_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._ This Psalm contains a thankful commemoration and celebration of God's mercies to the psalmist himself, to the people of Israel, and to all good men. “It may properly be said to describe the wonders of grace, as the following Psalm describes the wonders of nature.” David exci... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that is within me, bless his holy name_ Let all my thoughts and affections be engaged, united, and raised to the highest pitch in and for this work. _Forget not all his benefits_ In order to our duty, praising God for his mercies, it is necessary we should have a grateful remembrance of them. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who redeemeth thy life from destruction_ Both temporal and eternal; from deadly dangers and miseries. _Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness_ That is, encompasseth and adorneth thee therewith, as with a crown. _Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things_ Satisfieth all thy just desires and necessiti... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord executeth judgment for all that are oppressed_ Which, being a singular perfection, and one wherein most of the princes of the world were and are defective, is justly celebrated in God. _He made known his ways unto Moses_ His _laws_, often called his _ways;_ or, the methods of his dealing w... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is merciful and gracious_ See on Exodus 34:6. _Slow to anger_ Not speedily punishing sinners, but patiently waiting for their repentance. _He will not always chide_ Or contend by his judgments with sinners, but is ready to be reconciled to them, namely, upon their repentance, as is manifes... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the heaven, &c., so great is his mercy_ So much above our deserts and expectations, and above the mercy which one man shows to another; _toward them that fear him_ Which clause he adds here, as also Psalms 103:17, to prevent men's mistakes and abuses of God's mercy, and to overthrow the vain hop... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he knoweth our frame_ The weakness and mortality of our natures, and the frailty and misery of our condition, (as the expression seems to be explained in the following clause) _That we are_ but _dust_ And that if he should let loose his hand upon us, we should be irrecoverably destroyed. For, _... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting_, &c. But though we quickly decay and perish, yet God's mercy to us doth not die with us, but, as it was from eternity exercised in gracious purposes, so it will be continued unto eternity in that future and endless life which is before us; _upon them t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord hath prepared_, &c. Having celebrated God's mercy to his people, he now praises him for his excellent majesty and universal dominion; _his throne in the heavens_ Which expression denotes the eminence, glory, power, stability, and unchangeableness of God's kingdom; _and his kingdom ruleth o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bless the Lord, ye his angels_ Who, though glorious creatures, are but his ministers and messengers, as the word signifies. And by inviting the angels to bless God he excites men to the same duty, as having more dependance upon God, and obligation to him. _That excel in strength_ Of which see one e... [ Continue Reading ]