_A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060._ This Psalm sets before us the two great books which God has written and published for the instruction and salvation of mankind, the book of Nature, and the book of Scripture, to the excellence and utility of both of which it bears testimony. As they both proceeded from one a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heavens_, &c. To magnify the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator, the psalmist begins with the works of creation, and, amidst the immensity of them, singles out those which are most conspicuous, grand, and striking, and best adapted to impress the mind of his reader with a sense of the i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day unto day_ Or rather, _day after day, uttereth speech_ Hebrew, יביע אמר, _jabiang omer, poureth forth the word_ or _discourse_, (namely, concerning God,) constantly, abundantly, and forcibly, as a fountain doth water, as the word signifies. It hath, as it were, a tongue to speak the praises of i... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard _ There are divers nations in the world which have different languages, so that one nation cannot discourse with or be understood by another; but the heavens speak in a language which is universal and intelligible to them all. “No natio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their line_ Their admirable structure, made with great exactness, and, as it were, by rule or line, as the word קו, _kav_, here used, generally signifies. Or, _their lines_, the singular number being put for the plural, that is, _their writing_, made up of several lines. In this sense, the very sam... [ Continue Reading ]
_His going forth is from the end of heaven_ His course is constant from east to west, and thence to the east again. Or, “the light diffused on every side from its fountain, extendeth to the extremities of heaven, filling the whole circle of creation; penetrating even to the inmost substances of gros... [ Continue Reading ]
_The law of the Lord_ The doctrine delivered to his church, whether by Moses, or by other prophets and holy men of God after him: for the title _law_ is not only given to the ten commandments, or the moral law, as Romans 2:23; but also to the whole word of God, as Psalms 1:2; Psalms 119:70; Jeremiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_The statutes of the Lord_ Another word signifying the same thing with law and testimonies, _are right_ Both in themselves, and in their effect, as guiding men in the ready way to eternal happiness. _Rejoicing the heart_ By the discoveries of God's love to sinful men, in offers and promises of mercy... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord_ True religion and godliness, prescribed in the word, reigning in the heart and practised in the life; or rather, that word or law itself is intended, and called _the fear of the Lord_, because it is both the rule and cause of that fear, or of true religion; _is clean_ Sincere,... [ Continue Reading ]
_More to be desired are they than gold_ Than the wealth of this world, although so generally preferred before them; _yea, than much fine gold_ Than gold of the best quality, and in the greatest quantity; than all the treasures and precious things which are brought from other countries. _Sweeter also... [ Continue Reading ]
_By them is thy servant warned_ I say nothing of thy law but what I have proved to be true by experience. The several parts of it have been and still are my great instructers, and the only source of all the knowledge to which thy servant hath attained. I am daily taught and admonished by them. They... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who can understand his errors?_ Upon the consideration of the perfect purity of God's law, and the comparing of his spirit and conduct with it, he is led to make a penitent reflection upon his sins. Is the commandment thus holy, just, and good? then who can understand his errors? Lord, I am a sinfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep back thy servant also_ Hebrew, חשׂךְ, _chasoch, cohibe, subtrahe, restrain_, or _withdraw._ The word is emphatical, and implies the natural and great proneness of man to commit even wilful sins, and the necessity of divine grace, as a bridle, to keep men from the commission of them. _From pres... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the words of my mouth_, &c. Having prayed that God would keep him from sinful actions, he now prays that God would govern and sanctify his words and thoughts. And this was necessary in order to his preservation, even from presumptuous sins, which have their first rise in the thoughts, and thenc... [ Continue Reading ]