Bible Commentaries

A Song of Praise for Victory over the Enemies.

Thanksgiving for the Victory Gained.

To the chief musician, for use in liturgical services, upon Muth-labben, that is, to be sung after the melody known as "Death to the Son," probably that of a folk-song, a psalm of David.

v. 1. I will praise Thee, O Lord, in a song of thanksgiving, with my whole heart, with all the powers of the soul; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works, declaring their greatness before all men.

v. 2. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee, exulting in the favor shown him by Jehovah; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou Most High, giving Him the credit for the victories gained by singing psalms extolling His honor, the greatness of His attributes.

v. 3. When mine enemies are turned back, overthrown in battle, they shall fall and perish at Thy presence, when God sets His face against them.

v. 4. For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause, upholding him and vindicating him by granting him the victory; Thou satest in the throne judging right, dispensing justice.

v. 5. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, in granting the victory to the arms of David; Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Thou hast put out their name forever and ever, blotting it out of history, destroying its remembrance.

v. 6. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end, desolation and ruin is found where the enemy formerly flourished; and Thou, Jehovah as the Leader of Israel's armies, hast destroyed cities, plucking them up, rooting them out; their memorial is perished with them, God had caused their complete annihilation. Note: The way of unbelief is to praise human power and valor, but believers give thanks to God alone for His almighty assistance in all troubles.

A Prophetic View of the Victory of Faith

v. 7. But the Lord shall endure forever, sitting secure on the throne of His majesty; He hath prepared His throne for judgment, and the last Great Day is foreshadowed by every individual punishment upon nations.

v. 8. And He shall judge the world in righteousness, dispensing justice by virtue of His righteousness; He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness, as the highest principles of divine right demand it.

v. 9. The Lord also will be a Refuge, a height, or stronghold, for the oppressed, where they may be safe from the attacks of their enemies, a Refuge in times of trouble, when all hope seems to be cut off.

v. 10. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, sure of a safe refuge under the shadow of His wings; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee. Cf Luk 21:16-19; Luk 22:30.

v. 11. Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion, intoning psalms to Jehovah, as He dwells in the midst of His people, His Church; declare among the people His doings, every believer feeling constrained to publish the facts pertaining to his salvation.

v. 12. When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them, rather, "For the Avenger of blood, He who avenges bloodshed by punishing the murderers, remembers them"; He forgetteth not the cry of the humble, those who are subject to violence at the hands of the wicked.

v. 13. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, showing him His divine favor or grace; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, being afflicted by them on all sides, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, where he was almost ready to be imprisoned, as the enemies sought his life,

v. 14. that I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion, proclaiming it in public, making it known to numbers of people everywhere. I will rejoice in Thy salvation, happy over his deliverance from the hands of all enemies, whether physical or spiritual.

v. 15. The heathen, the enemy nations who hoped to gain a victory over Israel, are sunk down in the pit that they made, being plunged down suddenly; in the net which they hid, hoping to snare the members of the Lord's people, is their own foot taken.

v. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth, in overthrowing the plans of the wicked; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands, his plans resulting in his own detriment. Higgaion, that is, meditation, a long pause being made here in order to impress the truth of the last statements upon the hearers. Selah.

v. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, to suffer everlasting punishment, and all the nations that forget God.

v. 18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, though it may often seem that his misery will never be ended; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever, those humbled by strokes of affliction will finally see their deliverance.

v. 19. Arise, O Lord, David's usual powerful appeal; let not man prevail, grow strong to carry out his evil designs; let the heathen be judged in Thy sight, the condemnation striking them and preventing their wicked designs.

v. 20. Put them in fear, O Lord, constant terror keeping them in subjection, that the nations may know themselves to be but men, a fact which ought to keep them from every form and show of conceit and arrogance, ever humble in the sight of Jehovah. Selah. The prayer of all afflicted believers is this, that God would make the enemies realize their puny strength and keep them from harming the Church of God.