Bible Commentaries

Psalms 105:16 — laws, but it was because God “ordered” it. The famine here referred to, as the connection shows, was that which occurred in the time of Jacob, and which was the occasion of the migration into Egypt. There was also a famine in the time of Abraham Genesis 12:10; but the design of the psalmist here is to refer to that period of the Jewish history which pertained to their residence in Egypt, and to the dealings of God with the nation when there, as furnishing an occasion for gratitude. Genesis 41:0; Genesis

Psalms 118:5 — I called upon the Lord in distress - Margin, as in Hebrew, “out of distress.” In the very midst of trouble he called upon the Lord; his voice was heard, as it were, coming from the depth of his sorrows. See the notes at Psalms 18:6.The Lord answered me - That is, he heard my prayers, and delivered me. See the notes at Psalms 18:6.And set me in a large place - I was before pressed on every side; sorrows compassed me around; I could not move; I had no liberty. Now he gave me

Psalms 119:115 — from the service of God. A man who wishes to serve God, and lead a religious life, must separate himself from the society, as such, of unprincipled people.For I will keep the commandments of my God - This is my fixed resolution. It may be remarked here(1) that bad people will turn away from the society of one who has formed such a resolution, and who carries it out;(2) the resolution is a necessary one to be formed and executed, if a man will serve God;(3) the formation and execution of such a purpose,

Psalms 119:93 — forget thy precepts - Thy laws; thy truth. I will bear them in mind forever. To all eternity they shall be the object of my meditation.For with them thou hast quickened me - By them thou hast given me life, spiritual life. Compare the notes at James 1:18. This is stated as a reason why he would never suffer the truth of God to pass out of his mind. By that truth he had been made really to live. He had been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life. He saw before him now, as the result of that,

Psalms 122:7 — Jerusalem.And prosperity - Peace; the same word which is used in the previous verse, and expressing the same idea - that of tranquility.Within thy palaces - This word properly means a “fortress,” “castle;” then, a palace, a residence of a king or a prince, 1 Kings 16:18; 2 Kings 15:25; Isaiah 25:2. The idea is, that such places abounded in Jerusalem; and the prayer is, that in those abodes of power, where the rulers of the land resided, there might be peace. The particular reason for this prayer is suggested

Psalms 138:1 — cherish no feeling, which implied a belief that there was any other God; he would indulge in no attachment which would be inconsistent with supreme attachment to God, or which would tend to draw away his affections from him. See the notes at Psalms 9:1.Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee - The idols; all idols; in preference to them all. This does not mean that he would do this in the presence of other gods; but that Yahweh should be acknowledged to be God in preference to any or all of them.

Psalms 145:2 — Every day will I bless thee ... - Compare Psalms 92:2; Psalms 55:17. As we receive blessings from God every day (compare Lamentations 3:23), it is proper that we should render to him daily thanks; as God is the same always - “yesterday, today, and forever” - it is proper that he should receive from day to day the tribute

Psalms 149:5 — rejoice in this; let them shout and triumph over this. Other men rejoice in honor; in wealth; in houses, lands, parks, libraries, works of art: let the saints rejoice in the glory of being the friends of God; in the hope of heaven. Compare Psalms 84:11.Let them sing aloud upon their beds - Compare Job 35:10, note; Acts 16:25, note; Psalms 34:1, note. The idea is, that in the meditations of the night, when darkness is around them, when alone with God, they may find occasion for exultation and praise.

Psalms 60:10 — Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst east us off? - See the notes at Psalms 60:1. The meaning is, that although God had seemed to reject and forsake them, they had no other resource, and the appeal might be still made to him. The psalmist hoped that he would again be favorable to his people, and would not forsake them altogether.

Psalms 62:4 — time of the rebellion of Absalom.They delight in lies - In false pretences; in secret plans of evil; in hypocritical assurances. This was eminently true of Absalom, who made use of these arts to seduce the people from allegiance to his father. 2 Samuel 15:1-6.They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly - They profess true attachment and zeal, but they are traitors at heart. See the notes at Psalms 28:3. This, too, would apply well to the conduct of Absalom and those associated with him.

Psalms 71:17 — O God, thou hast taught me from my youth - See Psalms 71:5-6. That is, God had guided and instructed him from his earliest years. He had made known to him his own being and perfections; he had made his duty plain; he had led him along the dangerous path of life.And hitherto have I declared - I have made known.

Psalms 79:1 — O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance - The nations; a foreign people. See Psalms 2:1, note; Psalms 2:8; note; Psalms 78:55, note. The term is one that would be applicable to the Chaldeans, or Babylonians, and the probable allusion here is to their invasion of the holy land under Nebuchadnezzar. 2 Chronicles 36:17-21.Thy holy temple

Psalms 83:10 — battle at or near Endor. The word or name “En-dor” means properly fount of the dwelling (or, habitation), and was probably given at first to a spring or fountain near to which some distinguished or well-known person dwelt. It is mentioned in Joshua 17:11; 1 Samuel 28:7.They became as dung for the earth - The land was enriched or made fertile by their flesh, their blood, and their bones, as the field of Waterloo was by that of the slain, or as fields of battle commonly are.

Psalms 83:2 — enemies make a tumult - Are excited; are aroused; are moving in a wild, furious, tumultuous manner, rushing on to the accomplishment of their designs. They come like rolling waves of the sea. See the word used here explained in the notes at Psalms 2:1, where it is rendered, in the text, “rage;” in the margin, “tumultuously assemble.”And they that hate thee - Thine enemies; the enemies of thy cause, and of thy people. Who they were is specified in Psalms 83:6-8.Have lifted up the head - Have become

Psalms 88:13 — which would be applicable to a case where one made an appeal to another for aid before he had arisen from his bed, or who came to him even while he was asleep - and who thus, with an earnest petition, anticipated his rising. Compare the notes at Job 3:12; compare Psalms 21:3; Psalms 59:10; Psalms 79:8; Psalms 119:148; Matthew 17:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:15.

Psalms 89:32 — such a way as to show his own displeasure at their offences.And their iniquity with stripes - The word rendercd stripes means properly a stroke, a blow; then, judgments or calamities such as God sends on mankind as a punishment for their sins. Genesis 12:17; Exodus 11:1; Psalms 38:11.

Psalms 96:4 — For the Lord is great - Yahweh is great. See the notes at Psalms 77:13. This verse is taken literally from 1 Chronicles 16:25.And greatly to be praised - Worthy of exalted praise and adoration.He is to be feared above all gods - He is to be reverenced and adored above all that are called gods. Higher honor is to be given

Proverbs 1:20 — but in the haunts of men “without,” i. e., outside the walls, in the streets, at the highest point of all places of concourse, in the open space of the gates where the elders meet and the king sits in judgment, in the heart of the city itself Proverbs 1:21; through sages, lawgivers, teachers, and yet more through life and its experiences, she preaches to mankind. Socrates said that the fields and the trees taught him nothing, but that he found the wisdom he was seeking in his converse with the men

Isaiah 22:20 — that he was in all things faithful to the trust reposed in him.The son of Hilkiah - Kimchi supposes that this was the same as Azariah the son of Hilkiah, who might have had two names, and who was a ruler over the house of God in the time of Hezekiah 1 Chronicles 6:13.

Isaiah 28:22 — Now therefore - In view of the certain judgment which God will bring upon you.Be ye not mockers - This was the prevailing sin Isaiah 28:9-14, and on account of this sin in part the judgment of God was about to come upon the guilty nation.Lest your bands be made strong - Lest your confinement should be more severe and protracted. God would punish them according to their sins, and if they