This psalm purports to be a “psalm of Asaph.” This is the first of the psalms ascribed to him. twelve in all are attributed to him, namely, Psalms 50; 73–83. Asaph was a Levite, a son of Berachiah, 1 Chronicles 6:39; 1 Chronicles 15:17. He was eminent as a musician, Nehemiah 12:46; 1 Chronicles 16:7... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MIGHTY GOD, EVEN THE LORD - Even “Yahweh,” for this is the original word. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this “The God of gods, the Lord.” DeWette renders it, “God, God Jehovah, speaks.” Prof. Alexander, “The Almighty, God, Jehovah, speaks;” and remarks that the word “mighty” is not an adject... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF ZION - The place where God was worshipped, and where he dwelt. Compare the notes at Isaiah 2:3. THE PERFECTION OF BEAUTY - See the notes at Psalms 48:2. GOD HATH SHINED - Has shined forth, or has caused light and splendor to appear. Compare Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 80:2; Psalms 94:1 (see the... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR GOD SHALL COME - That is, he will come to judgment. This language is derived from the supposition that God “will” judge the world, and it shows that this doctrine was understood and believed by the Hebrews. The New Testament has stated the fact that this will be done by the coming of his Son Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL CALL TO THE HEAVENS FROM ABOVE - He will call on all the universe; he will summon all worlds. The meaning here is, not that he will gather those who are in heaven to be judged, but that he will call on the inhabitants of all worlds to be his witnesses; to bear their attestation to the justi... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER MY SAINTS TOGETHER UNTO ME - This is an address to the messengers employed for assembling those who are to be judged. Similar language is used by the Saviour Matthew 24:31 : “And he (the Son of Man) shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elec... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HEAVENS SHALL DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS - Shall make it known, or announce it. That is, the heavens - the heavenly inhabitants - will bear witness to the justness of the sentence, or will approve the sentence. See the notes at Psalms 50:4. Compare Psalms 97:6. FOR GOD IS JUDGE HIMSELF - The... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, O MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL SPEAK - God himself is now introduced as speaking, and as stating the principles on which the judgment will proceed. The previous verses are introductory, or are designed to bring the scene of the judgment before the mind. The solemn scene now opens, and God himself spe... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOT REPROVE THEE FOR THY SACRIFICES OR THY BURNT-OFFERINGS - On the words “sacrifices” and “burnt-offerings” here used, see the notes at Isaiah 1:11. The meaning is, “I do not reprove or rebuke you in respect to the withholding of sacrifices. I do not charge you with neglecting the offering o... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL TAKE NO BULLOCK OUT OF THY HOUSE - Bullocks were offered regularly in the Hebrew service and sacrifice Exodus 29:11, Exodus 29:36; Leviticus 4:4; 1Ki 18:23, 1 Kings 18:33; and it is with reference to this that the language is used here. In obedience to the law it was right and proper to offer... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY BEAST OF THE FOREST IS MINE - All the beasts that roam at large in the wilderness; all that are untamed and unclaimed by man. The idea is, that even if God “needed” such offerings, he was not dependent on them - for the numberless beasts that roamed at large as his own would yield an ample... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW ALL THE FOWLS OF THE MOUNTAINS - That is, I am fully acquainted with their numbers; their nature; their habits; their residence. I have such a knowledge of them that I could appropriate them to my own use if I were in need of them. I am not, therefore, dependent on people to offer them, for I... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I WERE HUNGRY, I WOULD NOT TELL THEE - I should not have occasion to apply to you; I should not be dependent on you. FOR THE WORLD IS MINE - The earth; all that has been created. AND THE FULNESS THEREOF - All that fills the world; all that exists upon it. The whole is at his disposal; to all th... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL I EAT THE FLESH OF BULLS, OR DRINK THE BLOOD OF GOATS? - This is said to show still further the absurdity of the views which seem to have prevailed among those who offered sacrifices. They offered them “as if” they were needed by God; “as if” they laid him under obligation; “as if” in some way... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING - The word rendered “offer” in this place - זבח _zâbach_ - means properly “sacrifice.” So it is rendered by the Septuagint, θῦσον _thuson_ - and by the Vulgate, _“immola.”_ The word is used, doubtless, with design - to show what was the “kind” of sacrifice with which Go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CALL UPON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE - This is a part of real religion as truly as praise is, Psalms 50:14. This is also the duty and the privilege of all the true worshippers of God. To do this shows where the heart is, as really as direct acts of praise and thanksgiving. The purpose of all that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO THE WICKED GOD SAITH - This commences a second part of the subject. See the introduction. Thus far the psalm had reference to those who were merely external worshippers, or mere formalists, as showing that such could not be approved and accepted in the day of judgment; that spiritual religi... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THOU HATEST INSTRUCTION - That is, He is unwilling himself to be taught. He will not learn the true nature of religion, and yet he presumes to instruct others. Compare the notes at Romans 2:21. AND CASTEST MY WORDS BEHIND THEE - He treated them with contempt, or as unworthy of attention. He... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU SAWEST A THIEF - When you have seen or found one who was intending to commit theft, then (instead of rebuking or exposing him) you have been willing to act with him, and to divide the profits. The words “when thou sawest” would seem to imply readiness and willingness to engage with them, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU GIVEST THY MOUTH TO EVIL - Margin, as in Hebrew, “thou sendest.” That is, they gave it up to evil; they employed it in evil: in falsehood, malice, deceit, slander, deception, detraction. AND THY TONGUE FRAMETH DECEIT - The word rendered “frameth” means properly to bind, to fasten; and then, to... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SITTEST AND SPEAKEST AGAINST THY BROTHER - To the general character of falsehood and slander there is now added the fact that they were guilty of this in the most aggravated manner conceivable - against their nearest relations, the members of their own families. They were not only guilty of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS HAST THOU DONE, AND I KEPT SILENCE - Compare the notes at Isaiah 18:4. The meaning is, that while they did these things - while they committed these abominations - he did not interfere. He did not come forth in his anger to destroy them. He had borne all this with patience. He had borne... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONSIDER THIS - Understand this; give attention to this. The word “now” does not well express the force of the original. The Hebrew word is not an adverb of “time,” but a particle denoting “entreaty,” and would be better rendered by, “Oh, consider this;” or, “Consider this, I beseech you.” The m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO OFFERETH PRAISE GLORIFIETH ME - That is, he truly honors me; he is a true worshipper; he meets with my approbation. The word here rendered ““offereth”” is the same which is used in Psalms 50:14, and means “he that sacrifices:” here meaning, he that presents the sacrifice of praise. So the Sept... [ Continue Reading ]