1_Bless Jehovah, O my soul! _After having exhorted himself to praise God, the Psalmist adds, that there is abundant matter for such an exercise; thus indirectly condemning himself and others of ingratitude, if the praises of God, than which nothing ought to be better known, or more celebrated, are b... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Laying the beams of his chambers in the waters _David now proceeds to explain at greater length what he had briefly stated under the figure of God’s raiment. The scope of the passage is shortly this, that we need not pierce our way above the clouds for the purpose of finding God, since he meets u... [ Continue Reading ]
5_He hath founded the earth upon its foundations _Here the prophet celebrates the glory of God, as manifested in the stability of the earth. Since it is suspended in the midst of the air, and is supported only by pillars of water, how does it keep its place so steadfastly that it cannot be moved? Th... [ Continue Reading ]
6._He hath covered it with the deep as with a garment, _This may be understood in two ways, either as implying that now the sea covers the earth as a garment, or that at the beginning, before God by his omnipotent word held gathered the waters together into one place, the earth was covered with the... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass _The miracle spoken of is in this verse amplified, from its perpetuity. Natural philosophers are compelled to admit, and it is even one of their first principles, that the water is circular, and occupies the region intermediate between the earth and... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Sending out springs by the valleys _The Psalmist here describes another instance both of the power and goodness of God, which is, that he makes fountains to gush out in the mountains, and to run down through the midst of the valleys. Although it is necessary for the earth to be dry, to render it... [ Continue Reading ]
The same subject is prosecuted in the 13th verse, where it is said _that God watereth the mountains from his chambers _It is no ordinary miracle that the mountains, which seem to be condemned to perpetual drought, and which, in a manner, are suspended in the air, nevertheless abound in pastures. The... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And wine that cheereth the heart of man _In these words we are taught, that God not only provides for men’s necessity, and bestows upon them as much as is sufficient for the ordinary purposes of life, but that in his goodness he deals still more bountifully with them by cheering their hearts wit... [ Continue Reading ]
16._The trees of Jehovah shall be satiated _The Psalmist again treats of God’s general providence in cherishing all the parts of the world. In the first place, he asserts, that by the watering of which he had spoken the trees are satiated, or filled with sap, that thus flourishing they may be a plac... [ Continue Reading ]
19._He hath appointed the moon to distinguish seasons _The Psalmist now comes to another commendation of God’s providence as manifested in the beautiful arrangement by which the course of the sun and moon alternately succeeds each other; for the diversity in their mutual changes is so far from produ... [ Continue Reading ]
21.The _lions roar after their prey _Although lions, if hunger compels them, go forth from their dens and roar even at noon-day, yet the prophet describes what is most usually the case. He therefore says, that lions do not venture to go abroad during the daytime, but that, trusting to the darkness o... [ Continue Reading ]
22._The sun shall rise _The Psalmist continues to prosecute the same subject, showing that God so distributes the successions of time, as that the day belongs properly to man. Did not God put a restraint upon so many wild beasts which are hostile to us, the human race would soon become extinct. As w... [ Continue Reading ]
24._O Jehovah! how magnificent are thy works _The prophet does not make a full enumeration of the works of God, which would be an endless task, but only touches upon certain particulars, that every one may be led from the consideration of them to reflect the more attentively on that wisdom by which... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Great is this sea, and wide in extent _After having treated of the evidences which the earth affords of the glory of God, the prophet goes down into the sea, and teaches us that it is a new mirror in which may be beheld the divine power and wisdom. Although the sea were not inhabited by fishes,... [ Continue Reading ]
27._All these wait upon thee _The prophet here again describes God as acting the part of the master of a household, and a foster-father towards all sorts of living creatures, by providing liberally for them. He had said before, that God made food to grow on the mountains for the support of cattle, a... [ Continue Reading ]
29_Thou shalt hide thy face, and they shall be afraid _In these words, the Psalmist declares, that we stand or fall according to the will of God. We continue to live, so long as he sustains us by his power; but no sooner does he withdraw his life-giving spirit than we die. Even Plato knew this, who... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Glory be to Jehovah for ever _The inspired writer shows for what purpose he has celebrated in the preceding part of the psalm the power, wisdom, and goodness of God in his works, namely, to stir up men to praise him. It is no small honor that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
33._I will sing to Jehovah whilst I live _Here the Psalmist points out to others their duty by his own example, declaring, that throughout the whole course of his life he will proclaim the praises of God without ever growing weary of that exercise. The only boundary which he fixes to the celebration... [ Continue Reading ]
35._Let sinners perish from the earth _This imprecation depends on the last clause of the 31st verse, _Let Jehovah rejoice in his works _As the wicked infect the world with their pollutions, the consequence is, that God has less delight in his own workmanship, and is even almost displeased with it.... [ Continue Reading ]