Bibelkommentare

Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise [him], O ye servants of the LORD.

Praise ye the Lord, Praise ye — Praise, praise, praise. When duties are thus inculcated it noteth the necessity and excellence thereof; together with our dulness and backwardness thereunto.

O ye servants of the Lord — See Psalms 134:1 .

return to '

Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,

Ye that stand in the house — See Psalms 134:1 .

In the courts — Where the people also had a place, 2 Chronicles 4:9 , and are required to bear a part in this heavenly Hallelujah.

return to '

Praise the LORD; for the LORD [is] good: sing praises unto his name; for [it is] pleasant.

Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good — sc. Originally, transcendently, effectively; he is good and doeth good, Psalms 119:68 , and is therefore to be praised with mind, mouth, and practice.

For it is pleasant — An angelical exercise, and, to the spiritually minded man, very delicious. To others, indeed, who have no true notion of God but as of an enemy, it is but as music at funerals, or as the trumpet before a judge, no comfort to the mourning wife, or guilty prisoner.

return to '

For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [and] Israel for his peculiar treasure.

For the Lord hath chosen — God’s distinguishing grace should make his elect lift up many a humble, joyful, and thankful heart to him.

And Israel for his peculiar treasure — Such as he maketh more reckoning of than of all the world besides. The Hebrew word here rendered peculiar treasure, seemeth to signify a jewel made up of three precious stones, in the form of a triangle, Segullah inde dici Segol, grammatici volunt. The saints are God’s jewels, Malachi 3:17 , his ornament, yea, the beauty of his ornament, and that set in majesty, Ezekiel 7:20 , his royal diadem, Isaiah 62:3 .

return to '

For I know that the LORD [is] great, and [that] our Lord [is] above all gods.

For I know that the Lord is great — As well as good, Psalms 135:3 . This I believe and know, John 6:69 saith the psalmist; and do therefore make it my practice to praise him.

And that our Lord is above all gods — Whether they be so deputed, as magistrates, or reputed, as idols.

return to '

Whatsoever the LORD pleased, [that] did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased — This the heathens did never seriously affirm of any their dunghill deities; sure it is that none of them could say, I know it to be so. De diis utrum sint, non ausim affirmare, said one of their wise men.

return to '

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

He causeth the vapours — Not Jupiter, but Jehovah. See Jeremiah 10:13 He is the right Nubicoga, maker of the meteors, whether fiery, airy, or watery, Job 26:8-9 ; Job 28:26-27 ; Job 37:11 ; Job 37:15-16 ; Job 38:9 . See the notes there.

He maketh lightnings for the rain — Or, with the rain, which is very strange, viz. that fire and water should mingle, and hard stones come out of the midst of thin vapours.

He bringeth the wind out of his treasuries — Or, coffers, storehouses, where he holdeth them close prisoners during his pleasure. This the philosopher knew not, and thence it is that they are of so diverse in their opinions about the winds. See Job 36:27-28 ; Job 37:11 ; Job 37:15-16 throughout.

return to '

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

Who smote the firstborn of Egypt — And thereby roused up that sturdy rebel Pharaoh, who began now to open his eyes, as they say the blind mole doth when the pangs of death are upon him; and to stretch out himself, as the crooked serpent doth when deadly wounded.

return to '