An exhortation to praise God for his mercies particularly enumerated.
1 O 1GIVE thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy 2endureth for ever.
1 The words O give thanks, here and in the following verses, stand in the plural: laud, praise ye. Some are of the opinion that this psalm was sung every day by the Levites in God’s assembly. See 1 Chron. 16:41.
2 That is, lasts, and so throughout this psalm.
2O give thanks unto 3the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 That is, the Supreme God, Who has the absolute command and sovereignty over all the angels, kings and authorities. See the annotation Deut. 10 on verse 17.
3O give thanks to 4the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Hebr. the Lords of lords, as Gen. 24:9; 39:16, 20; 42:30; Exod. 21:4 and elsewhere.
4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5Toa him that 5by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
a Gen. 1:1.
5 That is, with extraordinary wisdom.
6Tob him that stretched out the earth 6above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
b Psalm 24:2.
6 Or, on top, or besides the waters. See Job 26 on verse 7; Psalm 24 on verse 2.
7To him thatc made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
c Gen. 1:14.
8Thed sun to rule 7by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
d Gen. 1:16.
7 Or, over the day.
9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10Toe him that smote 8Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
e Exod. 12:29; Psalm 78:43, 51.
8 Other, the Egyptians.
11And brought out 9Israel fromf among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 That is, the people of Israel.
f Exod. 12:31, 51; 13:3, 17.
1210With a strong hand, and withg a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 That is, with great power. See the annotations at 1 Kings 8 on verse 42.
g Exod. 6:5.
13To him whichh divided 11the Red sea 12into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
h Exod. 14:21, 22; Psalm 78:13.
11 Other, the reed-sea, or, the bulrush-sea.
12 Or, cut in pieces.
14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15Buti13overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
i Exod. 14:24.
13 Hebr. shook.
16Toj him which led 14his people 15through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
j Exodus 15; 16; 17 and 19. Psalm 78:53.
14 The people of Israel.
15 Or, in.
17Tok him which smote 16great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
k Num. 21:24, 25, 34, 35; Joshua 12:1; Psalm 135:10, 11.
16 That is, mighty kings.
18And slew 17famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
17 Or, excellent, mighty, powerful, illustrious.
19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20Andl Og the king 18of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
lDeut. 3:1, etc.
18 That is, of the land of Bashan. See the annotation Deut. 32:14. See also of Bashan Psalm 22:12; Jer. 50:19; Micah 7:14.
21And gave 19their land form an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Namely, of the aforementioned two kings.
mJoshua 12:6.
22Even an heritage 20unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
20 That is, to the Israelites, whom He took into His protection that they would serve Him. The entire nation is accounted as if it were but one man. The people of God is also called as: God’s firstborn. Exod. 4:22.
23Who 21remembered us 22in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 Namely, for good, as Gen. 8:1.
22 That is, in our low condition, when we were oppressed by our enemies; namely, in the time of the Judges, whereof that book makes mention throughout.
24And hath 23redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 That is, in a manner torn us and broke us out of their hands, as Psalm 7:2.
25Who giveth 24food to 25all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
24 The Hebrew word lochem or bread is taken for all manner of food. In Mark 6:36 we read of buying themselves bread; but in Mat. 14:15 we read: buying themselves victuals. Bread is likewise taken for food or fodder for the beasts, Psalm 147:9. In short, the prophet wants to say: God does supply and provide all created things with necessaries convenient for their sustenance.
25 That is, to all animals or living creatures.
26O give thanks unto the God 26of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 Other, of the heavens, that is, Him Who dwelleth in the heavens.