This psalm is entitled “Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.” In the margin this is rendered, “A Psalm for Ethan the Ezrahite to give instruction.” On the word Maschil, see the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1. As both Heman (Psalms 88 title) and Ethan, in the title before us, are mentioned as Ezrahites,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SING OF THE MERCIES OF THE LORD FOR EVER - Particularly how the “mercy” was manifested in the promise made to David; the solemn covenant made with him in respect to the perpetuity of his throne. The appointment of David to the throne was an act of mere mercy or favor, since he was not in the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I HAVE SAID - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “Thou hast said,” which is more in accordance with what the connection seems to demand; but the Hebrew will not admit of this construction. The true meaning seems to be, that the psalmist had said; that is, he had said in his mind;... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH MY CHOSEN - With my chosen one; that is, with David. The original is in the singular number, though by the Septuagint, and the Vulgate, and by Luther, it is rendered in the plural - chosen ones - elect. This is undoubtedly the language of God himself, though it is not exp... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SEED WILL I ESTABLISH FOR EVER - Thy children; thy posterity. The reference is to his successors on the throne. The promise was that there should not fail to be one on his throne; that is, that his dynasty should never become extinct. See 2 Samuel 7:16 : “And thy house and thy kingdom shall be e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HEAVENS SHALL PRAISE THY WONDERS, O LORD - That is, the inhabitants of heaven shall find new occasion for praise in the faithfulness evinced in carrying out the promise to David, and in the marvelous things which will occur under that promise, and in its accomplishment. If we suppose that th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN ... - literally, In the cloud; that is, in the sky. The idea is that none in the regions above - the upper world - can be compared with God. There is no other god - there is no one among the angels, great and glorious as they are, that can be likened to him. WHO AMONG THE SONS... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED - There is that in him which is suited to fill the mind with solemn feelings, and this is a proper state of mind with which to come before him. Nature teaches us that God should be approached with awe; and all the teachings of revelation confirm this. His power is to be f... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD GOD OF HOSTS - See the notes at Isaiah 1:9; Psalms 24:10. God, commanding the armies of heaven; leading forth the stars; controlling all forces - all powers. WHO IS A STRONG LORD LIKE UNTO THEE? - The original word here rendered “Lord” is יה _Yâhh_, or _Jah_. This is one of the few places w... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU RULEST THE RAGING OF THE SEA - The pride; the anger; the lifting up of the sea. That is, when the sea is raging and boisterous; when it seems as if everything would be swept away before it, thou hast absolute control over it. There is, perhaps, no more impressive exhibition of divine power than... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BROKEN RAHAB IN PIECES - Margin, “Egypt.” See the notes at Psalms 87:4. The reference is to the exodus of the Hebrew people, when he destroyed the power of Egypt. AS ONE THAT IS SLAIN - Slain on the field of battle; as a man pierced through with a sword or spear. THOU HAST SCATTERED THIN... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVENS ARE THINE - Are thy work; and, therefore, thy property - the highest conception of property being that which is derived from creation. It is also implied here that as all things belong to God, he has a right to dispose of them as he pleases. THE EARTH ALSO IS THINE - The earth itself, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, THOU HAST CREATED THEM - All that there is in the north and in the south - in the northern and the southern sky - the constellations and the stars; and all that there is in the earth - in the regions of cold and of heat - far as they extend in either direction. The word rend... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST A MIGHTY ARM - Margin, as in Hebrew,” an arm with might.” That is, Thou hast great power - the arm being the instrument by which we accomplish our purposes. STRONG IS THY HAND - The hand, too, is an instrument by which we execute our plans. Hence, God is so often represented a having deli... [ Continue Reading ]
JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT ARE THE HABITATION OF THE THRONE - Margin, “establishment.” The Hebrew word - מכון _mâkôn_ - means properly a place where one stands; then, a foundation or basis. The idea here is, that the throne of God is founded on justice and right judgment; it is this which supports it; h... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE PEOPLE - Happy is their condition. See the notes at Psalms 1:1. THAT KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND - That hear that sound. DeWette explains this of the call to the festivals and offerings, Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10; Psalms 27:6. That is, says he, those who honor and worship God. The Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THY NAME SHALL THEY REJOICE - In thee shall they rejoice, or find their happiness. In thy being; thy perfections; thy protection; thy government; thy favor. ALL THE DAY - That is, continually. It is their privilege, and it is their duty to rejoice always. Thou art always the same, and the happin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU ART THE GLORY OF THEIR STRENGTH - The ornament; the beauty; the honor; that is, Their strength derives its beauty and honor, not from anything in themselves, but from the fact that it is derived from thee. The strength thus imparted is an honor or ornament in itself; it is an honor and glor... