The Psalm begins by repeating the call to praise with which the preceding Psalm closed, and recites the grounds on which Jehovah is worthy to be praised. It stands here as an answer to the invitation of Psalms 32:11, an example of the "songs of deliverance" spoken of in Psalms 32:7. Yet it differs w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice_ Shout for joy: the same verb as in Psalms 32:11 _b_, though in a different form. As in that verse, _the righteous_and _the upright_, the true Israelites, are addressed. Praise is their duty and their honour: in their mouths alone is it seemly. for _praise &c_.] Omit _for_. Cp. Psalms 147:... [ Continue Reading ]
Introductory call to praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Give thanks unto the Lord with harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings (R.V.). The harp and psaltery were both stringed instruments, differing somewhat in form.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a new song_ Fresh mercies demand a fresh expression of gratitude. See Psalms 40:3; and cp. Psalms 96:1; Psalms 98:1; Psalms 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Jdt 16:13; Revelation 5:9; Psalms 144:9 reproduces 2 _b_, and 3 _a_. _with a loud noise_ Referring either to the music itself, or to the accompanying shou... [ Continue Reading ]
The moral attributes of Jehovah. Jehovah's word is upright: the same word as in Psalms 33:1; cp. Psalms 19:8; Psalms 25:8; Psalms 92:15; Hosea 14:9: and all his work is in faithfulness: cp. Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 36:5; Psalms 92:2. _Word_and _work_need not be limited; they include all the expressi... [ Continue Reading ]
The grounds of praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Righteousness_is the principle of justice; _judgement_the application of it in act. Cp. Psalms 36:6; Psalms 103:6; and for _loveth_cp. Psalms 11:7. _goodness_ Better, as R.V., lovingkindness. This line recurs in Psalms 119:64.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The breath of his mouth_is synonymous with _the word of the Lord_: together they represent _and God said_in Genesis 1:3 ff. The parallelism and the addition _of his mouth_seem to exclude a reference to _the spirit of God_in Genesis 1:2, though the word in the original is the same. The germ of the d... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's creative omnipotence. Word is the expression of thought; command of will: He had but to think and will, and the Universe came into being.... [ Continue Reading ]
The separation of land and water (Genesis 1:9-10). The present tense (_gathereth … layeth up_) expresses the continued action of maintenance as well as the original creation. The comparison _as an heap_probably refers to the appearance of the sea from the shore, and may have been derived from Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
With what awe should man regard such an Almighty Creator! Cp. the argument of Amos, Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:6. Emphasis is laid on the wonder of the method of creation, by the simple divine _fiat_.... [ Continue Reading ]
For HE (emphatic) spake, and it was (cp. Genesis 1:3; Genesis 1:7, &c.); HE commanded and it stood; came into existence and stood there before Him ready to obey His commands; or simply, stood firm. Cp. Psalms 148:5; Psalms 119:90-91; Isaiah 48:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_bringeth … maketh_ Or, _hath brought … hath made_, with particular reference to some recent event. But it agrees better with the argument of Psalms 33:4 to regard the words as expressing a general truth, though quite possibly it had been verified by recent experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's sovereignty in the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
The A.V. obscures the parallelism between Psalms 33:10. The counsel of the nations and the thoughts of the peoples are contrasted with the counsel of Jehovah and the thoughts of his heart. His counsel stands fast like His work in creation (Psalms 33:9). Cp. Jeremiah 33:20-21. With Psalms 33:10, cp.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_ Or, happy; see note on Psalms 1:1. This -beatitude" is based on Deuteronomy 33:29; cp. Deuteronomy 4:6-8. The first line of the verse recurs (with some variations) in Psalms 144:15; with the second cp. Psalms 28:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
From the nations the Psalmist turns to the chosen people. Jehovah's care for Israel constitutes His special claim on their praise. Happy the nation which is the particular object of the choice and care of the omniscient observer of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Psalmist dwells upon Jehovah's all-seeing omniscience in order to emphasise the peculiar privilege of His people. Throned in heaven (1 Kings 8:39 ff.) He surveys all mankind. Cp. Psalms 11:4; Psalms 14:2; Psalms 102:19-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_looketh_ R.V. looketh forth; a rare word, different from that in Psalms 33:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Even he who formeth the hearts of them all, Who considereth all their works. He Who created man must know man's heart (Psalms 94:9). As God -formed" man originally (Genesis 2:7-8), so He continues to -form the hearts" of individuals and of races (Zechariah 12:1). All are in some sense subservient... [ Continue Reading ]
A king is not saved by a numerous host; or, by greatness of power, including other forces beside forces of soldiers. See Psalms 20:7; Psalms 44:3 ff.; Psalms 60:11 f.; and comp. the noble expression of this truth in 1Ma 3:19; "The victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but stren... [ Continue Reading ]
The delusiveness of material resources is contrasted with Jehovah's care for His people. The discomfiture of Pharaoh with his host and horses and chariots (Exodus 14:17; Exodus 15:4) may have been in the poet's mind; and -saved" again recalls Deuteronomy 33:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A horse_to the Israelites cavalry seemed the most formidable part of an army _is but a vain thing_lit. _a lie_, a delusion _for safety_for victory (Psalms 21:1): _neither can it give escape by the greatness of its power_: it cannot even secure its rider's escape in case of defeat. Cp. Proverbs 21:3... [ Continue Reading ]
_the eye of the Lord_ Cp. Psalms 32:8, note; Psalms 34:15; Ezra 5:5; Job 36:7; 1 Peter 3:12. _that hope in his mercy_ Or, _that wait for his lovingkindness_(Psalms 31:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
_death_ Violent death by war or pestilence is meant, as the parallel line shews. Famine was a common scourge in Palestine (Psalms 37:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
_waiteth_ R.V. hath waited; a different word from that in Psalms 33:18_; Psalms 33:22_; found in the Psalter again only in Psalms 106:13; but used in Isaiah 8:17; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 64:4; &c. _our help and our shield_ Cp. again Deuteronomy 33:29, "the shield of thy help"; Psalms 3:3 [ Continue Reading ]
The people's concluding profession of patient trust and hope, corresponding to the introductory invitation of Psalms 33:1, and springing naturally out of the consideration of Jehovah's character in Psalms 33:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his holy name_ See note on Psalms 30:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let thy lovingkindness (Psalms 33:5_; Psalms 33:18_), O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee (or, _waited for thee_). Comp. Psalms 31:1; Psalms 31:24; Romans 5:4-5.... [ Continue Reading ]