The impregnable stronghold of Zion had fallen. David was master of his future capital. But it was not in his own strength, not for his own glory, that the victory had been won. The city of David was to be "the city of the Lord of Hosts." Its true owner and King must now enter and take possession. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The earth_is _the Lord's_ Better, Unto Jehovah belongeth the earth. The natural order of the Heb. fixes the reader's mind first on Him, Whose approach is the theme of the Psalm. For the same thought see Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14 (R.V.); Psalms 50:12; Psalms 89:11. The words are quoted (from th... [ Continue Reading ]
The unique Majesty of Him Who comes to take possession of His chosen dwelling-place. His sovereignty is not limited to a single nation or a single country. He is the Lord of all the world, for He is its Creator.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he_&c. HE is emphatic. It is HE and no other who laid the foundation of the world (Psalms 104:5; Job 38:4). The land rising out of the water is supposed to rest upon it. Cp. Psalms 136:6; and the idea of the subterranean abyss of waters in Genesis 7:11; and "the water under the earth" in Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who shall ascend_ Often of going up to worship at the sanctuary. See 1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 1:22; Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 37:14; Isaiah 38:22. _stand_ Not merely appear or remain, but as in Psalms 1:5, stand his ground. Cp. 1 Samuel 6:20. _in his holy place_ Synonymous with - _the hill_(or, _mountain)... [ Continue Reading ]
The moral conditions required for access to the presence of so great a God. His Holiness corresponds to His Majesty. Psalms 15:1 ff. and Isaiah 33:14 ff. are parallel in substance as well as form.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart_ He who is innocent of violence and wrong-doing (Psalms 18:20; Psalms 18:24); nay, innocent even in thought and purpose as well as in deed. Cp. Psalms 73:1; Matthew 5:8. _Who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity_ i.e. who is true and faithful to Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the blessing_ R.V. rightly, a blessing. _righteousness_ -Righteousness" is blessing in another aspect. Jehovah manifests Himself to the godly man, as -the God of his salvation" (Psalms 25:5; Psalms 27:9); and this -salvation" is the witness to and reward for his upright conduct. See 1 Samuel 26:23;... [ Continue Reading ]
_generation_ i.e. class, as in Psalms 12:7; Psalms 14:5; Psalms 73:15. _that seek him_ R.V., that seek after him. Two words for _seek_are used in this verse. Both may be used of the outward act of visiting the sanctuary; but both come to express the inward purpose of the heart as well. So far as th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lift up your heads_ As though they were too low and mean for the entrance of "the high and lofty one" who comes, and in token that all resistance is at an end. _ye everlasting doors_ Or, _ye ancient doors_, venerable with unknown antiquity. _and the King_&c. Or, that the King of glory may come in.... [ Continue Reading ]
The procession has reached the ancient gates of Zion. They are summoned to open high and wide to admit their true King.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is the King of glory? may be merely a rhetorical question; but it is far more poetical to suppose that the gates, or the warders, are represented as challenging the comer's right to enter. The choir's response recalls the opening words of the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:2-3), "Jah is my strength an... [ Continue Reading ]
_even lift_&c. Yea, lift them up … that the King of glory may come in.... [ Continue Reading ]
Challenge and response are repeated, with some slight variations, and one important change.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord of hosts_ The climax is reached. He claims to enter, not merely as a victorious warrior, but as the Sovereign of the Universe. The great title _Jehovah Tsebâôth_or _Lord of hosts_, which was characteristic of the regal and prophetic period, meets us here for the first time in the Psalter.... [ Continue Reading ]