_The prophet exhorteth to praise God for his care of the church, his power, and his mercy: for his providence: for his blessings upon the kingdom, for his power over the seasons, and for his ordinances in the church_. THIS psalm is supposed to have respect to the return of the Jewish nation from th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TELLETH THE NUMBER OF THE STARS, &C.— i.e. "He as distinctly and exactly knows them, how numerous soever they be, (see Genesis 15:5.) and how confusedly soever they seem to us to be scattered in the sky, as we do those things which we call by their proper names; and thus he knows how to _gather t... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO THE LORD WITH THANKSGIVING— Hebrew, _Answer to the Lord in praise._ "Sing alternately;" which may fairly be supposed to be the sense intended by the prophet, as it was the ancient practice to sing alternately. The precentor beginning with the voice, it was usual for the instruments to foll... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH TO THE BEAST HIS FOOD— The Hebrew word indifferently signifies either a tame or a wild beast; but this passage of the Psalmist is to be understood only of wild beasts; those for whom God by his especial providence prepares food, and who have no other care taken of them. The beasts which li... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DELIGHTETH NOT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE HORSE— See Psalms 33:16. Mr. Green renders this, _He delighteth not in the courage of the horse, nor is pleased with the agility of the warrior._ The meaning seems to be, "The Lord, who _fighteth for us,_ (see Nehemiah 4:20.) will not take part with our enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH SNOW, &C.— The winters in the east, in some years, and at some places, are remarkably cold and severe. Fulcherius Carnotensis saw the cold prove deadly to many. Jac. de Vitriaco informs us, that the same thing happened to many of the poor people engaged in an expedition, in which he himsel... [ Continue Reading ]