This also purports to be a psalm of David, and it has every mark of being his production. It is designed to set forth the majesty and glory of God, especially as manifested in a thunderstorm, and was evidently composed in view of such an exhibition of His power and glory. It is one of the sublimest... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE UNTO THE LORD - Ascribe unto Yahweh; or, recognize Him as entitled to what is here ascribed to Him. The word cannot be understood, as it is commonly with us, to denote the imparting to another, or granting to another what he does not now possess - for God is always in possession of what is here... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE UNTO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME - Margin: “the honor of his name.” The honor of His name is that which is due to it, or which properly belongs to it. The “name” is put here, as it often is, for God Himself; and the meaning is, “Ascribe to God the honor that is properly his due.” This... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE LORD - The voice of Yahweh. There can be no doubt that the expression here, which is seven times repeated in the psalm, “the voice of Jehovah,” refers to thunder; and no one can fail to see the appropriateness of the expression. In heavy thunder it seems as if God spake. It comes fr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE LORD IS POWERFUL - Margin, as in Hebrew: “in power.” That is, is mighty; or, has strength. Allusion may be made to what seems to be the effect of thunder in prostrating trees, or tearing off their limbs, or it may be merely to the loud sound of the thunder. IS FULL OF MAJESTY - Mar... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAKETH THE CEDARS - The thunder prostrates the lofty trees of the forest. The psalmist speaks as things appeared, attributing, as was natural, and as was commonly done, that to the thunder which was really produced by the lightning. It, is now fully known that the effect here referred to is not pr... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKETH THEM ALSO TO SKIP LIKE A CALF - That is, the cedars of Lebanon. Compare Psalms 114:4, “The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.” Psalms 68:16, “why leap ye, ye high hills?” The meaning is plain. The lightning tore off the large branches, and uprooted the loftiest t... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVIDETH THE FLAMES OF FIRE - Margin, “cutteth out.” The Hebrew word - חצב _châtsab_ - means properly “to cut, to hew, to hew out;” as, for example, stones. The allusion here is undoubtedly to lightning; and the image is either that it seems to be cut out, or cut into tongues and streaks - or, more... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAKETH THE WILDERNESS - Causes it to shake or to tremble. The word used here means properly to dance; to be whirled or twisted upon anything; to twist - as with pain - or, to writhe; and then, to tremble, to quake. The forests are made to tremble or quake in the fierceness of the storm - referring... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE LORD MAKETH THE HINDS TO CALVE - The deer. The object of the psalmist here is to show the effects of the storm in producing consternation, especially on the weak and timid animals of the forest. The effect here adverted to is that of fear or consternation in bringing on the throes o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SITTETH UPON THE FLOOD - God is enthroned upon the flood, or presides over it. The obvious meaning is, that God is enthroned upon the storm, or presides over that which produces such consternation. It is not undirected; it is not the result of chance or fate; it is not produced by mere phys... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD WILL GIVE STRENGTH UNTO HIS PEOPLE - This is a practical application of the sentiments of the psalm, or a conclusion which is fairly to be derived from the main thought in the psalm. The idea is, that the God who presides over the tempest and the storm, the God who has such power, and can p... [ Continue Reading ]