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(a) The prophet shows that even though God permits the wicked tyrants to oppress his Church for a time, yet eventually he will take revenge on them. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. {b} But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
(b) He shows that when God declares his power against the wicked, it is for the convenience and salvation of his Church, who praise him for it. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name {c} JAH, and rejoice before him.
(c) Jah and Jehovah are the names of God, signifying his incomprehensible essence and majesty, so that by this it is declared that all idols are vanity and that the God of Israel is the only true God. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. God {d} setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a {e} dry land.
(d) He gives children to those who are childless, and increases their families. (e) Which is devoid of God's blessings, which before they had abused. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: {f} O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
(f) He teaches that God's favour belongs specifically to his Church as appears by their wonderful deliverance out of Egypt. The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy {g} goodness for the poor.
(g) God blessed the land of Canaan, because he had chosen that place for his Church. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of {h} those that published it.
(h) The fashion then was that women sang songs after the victory, as did Miriam, Deborah, Judith and others. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. Kings of armies did flee apace: and {i} she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
(i) The prayer was so great, that not only the soldiers, but the women also had part of it. Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. Though ye have lien among the {k} pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
(k) Though God permits his Church for a time to lie in black darkness, yet he will restore it, and make it most shining and white. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. When the Almighty scattered kings {l} in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
(l) In the land of Canaan, where his Church was. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. {m} The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
(m) Zion the Church of God exceeds all worldly things, not in pomp and outward show, but by the inward grace of God, which remains because of his dwelling there. Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever. {n} Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
(n) Why do you boast of your strength and beauty against this Mountain of God. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast {o} led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
(o) As God overcame the enemy of his Church, took them prisoners, and made them tributaries: so Christ, which is God manifested in the flesh, subdued Satan and sin under us, and gave to his Church most liberal gifts of his Spirit, Eph 4:8. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the {p} issues from death.
(p) Even in most extreme dangers, God has infinite ways to deliver his. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: The Lord said, I will bring again from {q} Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
(q) As he delivered his Church once from Og of Bashan and other tyrants and from the danger of the Red Sea, so will he still do as often as it is necessary. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs {r} in the same.
(r) That is, in the blood of that great slaughter, where dogs will lap blood. They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. They have seen {s} thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
(s) That is, how you who are chief King goes out with your people to war, and gives them the victory. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. The {t} singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
(t) He describes the order of the people, when they went to the temple to give thanks for the victory. Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain {u} of Israel.
(u) Who come of the patriarch Jacob. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. There is {x} little Benjamin with their {y} ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
(x) Benjamin is called little, because he was the youngest son of Jacob. (y) Who was some chief ruler of the tribe. Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. {z} Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
(z) Declare out of your holy palace your power for the defence of your Church Jerusalem. Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one {a} submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
(a) He desires that the pride of the mighty may be destroyed, who were accustomed to garnishing their shoes with silver, and therefore for their glittering pomp thought themselves above all men. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Princes shall come out {b} of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
(b) He prophecies that the Gentiles will come to the true knowledge and worship of God. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his {c} voice, and that a mighty voice.
(c) By his terrible thunders he will make himself be known as the God of all the world. Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. O God, thou art {d} terrible out of thy holy {e} places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. (d) In showing fearful judgments against your enemies for the salvation of your people. (e) He alludes to the tabernacle which was divided in three parts. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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