EXPOSITION. I people, liis chosen people, selected by him PSALM OXXXV. out of all the nations of the earth to be hie A SONG of pmise to God (vers. 1-3, 19-21) own, his inheritance (Deut. iv. 20; vii. 6; for: 1. His mercies to Israel (vers. 4, 14). xiv. 2, 21, etc.). And Israel for his pecu- liar treasure (see Exocl. xix. 5). 2. His greatness in nature (vers. 5-7) and Ver. 5.-For I know that the Lord is in history (vers. 8-12). 3. His infinite great, and tho.t our Lord is above all gods, superiority to idols (vers. 15-18). Metri- Here is the second reason why Go,1 should cally divided into three stanzas of seven be praised-he ia great, greater for tl111n Ycrses ee.ch (vers. 1-7; 8-14; and 15- auy other being-" above ull gods"-" more to be feare,I thnn all got.ls" (Pd. xcvi. 4). 21). A" Hallelujah psalm" (vers. 1, 21). This greatnes, is shown, firstly, in his power Ver.1.-Praiaeye the Lord(comp. Pss. civ. over nature, which is the suliject of vers. 7, 35; cv. 45; cvi. l, 48; cxi.1; cxii. l; cxiii. 1, 8; and secondly, in his dealings with mu.n- etc.). Praise ye the Name of the Lord (comp. kind, whic·h form the subject of vers. 8-12. Ps. cxiii. I). Praise him, 0 ye servants of Ver. G.-Whatsoever the Lord pleased, the Lord; rather, praise it; i.e. 1.he Name. thut did be (comp. Pd. cxv. 8). God's power Ver. 2.-Ye that stand in the house of the id only limited by his own attributes of truth Lo~d, in the courts of the house of our God. and goo<lness. He cannot contradict hie 'l'he "servants" are not here the priests and own reason, or bis own moral qualities. Levites only, as in Pa. cxxxiv. l; but the Otherwise he c:an do anytliing Bnd every- priests the Levites, nnd the people-all thing. In heaven, and in earth, in the seas, those ~ho throng the "courts" of the and all deep places. This is intended as 1.elllple (comp. vcra. 19, 20). . a complete division of spu.ce: (1) the Yt'r. 3.-Praise the Lord; for the Lord 18 heavens above the ~arth; (2) the earth good (eomp. Pss. Jxxxvi. 5; cxix. GS). Sii;g and seas, in tho mi<ldle sphere; and (8) praises unto his Name; for it is pleasant; the u.bysses, or depths helow the earth, o.s or," lovely" (comp. Pss. Iii. 9; liv. 6). far I\S they can be conceived of ns extending. Yer. 4.-For the Lord bath chosen J'aoob Ver. 7.-He causeth the vapours to ascend unto himself. This is tlw first reason why from the cnda of the earth (comp. Jer. x. 13; .l.J.11,cl should praise God. Israel is his Ii. IG) Dy God'ij contrivance vapour ill rs. cxn.v. 1-21.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 279
confinua.lly rising from the remotest regions endurclh for ever "-can never be forgotten of the earth, to ha.ng in clouds, descend in --attracts to itself eternal praise and honour. rain, o.ud spread abroa.d fertility. He maketh And thy memorial (or," thy remembrance") lightmge for the rain, To accompany it, throughout all generations (comp. Ps. cii. perhaps to give it its fertilizing qualities 12). (see Dr. Kay's comment 'The Paallllll,' p. Ver. 14.-For the Lord will judge his 428). He bringeth the wind out of his people j i.t1. will right them whenever they treasuries (see Job x.xxviii. 22, where God's are wronged (see Exod. ii. 23-25; iii. 7-9; " treasuries" for the snow and the hail are vi. 6; Pa. liv. 1-3). And he will repent spoken of; and comp. Virgil, '1En.,' ii. 25). himself concerning his servants. God " will Ver. 8.-Who smote the firstbomof Egypt, not keep his anger for e,·er" (Ps. ciii. 9). both of man and beast (comp. Exod. :xii. 29). When he has sufficiently chastised his sin- The most stupendous of the plagues of ful servants, ho will "repent," or "relent" Egypt is given the first place in the account (Kay, Cheyne), with respect to them, and of God's wonderful dealings with men, and receive them back into favour. The history especially with his people. It gave them coutained in the Book of Jmlges strongly the delivernnce out of Egypt, which made illustrates this statement (Judg. iii. 6-11, them a people (Exod. :xii. 31-33). 12-30; iv. 1-3, 13-16: vi. 1-16; :i:. Ver. 9.-Who sent tokens and wonder& 6-18; xi. 4-33; xiii. 1-5, etc.). into the midst of thee, 0 Egypt; or, "signs Vere. 15-18.-The idols of the heathen ond wonders" (comp. E:xod. iv. 9, 21; Neh. are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. ix. 10 ; Ps. l:xxviii. 43). Upon Pharaoh, They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes and upon all his servants; i.e. "upon all have they, but they see not. They have his subjects." The plagues fell upon the ears, but they hear not; neither is there whole people of Egypt (Exod. vii. 21 ; viii. any breath in their months. They that 4, ll, 17, 24; ix. 6, 11, 25; :x. 6, 15; :xii. 30). make them are like unto them: so is every Ver. 10.-Who smote great nations (see one that trnsteth in them. A condensed E:xod. :xiv. 27, 28; :xvii. 8-13; Numb. :x:xi. recitation or Ps. c:i:v. 4--8 (comp. Jer. :x. 24-30, 33-35; Josh. viii. 21-26; :x. 10, ~ ) . In its present place it is a sort of 11; Judg. iv. 10-16: vii. 19-23; :xi. 32, exposition of ver. 5b. 33; l Sam. vii. 10-13; 2 Sam. viii. 1-14; Ver. 19.-BleBB the Lord, 0 houae of Israel x. 8-19; 1 Kings x:x. 1--30; 2 Kings iii. The conoluding strain correspond.a to the 4-27; :xiv. 25-28; :xviii. 7, 8; :xix. 35; opening one, and is a simple hymn of praise. 2 Chron. :xiv, 9-15; :x:x. 1-25, etc.). And Israel generally, the priestly order, the slew mighty kings (see Josh. :xii. 9-24; Levites, and the devout worshippers of God, Jndg. vii. 25; viii. 21; 1 Sam. :xv. 33, eto.), of whatever class, o.re co.Bed upon in suc- Ver. ll.-Sihon King of the Amorites cession to praise and bless Jehovah (coi;np. (comp. Numb. :ui 24; Dcut. ii. 33). And Ps. oxv. 9-11). Bless the Lord, 0 ho111e of Og King of llashan (see Numb. u:i. 35; Aaron (see Pss. c:xv. 10, 12; ex viii. 3). Deut. iii. 8). And all the kingdoms of Ver. 20.-Bless the Lord, 0 house of Levi: Canaan. Joshua destroyed thirty-one Ca- ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord (comp. no.a.nite kingdoms (Josh. xii. 24). Ps. cxv. 11, 13). Ver. 12.-And gave their land for an Ver. 21.-llleesed be the Lord out of Zion. heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people As God gives his people blessings "out of (see Exod. vi. 8; Pss. lxxviii. 55; oxxxvi. Zion" (Ps. cxx:xiv. 3), so they praise o.nd 21). bless him most npproprintely out of the Ver. 13.-Thy Name, 0 Lord, endureth sawu plncc. Which dwelleth at Jerusalem for ever. The result of God's marvellous (comp. Pss. h::xvi. 2; :xlviii. 1--3). -Praise doings (vera. 6-12) is that "his Name ye the Lord (see the comment on ver. 1).