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD IS OUR DEFENSE - Margin, “Our shield is of the Lord.” The original word rendered “defense,” is shield. Compare Psalms 5:12, note; Psalms 33:20, note; Psalms 59:11, note. The meaning is, that protection was to be found in God alone. The true construction of this verse is, “For to Yahweh... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THOU SPAKEST IN VISION - Or, by a vision. See this word explained in the notes at Isaiah 1:1. The meaning is, that God had spoken this by means of visions, or by communications made to his people by the prophets. This “vision” was especially made known to Nathan, and through him to David. See 2... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FOUND DAVID MY SERVANT - That is, I found him among the sheepfolds; in humble life. I saw there one who was qualified for the high office of being the ruler of the nation, and I designated, or set him apart, for that office. The idea is, that there was in him a precious qualification for this... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH WHOM MY HAND SHALL BE ESTABLISHED - Septuagint: “My hand shall aid him.” Luther; “My hand shall hold him.” DeWette; “With him my hand shall be continually.” Professor Alexander; “Shall ever be present.” The idea is, that God would always defend or protect him. He would not merely interpose at t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENEMY SHALL NOT EXACT UPON HIM - The literal meaning here is derived from the force sometimes used in extorting or demanding a debt, where no indulgence is shown, but where it is exacted to the last mite, whether the man is able to pay it or not. Compare Matthew 18:25, Matthew 18:28. Then it is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL BEAT DOWN HIS FOES BEFORE HIS FACE - I will crush them, or destroy them: showing that the power of doing this was not his own, but was the power of God exerted in his behalf. AND PLAGUE THEM THAT HATE HIM - His enemies. I will bring “plagues” upon them: calamities, judgments, afflictions.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MY FAITHFULNESS AND MY MERCY SHALL BE WITH HIM - I will at the same time be faithful to him, and merciful. These attributes of my nature shall be always attendant on him, as if they were his own. AND IN MY NAME - By me; or - He, acting in my name, and in my cause, shall be exalted. SHALL HIS H... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SET HIS HAND ALSO IN THE SEA ... - His dominion shall extend from the sea on the one hand to the rivers on the other. The sea here evidently refers to the Mediterranean; and the rivers to the great rivers on the east - the Tigris and Euphrates. These were the promised boundaries of the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL CRY UNTO ME, THOU ART MY FATHER - He shall appeal to me, or come to me as a Father, and as his only hope and defense. MY GOD - He shall come to me as God, and shall recognize me as his God, his only trust and hope. AND THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION - See the notes at Psalms 18:2. The meaning o... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO I WILL MAKE HIM MY FIRST-BORN - He shall be regarded and treated by me as the first-born son is in a family; that is, with distinguished favor and honor. Compare Genesis 27:19; Genesis 29:26; Exodus 4:22; Exodus 13:12; Jeremiah 31:9. See also the notes at Colossians 1:15, notes at Colossians 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MERCY WILL I KEEP FOR HIM FOR EVERMORE - I will not withdraw my favor from him, nor from his posterity, Psalms 89:33. In him, and in his Great Descendant, the throne shall be established forever. This dominion will not be like the changing dynasties of this world, but will be perpetual and eterna... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SEED ALSO WILL I MAKE TO ENDURE FOR EVER - That is, His posterity shall occupy the throne: (a) this would have been true of his descendants, if they had been faithful to God, and had not revolted from him; (b) it is true of him who is the successor of David in his spiritual kingdom, the Lord J... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HIS CHILDREN - His posterity; his successors on the throne. FORSAKE MY LAW - If they are not regulated by it in the administration of their government, and in their private lives. It is here supposed that they might forsake his law, or fail to observe it; but still there is the assurance that th... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY BREAK MY STATUTES - Margin, “profane.” The Hebrew word means to pollute or defile; and the idea is, If they practically contemn them; if they regard them as things of nought, or treat them with disdain as a polluted or defiled thing. It is in this way that the mass of mankind do regard the c... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WILL I VISIT THEIR TRANSGRESSION WITH THE ROD - They shall be punished, though my mercy shall not be wholly taken from them. God has two objects in his dealings with his backsliding and offending people; (a) one is to show his displeasure at their conduct, or to punish them; (b) the other is... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS MY LOVING-KINDNESS - My mercy; my favor. I will not utterly cast him off. He shall not be in the condition of those who are my enemies, or who are entirely forsaken. WILL I NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM - Margin, “I will not make void from.” The Hebrew word - פרר _pârar_ - means to break,... [ Continue Reading ]
MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK - literally, I will not pollute, defile, profane. See the notes at Psalms 89:31, where the same word is used. God says that he will not do in regard to the covenant as they had done. NOR ALTER THE THING ... - The promise which I have made. I will not make it a different... [ Continue Reading ]
