CL. In the place of the short doxology, such as concludes each of the former books of the psalter, this psalm was fitly composed or selected to close the whole collection. It has been well called “the finale of the spiritual concert,” and no doubt afforded a good musical display, music performed wi... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTUARY — That is, the temple. Some take it in direct parallelism with firmament, and understand the “heavenly palace,” or “Temple” (comp. Psalms 11:4); but, as in Psalms 148, the invocation to praise includes heaven and earth; so here, but in the reverse order, the earthly sanctuary first, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHTY ACTS... EXCELLENT GREATNESS. — The one displayed on earth, the other manifested in heaven. (See preceding Note.)... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUMPET. — Heb., _shôphar._ (See Psalms 81:3; Psalms 98:6. LXX., σάλπιγξ.) It was the crooked horn, sometimes also called _keren._ (_Bïble Educator,_ 2:231.) PSALTERY AND HARP. — See Note, Psalms 33:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMBREL AND DANCE. — See Psalms 149:3. STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. — _Minnîm._ Literally, _parts,_ so _threads,_ so here, as in LXX. and Vulg., “with” or “on strings.” (See Note, Psalms 45:9.) ORGANS. — Heb., _‘ugab,_ which has been variously identified with the _syrinx,_ or Pan’s pipes, of the Greeks,... [ Continue Reading ]
CYMBALS. — Heb., _tseltselîm_ (2 Samuel 6:5), a word evidently formed to express the sound of the instrument. Two kinds are evidently indicated in this verse, the “loud” cymbals (literally, _cymbals of hearing_)_,_ and “high-sounding” (literally, _of tumult_). As the Arabs use at present a larger an... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH. — LXX. “every breath;” Vulg., “every spirit;” literally, _all breath._ We naturally wish to give these words their largest intent, and to hear the psalter close with an invocation to “the earth with her thousand voices” to praise God. But the psalm so distinctly and posi... [ Continue Reading ]