a crumb, as of bread, Genesis 18:5; Judges 19:5. The allusion here would seem to be to hail, which God sends upon the earth as easily as one scatters crumbs of bread from the hand. WHO CAN STAND BEFORE HIS COLD?... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENDETH OUT HIS WORD - He commands: or, he speaks. AND MELTETH THEM - Melts the snow and the ice. Compare the notes at Job 37:10 : “By the breath of God frost is given,” etc. The idea is, that they are entirely under his control. They obey him when he speaks. HE CAUSETH HIS WIND TO BLOW - The w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHOWETH HIS WORD UNTO JACOB - Margin, words. His commands; his promises; his laws. The things which were before adverted to, pertain to the world in general. All people see his works; all enjoy the benefits of his arrangements in the seasons - in the changes which occur upon the earth; but he has... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH NOT DEALT SO WITH ANY NATION - He has favored Israel more than any other people by giving them his revealed truth. This was so. There was no nation in the ancient world so favored as the Hebrew people in this respect. There is no nation now so favored as the nation that has the revealed will... [ Continue Reading ]