_ This Psalm is intended,_ _A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ (1,) _ As a reproof of the carnal Jews, both those that rested in the ceremonial and external performances of their religion, and were remiss in the more excellent duties of prayer and praise; and those that expounded the law to others, but lived... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mighty God, even the Lord_ Hebrew. _Eel Elohim, Jehovah; the God of gods; Jehovah;_ the supreme Lord of heaven and earth, the Lawgiver and Judge of men and angels; to whom the greatest kings and potentates are but subjects; the infinite, the eternal, who changes not; _hath spoken and called the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out of Zion_ The place where he was supposed to reside, and where he would now sit in judgment; _the perfection of beauty_ The most amiable place of the whole world, because of the presence, and worship, and blessing of God; _God hath shined_ Hath manifested himself in a glorious manner; hath illus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our God shall come_, &c. God will undoubtedly come and call us to judgment; though now he seems to take no notice of our conduct. The prophet speaks this in the person of one of God's worshippers. As if he had said, Though he be our God, yet he will execute judgment upon us. _And shall not keep sil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gather my saints_, &c. O ye angels, summon and fetch them to my tribunal. Which is poetically spoken, to continue the metaphor and representation of the judgment here mentioned. _My saints_ The Israelites, whom he calls saints; 1st, Because they were all by profession _a holy people_, as they are c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear, O my people_, &c. Having brought in God, as entering into judgment with them, he now gives an account of the process and of the sentence of the judge, whose words are contained in this and the following verses. _O Israel, I will testify against thee_ I will plead with thee, and declare my cha... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices_, &c. This is not the principal matter of my charge against thee, that thou hast neglected sacrifices, which thou shouldest have offered; for, although thou hast often omitted thy duty even in that respect, yet I have greater things than these to charge th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Offer unto God thanksgiving_ If thou wouldest know what sacrifices I prize, and indispensably require, in the first place, it is that of thankfulness, proportionable to my great and numberless favours; which doth not consist barely in verbal acknowledgments, but proceeds from a heart deeply affecte... [ Continue Reading ]
_And call upon me_ Make conscience of that great duty of constant and fervent prayer to me, which is an acknowledgment of thy subjection to me, and of thy trust and dependance upon me, and therefore is pleasing to me; _in the day of trouble_ When trouble comes, do not endeavour to avoid or extricate... [ Continue Reading ]
_But unto the wicked_ The same hypocritical professors, whom he called _saints, Psalms 50:5_, in regard of their profession, and here _wicked_, in respect of their practice; _God saith_ By his Holy Spirit inspiring his prophets with the knowledge of his will, and commissioning them to declare it; _W... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seeing thou hatest instruction_ Seeing thy practice contradicts thy profession, and makes thee a notorious and impudent liar. For though _with thy mouth thou showest much love_ to my statutes and counsels, yet, in truth, thou hatest them, as they oppose and hinder the gratification of thy beloved l... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou sawest a thief_ Instead of reproving him, and witnessing against him, as those should do that declare God's statutes, or that profess his religion; _thou consentedst with him_ Didst approve of his practices, and desire to share in the profits of his iniquitous proceedings. Or, _thou didst... [ Continue Reading ]
_These things hast thou done, and I kept silence_ I did not express my displeasure against thee in such grievous judgments as thou didst deserve. Or, _I was deaf:_ I conducted myself like one that did not hear thy sinful speeches, nor see, or take any notice of thy wicked actions. _And thou thoughte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now consider this, ye that forget God_ Ye hypocritical and ungodly Israelites, who have forgotten (as Moses foretold ye would do, Deu 32:18) _the God that formed you_, and made you his people, and have forgotten his mercies and judgments, by which you should have been instructed, and the covenant w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso offereth praise_ Or, _thanksgiving_, as the word תודה, _todah_, is often rendered; _glorifieth me_ He, and he only, gives me the honour which I prize and require; and not he who loads my altar with a multitude of sacrifices. _And to him, that ordereth his conversation aright _ Hebrew, ושׁם דר... [ Continue Reading ]