Bible Commentaries

Psalms 102:23 — all. Perhaps the allusion to his troubles here may be designed, as such a recollection should do, to heighten his sense of the goodness and mercy of God in the anticipated blessings of the future.He shortened my days - Compare Job 21:21; Psalms 89:45. That is, He seemed to be about to cut me off from life, and to bring me to the grave. The psalmist felt so confident that he would die - that he could not endure these troubles, but must sink under them, that he spoke as if it were already done. Compare

Psalms 105:25 — as it is - is independent of God; and not even the worst passions of men are “outside of his plan,” or independent in such a sense that he does not afford the opportunity for their development and display. Compare the notes at Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 10:5-7, Isaiah 10:15.To deal subtilly - In a fraudulent, or deceitful manner. See Exodus 1:10.

Psalms 106:35 — heathen - Among the nations; by intermarriage, and by commerce. They suffered them to remain in the land, contrary to the command of God, and thus greatly exposed and endangered the purity of their religion and their own morals. See Judges 2:2; Judges 3:5-6.And learned their works - Their practices; their customs and habits: learned to live as they did. This was an illustration of the danger of contact with the wicked and the worldly. What occurred in their case has often occurred since in the history

Psalms 106:40 — Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people - Anger is often compared with a fire; as we say now, a man is “inflamed” with passion. See Esther 1:12; Lamentations 2:3; Psalms 79:5; Psalms 89:46; Jeremiah 4:4; Judges 2:14. Of course, this must be taken in a manner appropriate to God. It means that his treatment of his offending people was as if he were burning with wrath against them.Insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance

Psalms 111:4 — in his word. How much better would it be for man if he labored more to “remember” these things; if he sought to forget many of those things which he is so careful now to retain in his recollection.The Lord is gracious ... - See the notes at Psalms 86:5. This is stated here as the result of the careful study of the doings of God; as the conclusion to which all will come who carefully study his works. “Illustrations” of what God has done that deserves to be remembered occupy the remainder of the psalm,

Psalms 116:2 — Because he hath inclined his ear unto me - See the notes at Psalms 5:1. Because he has been gracious to me, and has heard my prayers. This is a pood reason for serving God, or for devoting ourselves to him, but it is not the only reason. We ought to worship and serve God whether he hears our prayers or not; whether he

Psalms 31:22 — certainly be cut off or destroyed.From before thine eyes - Either, in thy very presence; or, so that I shall not be admitted into thy presence. I shall be cut down, and suffered no more to come before thee to worship thee. Compare the notes at Psalms 6:5.Nevertheless thou heardest ... - Contrary to my apprehensions, I was heard and delivered. God’s mercy went beyond the psalmist’s faith - as it often does to His people now, far beyond what they hope for; far beyond what they even pray for; far beyond

Psalms 37:24 — disappointment spring up in his path.He shall not be utterly cast down - The word used here - טול ṭûl - means to “throw down at full length, to prostrate;” then, “to cast out, to throw away.” Compare Isaiah 22:17; Jeremiah 16:13; Jeremiah 22:26; Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:15. Here it means that he would not be “utterly” and “finally” prostrated; he would not fall so that he could not rise again. The calamity would be temporary, and there would be ultimate prosperity.For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand -

Psalms 38:11 — phrase here would be synonymous with our word “kinsmen.”Stand aloof - They are unwilling to come near me; they leave me to suffer alone.From my sore - Margin: “stroke.” The Hebrew word means properly a stroke, a blow, Deuteronomy 17:8; Deuteronomy 21:5; then a stroke in the sense of calamities or judgments, such as God brings upon men: Genesis 12:17; Exodus 11:1. The meaning here is, that they stand aloof from him, or refuse to come near him, as if he were afflicted with some contagious disease.And

Psalms 39:8 — Deliver me from all my transgressions - Recognising, as in Psalms 38:3-5, his sins as the source of all his troubles and sorrows. If his transgressions were forgiven, he felt assured that his trouble would be removed. His first petition, therefore, is, that his sins might be pardoned, with the implied conscious assurance

Psalms 44:9 — discomfiture in their wars; and the calamities consequent on these invasions and defeats.And put us to shame - By defeat and disgrace. See the word explained above, Psalms 44:7. For the defeat and discomfiture supposed to be referred to, see 2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 2 Chronicles 36:5-6.And goest not forth with our armies - See the places referred to above. Thus Josiah was defeated and slain; and thus the land was conquered by the invaders.

