Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Ver. 1. _Hallelujah_] See Psalms 111:1 . _ Praise, O ye servants of the Lord_] None but such can do it, or are fit for it; and for such praise is comely, Psalms 147:1, as unthankfulness is an ugly sin, but especial... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Ver. 2. _Blessed be the name of the Lord_] Praise him with utmost intention and extension of spirit and of speech. God is therefore called, by an appellative proper, The Blessed One, _Baruc-hu,_ Mar 14:61 Luke 1:68 . _From this... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name [is] to be praised._ Ver. 3. _From the rising of the sun_] _i.e._ All the world over, in all places and at all times. North and south are not mentioned (but included), because not so well peopled.... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD [is] high above all nations, [and] his glory above the heavens. Ver. 4. _The Lord is high, &c._] He looketh on the earth as on an ant hill. All nations to him are but as a drop of a bucket, Isaiah 40:15 _Quantilla ergo es tu istius guttae particula?_ (Aug.). _ And his glory above the heav... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Ver. 5. _Who is like, &c._] See Psalms 89:6. He is imparallel. _ Who dwelleth on high_] Heb. Who exalteth to dwell. Oh that we could fly a pitch any way proportionable by exalting his name together, Psalms 34:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth! Ver. 6. _Who humbleth himself_] Lo, it is a condescension in God to vouchsafe to look out of himself upon the saints and angels, how much more upon us, since sin setteth us farther beneath a worm than a worm is bene... [ Continue Reading ]
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; Ver. 7. _He raiseth up the poor, &c._] David, for instance, besides many others, as Agathocles, Numa, Maximinianus, &c., whom he raised from the lowest stair to the very highest step of honour and opulence.... [ Continue Reading ]
That he may set [him] with princes, [even] with the princes of his people. Ver. 8. _That he may set him with princes_] See 1 Samuel 2:8, Hannah's song, whereof this seemeth to be an abridgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Ver. 9. _He maketh the barren woman to keep house_] Heb. to dwell in a house, that is, to have a house full of children, and so to build her husband's house, Ruth 4:11. This is applied to the Chur... [ Continue Reading ]