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(a) The Church of God is oppressed by the tyranny, either of the Babylonians or of Antiochus, and prays to God by whose hand the yoke was laid on them for their sins. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the {b} rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
(b) Which inheritance you have measured out for yourself as with a line or rod. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they {c} set up their ensigns for signs.
(c) They have destroyed your true religion, and spread their banners in sign of defiance. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. A man was famous according as he had {d} lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
(d) He commends the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship and beauty of it, which nonetheless the enemies destroyed. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. They said in their {e} hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
(e) They encouraged one another to cruelty, that not only God's people might be destroyed, but also his religion utterly in all places suppressed. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth {f} how long.
(f) They lamented that they had no prophet among them to show them how long their misery would last. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? {g} pluck it out of thy bosom.
(g) They join their deliverance with God's glory and power, knowing that the punishment of the enemy would be their deliverance. For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. For God is my King of old, working salvation {h} in the midst of the earth.
(h) Meaning in the sight of all the world. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the {i} dragons in the waters.
(i) That is, Pharaoh's army. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou brakest the heads of {k} leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be {l} meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
(k) Which was a great monster of the sea, or whale, meaning Pharaoh. (l) His destruction rejoiced them as meat refreshes the body. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. The {m} day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
(m) Seeing that God by his providence governs and disposes all things, he gathers that he will take care chiefly for his children. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. O deliver not the soul of thy {n} turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
(n) He means the Church of God, which is exposed as a prey to the wicked. Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. Have respect unto the covenant: for {o} the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
(o) That is, all places where your word does not shine, there reigns tyranny and ambition. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Arise, O God, plead thine {p} own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
(p) He shows that God cannot permit his Church to be oppressed unless he looses his own right. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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