The title of the psalm is, “A song and psalm for the sons of Korah.” The “two” appellations, “song” and “psalm,” would seem to imply that it was intended to “combine” what was implied in both these words; that is, that it embraced what was usually understood by the word “psalm,” and that it was inte... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IS THE LORD - That is, he is high and exalted; he is a Being of great power and glory. He is not weak and feeble, like the idols worshipped by other nations. He is able to defend his people; he has shown his great power in overthrowing the mighty forces that were gathered together against the... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION - The word rendered “situation” - נוף _nôph_ - means properly “elevation, height,” (Ges. Lexicon); and the idea here is, that the mountain referred to is “beautiful for elevation;” that is, it rises gracefully. The allusion here is to Jerusalem as it would appear to one appr... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS KNOWN IN HER PALACES - The word rendered “palaces” here means properly a fortress, castle, or palace, so called from its height, from a verb, ארם _'âram_, meaning to elevate, to lift up. It may be applied to any fortified place, and would be particularly applicable to a royal residence, as a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, LO, THE KINGS WERE ASSEMBLED - There is evidently allusion here to some fact that had occurred; some gathering together of kings and their armies, with a view to besiege or attack Jerusalem. The kings referred to, if the allusion here is, as is supposed, to the time of Jehoshaphat, were the kin... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAW IT - That is, they looked on it; they contemplated it; they were struck with its beauty and strength, and fled. AND SO THEY MARVELED - It surpassed their expectations of its strength, and they saw with wonder that any attempt to conquer it was hopeless. THEY WERE TROUBLED - They were fill... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR TOOK HOLD UPON THEM THERE - Trembling seized them; they were filled with sudden consternation. That is, as soon as they saw the city, or had a distinct view of it, they became alarmed. AND PAIN - Distress; anguish. The distress arising from disappointed hopes, and perhaps from the apprehension... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BREAKEST THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH - On the ships of Tarshish, see the notes on Isaiah 2:16. The allusion to these ships here may have been to illustrate the power of God; the ease with which he destroys that which man has made. The ships so strong - the ships made to navigate distant seas, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WE HAVE HEARD, SO HAVE WE SEEN - That is, What has been told us, or handed down by tradition, in regard to the strength and safety of the city - what our fathers have told us respecting its sacredness and its being under the protection of God - we have found to be true. It has been shown that God... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE THOUGHT OF THY LOVING-KINDNESS, O GOD - We have reflected on, or meditated on. The word used here literally means “to compare, to liken;” and this idea is perhaps always implied when it is used in the sense of thinking on, or meditating on. Perhaps the meaning here is, that they had “compare... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THY NAME, O GOD, SO IS THY PRAISE - That is, as far as thy name is known, it will be praised; or, the effect of knowing it will be to inspire praise. A just view of thy character and doings will lead people to praise thee as far as thy name is known. This seems to have been said in view... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MOUNT ZION REJOICE - Let Jerusalem, the holy city, rejoice or be glad. Mount Zion is evidently used here to designate the city; and the idea is, that the city of God - the holy city - had occasion for joy and gladness in view of the manifestation of the divine favor. LET THE DAUGHTERS OF JUDAH B... [ Continue Reading ]
WALK ABOUT ZION - This is a call on all persons to go round the city; to take a survey of it; to see how beautiful and how strong it was - how it had escaped all danger, and was uninjured by the attempt to destroy it - how capable it was of resisting an attack. The word “walk” here means simply to g... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK YE WELL HER BULWARKS - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Set your heart to her bulwarks.” That is, Pay close attention to them; make the investigation with care, not as one does whose heart is not in the thing, and who does it negligently. The word rendered “bulwarks” - חיל _chêyl_ - means, properly, a h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS GOD IS OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER - The God who has thus made his abode in the city, and who has manifested himself as its prorector. It is our comfort to reflect that such a God is “our” God; that he has manifested himself as our friend; that we may habitually feel that he is our own. And he... [ Continue Reading ]