_A.M. 2986. B.C. 1018._ Upon what particular occasion this Psalm was composed is not known. Dr. Horne, Henry, and some others, think it might probably be to celebrate the victories gained by David over the neighbouring nations, after God had exalted him to be king of Sion. With this the matter of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will praise thee with my whole heart_ With a sincere, affectionate, and devout heart. _I will show forth all thy marvellous works_ I will discourse, in the general, of thy manifold wonders wrought for me, and for thy church and people formerly. The particle _all is_ here, as it is often elsewhere... [ Continue Reading ]
_When mine enemies are turned back_ Discomfited and put to flight; _they shall fall and perish_ They shall not save themselves by flight and so reserve themselves to do farther mischief but shall stumble, as it were, at the obstacles and impediments laid by thee in their way, and shall be pursued, o... [ Continue Reading ]
_My right and my cause_ That is, my righteous cause against thy and my enemies. _Thou sattest in the throne_, &c. Thou didst judge and give sentence for me. _Thou hast rebuked_ That is, punished or destroyed, as it is explained in the next clause; _the heathen_ Namely, the Philistines and other heat... [ Continue Reading ]
_O thou enemy_, &c. This is a sudden apostrophe to the enemies of God's people, the Philistines, Amorites, or other nations which had formerly made great havoc and waste among them: _Destructions are come to a perpetual end_ Thou hast formerly wasted and destroyed the people of God, but those destru... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the Lord shall endure for ever_ Though cities and people may perish, yet the Lord abides for ever. Which is sufficient for the terror of his enemies, and the comfort of his church. _He hath prepared his throne_ Or, _established_ it by his immutable purpose and his irrevocable promise. _And he s... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that know_ That is, that thoroughly understand and duly consider _thy name_ Thy infinite power and wisdom, and faithfulness and goodness. The name of God is frequently put for God. _Will put their trust in thee_ The experience of thy faithfulness to thy people in all ages is a just ground for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing praises to the Lord_ Those who believe God is greatly to be praised not only desire to do that work better themselves, but desire that others also may join with them in it, and would gladly be instrumental to bring them to it. _Which dwelleth in Zion_ As the special residence of his glory is i... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he maketh inquisition for blood_ The bloodshed of his innocent and holy ones: which though he may not seem to regard for a season, yet he will certainly call the authors of it to a severe account; _he remembereth them_ The humble, as it follows, or the oppressed, (Psalms 9:9,) that trust in hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consider my trouble_ Namely, compassionately and effectually, so as to bring me out of it; _thou that liftest me up from the gates of death_ From the brink or mouth of the grave, into which I was dropping, being as near death as a man is to the city who is come to the very gates of it. _That I may... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heathen are sunk in the pit they made_ Fallen into that destruction which they designed to bring upon others. “Faith beholds, as already executed, that righteous judgment whereby wicked men will fall into the perdition which they had prepared for others, either openly by persecution, or more co... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked shall be turned into hell_ Either, 1st, Into _the grave_, which is often called שׁאול, _sheol_, into which persons are said to be _turned_, or to _return_, because they were made of, or taken out of, the dust, Ecclesiastes 12:7; or, 2d, Into the place of eternal perdition, which also is... [ Continue Reading ]
_The needy shall not always be forgotten_ Though God, for a time, may seem to forget or neglect them, and suffer their enemies to triumph over them; _The expectation of the poor_ Namely, of their receiving help from God, _shall not perish for ever_ Though they may be tempted to think it shall. The v... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, O Lord_ Stir up thyself, exert thy power: _let not man prevail_ Consult thine own honour and let not men, Hebrew, _weak, miserable_, and _mortal_ men, prevail against the kingdom and interest of the almighty and immortal God: _shall mortal man be too hard for God, too strong for his Maker? L... [ Continue Reading ]