The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 285

EXPOSI'l'ION. PSALM XCVI. Ver. 5.-l!'or all the god1 of the nations a.re idols; rather, 'l!anities, or nothings. In TIIIB pea.Im occure, with very little change, the original there is a. play upon the words in 1 Chron. xvi. 23-33, o.nd ie there (ver. -the e/ohim of the nations a.re mere elilim. 7) ascribed to David. It ie also entitled, Elilim is e. favourite designation of the "A Psnlm of David," in the Septuagint. bee.then gods in Isaiah. Compare the But the phraseology and the style, espe- statement of St. Paul," We know that an iclol is Mthing in the world" (l Cor. viii. 4). cially the frequent iteration (vers. I, 2, 7, But the Lord me.de the heavens. That 8, 13), belong to the later Hebrew. If which is nothing can do nothin,l', can make David, therefore, wa.s the origino.l author, nothing. How far superior is Jehovah, we must suppose o. reconstruction of the who "ma.de the heavens" (comp. Gen. i. composition at a la.ter period. The psalm is 1; Isa.. xiii. 5; xliv. 24) ! Ver. 6.-Hononr and majesty are before one entirely devoted to praise, It sets forth him, Another pa.rouomasia.-hod Dl-hadcir. J ehova.h, first, a.s the Oreo.tor Bnd Wonder- Dr. Kay transla.tea, " grandeur and worker of old (vere. 1-6); secondly, as the majesty;" Professor Cheyne, "glory and present Ruler of the earth a.nd its inhabi- grandeur." Strength and beauty a.re ill tants (vers. 7-10); o.nd, thirdly, as the his 811nctuary. The original phrase used seems to have been, "Strength a.nd glad- coming Judge of all men (vers. 10-13). ness are in hie place" (I Cbron. xvi. 27}- Metrically, the pea.Im co11Bists of four terms euiting the simplicity of Da.vicl's stanzas, the first three of three versee each, time. When the psalms came to be used in and the last of four. the temple service, loftier language was more fitting. The whole passage has pro- Ver. 1.-0 sing unto the Lord e. new song bable reference to the glory of God as seated (comp. Pss. xxxili. 3; xcviii. 1 ; cxliv. 9; between the cherubim in the first temple. cxlix. 1 ; Isa.. xlii. 10). This clause doee Ver. 7.-Give unto the Lord, 0 ye kindred& not occur in 1 Cbron. xvi. It seems to of the people; rather, 0 ye fam,1ies of the belong to the second recension of the psalm, peoples. A. renewed e.ppea.l to the heathen when it was recast to suit some "new" to join in the song of praise (comp. ver. 1). occasion. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Give unto the Lord glory Bnd strength. So in Isa. xiii. 10, "Siug unto the Lord e. "Give" must be understood in the sense of new song, his praise from the end of the "ascribe" (see Professor Cheyne's transla- earth." The psalmist o.t once makes known tion, and compare the Prayer-book Version). his" universalism" by calling on the whole Both this and the next verse a.re eclioes or earth to join in Iiis song of praise ( comp. Ps. xxix. 1, 2. Ps. lxvi. 1, 4). This psalm has been well . Ver. 8.-Give unto the Lord the glory called "e. missionary hymn for all ages," due unto his Name; literally, the glory of Ver. 2.-Si.ng unto the Lord, bless his his Name. llring an offering, and come Ne.me (cf, Pea. c. 4; cxlv. 1, 10, 21, etc.). into his oonrte. The parallel expression in Show forth his salvation from day to day; 1 Chron. xvi. 29 is, " Come "before him." or, pul1li,h his salvation <•~arr•M(•u6•, "Courts" would be inappropriate until the LXX.); i.e." make it known"-" spread the kmple was built. (For the bringing of" e.n good tidings." offering" (millchah) by the Gentiles, see Ver. il.-Deolare his glory among the Mai. i. ll.) heathen. Publish God's praise, not only Ver. 9.-0 worship the Lord in the beauty in Israel, but lo the ends of the earth. Let of holiness (comp. 1 Chron. xvi. 29; Ps. all mankind hear the joyful news (comp. xxix. 2). This is genere.lly explained as Pas. ii, 8: xlvii. 1, 8 ; cxxxviii. 4). His "holiday attire," or "in vestments suited wonders among all people; rather, among to holy service," but may incluJ.e, besides all the peoples; i.e. "e.11 the nations of the vestmenh, the other material accessories of earth" (see ver. 7). Divine worship Fear before him, all the Ver. 4.-J!'or the Lord is great (comp. Ps. earth; or, tremble before Mm (comp. Ps. xcv. 3a), and greatly to be praised, Wh11t- xcvii. 4). The fea.r of God ie constantly ever is " great" excites our e.clmir11tion, inculcated by the psalmiets, not only as o.nd naturo.lly calls forth our praise. God's "the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. cxi. 10), greo.tness is such that he needs to be but as required of every man during hie ,, greatly pre.ised." .He is to be feared above whole life (Pas. xu. 9; xuiv. 9; xl. 3; all gods (comp. Ps. xcv, 3b, and tho oom- lxiv. 9; lxxxvi. 11; cxix. 63, etc.). meut ad loo.). Ver. l0.-Sa7 among the heathen that  320 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, xcvr. 1-13.