This psalm purports to be a psalm of David. It is dedicated to “the chief Musician.” See the notes at the Introduction to Psalms 4:1. There is no reason to doubt the correctness of the title, as there is nothing in the psalm which conflicts with the supposition that David was the author, and as it a... [ Continue Reading ]
LET GOD ARISE - See the notes at Psalms 3:7. There is an obvious reterence here to the words used by Moses on the removal of the ark in Numbers 10:35. The same language was also employed by Solomon when the ark was removed to the temple, and deposited in the most holy place 2 Chronicles 6:41 :” Now... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SMOKE IS DRIVEN AWAY - To wit, by the wind. Smoke - vapor - easily disturbed and moved by the slightest breath of air - represents an object of no stability, or having no power of resistance, and would thus represent the real weakness of the most mighty armies of men as opposed to God. SO DRIVE... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET THE RIGHTEOUS BE GLAD - That is, Let them be prosperous and happy; let them be under thy protecting care, and partake of thy favor. While the wicked are driven away like smoke, let the righteous live, and flourish, and be safe. Compare Psalms 32:11. LET THEM REJOICE BEORE GOD - In the prese... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO GOD, SING PRAISES TO HIS NAME - That is, to him; the name being often put for the person himself. The repetition denotes intensity of desire; a wish that God might be praised with the highest praises. EXTOL HIM - The word here rendered “extol” - סלל _sâlal_ - means to lift up, to raise, t... [ Continue Reading ]
A FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS - Or, of orphans. Compare Psalms 10:14, Psalms 10:18. That is, God takes the place of the parent. See Jeremiah 49:11 : “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.” This is one of the most tender appellations that could be giv... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SETTETH THE SOLITARY IN FAMILIES - Margin, as in Hebrew, in a house. The word rendered solitary means properly one alone, as an only child; Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16; and then it means alone, solitary, wretched, forsaken. See the notes at Psalms 22:20. The word rendered “familie... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, WHEN THOU WENTEST FORTH BEFORE THY PEOPLE ... - That is, in conducting them through the desert to the promised land. The statement in regard to the paternal character of God in the previous verses is here illustrated by his guiding his own people, when fleeing from a land of oppression, throu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH SHOOK - See Exodus 19:16. THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD - That is, dropped down rain and food. The idea is that the very heavens seemed to be shaken or convulsed, so that rain and food were shaken down - as ripe fruit falls from a tree that is shaken. Compare the notes a... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU, O GOD, DIDST SEND A PLENTIFUL RAIN - Margin, shake out. Prof. Alexander, “a rain of free gifts.” The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, “a voluntary or willing rain.” The Syriac, “the rain of a vow.” The Hebrew word translated “plentiful” means free, voluntary, of its own accord - נדבה _n__... [ Continue Reading ]
THY CONGREGATION HATH DWELT THEREIN - In the land of promise; for the connection requires us to understand it in this manner. The idea of the writer all along pertains to that land, and to the mercy which God had shown to it. After showing by an historical reference what God had done for the people... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GAVE THE WORD - The command, or the order. It is not certain to what the psalmist here refers; whether to some particular occasion then fresh in the recollection of the people, when a great victory had been gained, which it was the design of the psalm to celebrate; or whether it is a genera... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS OF ARMIES DID FLEE APACE - Margin, as in Hebrew, did flee, did flee. This is the Hebrew mode of expressing that which is emphatic or superlative. It is by simply repeating the word. The idea is, that they fled speedily; they fled at once, and in alarm. Psalms 68:12 are marked by DeWette as a q... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH YE HAVE LIEN AMONG THE POTS - There are few passages in the Bible more difficult of interpretation than this verse and the following. Our translators seem to have supposed that the whole refers to the ark, considered as having been neglected, or as having been suffered to remain among the com... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE ALMIGHTY SCATTERED KINGS IN IT - The Hebrew here is, “In the scattering of (that is, by) the Almighty of kings.” The reference is to the act of God in causing kings to abandon their purposes of invasion, or to flee when their own countries were invaded. Compare Psalms 48:5. The language her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HILL OF GOD - The phrase “the hill of God,” or the mountain of God, is elsewhere applied in the Scriptures only to Mount Horeb or Sinai Exodus 3:1; Exodus 18:5; Exo 24:13; 1 Kings 19:8, and to Mount Zion, Psalms 24:3; Isaiah 30:29. There is no reason for supposing that there is a reference here... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY LEAP YE, YE HIGH HILLS? - That is, with exultation; with pride; with conscious superiority. Why do you seem to regard yourselves as so superior to Mount Zion, in strength, in beauty, in grandeur? The Hebrew, however - רצד _râtsad_ - rather means, “Why do ye watch insidiously? why do ye look ask... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHARIOTS OF GOD - The meaning of this verse is, that God is abundantly able to maintain his position on Mount Zion; to defend the place which he had selected as his abode. Though it has less natural strength than many other places have - though other hills and mountains, on account of their natu... