Bibelkommentare

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

O give thanks unto the Lord — Some tell us that this and the two following psalms were the great Hallelujah sung at solemn times in their assemblies. But others say better, that the great Hallelujah (as the Hebrews called it) began at Psalms 113:1-9 ., and held on till Psalms 119:1-176 , which they at the passover began to sing after that cup of wine they called Poculum hymni seu laudationis.

Call upon his name — Call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, Psalms 18:3 . See Trapp on " Psalms 18:3 " Our life must be divided between praises and prayers.

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Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Sing unto him, sing — Both with mouth and with musical instruments.

Talk ye — Or, meditate ye, let your heart indite a good matter, and your tongue be as the pen of a ready writer, Psalms 45:1 .

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Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Glory ye in his holy name — Of his power and goodness. See 1 Corinthians 1:31 , with Jeremiah 9:23 . Non est gloriosior populus sub coelo quam Iudaicus, saith Alsted; there is not a more vain glorious people under heaven than the Jews; but "we are the circumcision, which worship in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Philippians 3:3 .

Let the heart of them rejoice, … — All others are forbidden to rejoice, Hosea 9:1 , and bidden to weep and howl, James 5:1 .

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Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Seek the Lord, and his strength — That is, his ark, at the remove whereof to Jerusalem this psalm was sung, 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 , … Called it is God’s strength and God’s face here; yea, even God himself, Psalms 132:5 . It is as if he should say, Frequent holy assemblies, as ever you desire to draw nigh to God, and to have your faith in him confirmed.

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Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Remember his marvellous works, … — Deeply and diligently ponder both the works and words of God, comparing the one with the other, that ye may the better conceive of both.

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O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

O ye seed of Abraham, … — Do thus, or else your pedigree will profit you no more than it did Dives in the flames, that Abraham called him son. An empty title yieldeth but an empty comfort.

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He [is] the LORD our God: his judgments [are] in all the earth.

He is the Lord — Jehovah, the essentiator, the promise keeper, therefore praise him. He is also in covenant with us, and will we not do him this right?

His judgments are in all the earth — His executions upon the Egyptians and Philistines are far and near notified and discoursed.

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He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word [which] he commanded to a thousand generations.

He hath remembered his covenant — 1 Chronicles 16:15 it is, "Be ye mindful always of his covenant." God ever remembereth, though we many times forget it, and ourselves.

The word which he commanded — The conditions of the covenant.

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