ONCE HAVE I SWORN BY MY HOLINESS - That is, once for all; - a single oath - an oath once taken by me - makes it certain. To swear by his “holiness” is to pledge his own holy nature; to make it as certain as that he is holy; to stake the whole question of his holiness on that. That is, If this should... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SEED SHALL ENDURE FOREVER ... - His posterity. See the notes at Psalms 89:29. There, the expression is, “his throne as the days of heaven.” Here it is, “his throne as the sun before me.” The meaning is the same. It would stand through all time. Compare the notes at Psalms 72:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER AS THE MOON - As long as the moon shall endure. The heavenly bodies are the most permanent objects that we know of; and they, therefore, became the emblems of stability and perpetuity. Compare the notes at Psalms 72:7. AND AS A FAITHFUL WITNESS IN HEAVEN - As the witn... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU HAST CAST OFF - literally, Thou hast treated as a foul, offensive thing; thou hast treated him to whom these promises were made, as if he were a vile and detestable object - as that which one throws away because it is worthless or offensive. AND ABHORRED - Hast despised; that is, as if it... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST MADE VOID THE COVENANT OF THY SERVANT - Thou hast dealt with him as if there were no such covenant; as if no such promise had been made to him. The word rendered “made void,” means to abhor, or reject. THOU HAST PROFANED HIS CROWN, BY CASTING IT TO THE GROUND - literally, “Thou hast profa... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BROKEN DOWN ALL HIS HEDGES - His walls or defenses; all that he relied on for safety. THOU HAST BROUGHT HIS STRONGHOLDS TO RUIN - His towers, fortifications; defenses. The enemy has been suffered to destroy them. They are now heaps of ruins.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT PASS BY THE WAY SPOIL HIM - The sentiment here is substantially the same as in Psalms 80:12. See the notes at that place. The idea is that of fields or vineyards, where all the fences, the walls, and the hedges are thrown down so that they become like an open common. HE IS A REPROACH TO HI... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST SET UP THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS ADVERSARIES - Hast given them the victory. Thou hast suffered them to accomplish their purposes. THOU HAST MADE ALL HIS ENEMIES TO REJOICE - They joy or rejoice in the success of their plans; in their triumphs over thy servant and over his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ALSO TURNED THE EDGE OF HIS SWORD - That is, Thou hast turned it away, so that when it is raised to strike, it does not descend on the object aimed at by the blow. The meaning is, that he had not been successful in battle, or had been defeated. AND HAST NOT MADE HIM TO STAND IN THE BATTLE... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST MADE HIS GLORY TO CEASE - Margin,” brightness.” Luther, “Thou destroyest his purity.” The original word means brightness, sp endour. The literal translation here would be, “Thou causest to cease from being brightness;” that is, Thou hast taken away from his brightness, so that it is gone.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF HIS YOUTH HAST THOU SHORTENED - This does not mean that he had shortened his life, but that he had abbreviated the period of his vigor, his hope, and his prosperity; instead of lengthening out these, and prolonging them into advancing years, he had by calamities, disappointments, reverse... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG, LORD? - How long is this to continue? Can it be that this is to continue always? Is there to be no change for the better? Are the promises which have been made, never to be fulfilled? Compare Psalms 13:1, note; Psalms 77:7, notes. WILT THOU HIDE THYSELF FOR EVER? - Thy favor. Wilt thou ne... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER HOW SHORT MY TIME IS - The word rendered “time” - חלד _cheled_ - means duration; lifetime. Psalms 39:5. Then it means life; time; age; the world. Literally, here, “Remember; I; what duration.” The meaning is plain. Bear in remembrance that my time must soon come to an end. Life is brief. In... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MAN IS HE THAT LIVETH, AND SHALL NOT SEE DEATH? - Shall not die - to see death being an expression often used to denote death itself. Death is represented as a real object, now invisible, but which will make itself visible to us when we die. The meaning here is, “All men are mortal; this univer... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WHERE ARE THY FORMER LOVING-KINDNESSES - Thy mercies; thy pledges; thy promises. Where are those promises which thou didst make formerly to David? Are they accomplished? Or are they forgotten and disregarded? They seem to be treated as a thing of nought; as if they had not been made. He relied... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER, LORD, THE REPROACH OF THY SERVANTS - Remember this, so as to cause it to pass away; he not forgetful or unmindful of this. Compare Psalms 89:47. The psalmist desired that all this might be before the mind of God as a reason why he should help him. These promises had been made to David and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREWITH THINE ENEMIES HAVE REPROACHED, O LORD - Have reproached thee and me. Wherewith they reproach thy character and cause, and reproach me for having trusted to promises which seem not to be fulfilled. As the representative of thy cause, I am compelled to bear all this, and it breaks my heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD FOR EVERMORE - Praise to God always. So Chrysostom was accustomed to say, even when driven out as an exile and a wanderer, “Blessed be God for everything.” The passage here denotes entire acquiescence in God; perfect confidence in him; a belief that he was right, and faithful, an... [ Continue Reading ]