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ASCENDED ON HIGH - That is, Thou hast gone up to the high place; to thy throne; to thine abode. The idea is, that God had descended or come down from his dwelling-place in the case referred to in the psalm, and that having now secured a victory by vanquishing his foes, and having given del... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD, WHO DAILY LOADETH US WITH BENEFITS ... - literally, “day, day;” that is, day by day; or, constantly. The words “with benefits” are not in the original, and they do not convey the true idea of the passage. The word rendered “loadeth” means to take up; to lift, as a stone, Zechari... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF SALVATION - literally, “God is for us a God of salvation.” That is, The God whom we worship is the God from whom salvation comes, and who brings salvation to us. It is not a vain thing that we serve him, for he is the only being who can save us, and he will save us.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD SHALL WOUND THE HEAD OF HIS ENEMIES - More properly, “God shall crush the head,” etc. The idea is that of complete destruction, - as, if the head is crushed, life becomes ex tinct. See Genesis 3:15; compare Psalms 110:6. AND THE HAIRY SCALP - More literally, “the top of the hair.” The Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID, I WILL BRING AGAIN FROM BASHAN - On the situation of Bashan, see the notes at Psalms 68:15. There may be an allusion here to the victory achieved over Og, king of Bashan, in the time of Moses, Numbers 21:33. The idea may be that as, at that time, a victory was achieved over a formidab... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THY FOOT MAY BE DIPPED IN THE BLOOD OF THINE ENEMIES ... - Margin, “red.” A more literal rendering would be, “That thou mayest crush - thy foot in blood - the tongue of thy dogs from the enemies, from him.” The idea of “dipping” the foot in blood is not in the passage directly; but the leading... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SEEN THY GOINGS, O GOD - That is, the lookers on in the solemn procession referred to in Psalms 68:25; or, in other words, Thy goings have been attended by pomp and magnificence, and have been witnessed by multitudes. The word “goings” here refers to the solemn triumphal processions which... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINGERS WENT BEFORE - That is, in the removal of the ark; in the solemn procession referred to in the previous verse. “In” that procession those who sang preceded those who performed on instruments of music. Compare 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16. “The players on instruments followed afte... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS YE GOD IN THE CONGREGATIONS - In the assemblages of the people; not only as individuals, but in solemn precessions; in triumphal marches; when the people are assembled together. In this public manner acknowledge God as the true God, and render him praise. EVEN THE LORD, FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF IS... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS LITTLE BENJAMIN - In that solemn procession. That is, the tribe of Benjamin is “represented” there; or, there are in the procession those who are connected with that tribe. The name “little” is given to the tribe either because Benjamin was the youngest of the sons of Jacob, or, more probab... [ Continue Reading ]
THY GOD HATH COMMANDED THY STRENGTH - Has ordered thy strength to appear, or to be manifested. This is addressed, evidently, to the people of the land; and the idea is, that, on this occasion, God had called forth a full representation of the strength of the nation; or, as we should say, there had b... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THY TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM - The word rendered “temple” here properly means a palace; then, the abode of God considered as a king, or his residence as a king. It might, therefore, be applied either to the tabernacle or to the temple, erected as the special dwelling-place of God. As the word... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKE THE COMPANY OF SPEARMEN - Margin, “the beasts of the reeds.” This is in the form of a prayer - “Rebuke;” but the idea is, that this “would” occur; and the meaning of the whole verse, though there is much difficulty in interpreting the particular expressions, is, that the most formidable enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
PRINCES SHALL COME OUT OF EGYPT - That is, Shall come and acknowledge the true God. Egypt is referred to here as one of the most prominent of the foreign nations then known; and the idea is, that the distinguished men of foreign nations - the rulers and princes of the world - would come and submit t... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO GOD, YE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH - That is - that acknowledge the true God - celebrate his praise. The psalmist sees the conversion of the world to God to be so certain an event that he calls on all nations to join in the song.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THAT RIDETH UPON THE HEAVENS OF HEAVENS - The highest heavens. The heaven of heaven would properly mean the heaven above that which is heaven to us; that is, the heaven above the sky. This is represented as the special dwelling-place of God. The Jews were accustomed to speak of three heavens:... [ Continue Reading ]
ASCRIBE YE STRENGTH UNTO GOD - literally, “give.” That is, Acknowledge him as a God of power. Recognise his omnipotence in your worship. See the notes at Psalms 29:1. HIS EXCELLENCY IS OVER ISRAEL - His majesty; his glory; his protecting care. The idea is, that his glorious character - his majesty... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, THOU ART TERRIBLE OUT OF THY HOLY PLACES - The places where thou dwellest, and from which thou dost manifest thyself. That is, The manifestations which thou dost make of thyself when thou seemest to come forth from thine abode are “terrible,” or are suited to fill the mind with awe. Compare P... [ Continue Reading ]