1The Psalmist sheweth what fierce combat he had with diffidence. 10The victory which he had gained by considering God's great and gracious works.
0To the chief Musician, 1to Jeduthun, A Psalm of 2Asaph.
1 See the second annotation at Psalm 39 in the title. Or, in Jeduthun, that is, about or among the posterity of Jeduthun. Other, for Jeduthun himself, as being one of the chief musicians himself.
2 See Psalm 50 in the title.
1I CRIED unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore 3ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul 4refused to be comforted.
3 Unto God with continual prayer; or, spread forth, properly cast out, thrown forth, as those that are in great trouble or anguish, sometimes strike their hands together, sometimes cast them abroad or throw them forth as it were, and move them here and there, according to the condition of their hearts: Other, overwhelmed, surcharged, with tears namely.
4 That is, I could not offer resistance nor restrain my grief, and was altogether disconsolate, incapable of any comfort. Compare Gen. 37 on verse 35.
3I remembered God, and was troubled: I 5complained, and my spirit was 6overwhelmed. 7Selah.
5 As Gen. 24:63. See there. Other, I prayed.
6 See Psalm 61 on verse 2.
7 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
4Thou holdest mine eyes 8waking: I am so 9troubled that I cannot speak.
8 Hebr. thou heldest the watches of mine eyes, that is, (as some understand it) mine eyelids. The sense is: Thou didst keep me awake that I could not sleep for the continuance of the crosses and troubles upon me.
9 Like a thing struck and beaten with hammers; as one whose heart beats and pants for much anguish and grief. Compare Gen. 41 on verse 8; Judges 13 on verse 25; Dan. 2:1, 3, where the same Hebrew word is used.
5I have considered the days 10of old, the years of 11ancient times.
10 According to the command Deut. 32:7. Compare Psalm 74:12, etc.
11 That is, which since have passed. Of the Hebrew word olam see Jer. 2 on verse 20.
6I call to remembrance 12my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit 13made diligent search.
12 How I was wont in former times to praise God for His benefits.
13 To get a right understanding in this matter. Compare Psalm 73:16, 17. Hence proceeds the following words of the prophet, as if he would say: At last I thought: Shall the Lord then, etc., as follows.
7Will the Lord cast off 14for ever? and will he be favourable 15no more?
14 That is, continually, evermore.
15 Hebr. not go on or add to be well-willing favorable or kindly disposed or to take pleasure or content, namely, in me, or His people, to whom He hath been so favorable in times past?
8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his 16promise fail 17for evermore?
16 That is, the word of His promise?
17 Hebr. in generation and generation.
9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10And I said, This 18is my infirmity: 19but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
18 Namely, that God dealeth otherwise with me now then heretofore, that He keepeth not always the same course and method in governing of His people. God doth all things wisely, and so as it may be serviceable to His glory and our good. Other, this afflicteth me, the changing of the right hand of the most High. Or, questioningly, Shall this afflict me, that the right hand of the most High doth change? Or, This is my prayer, the changing of the right hand of the most High.
19 That is, He can soon change and turn this affliction into rejoicing.
11I will 20remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy 21wonders of old.
20 Thereby to rise up and strengthen myself.
21 Hebr. of thy wonder or miracle; and so in the next verse: all thy work or all thy deeds.
12I will 22meditate also of all thy work, and 23talk of thy doings.
22 Or, recount, relate.
23 Or, observe attentively thine acts.
13Thy 24way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
24 That is, Thy government is understood to the purpose in Thy church and sanctuary, and not at all among the children of the world. Compare Psalm 73:17. Other, Thy way is in holiness, that is, all Thou doest is perfectly holy, though we are not always able to comprehend it.
14Thou art the God that doest wonders:a thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
a Exod. 15:11.
15Thou hast with thine 25arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and 26Joseph. Selah.
25 That is, through Thy great power and might. See Exod. 6:5; Psalm 79:11.
26 Joseph was likewise Jacob’s son, and consequently his children were the children of Jacob, but he is named here in particular by reason of the excellence and prerogative of Ephraim and Manasseh, Gen. 48:5; 1 Chron. 5:1, 2. Besides that, he fed all Israel in Egypt like a father; yea, sometimes by Joseph there are understood the ten tribes or also all Israel together. See Gen. 45:10, 11; 48:22. Compare Psalm 80 on verses 1, 2.
16Theb waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were 27afraid: the depths also were troubled.
b Exod. 14:21.
27 Or, were in anguish, as one who is in travail; fleeing away as it were for fear, to make way for the children of Israel, passing through the Red Sea. Compare Psalm 114:3, 5.
1728Thec clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a 29sound: thine 30arrows also went abroad.
28 This verse and the next seem to declare that which is set down Exod. 14:24, 25 as being done in that manner, that God raised first a mighty tempest over the Egyptians.
cExod. 14:24.
29 That is, a thunder.
30 Flashes of lightning, as is declared in the sequel. Compare 2 Sam. 22:15.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the 31heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
31 Or, in the orb, sphere, that is, in the air which encompasses the earth like a globe or sphere. As for the Hebrew word, compare Psalm 83:13; Isa. 17:13; Ezek. 10:2, etc.
19Thy 32way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy 33footsteps are not known.
32 Where Thou wentest to lead Thy people through the Red Sea and to overthrow the Egyptians in it. See Exod. 14:19, 20, 22; Neh. 9:11. Compare Nahum 1:3.
33 That is, there was no sign of this passage, for, the waters returned and were as before, Exod. 14:26, 28.
20Thou 34leddest thy people liked a flock by the 35hand of Moses and Aaron.
34 As a shepherd, leading them through the wilderness to the land of Canaan and taking care for them, etc. See Psalm 78:52.
dPsalm 78:52; 80:1.
35 That is, by their means and ministry.