Verse 5. “And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.” It is a wonderful salvation, and it is such a salvation as the angels desire to pry into it; and it is such a salvation, that all the prophets desire to pry into it. It is almost six thousand years since all the angels in heaven fell into a sea of wonder at this great salvation, and it is almost six thousand years since Able fell into a sea of wonder at this great salvation. And what think ye is Abel’s exercise this day? He is even wondering at this great salvation.
Verse 5. “And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.” As the heavens are a proof of God’s power, in respect of his first framing them out of nothing, so are they a pattern of God’s faithfulness, in their constant and orderly motion, according to His word since their first framing: “The heavens shall praise thy faithfulness also.” However the power and faithfulness of God may be seen and heard in the work and speech of the heavens by all men, yet are they not observed and hearkened unto except in the Church by God’s children. Therefore saith he, “They shall praise thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.”
Verse 6. “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?” The Dutch have translated these words, “Who can be shadowed with him?” That is, they are not worthy to be accounted shadows unto such a comparison with him.”
Verse 9. “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Surely the Spirit of God would have us to take notice, that though the sea be indeed such a giant, such a monster, as will make a heart of oak shake, or a heart of brass melt, yet what is it to God, but an infant? He can bind it and lay it to sleep, even as a little child. And if the great sea be in the hand of God as a little child, what is great to God! And how great is God! What is strong to God! And how strong is God! What or who is too great, or too strong for God to deal with?
Verse 11. “The heavens are thine, and the earth also is thine; as for the world, thou hast founded it.” Therefore we praise thee, therefore we trust in thee, therefore we will not fear what man shall do against us.
Verse 12. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.” These hills, the one to the east and the other to the west, in Canaan, were much frequented by the saints of God. David speaks of the sacred hill of Hermon and compares brotherly-love to the dew of it. (Psalm 133:3.) and Tabor, yet more memorable as the spot of Christ’s transfiguration, and from whence God the Father proclaimed His perfect love and approbation of Jesus as His dear Son. Well might this hymn therefore, in allusion to those glorious events, call even the holy hills to rejoice in Jehovah’s name.
Verse 14. “Justice and Judgement are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” As if the psalmist had said, “The ornaments with which God is invested, instead of being a robe of purple, a diadem, or a sceptre, are, that he is the righteous and impartial judge of the world, a merciful Father, and a faithful protector of his people.” Earthly kings, on account of them having nothing in themselves to procure for them authority, and to give them dignity, are under the necessity of borrowing elsewhere what will invest them therewith. But God, having in himself all-sufficiency, and standing in no need of any other helps, exhibits to us the splendour of his own image in his righteousness, mercy, and truth.
"Thus has the poet sung the glories of the covenant God. It was meet that before he poured forth his lament, he should record his praise, lest his sorrow should seem to have withered his faith. This is such a course as every wise man will take who desires to have an answer of peace in the Day of Trouble."
(To be continued)