I. CALL TO PRAISE (1-3). The United Tribute. II. CAUSES FOR PRAISE (4-19 ). The Universal Testimony. 1. Jehovah's Word and Work in Creation (4-9). Omnipotence. i. Reason for Praise, "For" (4-7). ii. Recommendation (8). iii. Reason for Praise, "For" (9). 2. Jehovah's Counsel and Care in Providence (10-19). Omniscience. i. Relation to States (10-12). (a) The Rebellious Nations (10-n). (b) The Chosen Nation (12). ii. Relation to Souls (13-19). (a) The World's Inhabitants (13-17). (b) The God-fearing Individuals (18-19). III.' COMPLEMENT OF PRAISE (20-22). The United Trust .. I. Reliance (20 ). 2. Rejoicing (21 ). 3. Request (22). PRIMARY AssocIATION .-A congregational hymn of praise closely linked with xxxii. The absence of a tide confirms this and suggests also that David is the writer (so LXX). The historical occasion is not known, but it is probably connected with some national deliverance. Compare xxxii. Ir with xxxiii. I, invitation and answer. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Shows the joy of the forgiven remnant expressed following the experience of Ps. xxxii. Israel's praise finds an echo in all creation, Jehovah the God of redemption being also the God of creation. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-A psalm of power and providence, and in praise of praise. Every fresh exhibition of grace demands a fresh expression of gratitude (3). Our God is Creator, Controller and Consummator. The heavens and their host teach us our littleness and dependence. Many delight in the wonderful works of God who, alas, despise the God of wonderful works. Contemplation of Jehovah's power should move us to reverence (8); consideration of His providence to reliance (20-22). God's counsel stands firm
like His creatjon (n, 9). Host, hero and horse arc all alike impotent if God be not our trust. Is our trust false (16-17) or true (20-21), vain or victorious? Jehovah's knowledge is not only universal but individual. In the mouth of the upright alone is praise seemly (1). VERSE NOTES 1. "Rejoice" = shout for joy, s.H. verb xxxii. 1ib. 3-4. Same Heb. at I Sam. xvi. 17. 4. "right"= upright, s. H.w. (1). (b) "All His work is in faithfulness," e.g. the fixed laws of nature upon which man has learned to rely. 5. Righteousness is the principle of justice; judgment is its application. 6. C£ Gen. i. Here is found the germ of the doctrine of the Word, John i.; "host of them" = the stellar system. 7. Present tense of the verbs expresses continual control as well as the original creation; "as a heap," all the ancient versions have "as in a bottle (wineskin )." 8-9 The emphasis is upon the wonder of creation by simple divine fiat. Hebrew more tersely, "He (emph.) spake and it was; He (emph.) commanded and it stood forth," Gen. i.; Isa. xlviii. 13. 10-11. Note the parallelism here, emphasising contrast between God and men. "Counsel ... thoughts ... counsel ... thoughts." 12. "Blessed"= happy. 15. All are in some way subservient to God's plan and purpose. 17. "horse "; cavalry formed in the psalmist's day the most formidable part of an anny, Prov. xxi. 31. 18. See xxxii. 8, note; br. "that wait for His loving-kindness." "d th " · d th 19. ea , ,.e. v10 ent ea . 20. Br. "hath looked for," s.H.w. found again in the Psalter only at cvi. 13. I · kindn 22. mercy = ovmgess.
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