INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 135 This psalm was written very probably by the same hand as the former. It begins in much the same manner; it has some likeness with Psalm 113 and 114. It begins and ends with "hallelujah"; and is throughout an exhortation of praise to God, on account of his name, nature, and... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE YE THE LORD,.... Or hallelujah; which may be considered as the title of the psalm; as in the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions: PRAISE YE THE NAME OF THE LORD; that is, the Lord himself, and the perfections of his nature; his greatness, goodness, grace, and mer... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THAT STAND IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,.... That have a place and standing there, and go not out, being sons as well as servants; Psalms 134:1 and Psalms 84:4; IN THE COURTS OF THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD; alluding to the courts in the temple, the court of the priests, where they stood and ministered, s... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAISE YE THE LORD, FOR THE LORD [IS] GOOD,.... Essentially and communicatively; he is good, and he does good, in a providential way, to all men; and in a way of special grace to his own people; for whom he has laid up and to whom he has promised good things, and on whom he bestows them; as pardon,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD HATH CHOSEN JACOB UNTO HIMSELF,.... To be his own special people, and not another's; for his own service, and for his glory; and to be an habitation for himself, and to be for ever with him. This is not to be understood personally of Jacob, though a chosen vessel of mercy; nor of his na... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW THAT THE LORD [IS] GREAT,.... Jehovah the Father is great in his perfections; in his power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, and goodness; and in his works of creation, providence, and grace: and so is Jehovah the Son, who seems chiefly designed, who is called "our Lord" or "Adon" in the next... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER THE LORD PLEASED, [THAT] DID HE,.... In creation, producing into being what creatures he thought fit; in providence, doing according to his will in heaven and in earth; in grace, predestinating men to grace and glory, according to the good pleasure of his will, and calling by his grace wh... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAUSETH THE VAPOURS TO ASCEND FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH,.... Up to the heavens. Aben Ezra interprets this of the mist which went up out of the earth, and watered it, Genesis 2:6; and still vapours are exhaled out of the earth by the force of the sun, and carried up into the air, and form various... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SMOTE THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT, BOTH OF MAN AND BEAST. Which was the last of the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians; and is particularly mentioned, because, by means of it, they were made willing to let the children of Israel go out of their land: and so this includes the deliverance of the Israel... [ Continue Reading ]
[WHO] SENT TOKENS AND WONDERS INTO THE MIDST OF THEE, O EGYPT,.... Or, "signs and wonders". Meaning the other extraordinary plagues sent among the Egyptians, before that of slaying their firstborn; and which have some likeness to the vials of God's wrath, which will be poured out on the city called... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SMOTE GREAT NATIONS, AND SLEW MIGHTY KINGS. Or "many nations" l. The seven nations of the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; the kings of which were mighty and many, even thirty one in number, Joshua 12:1. This the Lord did by Joshua, a type of Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES, AND OG KING OF BASHAN,.... These are particularly named, because they were the first that were slain, and were the most mighty and powerful; see Deuteronomy 3:11. These the Lord slew by the hand of Moses, a type of Christ; who has destroyed the god and prince of this worl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE THEIR LAND [FOR] AN HERITAGE,.... The land of the two kings before mentioned, which was given to the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 3:12; and the lands belonging to the several kingdoms of Canaan were given to the rest of the tribes; AN HERITAGE UNTO ISRAE... [ Continue Reading ]
THY NAME, O LORD, [ENDURETH] FOR EVER,.... The Lord himself endures for ever, in his nature, being, and perfections; and the fame of him, the fame of those acts of power and goodness before mentioned: the name of Christ endures for ever; his person and offices, his Gospel, which is his name; his chi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE,.... Rule and govern, protect and defend them; plead their cause, and avenge them of their enemies; judge between them, distinguish them by his care and providence, make them visible, so that others shall see the difference between them; especially at the last day,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IDOLS OF THE HEATHEN [ARE] SILVER AND GOLD,.... This, with what follows, is observed, to show that when God judges his people, and takes vengeance on their enemies, the idols they serve will not be able to protect them, and deliver them out of his hands; and also to prove what is before asserted... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE MOUTHS, BUT THEY SPEAK NOT,.... Return no answer to the request and petition of their votaries; Psalms 115:5; EYES HAVE THEY, BUT THEY SEE NOT; the same is observed in the above place, which see.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE EARS, BUT THEY HEAR NOT,.... Psalms 115:6; NEITHER IS THERE [ANY] BREATH IN THEIR MOUTHS; they are lifeless statues, they have not so much as what the brute creatures have, breath; our Jehovah, as the living God, is rightly opposed to them, who gives life, and breath, and all things, unt... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT MAKE THEM ARE LIKE UNTO THEM,.... Are as blind, stupid, and senseless as they; or "let them that make them", c. q so some versions and interpreters; Psalms 115:8; [SO IS] EVERYONE THAT TRUSTETH IN THEM; alike ignorant and sottish: and so are all such that set up idols and lusts in their o... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL,.... Who are chosen by the Lord to be a special people to him above all others; redeemed from Egyptian bondage; through a variety of surprising providences brought into and settled in the land of Canaan; distinguished by various blessings, favoured with the word, wo... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THE LORD, O HOUSE OF LEVI,.... These were of the same tribe with the house of Aaron, but inferior ministers; they ministered to the priests, and had the charge of things in the tabernacle and temple; many of them were porters in the latter, and others were singers, and of these Kimchi interpre... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD OUT OF ZION,.... This, according to Aben Ezra, was the formula of blessing to be used by the houses of Israel, Aaron, and Levi, and all that feared God; or a direction to them in what manner they should bless him; and may both point out the persons that were to bless, and the pla... [ Continue Reading ]