Subject. – As the last psalm sung the praises of the Lord in connection with the proclamation of the gospel among the Gentiles, so this appears to foreshadow the mighty working of the Holy Ghost in subduing the colossal systems of error, and casting down the idol gods. Across the sea to maritime regions a voice cries for rejoicing at the reign of Jesus (verse 1,) the sacred fire descends (verse, 3) like lightning the gospel flames forth (verse 4,) difficulties vanish (verse 5,) and all the nations see the glory of God (verse 6.) The idols are confounded (verse 7,) the Church rejoices (verse 8,) the Lord is exalted (verse 9.) The psalm closes with an exhortation to holy stead-fastness under the persecutions that would follow, and bids the saints rejoice that their path is bright, and their reward glorious and certain.
Verse 1 “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice ...” When Bulstrode Whitelock was embarked as Cromwell’s envoy to Sweden, in 1653, he was much disturbed in mind as he rested at Harwich the preceding night, which was very stormy, and as he thought upon the distracted state of the nation. It happened that a confidential servant slept in an adjacent bed, who, finding that his master could not sleep, at length said: -
“Pray, sir, will you give me leave to ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
Pray, sir, do you think God governed the world very well before you came into it?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“And pray sir, do you think that He will govern it quite as well when you are gone out of it?”“Certainly.”
“Then pray, sir, excuse me, but do you not think you may trust Him to govern it quite as well as long as you live?”
To this question Whitelock had no reply, and soon fell asleep.
Verse 4. “His lightenings enlightened the world: and earth saw, and trembled.” In times of tempest the whole of nature is lighted up with a lurid glare; even the light of the sun itself seems dim compared with the blaze of lightening. If such are the common lights of nature, what must be the glories of the Godhead itself? When God draws aside the curtain for a moment how astonished are the nations; the light compels them to cover their eyes and bow their heads in solemn awe. Jesus in the gospel lights up the earth with such a blaze of truth and grace as was never seen or imagined before. In apostolic times the word flashed from one end of the heavens to the other, and no part of the civilised globe was left untouched.
Verse 8. “Zion heard and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.” When the final judgments of God come upon the world the final blessings of God come upon the church; “Zion heard and was glad ... because of thy judgements, O Lord.” This may be embraced and remembered as a fact of that coming final day without the exercise of one wrong thought such as our carnal natures might produce at the downfall of others. When the church’s day of rejoicing appears, the world’s day of repenting will come with it. When Christ comes in flaming fire” to execute judgment on all them that believe not God. He comes to be “admired in his saints, and glorified in all them that believe.”
Verse 10. “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil ...” Richard Sibbes, the Puritan, has some very searching things to say about hating evil.
First:
A man may know his hatred of evil to be true, if it be universal; he that hates sin truly hates all sin.
Second:
True hatred is fixed; there is no appeasing it but by abolishing the thing hated.
Third:
Hatred is a more rooted affection than anger; anger may be appeased, but hatred remains and sets itself against the whole kind.
Fourth:
If our hatred be true, we hate all evil – in ourselves first, and then in others; he that hates a toad, would hate it most in his own bosom. Many, like Judah, (Genesis 38 verse 24) are severe in censuring others, but partial to themselves.
Fifth:
Our hatred is right if we can endure admonition and reproof for sin. Those that swell in rage against reproof for sin do not appear to rightly hate sin. “He that love the Lord, “hate evil.” Hate sin out of love for the Lord.