XXIV. Here, as in Psalms 19, we come upon a poem made up of two separate pieces, united without due regard to the difference both of tone and rhythm, which strikes even an English reader. The piece from Psalms 24:1 inclusive falls into three stanzas, of four, five, and four lines respectively. The s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD’S. — The majesty of Jehovah as Lord of the universe is a reason to the psalmist for insisting on rectitude and sincerity in those who become His worshippers. St. Paul uses the same truth, referring to this place (1 Corinthians 10:26), to show that all things are innocent and pure to the pur... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE SEAS. — For the idea of the earth resting on water, comp. Psalms 136:6; Proverbs 8:25. In Genesis the dry land emerges from the water, but is not said to be founded on it. In Job 26:7 the earth is said to be hung upon nothing. The idea of a water foundation for the earth naturally grew out... [ Continue Reading ]
For the elaboration of this answer, see Psalms 15 and Isaiah 33:15; Isaiah 33:18. “The answer is remarkable, as expressing in language so clear that a child may understand it, the great doctrine that the only service, the only character which can be thought worthy of such a habitation, is that which... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SOUL. — The Hebrew margin is “my soul,” a reading confirmed by the Alexandrian Codex of the LXX. The Rabbis defend it by saying _soul_ here _= name_ (comp. Amos 6:8; Jeremiah 51:14), and _to lift up to vanity = to take in vain._ VANITY. — Evidently, from the parallelism, in the sense of _falseh... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUSNESS. — This is the real blessing that comes from God. That virtue is her own reward, is the moral statement of the truth. The highest religious statement must be looked for in Christ’s “Beatitudes.”... [ Continue Reading ]
O JACOB. — The address to Jacob is certainly wrong, and therefore many critics, following the LXX. and Syriac, rightly insert, as in our margin, the words “O God of.”... [ Continue Reading ]
GATES. — The LXX. and Vulgate miss this fine personification, by rendering “princes” instead of “heads.” “Lift up your gates, O princes.” The sacrifice of the poetry to antiquarianism, by introducing the idea of a “portcullis,” is little less excusable. The poet deems the ancient gateways of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO... — But the claim is not unchallenged. The old heathen gates will not at once recognise the new-comer’s right of admission. THE LORD STRONG AND MIGHTY. — But it is the right of conquest — “Jehovah, the strong, the mighty, Jehovah, mighty in battle.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD OF HOSTS. — A second challenge from the reluctant gates serves as the inauguration of the great name by which the Divine nature was especially known under the monarchy. (For its origin and force, see Note on 1 Samuel 1:3.)... [ Continue Reading ]