_A.M. 3405. B.C. 599._ As this Psalm manifestly treats of the declining state of the house and kingdom of David, it is probable the author of it lived either in the time of Jehoiachin or Zedekiah, about the beginning of the Babylonish captivity. He praises God and rejoices in him, Psalms 89:1. He b... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will sing of the mercies of the Lord_ He speaks this by way of preface, lest the following complaints of present miseries should argue ingratitude for former mercies. _I will make known thy faithfulness_ Assuring posterity, from my own observation and experience, that thou art true to every word... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have made a covenant with my chosen_ With David, whom I have chosen to the kingdom. _Thy seed will I establish for ever_, &c. I will perpetuate the kingdom to thy posterity; which was promised upon condition, and was literally accomplished in Christ, who was of the seed of David. _And the heavens... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who among the sons of the mighty_ That is, of the most mighty princes upon earth: or among the highest angels; who well may and needs must admire and adore thee, because thou art incomparably and infinitely more excellent than they. _God is greatly to be feared_ With a fear of reverence; for dread... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is a strong Lord like unto thee?_ Who is equal to thee in power, or, as it follows, in faithfulness. _Or to thy faithfulness round about thee_ Hebrew, _and thy faithfulness is round about thee_, encompassing and adorning thee like a girdle. It appears in all thy paths and actions, in thy words... [ Continue Reading ]
_The earth also is thine, and the fulness thereof_ All the creatures wherewith it is replenished, as Psalms 24:1; Psalms 50:12. _Thou hast founded them_ They are all thy creatures, and of consequence are wholly subject to thy power and pleasure; and therefore all the monarchs and kingdoms of the ear... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast a mighty arm_, &c. Thy power, extending itself throughout the whole, always effects, in every place, whatsoever thou designest, and that with an irresistible force; whether it be to punish evil- doers, or to preserve and exalt them that do well. _Justice and judgment_ That is, just judgme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed are the people_, &c. Next to the praises of Jehovah, is declared the happiness of those who have him for their God, who are his worshippers and servants, living under his righteous and merciful government; _that know_ That hear, from time to time, acknowledge and obey; _the joyful sound_ “T... [ Continue Reading ]
_In thy name shall they rejoice all the day_ That is, in the knowledge and remembrance of thy name, or of thy infinite power and goodness, revealed and imparted to them; _and in thy righteousness_ Whereby thou art both inclined, and, in some sort, engaged to hear the prayers of thy people, and to sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ That is, of old; _thou spakest in vision_ Which then was the usual way by which God spake to the prophets; _to thy Holy One_ To thy holy prophets, the singular number being put for the plural; especially to Samuel and Nathan; for part of the following message was delivered to the former: and... [ Continue Reading ]
_My faithfulness and mercy shall be with him Faithfulness_ in making good all my promises to him; and _mercy_ in doing more for him than I promised, and in pardoning his sins, for which I might justly make him to know my breach of promise. _And in my name_ That is, by my favour and help; _shall his... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will make him my firstborn_ As he calls me father, so I will make him my son, yea, my _firstborn;_ the firstborn had divers privileges above other sons. This and the following passage, in some sort, agree to David, but are much more fully and properly accomplished in Christ, and seem to be ascrib... [ Continue Reading ]
_My mercy_ Declared and promised to him and his seed, as it here follows; _will I keep for him for evermore_ Nothing shall alter my kind intentions, but I will mercifully fulfil all my promises to him; _and my covenant shall stand fast_, &c. Of which see notes on 2 Samuel 7:12. _His seed will I make... [ Continue Reading ]
_Once have I sworn by my holiness_, &c. Here he assigns some reasons why he would not break his covenant with David, though he should have just cause so to do, and though he had, upon such just cause, broken his covenant made with others; 1st, Because this covenant was confirmed by his oath, which a... [ Continue Reading ]
_His throne as the sun before me_ In respect of perpetual duration, as appears, both from the foregoing and following words. _It shall be established as the moon_ As the moon, though subject to eclipses, and frequent and manifold changes, yet doth constantly and perpetually remain in heaven, as a wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou hast cast off_ Having hitherto declared the certainty of God's promises, he now proceeds to show the unsuitableness of the present dispensations of God's providence thereunto, and humbly expostulates with God about it. _Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed _ That person and family that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember how short my time is_ That is, our time, the time of our king and kingdom, in whose name the psalmist put up this petition, and about whom he was much more solicitous than about himself, as is evident, both from the following verses and from the whole body of the Psalm. The sense seems to... [ Continue Reading ]
_What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?_ All men, at their best estate, are mortal and miserable; kings and people must unavoidably die by the condition of their natures. _Lord, where are thy former loving-kindnesses?_ Hast thou forgotten or repented of all that mercy and kindness whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherewith thine enemies have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed_ Or, of the Messiah. By whom he seems to understand, either, 1st, The kings of Judah, the singular number being put for the plural; and by their _footsteps_ may be meant either their ways or actions, and the sad consequences th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be the Lord for evermore_ Let thine enemies reproach thee, and thy promises concerning the sending of the Messiah, and the deliverance of thy people; I do, and will, heartily bless and praise thee for them, and encourage myself with them, not doubting but thou wilt take away all our reproac... [ Continue Reading ]