1God is called upon to assert his own honour against the reproaches of the heathen. 4The vanity of idols. 9An exhortation to trust in God, 12who will not fail to bless and preserve his church.
1NOT1 unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and 2for thy truth's sake.
1 These are the words of the godly church of the Israelites, confessing they had no ways deserved nor were worthy that God would show them His grace and benefits, but that He did it merely for His glory’s sake.
2 Doing faithfully what Thou hast promised.
23Wherefore should 4the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 That is, why wouldest Thou give the heathen cause to say: Where is now their God? Namely, after having conquered and subdued us, boasting and braving as if Thou hadst not been able to protect or deliver us. Lord, do not permit this, but protect and defend us graciously. See Psalm 79:10.
4 Namely, the nations located round about us.
3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4Their 5idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 See the annotation 1 Sam. 31 on verse 9; 2 Sam. 5:21.
5Theya have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
a Deut. 4:28; Jer. 10:3, 4, 5, 9, etc.
6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8They 6that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
6 Or, Those that make them are like, etc., namely, so senseless and void of understanding as the gods they have made of silver and gold.
9O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is 7their 8help and their 9shield.
7 Namely, of the people of Israel.
8 That is, Helper.
9 That is, Protector.
1010O 11house of Aaron, 12trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
10 That is, priests and Levites who are entrusted and charged with the oversight of the worship of God.
11House is in the singular, but trust in the plural, forasmuch as a house or family consists of many persons; and so in the sequel.
12House is in the singular, but trust in the plural, forasmuch as a house or family consists of many persons; and so in the sequel.
1113Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
13 Namely, all ye others, whosoever you are, who hold the Lord for your God.
12The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13He will bless them that fear the LORD, both 14small and great.
14 Understand, in years; or, in state and quality, as Rev. 11:18.
14The LORD shall 15increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Hebr. add, as Deut. 1:11.
15Ye are blessed 16of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
16 See the annotation at 2 Sam. 2 on verse 5. Other, Ye are the blessed of the Lord or from the Lord.
1617The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 That is, the Lord as it were has taken up the heavens for His habitation, 1 Kings 8:30, to make known from that place the supreme and sovereign dominion, which He has over all the earth. And He has given the earth to people to inhabit and cultivate, Genesis 3, to laud and praise Him all the time they live upon it.
17The 18dead praise not the LORD, neither any 19that go down into silence.
18 See Psalm 6:5; the annotation at Psalm 88 on verse 10.
19 That is, into the grave. See Job 3:17 and the annotation on Psalm 94:17.
18But 20we will 21bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
20 Those who yet live.
21 Or, praise.