CXLV. This alphabetical psalm recalls in many expressions and phrases the thoughts and feelings of older songs. It has been identified with the “New Song” promised in Psalms 144:9. Possibly some thought of the kind may have led to its following it. The song, though abounding in familiar psalm expre... [ Continue Reading ]
The psalm opens with familiar psalm strains. (Comp. openings of Psalms 30, 34) FOR EVER AND EVER. — In contemplation of the greatness and majesty of God time ceases to be. The poet vows a homage indefinitely prolonged.... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATLY TO BE PRAISED. — See Psalms 18:3 and comp. Psalms 48:1. AND HIS GREATNESS. — Literally, more expressive, _and for his greatness no search._ (Comp. Isaiah 40:28; Job 11:7.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL PRAISE. — Or, _praises,_ with idea of indefinite continuance; and so in the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SPEAK. — Or, perhaps, _sing._ The verb is often rendered _meditate_ (Psalms 77:12; Psalms 119:15, &c.): THY WONDROUS WORKS. — Rather, as in Psalms 105:27 (see Note; comp. Psalms 65:3), _the details of thy wonders._ In psalms like 105, 106, &c, is the detailed fulfilment of this purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY GREATNESS. — Or, according to the written text, _greatnesses._ So Aquila and Jerome. The parallelism is decidedly in favour of the plural.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABUNDANTLY UTTER. — Literally, _pour forth in a stream,_ as in Psalms 19:2; Psalms 78:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Psalms 86:15; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 111:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL. — This wide outlook over the world as the object, with all that it contains, of the Divine pity and love, is a noble anticipation of our Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and is introduced in a similar manner. Just as the subjects of the kingdom of heaven should exceed the heathen in k... [ Continue Reading ]
It is the privilege of the _saints_ to impress the less favoured natures with the glory of the Divine kingdom, which the theocratic relation has displayed in and to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MAKE. — Or, _by making known. _... [ Continue Reading ]
See margin, and comp. Daniel 4:3; Daniel 4:34. But it is not necessary to see any dependence between the passages because of the recurrence of phrases which must have been of daily use in the theocracy. The _nun_ stanza, which should come after Psalms 145:13, has most probably dropped away. The LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD. — Comp. Psalms 37:24. It marks a grand step in theology when the first instance of majesty of the Divine Being is sought in His condescension to human weakness and pity for frailty and want. The heathen had seen that this was _king-like_ — “Regia (crede mihi) res est succurrere lapsis.”... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses are adapted from Psalms 104:27... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS NIGH... Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.” TENNYSON: _HIGHER PANTHEISM._... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESERVETH... DESTROY. — Notice this recurrent thought, that the guardianship of the good implies the destruction of the wicked.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLY NAME. — As in Psalms 33:21; Psalms 103:1; Psalms 105:3.... [ Continue Reading ]