On the phrase in the title, “To the chief Musician,” see the notes on the title to Psalms 4:1. On the expression, “for the sons of Korah,” see the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1. Neither of these expressions determines anything in regard to the authorship of the psalm, or the occasion on which it... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, THOU HAST BEEN FAVORABLE UNTO THY LAND - Margin, “well pleased with.” The idea is that he had been kind or propitious to the nation; to wit, on some former occasion. So Luther, (vormals) “formerly.” The reference is to some previous period in their history, when he had exercised his power in t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST FORGIVEN THE INIQUITY OF THY PEOPLE - That is, These calamities came upon them in consequence of their sins, and thou hast dealt with them as if those sins were forgiven. The fact that the tokens of his anger bad passed away, and that his judgments were withdrawn, seemed to prove that thei... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST TAKEN AWAY ALL THY WRATH - That is, formerly; on the occasion referred to. Thou didst so deal with thy people as to make it evident that thou didst cherish no anger or displeasure against them. THOU HAST TURNED THYSELF ... - Margin, “thine anger from waxing hot.” Literally, Thou didst tur... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN US, O GOD OF OUR SALVATION - The God from whom salvation must come, and on whom we are dependent for it. The prayer here is, “turn us;” turn us from our sins; bring us to repentance; make us willing to forsake every evil way; and enable us to do it. This is the proper spirit always in prayer. T... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU BE ANGRY WITH US FOR EVER? - Thine anger is so long continued that it seems as if it would never cease. WILT THOU DRAW OUT THINE ANGER - Wilt thou protract or prolong it? The idea is that of a determined purpose, in retaining his anger, as if his wrath would cease of necessity unless ther... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN - literally, “Wilt thou not turn, or return, cause us to live;” that is, and cause us to live. The expression is equivalent to “again” as in our translation. The Septuagint and Vulgate render it, “Returning, wilt thou not give us life?” The word rendered revive means to... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEW US THY MERCY, O LORD - That is, Manifest thy mercy in returning to us; in forgiving our sins; in taking from us the tokens of thy displeasure. AND GRANT US THY SALVATION - Salvation or deliverance from our present trouble and calamities.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL HEAR WHAT GOD THE LORD WILL SPEAK - I, the psalmist; I, representing the people as looking to God. The state of mind here is that of patient listening; of a willingness to hear God, whatever God should say; of confidence in him that what he would say would be favorable to his people - would b... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY HIS SALVATION - His help; his aid. The word here does not mean salvation in the restricted use of the term as applied to the future life, but it means deliverance of all kinds - rescue from trouble, danger, calamity. IS NIGH THEM THAT FEAR HIM - All who truly reverence him, and look to him i... [ Continue Reading ]
MERCY AND TRUTH ARE MET TOGETHER - That is, in the divine dealings referred to in the psalm. There has been a blending of mercy and truth in those dealings; or, both have been manifested; truth, in the divine statements, threatenings, and promises; and mercy, in forgiving sin, and in sparing the peo... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUTH SHALL SPRING OUT OF THE EARTH - As plants do - for this is the meaning of the word. The blessings of truth and righteousness would be like the grass, the shrubs, the flowers, which spring up from the ground - and like the, rain and the sunbeams which come from heaven. Truth would spring up eve... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THE LORD SHALL GIVE THAT WHICH IS GOOD - All that is truly good: all needful temporal blessings; all blessings connected with salvation. AND OUR LAND SHALL YIELD HER INCREASE - There shall be fruitful seasons, and the earth shall produce abundance. Compare the notes at Psalms 67:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE HIM - Shall anticipate his coming, and prepare his way. The idea seems to be, that in order to his appearing, there would be a proclamation of righteousness, and a preparation for his advent by the diffusion of righteousness among the people; in other words, the nation,... [ Continue Reading ]