The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Vol. 3: Psalms XC.-CL.Maclaren, Alexander
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Vol. 3: Psalms XC.-CL.
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. Psalms -- Commentaries
From ver. 19 to the end, the psalm takes a still wider sweep. It now
embraces the universe. But it is noticeable that there is no more
about "loving-kindness" in these verses. Man's sin and frailty make
him a fit recipient of it, but we do not know that in all creation
another being, capable of and needing it, is found. Amid starry
distances, amid heights and depths, far beyond sunrise and sunset,
God's all-including kingdom stretches and blesses all. Therefore, all
creatures are called on to bless Him, since all are blessed by Him,
each according to its nature and need. If they have consciousness,
they owe Him praise. If they have not, they praise Him by being.
The angels, "heroes of strength," as the words literally read, are
"His," and they not only execute His behests, but stand attent before
Him, listening to catch the first whispered indication of His will.
"His hosts" are by some taken to mean the stars; but surely it is
more congruous to suppose that beings who are His "ministers" and
perform His "will" are intelligent beings. Their praise consists in
hearkening to and doing His word. But obedience is not all their
praise; for they, too, bring Him tribute of conscious adoration
in more melodious music than ever sounded on earth. That "choir
invisible" praises the King of heaven; but later revelation has
taught us that men shall teach a new song to "principalities and
powers in heavenly places," because men only can praise Him whose
loving-kindness to them, sinful and dying, redeemed them by His blood.
Therefore, it is no drop from these heavenly anthems, when the psalm
circles round at last to its beginning, and the singer calls on his
soul to add its "little human praise" to the thunderous chorus.
The rest of the universe praises the mighty Ruler; he blesses the
forgiving, pitying Jehovah. Nature and angels, stars and suns, seas
and forests, magnify their Maker and Sustainer; we can bless the God
who pardons iniquities and heals diseases which our fellow-choristers
never knew.
PSALM CIV.
1 My soul, bless Jehovah,
Jehovah my God, Thou art exceeding great,
Thou hast clothed Thyself with honour and majesty;
2 Covering Thyself with light as with a garment,
Stretching out the heavens like a curtain.
3 Who lays the beams of His chambers in the waters,
Who makes clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Making winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His servants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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