1The majesty of God's kingdom. 8The church rejoiceth at God's judgments against idolaters, and his universal sovereignty. 10An exhortation to godliness and joy in the Lord.
1The LORDa1reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of 2isles be glad thereof.
a Psalm 93:1; 96:10.
1 That is, He proves indeed that He is King, not only of the Israelites, but of the entire world.
2 That is, the people and nations inhabiting the islands, as Isa. 42:4; 60:9.
23Clouds and darkness are 4round about him: 5righteousness and judgment are the 6habitation of his throne.
3 Hebr. a cloud.
4 See similar descriptions of the power and majesty of God, Psalm 18:7, 8, etc.
5 See the annotation Gen. 18 on verse 19.
6 Or, support, buttress or foundation.
37A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
7 By A fire understand the severe vengeance and punishment of God.
4Hisb lightnings enlightened the world: thec earth 8saw, and 9trembled.
b Rev. 4:5.
c Psalm 77:16.
8 Namely, the lightnings.
9 Or, groweth afraid, namely, in such a manner as a woman when travails come upon her.
5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6Thed10heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
d Psalm 19:1; 50:6.
10 Understand the celestial creatures, such as: thunder, lightning, hail, snow, storms, etc., or the angels.
7Confounded be all they that serve 11graven images, that boast themselves of 12idols: worship him, 13all ye gods.
11 Hebr. the cut or graven image.
12 See Lev. 19:4; 1 Sam. 12:21.
13 That is, angels. See Psalm 8:5; Heb. 1:6. And see the fulfillment of these words in Christ, Mark 1:13; Luke 2:13, 14; Heb. 1:7; Rev. 5:11, 12.
814Zion 15heard, and was glad; and 16the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
14 That is, the church of God, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles.
15 Namely, the judgments and punishments of God upon His enemies, as appears at the end of this verse.
16 Understand the inhabitants of the Jewish land, as Psalm 48:11, and consequently of the entire church.
9For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all 17gods.
17 As verse 7.
10Ye that love the LORD, hatee evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
e Amos 5:15; Rom. 12:9.
1118Light is 19sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
18 That is, all happiness and prosperity, joy and gladness, as Esther 8:16. See Job 18 on verse 6.
19 It fares with the comfort which is prepared and appointed for the godly, as with the seed which is cast into the ground, which does not rise and spring forth as soon as sown, but must often lie a great while in the earth before there is any appearance of it above ground, but afterward it brings forth most goodly fruit. The true and full joy and fruit of the children of God is prepared for them in heaven, though now obscured and hidden.
12Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks 20at the remembrance of his holiness.
20 That is, that His holiness may be had and kept in remembrance, as Psalm 30:4.