1Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. 2Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. 3Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. 4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy. 5The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion. 6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. 7He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. 9For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. 11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations. 12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance! 13The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth. 15He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works. 16No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength. 17A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save. 18Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion 19to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21For our hearts rejoice in Him, since we trust in His holy name. 22May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD, as we put our hope in You.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
God to be praised. (1-11) His people encouraged by his power. (12-22) 1-11 Holy joy is the heart and soul of praise, and that is here pressed upon the righteous. Thankful praise is the breath and language of holy joy. Religious songs are proper expressions of thankful praise. Every endowment we possess, should be employed with all our skill and earnestness in God's service. His promises are all wise and good. His word is right, and therefore we are only in the right when we agree with it. His works are all done in truth. He is the righteous Lord, therefore loveth righteousness. What a pity it is that this earth, which is so full of the proofs and instances of God's goodness, should be so empty of his praises; and that of the multitudes who live upon his bounty, there are so few who live to his glory! What the Lord does, he does to purpose; it stands fast. He overrules all the counsels of men, and makes them serve his counsels; even that is fulfilled, which to us is most surprising, the eternal counsel of God, nor can any thing prevent its coming to pass. 12-22 All the motions and operations of the souls of men, which no mortals know but themselves, God knows better than they do. Their hearts, as well as their times, are all in his hand; he formed the spirit of each man within him. All the powers of the creature depend upon him, and are of no account, of no avail at all, without him. If we make God's favour sure towards us, then we need not fear whatever is against us. We are to give to him the glory of his special grace. All human devices for the salvation of our souls are vain; but the Lord's watchful eye is over those whose conscientious fear of his name proceeds from a believing hope in his mercy. In difficulties they shall be helped; in dangers they shall not receive any real damage. Those that fear God and his wrath, must hope in God and his mercy; for there is no flying from him, but by flying to him. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us; let us always have the comfort and benefit, not according to our merits, but according to the promise which thou hast in thy word given to us, and according to the faith thou hast by thy Spirit and grace wrought in us.