INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 8 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON GITTITH, A PSALM OF DAVID. Some think this psalm was composed when the ark was brought to the house of Obededom the Gittite; and that it was delivered to him and his sons, as others were to Asaph, to Jeduthun, to the sons of Korah, c. l. But agains... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD OUR GOD,.... Jehovah, the one God, who is Lord of all angels and men, and in an especial manner Lord and King of saints; HOW EXCELLENT [IS] THY NAME IN ALL THE EARTH! by the "name" of God is not meant any particular name of his, by which he is called; but either himself, his nature and perfe... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS,.... Not literally such, though the Jewish writers e generally so understand it; as do some Christian interpreters, who explain it of the wonderful formation, nourishment, and growth of infants; and of the marvellous care of God in providing the breast for th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I CONSIDER THY HEAVENS,.... Where God dwells, and which he has made; the airy and starry heavens, which are to be seen with the bodily eye; and the heaven of heavens, which is to be beheld and considered by faith: THE WORK OF THY FINGERS; being curiously wrought by his power, and garnished by... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM?.... That is, the psalmist, while he was considering the greatness and glory of the celestial bodies, thought this within himself, and so expressed it; which is to be understood, not of man in general, nor of Adam in a state of innocence; he could not be cal... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS,.... Than Elohim, "than God", as this word usually signifies: and could it be interpreted of man, as made by God, it might be thought to refer to the creation of him in the image and likeness of God; but as it must be understood of the human natu... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MADEST HIM TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORKS OF THY HANDS,.... All power in heaven and in earth being given to him: when he was raised from the dead, and when he ascended on high, and was set down at the right hand of God, he was made or declared Lord and Christ; Lord of the hosts of heaven, of a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SHEEP AND OXEN,.... The tame creatures, which are useful for food and clothing: YEA, AND THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD; the wild beasts, which he can make use of to destroy and devour his enemies, and whom he can restrain from harming his own people, Jeremiah 15:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOWL OF THE AIR,.... These he rained about the tents of the Israelites for their relief, Psalms 78:27, and can command them to feed his people, as the ravens did Elijah, 1 Kings 17:4; or to destroy his enemies, Jeremiah 15:3; see Psalms 50:10; AND THE FISH OF THE SEA: instances of Christ's powe... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD OUR LORD, HOW EXCELLENT [IS] THY NAME IN ALL THE EARTH! The psalm ends with the same words with which it begins; which shows that the sense of this, with which the psalmist was affected, continued with him, and doubtless increased, after such a confirmation of it, by the instances he was led... [ Continue Reading ]