Psalms 46:3 — mountains on its shore, and seeming to shake them to their foundation. The word rendered “swelling” means properly majesty, glory; then pride, haughtiness, insolence. Literally, “though the mountains tremble through their pride.” Compare Psalms 124:5. On the word “Selah,” see the notes at Psalms 3:2.

Psalms 55:1 — Give ear to my prayer - See the notes at Psalms 5:1; Psalms 17:6. This is the language of earnestness. The psalmist was in deep affliction, and he pleaded, therefore, that God would not turn away from him in his troubles.And hide not thyself from my supplication - That is, Do not withdraw thyself,

Psalms 69:20 — heaviness - Or, I am sick; I am weak; I am ill at ease. My strength is gone.And I looked for some to take pity - Margin, “to lament with me.” The meaning of the Hebrew word is to pity; to commiserate; to show compassion. Job 2:11; Job 42:11; Isaiah 51:19; Jeremiah 16:5.But there was none - There was no one whose heart seemed to be touched with compassion in the case; none who sympathized with me.And for comforters - For those who would show sympathy for me; who would evince a friendly feeling in

Psalms 74:15 — from those springs and fountains, had been so restrained and divided that there was a safe passage through them. Joshua 3:14-17.Thou driedst up mighty rivers - Margin, “rivers of strength.” The Hebrew - איתן 'êythân - (compare Deuteronomy 21:4; Amos 5:24; 1 Kings 8:2) - means rather perennial, constant, ever-flowing. The allusion is to rivers or streams that flow constantly, or that do not dry up. It was this which made the miracle so apparent. It could not be pretended that they had gone over the

Psalms 75:4 — successful, and they will only tend to involve you in ruin.And to the wicked - The wicked people engaged in rebellion - either against a lawful human government, or against God.Lift not up the horn - The horn is a symbol of strength. Compare Job 16:15; Daniel 7:7-8, Daniel 7:11, Daniel 7:21; Daniel 8:5, Daniel 8:8-9, Daniel 8:21. This is to be understood as the language of the person represented as speaking in the psalm - whether a prince, or whether God himself. It is counsel addressed to the wicked,

Psalms 78:72 — government.And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands - literally, “by the understanding of his hands” - as if the hand had been endued with intelligence. Compare Psalms 144:1 : “Which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” See also Psalms 137:5. The idea is, that he administered the government with integrity and uprightness. This is a beautiful tribute to the integrity and purity of the administration of David. It is not the language of flattery; it is a simple statement, flowing from the

Psalms 89:15 — festivals and offerings, Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10; Psalms 27:6. That is, says he, those who honor and worship God. The Hebrew word - תרועה terû‛âh - means a loud noise; a tumult; especially, shouts of joy, or rejoicing, Job 8:21; 1 Samuel 4:5; the “shout of a king,” that is, the joyful acclamations with which a king is welcomed, Numbers 23:21; the shout of battle, Jeremiah 4:19; Jeremiah 49:2. Then it means the sound or clangor of trumpets, Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 29:1-6. The word is, therefore,

Psalms 90:13 — leading them to the promised land.How long? - How long shall this continue? How long shall thy wrath rage? How long shall the people still fall under thy hand? This question is often asked in the Psalms. Psalms 4:2; Psalms 6:3; Psalms 13:1-2; Psalms 35:17; Psalms 79:5, et al.And let it repent thee - That is, Withdraw thy judgments, and be merciful, as if thou didst repent. God cannot literally “repent,” in the sense that he is sorry for what he has done, but he may act “as if” he repented; that is,

Psalms 98:6 — German “trarara,” and the Arabic hadadera. The word used here was given to the long, straight trumpet.And sound of cornet ... - The word here translated “cornet” is also usually rendered “trumpet,” Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:19; Exodus 20:18; Leviticus 25:9; Joshua 6:4-6, Joshua 6:8-9, Joshua 6:13, Joshua 6:16, Joshua 6:20; et saepe. It is rendered “cornet” in 1 Chronicles 15:28; 2 Chronicles 15:14; Hosea 5:8. In the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate it is here rendered “horn” - the meaning of “cornet.”