Sálmarnir 65:13

Heilögum Biblíunni

13 (65:14) Hagarnir klæðast hjörðum, og dalirnir hyljast korni. Allt fagnar og syngur.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pastures: Psalms 104:24-28, Zechariah 9:17, Acts 14:17

they shout: Psalms 96:11-13, Psalms 98:7-9, Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:2, Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 52:9, Isaiah 55:12, Jeremiah 48:33

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:28 - plenty Deuteronomy 11:11 - General Job 31:38 - complain Psalms 5:11 - shout Psalms 65:8 - rejoice Psalms 89:12 - rejoice Psalms 96:12 - General Psalms 98:8 - hills Psalms 148:9 - Mountains Joel 2:21 - be glad Habakkuk 3:10 - the deep

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The pastures are clothed with flocks,.... Of sheep, which are so thick, that there is scarce anything to be seen upon the pastures but them; which look as if they were clothed with them: these may intend the multitude of converts, signified by the flocks of Kedar, and rams of Nebaioth; which gathering about the church, and joining to her, she clothes herself with them as with an ornament, Isaiah 60:7 it may be rendered the "rams clothe", or "cover, the flocks" s; or the flocks are clothed, or covered, with the rams, as expressive of their copulation with them; and so the Targum,

"the rams ascend upon the flocks;''

which sense is favoured by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions;

the valleys also are covered over with corn; being made very fruitful with the rain, and bringing forth in great abundance; so humble souls are the most fruitful ones;

they shout for joy, they also sing; that is, the pastures, hills, and valleys, being laden with all kind of fruit for the use of man and beast, for necessity and pleasure, which occasion joy to the inhabitants of the earth: this may be expressive of the joy that will be among men, when the interest of Christ will be in a more flourishing condition in the latter day; see Isaiah 49:13.

s כרים κριοι, Sept. "arietes", V. L.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The pastures are clothed with flocks - The flocks stand so thick together, and are spread so far, that they seem to be a clothing for the pasture; or, the fields are entirely covered with them.

The valleys also are covered over with corn - With grain. That is, the parts of the land - the fertile valleys - which are devoted to tillage. They are covered over, or clothed with waving grain, as the pasture-fields are with flocks.

They shout for joy, they also sing - They seem to be full of joy and happiness. What a beautiful image is this! How well does it express the loveliness of nature; how appropriately does it describe the goodness of God! Everything seems to be happy; to be full of song; and all this is to be traced to the goodness of God, as it all serves to express that goodness. Strange that there should be an atheist in such a world as this; - strange that there should be an unhappy man; - strange that amidst such beauties, while all nature joins in rejoicing and praise - pastures, cultivated fields, valleys, hills - there can be found a human being who, instead of uniting in the language of joy, makes himself miserable by attempting to cherish the feeling that God is not good!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 65:13. The pastures are clothed with flocks — Cattle are seen in every plain, avenue, and vista, feeding abundantly; and the valleys are clothed, and wave with the richest harvests; and transports of joy are heard every where in the cheerful songs of the peasantry, the singing of the birds, the neighing of the horse, the lowing of the ox, and the bleating of the sheep. Claudian uses the same image: -

Viridis amictus montium.

"The green vesture of the mountains."

Shout for joy, they also sing. — They are not loud and unmeaning sounds, they are both music and harmony in their different notes; all together form one great concert, and the bounty of God is the subject which they all celebrate. What an inimitable description! And yet the nervous Hebrew is not half expressed, even by the amended translation and paraphrase above.

ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTY-FIFTH PSALM

This is wholly a poem of thanksgiving; and teaches us how, and for what, we are to praise God. 1. For spiritual; 2. For temporal blessings; and, 3. This publicly; in Zion - in his Church.

It has two general parts: -

I. Praise to God for his blessings to his followers, Psalms 65:1-5.

II. His common benefits to all mankind, Psalms 65:6-13.

I. He sets forth God's grace to his followers of which he reckons several particulars: -

1. He has established a public ministry among them, and an atoning sacrifice.

2. He directs and hears their prayers; and to him by sacrifice, prayer, and praise, may all human beings come.

3. Though evil tongues may prevail against them for a time, yet he will deliver them.

4. The transgressions committed against him he will accept an atonement for, and pardon, Psalms 65:1-4. See the notes.

5. All that truly worship him in his ordinances shall be made partakers of spiritual blessedness: "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house," Psalms 65:4.

6. He works powerfully and terribly, but righteously, in behalf of his followers, against their enemies: "By terrible things in righteousness," Psalms 65:5. 1. He answers them when they call. 2. By terrible things, - as in Egypt, the wilderness, c. 3. And the motive to it is, his justice or righteousness, by which he punishes his enemies, and gives retribution to his people.

All this he concludes with a double eulogy of God:

1. Showing what he is peculiarly to his people: "O God of our salvation."

2. What he is to ALL "the confidence of all the ends of the earth," for he sustains all, be they where they may.

II. He descends from his peculiar providence, - the care he takes of, and the benefits he bestows on, his Church, - to his general providence, his ordering and sustaining the whole world; which he amplifies: -

1. "By his strength he setteth fast the mountains," c., which is true literally: but, tropologically, it may mean kingdoms and states.

2. He stilleth the noise of the sea, - and of the waves, - for to them he sets bounds: "And the tumult of the people." He stills devils, tyrants, armies, seditions, &c.

3. He does this so, that even those who are in the uttermost parts of the sea are afraid at his tokens. They see from the phenomena of nature how powerful and fearful God is.

4. The sun, moon, planets, and stars are under his guidance. Day and night are ordered by him: "Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice."

5. The earth and its inhabitants are his peculiar care: "Thou visitest the earth," &c., Psalms 65:9-11.

In all which the prophet shoves God's mercy, 1. In the rain. 2. In the rivers. 3. In the growing of the corn. 4. In providing grass for cattle. 5. In providing store in the summer and autumn. 6. His clouds drop fatness upon the earth, and all nature rejoices. The meaning of all is, Man may plough, sow, dig, manure, prune, watch, fence, &c. but it is God that gives the increase.

For an account of the imagery here employed, see the notes. The Psalm is grand beyond description, and can never be sufficiently admired.