Section 1. “The author of the psalm.” This is another psalm purporting to have been written by David, and there is nothing in it that lead’s us to think otherwise. Section 2. “The title to the psalm.” The psalm is addressed To the chief Musician upon Gittith. In regard to the meanin of the phrase “c... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD - Hebrew, יהוה _Yahweh_. It is an address to God by his chosen and special title, Exodus 3:14. Compare the notes at Isaiah 1:2. OUR LORD - The word used here - אדני _'âdônay_ - means properly master, lord, ruler, owner, and is such a title as is given to an owner of land or of slaves, to k... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE MOUTH - This passage is quoted by the Saviour in Matthew 21:16, to vindicate the conduct of the children in the temple crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” against the objections of the Pharisees and Scribes, and is perhaps alluded to by him in Matthew 11:25. It is not affirmed, however... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I CONSIDER THY HEAVENS - When I contemplate or look upon. They are called his heavens because he made them - because he is the proprietor of them - perhaps because they are his abode. THE WORK OF THY FINGERS - Which thy fingers have made. The fingers are the instruments by which we construct a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS MAN - What claim has one so weak, and frail, and short-lived, to be remembered by time? What is there in man that entitles him to so much notice? Why has God conferred on him so signal honor? Why has he placed him over the works of his hands? Why has he made so many arrangements for his comf... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST MADE HIM - Thou hast made man as such; that is, he was such in the original design of his creation, in the rank given him, and in the dominion conceded to him. The object here is to show the honor conferred on man, or to show how God has regarded and honored him; and the thought is, th... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MADEST HIM TO HAVE DOMINION - Thou didst cause him to have, or didst give him this dominion. It does not mean that God made or created him for that end, but that he had conceded to him that dominion, thus conferring on him exalted honor. The allusion is to Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:28. OVER THE... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SHEEP AND OXEN - Flocks and herds. Genesis 1:26, “over the cattle.” Nothing is more manifest than the control which man exercises over flocks and herds - making them subservient to his use, and obedient to his will. AND THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD - Those not included in the general phrase “sheep an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOWL OF THE AIR - Genesis 1:26, “Over the fowl of the air.” Genesis 9:2, “upon every fowl of the air.” This dominion is the more remarkable because the birds of the air seem to be beyond the reach of man; and yet, equally with the beasts of the field, they are subject to his control. Man capture... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD OUR LORD, HOW EXCELLENT ... - Repeating the sentiment with which the psalm opens, as now fully illustrated, or as its propriety is now seen. The intermediate thoughts are simply an illustration of this; and now we see what occupied the attention of the psalmist when, in Psalms 8:1, he gave ut... [ Continue Reading ]