_A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040._ This Psalm is supposed by Dr. Delaney to have been written by David after his victory over the Philistines, recorded 2 Samuel 23:12; 1 Chronicles 11:14; “and sung in the tabernacle as an epinicion, or hymn of thanksgiving to God for this victory. It begins, O give thanks, &c... [ Continue Reading ]
_O give thanks unto the Lord_ All sorts of persons, which are expressed particularly in the next three verses, as they are mentioned in like manner and order Psalms 115:9, where see the notes. _Let Israel_ After the flesh, all the tribes and people of Israel, except the Levites. _Let the house of Aa... [ Continue Reading ]
_I called upon the Lord in distress_ As if he had said, You may see an example of the divine mercy in me, who was in grievous straits and dangers, but, imploring God's protection and help, he _answered me, and set me in a large place_ He not only delivered me, but placed me in a secure condition, fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is better to trust in the Lord_ It is much safer, and more to a person's comfort; _than to put confidence in man_ As mine enemies do in their own numbers, and in their powerful confederates. “Armies of men, however numerous, and, to appearance, powerful, may be routed and dispersed at once: prin... [ Continue Reading ]
_All nations compassed me about_ The neighbouring nations, the Philistines, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, who were stirred up by the overthrows which David had given to some of them, by their jealousy at his growing greatness, and by their hatred against the true religion. _Yea, they compassed me_ T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast thrust sore at me_, &c. O mine enemy. The singular number may possibly be here put collectively for all his enemies; or, this apostrophe, which is strong, might be directed to some particular person in the battle, who had put David into great danger. _The Lord is my strength and song_ The... [ Continue Reading ]
_The voice of rejoicing and salvation_ That is, of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the deliverances God hath wrought for them; _is in the tabernacle of the righteous_ Because they clearly see God's hand in the work, and therefore take pleasure in it. “There is a noise of them that sing for joy,” says... [ Continue Reading ]
_Open to me the gates of righteousness_ O ye porters, appointed by God for this work, open the gates of the Lord's tabernacle, where the rule of righteousness is kept and taught, and the sacrifices of righteousness are offered: “The faithful, like David and his people of old, demand admission into t... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the gate of the Lord_ These may be considered as the words of the Levites, the porters, returning this answer to the foregoing demand. This is the gate of the Lord, which thou seekest, and which shall be opened to thee, according to thy desire and thy just privilege; for thou art one of tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will praise thee, for thou hast heard me_ That is, “And now, being entered into the courts of thy tabernacle, O my gracious God, I pay thee my most humble thanks, for having so favourably heard the prayers which I put up to thee in my grievous afflictions in Saul's reign, and for having now fully... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the Lord's doing_ This strange event is the work of God, a peculiar effect of his omnipotent wisdom, performed not only without the help, but against all the artifices and forces of man. This and the preceding verse are thus read by Dr. Waterland: _The stone, &c., is made the head of the co... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the day which the Lord hath made_ Or, _sanctified_, as a season never to be forgotten. “Of the day on which Christ arose from the dead, it may, with more propriety than of any other day, be affirmed, _this is the day which Jehovah hath made._ Then it was that the _rejected stone became the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be he that cometh_ Namely, unto us, from whom he was long banished; or, unto the throne; or, he that cometh from his Father into the world, namely, the Messiah, known by the name of _him that cometh_, or _was to come:_ see the margin. _In the name of the Lord_ By command and commission from... [ Continue Reading ]
_God is the Lord_ God hath proved himself to be the _Lord Jehovah_, by the accomplishment of his promises: see the notes on Exodus 6:2. Or, as it is in the margin, _the Lord_, or _Jehovah, is God_, as was said upon another solemn occasion, 1 Kings 18:39. Or, is _the mighty_ God, as this name of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou art my God, and I will praise thee_, &c. In these verses the psalmist subjoins his own thankful acknowledgments of divine goodness, in which he calls upon others to join with him, and give thanks unto the Lord, because _his mercy endureth for ever_ Thus he concludes the Psalm as he began it, P... [ Continue Reading ]