_The creatures shew God's glory; the word, his grace. David prayeth for grace._ To the chief musician, A Psalm of David. _TITLE._— לדוד מזמור למנצח _lamnatseach mizmor ledavid._ The author in this Psalm, as in many other places, considers the works of nature, and the words of revelation, as both of... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO SPEECH, &C.— _They have neither speech nor words: without these is their voice heard._ Or, _There is not a word or speech of theirs, the utterance of which is not heard._—See Green, and Vitring. Observ. Sac. p. 841.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT, &C.— _Their sound is gone out into all the earth, and their report,_ &c. Nold. 881. 926. Carpzov. Crit. S. Vitring. Obs. Sac. 841. See Romans 10:18. The meaning is, "They are legible all the world over." He considers the sun, and other luminaries, as letters or characters pla... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICETH AS A STRONG MAN TO RUN A RACE— This is another comparison taken from the vehemence and force with which a warrior runs toward his enemy; and is not, as some expositors fancy, an allusion to the races so famous among the Greeks and Romans; for those sports were of a much later date than the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL— {_Restoring_ / _Refreshing_} _the soul._ The connection seems to be this: From the mighty scene and prospect of nature in the former verses, the Psalmist turns his thoughts to the consideration of the still greater works of grace. The rational wor... [ Continue Reading ]
SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE HONEY-COMB— There is no great difference made among _us_ between the delicacy of honey in the comb, and after its separation from it. We may therefore be at a loss to enter into the energy of this expression; or to express it with the same emphasis as our translation... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS?— While we praise and adore God for his mercies, it seems impossible to forget one great circumstance which affects both them and ourselves; I mean, how undeserved they are: It is a reflection which, like the pillar of the cloud that waited on the Israelites, casts ligh... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP BACK THY SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS— Though our sins are more in number than the hairs of our head; yet some there are which stand distinguished by an uncommon guilt, and will always be present to our minds, whenever we approach the throne of grace for pardon. These we should particula... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, &C.— Having thus extolled his Maker for the greatness of his power and mercy, and humbled himself for the number and heinousness of his iniquities, he closes this scene of praise and devotion; _Let the words of my mouth,_ &c. _be acceptable—My strength and my redeemer;_ wo... [ Continue Reading ]