INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97 This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when ang... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD REIGNETH,.... He has reigned, now reigns, will and must reign until all enemies are made his footstool; Psalms 93:1, Psalms 96:10, LET THE EARTH REJOICE: not the land of Judea only, and the inhabitants of it, to whom the King Messiah came; for there were but few among them that received... [ Continue Reading ]
CLOUDS AND DARKNESS ARE ROUND ABOUT HIM,.... Either as a garment; so Apollinarius paraphrases it, "near is the King clothed with a cloud and tempest;'' and it is usual with the Heathens to represent their deities as surrounded or clothed with a cloud s: here the allusion is to the tabernacle and t... [ Continue Reading ]
A FIRE GOETH BEFORE HIM, c,] Not the fiery law, which went forth from his right hand on Mount Sinai but rather his Gospel, which, as it enlightens, warms, comforts, and refreshes his people, searches, torments, and destroys his enemies, and is the savour of death unto death to them; see Jeremiah 23:... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS LIGHTNINGS ENLIGHTENED THE WORLD,.... Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HILLS MELTED LIKE WAX AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,.... Kimchi interprets the "hills" of the kings of the wicked; and it was verified in Herod and his nobles, and the citizens of Jerusalem, who, when they heard of the coming of the Messiah, of the birth of the King of the Jews, were exceedingly m... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... His justice in punishing his enemies; the lightning and the thunder in the heavens, the tokens of his wrath, and instruments of it; his wrath itself, which is revealed from heaven, Romans 1:18, or the inhabitants of heaven, as Aben Ezra; the angels of heave... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFOUNDED BE ALL THEY THAT SERVE GRAVEN IMAGES,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which must be the grossest ignorance and stupidity, which, when convinced of, must fill with shame and confusion: this may be considered either as a prayer, th... [ Continue Reading ]
ZION HEARD, AND WAS GLAD,.... Or, the congregation of Zion, as the Targum; the church of Christ, and the members of it, called Zion, in allusion to the mountain of that name, in which the temple stood; a type of the church, Hebrews 12:22, these heard the Gospel, the good news and glad tidings of goo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU, LORD, ART HIGH ABOVE ALL THE EARTH,.... Above all the inhabitants of the earth, as the Targum; he is highly exalted above every name, men of the greatest name that is named in the world; he is made higher than the heavens, and the inhabitants of it; and has all power in heaven and earth, a... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THAT LOVE THE LORD, HATE EVIL,.... The evil of sin, which is to be hated, because of the evil nature of it, it being exceeding sinful; and because of its evil consequences, bringing death, ruin, and destruction with it to the souls of men, unless grace prevents; and disquietude, distress, and tro... [ Continue Reading ]
LIGHT IS SOWN FOR THE RIGHTEOUS,.... Who are made righteous by the obedience of Christ, and live soberly and righteously; the light of joy and gladness, as it is explained in the next clause; see Esther 8:16 so, φοως, "light", is frequently used by Homer x for joy and gladness: these sometimes are w... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE IN THE LORD, YE RIGHTEOUS,.... In the word of the Lord, as the Targum; in Christ, the essential Word, in his person, the greatness, glory, and fulness of it; in his righteousness, and in salvation by him, and that always; see Philippians 4:4, AND GIVE THANKS AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS HOLINE... [ Continue Reading ]