This is also a Psalm of David, and the last of the series in this part of the collection. It is entitled simply, “Of Praise,” or, in the Hebrew, “Praise by David,” or “Praise of David;” that is, one of David’s songs of praise. It is an “alphabetical” psalm; that is, each verse begins with a letter o... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL EXTOL THEE ... - I will lift thee up; I will lift up thy name and praise, so that it may be heard afar. AND I WILL BLESS THY NAME FOREVER AND EVER - I will bless or praise thee. I will do it now; I will do it in all the future. I will do it in time; I will do it in eternity. See the notes at... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY DAY WILL I BLESS THEE ... - Compare Psalms 92:2; Psalms 55:17. As we receive blessings from God every day (compare Lamentations 3:23), it is proper that we should render to him daily thanks; as God is the same always - “yesterday, today, and forever” - it is proper that he should receive from... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED - See Psalms 96:4, note; Psalms 18:3, note. AND HIS GREATNESS IS UNSEARCHABLE - See Job 5:9, note; Job 9:10, note; Job 11:7, notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE GENERATION SHALL PRAISE THY WORKS ... - Shall praise thee on account of thy works or thy doings. That is, Thy praise shall be always kept up on the earth. See the notes at Isaiah 38:19; notes at Psalms 19:2. One generation shall transmit the knowledge of thy works to another by praise - by hymns... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SPEAK - That is, in my acts of praise. I will not be ashamed to be known as his worshipper; I will publicly declare my belief in his existence, his greatness, his goodness. OF THE GLORIOUS HONOR OF THY MAJESTY - The glory of the honor of thy majesty. This accumulation of epithets shows that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MEN SHALL SPEAK OF THE MIGHT OF THY TERRIBLE ACTS - The force, the power of those things done by thee which are suited to inspire fear or reverence. The great power displayed in those acts shall be a ground or reason for celebrating thy praise. The manifestations of that power will so deeply imp... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL ABUNDANTLY UTTER THE MEMORY OF THY GREAT GOODNESS - Hebrew, The memory of the greatness of thy goodness they will pour forth. The word rendered “abundantly utter” means to bud forth, to gush out, to flow, as a fountain. Proverbs 18:4; Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 15:28. It is ap... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS GRACIOUS - See Psalms 86:5, note; Psalms 86:15, note. AND FULL OF COMPASSION - Kind; compassionate; ready to do good. See the notes at Psalms 103:8. SLOW TO ANGER - See Psalms 103:8, where the same expression occurs. AND OF GREAT MERCY - Margin, great in mercy. His greatness is shown i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL - To all his creatures. That is, he is kind and compassionate toward them; he is disposed and ready to do them good. There is not one of them whom he is not ready and willing to bless; not one whose happiness would not be agreeable to him, or whose welfare he is not ready to... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THY WORKS SHALL PRAISE THEE - Or, do praise thee; that is, all thy works show what thou art, and combine in setting forth thy perfections. See the notes at Psalms 19:1. AND THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE - Or, do bless thee. All those who are holy in heaven and on earth, the angels around thy thro... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL SPEAK OF THE GLORY OF THY KINGDOM - Of thy reign; of the great principles of thy government and laws. They see in that reign evidence that thou art worthy of universal praise. Seeing this, it becomes to them a subject on which they talk or converse (compare Malachi 3:16) - a subject of in... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MAKE KNOWN TO THE SONS OF MEN HIS MIGHTY ACTS - To bring other people to understand and to appreciate the evidences of the power of God. A man who sees this himself will wish that others may see it also. This is the foundation of the desire which warms and animates the heart of the Christian miss... [ Continue Reading ]
THY KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM ... - See Psalms 10:16, note; Daniel 4:34, note. The meaning is, that the reign of God will continue forever and ever. It will never pass away as other dominions do; it will not change as dynasties do among people; it will not be overthrown as they are; its grea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD UPHOLDETH ALL THAT FALL - The word used here is a participle, literally, “The Lord sustaining;” that is, the Lord is a Sustainer or Upholder of all that fall. The allusion is to those who have no power to go of themselves; who would sink under the burdens of life if they were not supported.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES OF ALL WAIT UPON THEE - Margin, Look unto thee. All creatures, on the land, in the air, in the waters; all in heaven; all throughout the universe. That is, It is as if all directed their eyes to thee imploringly for the supply of their needs. To no one else can they look for those things wh... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU OPENEST THINE HAND - By the mere opening of the hand all needful gifts are bestowed on the creatures dependent on thee. The same words are found in Psalms 104:28; see the notes at that passage. AND SATISFIEST THE DESIRE OF EVERY LIVING THING - All kinds of creatures - people, fowls, beasts, fis... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS IN ALL HIS WAYS - In his own character; in his laws; in his providential dealings; in his arrangements for the redemption and salvation of man. In his own character he is what it is desirable that a God should be; in all his laws he ordains that only which it is desirable shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO ALL THEM THAT CALL UPON HIM - There is a sense in which he is “nigh” to all, for he is everywhere present; but there is a special sense in which he seems to be near to us; in which he manifests himself to us; in which he gives us evidence of his presence. It is in prayer, in pr... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL FULFIL THE DESIRE OF THEM THAT FEAR HIM - Of those who worship him with reverence - those who are his true friends. See the notes at Matthew 7:7; notes at John 14:13; notes at 1 John 5:14; notes at Psalms 34:15. HE ALSO WILL HEAR THEIR CRY, AND WILL SAVE THEM - He will regard their expresse... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD PRESERVETH ALL THEM THAT LOVE HIM - He keeps them; watches over them; defends them; makes them the object of his care. See Psalms 31:20, note, Psalms 31:23, note; Psalms 97:10, note. BUT ALL THE WICKED WILL HE DESTROY - All that are found ultimately to be wicked; all that on the final trial... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MOUTH SHALL SPEAK THE PRAISE OF THE LORD - That is, I will utter his praise. In view of all these things, in view of his character and doings, I will praise him. I will be found among those who honor him; who acknowledge him as the true God; who render homage for what he is, and thanks for what h... [ Continue Reading ]