1._I will extol thee, my God and my king_. David does not so much tell what he would do himself, as stir up and urge all others to this religious service of offering to God the praises due to his name. The design with which he declares God to be beneficent to the children of men is, to induce them t... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Generation to generation_, etc. Here he insists upon the general truth, that all men were made and are preserved in life for this end, that they may devote themselves to the praise of God. And there is an implied contrast between the eternal name of God, and that immortality of renown which great... [ Continue Reading ]
7._They shall speak forth_, _etc_. As the verb נבע, _nabang_, means properly to _gush out_, some suppose, that, as applied to speech, it means not simply speaking, but an overflowing utterance, like water rushing from a fountain, and the verb ירננו, _yerannenu_, in the close of the verse, answers to... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Jehovah is gracious_, _etc_. He opens up the goodness of which he spoke by using several expressions, as that God is inclined to mercy, (for such is the proper meaning of the word חנון, _channun_,) and that he helps us willingly, as one sympathizing with our miseries. It is to be noticed that Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Jehovah is good to all_, _etc_. The truth here stated is of wider application than the former, for the declaration of David is to the effect, that not only does God, with fatherly indulgence and clemency, forgive sin, but is good to all without discrimination, as he makes his sun to rise upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
10._All thy works_, _etc_. Though many would suppress God’s praises, observing a wicked silence regarding them, David declares that they shine forth everywhere, appear of themselves, and are sounded, as it were, by the very dumb creatures. He then assigns the special work of declaring them to believ... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Jehovah upholding all the falling_. He gives instances of the goodness and mercy of God, such as make it evident that God reigns only for the promotion of the general welfare of mankind. By_the falling_, and _those who are bowed down_, he means figuratively those who are overwhelmed by adversity... [ Continue Reading ]
15._The eyes of all hope in thee_. David adduces an additional proof of God’s goodness, in giving food to all living creatures, and thus showing himself in the character of the father of a family. Some interpreters, led by the term hope, which is employed, restrict the application to men, as being e... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Thou openest thine hand_, _etc_. The figure is a beautiful one. Most men pass over without observation the singular goodness of God apparent in this admirable ordering of things in nature, and David therefore represents him as stretching out his hand to distribute to the animals their food. We s... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Jehovah is righteous in all his ways_. He does not now speak of God’s goodness merely in providing all his creatures with their daily food, but comprehends other parts of his providence, as in correcting men for their sins, restraining the wicked, trying the patience of his people under the cros... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Jehovah is near to all that call upon him_. This truth is principally applicable to believers, whom God in the way of singular privilege invites to draw near him, promising that he will be favorable to their prayers. Faith, there is no doubt, lies idle and even dead without prayer, in which the... [ Continue Reading ]
To throw the door still more open, the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of David, tells us, that _God will accommodate himself to the desires of all who fear him. _This is a mode of expression of which it is difficult to say how much it ought to impress our minds. Who is man, that God should show complaisa... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Jehovah preserves_, etc. He insists upon the same truth, — that God is near to his people to help them in the time of need; this being a sure proof of his presence, that by his mercy they come safe and unhurt out of every danger which befalls them. It is worthy of our notice, that, instead of fe... [ Continue Reading ]