Bible Commentaries

1. The Lord reigneth—The usual proclamation at the beginning of the reign of a new sovereign. Thus: “Absalom reigneth,” (2 Samuel 15:10;) and, “Jehu reigneth,” 2 Kings 9:13. Delitzsch: “The allusion makes it plain that the language does not apply to the constant government of God, but to a new, glorious manifestation of his dominion—as it were, a new ascent to the throne—as at the overthrow of Sennacherib.” See Psalms 96:10; Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:1.

Girded himself—To denote that he is ready for action; (Jeremiah 1:17; Luke 12:25;) also a symbol of strength. (Psalms 18:39; Isaiah 45:5.)

The world also is stablished—And as securely has he founded his Church against the tumult and rage of her enemies.

Matthew 16:18. This original “establishment of the world” proves God’s right and ability to govern it.

2. Thy throne is established of old—Literally, Thy throne is established from then, or, from that time; that is, from the time that thou hast been— from eternity. “This phrase, spoken of God or Christ, means eternity; in respect to creation it is the beginning of time.” Isaiah 44:8.— Ainsworth. When there is no historic indication of the particular time referred to, it must be determined by the nature of the subject, which in this case must be the duration of divine existence.

3. Floods— נהרות, (neharoth,) rivers.

Lifted up their voice—This could be done by rivers only in the rushing and roaring of cataracts. The cataracts of the Jordan were used as a figure of the civil commotions which drove David for a season from his capital. See on Psalms 42:7. Probably the word rivers, here, refers to the Euphrates and the Tigris, as representing the mad power of Assyria.

Waves—The word signifies “waves” that are broken by being dashed against the shore, or otherwise broken with violence—breakers. The radical idea is, to dash in pieces—to break. The common word for wave is different, and comes from the idea to heap together, to cast up a mound. In symbolic language, the sea, or any great body of water, represents a great collection of people; and a troubled, or tumultuous, sea signifies a nation or nations at war. See Psalms 65:7; Daniel 7:2; Jeremiah 51:42. The figure here clearly points to such war and commotion as threatened the destruction of the nation, and is a strong indication of the date we have assigned to the psalm.

4. The Lord on high is mightier—This surely celebrates a sudden victory by the hand of God over a most formidable combination of haughty nations, rushing upon Israel like noisy breakers or cataracts. The imagery naturally refers us to the Assyrian invasion and catastrophe, already mentioned.

Many waters—Many nations or peoples, such as always made up the armies of the eastern conquerors.

5. Thy testimonies—The words apply to the charges and declarations delivered to Moses for the people, constituting the entire torah, or system of the law, (Psalms 19:7,) but is here specially used of the annexed promises of divine protection and favour to such as keep the law. Psalms 94:12.

Are… sure—Literally, Have been amen. Compare 2 Corinthians 1:20; Revelation 19:9; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6. They have proved faithful and true through all this terrible ordeal of danger and suffering by the uproar and tumult of the nations.

Holiness becometh thine house— And therefore God will defend it against the daring assaults of wicked men, and purge his own people from corruptions by the terrible ordeal of judgments, like a summer threshing floor. The psalmist recognises the preserved sanctity of the house of God as the moral reason for the divine interference, and as the crowning glory of deliverance. Also, this recognition of the standing of the temple at the time offers a clew to the date of writing.

For ever—Hebrew, To length of days; and the duration of this term being determined by the nature of the subject, makes it “for ever.” Compare the same form in Psalms 23:6. But when God’s own people forget that holiness is the chief adornment of them and the sanctuary where they worship, he will sweep them from the earth. See in 2 Chronicles 36:15-19.