Psalm CIV
Ver. 1-35. The Psalmist celebrates God's glory in His works of creation and providence, teaching the dependence of all living creatures ; and contrasting the happiness of those who praise Him with the awful end of the wicked.
1. God's essential glory, and also that displayed by Hia mighty works, afford ground for praise. 3. Ilglit—Is i» figurative representation of the glory of the invisible God (Matthew 17. 2; 1 Timothy 6. 16). Its use in this connection may refer to the first work of creation (Genesis 1. 3). stretelies ont tlic heavens—the visible heavens or sky which cover the earth as a curtain (Isaiah 40. 12). 3. tu tlie waters—or, it maybe with; using this fluid for the beams, or fiames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and winds as means of conveyance, walketli—or, moveth (cf. Psalm 18. 10, 11; Amos 9. 6). 4. This is quoted by Paul (Hebrews 1. 7) to denote the subordinate position of angels, i.e., they are only messengers as otlier and material agencies, spirits— lit., UHttds. flaming llr«—(Psalm 105. 32) being here .so called. 5. The earth Is firmly fixed by His power. 6-9. These verses rathi^r descrilxtlie wonders of tlie flood thun the creation (Genesis 7. l!l, 20; 2 IVter 3. 5, 6). God's methiHl of arresting the Ihxul and making its waters subside Is poetically called a rebuke (Psalm 76.0; Isaiah 50. 2), and the process of tlu^ir subsiding by undulations among the hills and valleys Is vividly descril)ed. 10-13. Once liestructive, these wateis arc subjected to the service of God's cren-
turi's. In rain and dew IVoni Ills chajnbers (cf. r. 3), and fonnlainsand slre;«ms, tli<\v gi ve drink to thirsting animals, and fertilize the soil. Trees tims nourished supply homes tosinging birds, and the earth teems with the productions of God's wise agi-ncics. It, 15, so that men and beasts are alniixlantly i>ri)vided with food, for tlie servlc< lit., for the culture, Ac, by which lie secures the results, oil . , . hIiIix^— lU., in<i/:i,'S hi.\ face to shi)ie mnrc than
PSALM CIII. Ver. 1-22. A Psalm ofJoyous praise, in which the writer rises from a tliankful acknowledgment of personal blessings to a liv(!ly celebration of God's gracious attributes, as not only intrinsically worthy of praise, but as specially suited to man's frailty, and concludes by invoking ail creatures to unite In his song.
oil, i. (?., .so (^hoers and Invigorates liim, that outwardly ho appears better than if anointed, strengtltenelli . . . heart-gives vigour to man (cf. .ludgcss 19.5). 10-19. Goii's care of even wild animals and un<'i\ltivated parts of the earth. 30-3.'{. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed limes an<rsens;>ns. 34-30. l'"roni a view of the earth thus lull of God's Idesslngs, the writer imsseo to the sea, which, in Its i)nineiislty, and as a scene and means of nnin's a<'tlvity In commerce, and the home of countless nuiltltudcs of creatures, also displays Divlno
1. ItlesH, Ac—wlien God Is the object, praise, my soul —myself (rsalni 3. 3; 2.'). 1), with allusion to the act, as one of Intelligence, all . . . witlilii me—(Deuteronomy 6. 5.) his lioly name—(Psalm h. 11), His complete moral perfections. 'Z. forget not all—not any, none of His benefits. 3. diseases, as jienal Inlllctlons (Deuteronomy 39.2; 2 Cln'onicles 21. 19). 4. redcemetli—cost Is Unpllcd. de376
Exhortation to PraUt God. PSALM CV. His Care for His Servants.
power and beneficence. The mention of leviathan—(Job
(cf. Genesis 20. 7). The "anointed " are those ve:5sel8 of God, consecrated to His service, "in whom (as Pharaoh said jf Josepli, Genesis 41. 38) the Spirit of God is." [Hengstenberg.] 16. God ordered the famine. God " called for famine," as if it were a servant, ready to come at God's bidding. Cf. the centurion's words, as to disease being God's servant (Matthew 8..8, 9). staif of bread what supports life (Leviticus 26.26; Psalm 104.1.5; Isaiah
40. 20) heigUtfeus the estimate of the sea's greatness, and of His power who gives sucli a place for sport to one of His creatures. 2T-30. The entire dependence of this immense family on God is set forth. Witli Him, to kill or make alive is equally easy. 2'o hide His face is to withdraw favour (Psalm 13. 1). By His spirit, or breath, or mere word, He gives life. It is His constant providence which repairs the wastes of time and disease. 31-34. While God could equally glorify His power in destruction, that He does it in preservation is of His ricli goodness and mercy, so that we may well spend our lives in grateful praise, honouring to Him, and delightful to pious hearts (Psalm
3.1). upon tlie land—viz., Canaan (Genesis 41. .54). 17-21. Joseph was sent of God (Genesis 45. 5). lixirt -witli fcttera —(Genesis 40.3). was laid in iron lil., his s(mI, or, ha (Psalm 16. 10) came into iron, or, he was bound to his griet
(cf. Psalm 3. 2 ; 11. 1). Josepii is referred to as being an ap propriate type of those "bound in atUietion and iron'- (Psalm 107. 10). The "soul" is put for tlie whole person, because the soul of the captive sutlers still more than tho' body. Ills wortl came—His proplieey (Genesis 41. 11-20) to the officers came to pass, or was fulfilled (Judges 13. 12, 17
1-17. 1). 35. Those wiio refuse such a protector and withhold such a service mar the beauty of His works, and must perish from His presence. The Psalm closes with an invocation of praise, the translation of a Hebrew phrase, which is used as an English word, " Hallehijah," and may have served the purpose of a chorus, as often in our psalmody, or to give fuller expression to the writer's emotions. It. is peculiar to Psalms composed after the captivity, as Selah is to those of an earlier date.
1 Samuel 9. 6, explain tlie form of speeoli). llie word [or, saying, or decree] of tUe Lord tried [or, proved] liim- -by the afflictions it appointed him to endure before his elevation (cf. Genesis 41. 40-4.3). 22. To bind—Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as llie parallel in the second clause shows; also Genesis 41. 40,44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken