Verse 1

CONTENTS

The general subject of this psalm is praise. The sacred writer calls upon all to praise the Lord, from sun-rise to sun-set. Every individual of intelligent creation is supposed to be interested in this service.

Verses 1-3

The prophet Malachi looking into gospel days, declared, that the name of Jehovah should be great among the Gentiles, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Malachi 1:11. To this most reasonable service, the servants of the Lord are here called; and the subjects of creation, providence, and redemption, furnish out endless matter for devout souls to enlarge upon. And oh! thou blessed Jesus, how dust thou, as the servant of Jehovah, set a glorious example to all thy redeemed! Though thou wert Lord of all, yet didst thou condescend to be servant of all, and didst even wash thy disciple's feet, in token of thine unequalled humility, and to teach us to do as thou hast done, John 13:13-15. Truly, Lord I am thy servant: thou hast loosed my bonds, Psalms 116:16.

Verses 4-6

A most sublime thought is awakened by these verses, in the contemplation of God. To behold things in heaven, in the upper and brighter world, is wonderful condescension in him that inhabiteth the praises of eternity! And how much more so to behold things on earth, amidst the universal corruption induced by the fall! And to behold, and regard, a poor sinful worm of the earth, such as man, and the best of men, in his highest estate, is still going down in the scale of condescension. But what shall we say or think of that wonder of wonders, that He whose name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place, should come down and tabernacle with men, in the person of his dear Son? What an act of grace and condescension is here! Solomon, struck with the thoughts of God's presence in the temple which he had built, cried out, under the solemn apprehension, But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded! But what would he have said, had he lived in gospel days, and beheld the word made flesh, dwelling among us; he, who was in the form of God, and with whom it was no robbery to be equal with God, making himself of no reputation, taking upon him the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men, found in fashion as a man, humbling himself, and becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross? Oh! thou unequalled pattern of all that is fair, and lovely, and excellent! In all things thou hast the pre-eminence! See those scriptures: Isaiah 57:15; 1 Kings 8:28; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:18.

Verse 7-8

Reader, hath the Lord God been thus gracious to you, in your own instance? Do you know anything of that rich, free, sovereign grace, which manifests itself in raising sinners from the dust of death, the dunghill of a fallen nature, and making them, in Christ Jesus, kings and priests to God and the Father? Oh, if you know anything of this in your own personal salvation, how will you join in this sweet psalm of praise, and chant it every day, from sunrise to sunset! Revelation 1:5-6.

Verse 9

Several women in the Old Testament history, are proofs of this mercy: and the New Testament saints, no doubt, could produce also their Hannahs, and Rachels, and Elizabeths, 1 Samuel 1:2; 1Sa_1:19-20; Genesis 30:1-2; Gen_30:22-23; Luke 1:7; Luk_1:13; Luk_1:57. And what indeed is the promise given to the Gentile church, but that, more shall be the children of the desolate, than the children of the married wife? Isaiah 54:1. These are sweet testimonies in proof. And the psalm therefore ends as it began, with Hallelujah. The Lord give grace both to him that now writes, and to him that reads, so to begin, and so to end it. Praise ye the Lord.

REFLECTIONS

READER, let you and I seek for grace to catch the heavenly flame, and while the Holy Ghost is thus calling upon the church to bless the Lord, that from the rising of the sun to its going down, his name shalt be great among the Gentiles, oh may we not be silent, morn or even; but with the dawn of day, as well as when the shades of night close in upon the earth, may we bless the Lord, and call upon all that is within us to praise his holy name.

And, oh! what unnumbered motives and arguments arise in every direction, within, without, and all around, to be earnest and alive in this blessed service! Think, Reader, of the condescension of God the Father, in sending his Son to be the Saviour of the world! Think of the grace of God the Spirit, in making the bodies of the saints his temple. And think of that grace and love in God the Son, who so loved us as to give himself for us! Reader, a whole eternity will not be long enough for praising, blessing, and adoring Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for these things. Oh! reader, let each of us say, What hath God wrought, in remembering us in our low estate; for his mercy endureth forever! Help us, Lord, to praise thee, to love thee, to live to thee; that every day we may increase, with all the household of faith, in praising the God of our salvation, upon earth, until we come to the everlasting enjoyment of the Lord, and the view of him in glory, to praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to all eternity. Amen.