1.
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
1. Praise waiteth for
thee—literally, "To Thee silence praise," or (compare
Psalms 62:1), To Thee silence is
praise—that is, Praise is waiting as a servant; it is due to Thee.
So the last clause expresses the duty of paying vows. These two parts
of acceptable worship, mentioned in Psalms 62:1, are rendered in Zion, where God chiefly displays His mercy
and receives homage.
2.
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
2. All are encouraged to pray by
God's readiness to hear.
3.
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
3. God's mercy alone delivers us
from the burden of iniquities, by purging or expiating by an
atonement the transgressions with which we are charged, and which are
denoted by—
Iniquities—or,
literally, "Words of iniquities."
4.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
4. dwell in thy courts; . . .
[and] satisfied with the goodness . . . temple—denote
communion with God (Psalms 15:1;
Psalms 23:6; compare Psalms 23:6). This is a blessing for all God's people, as denoted by the
change of number.
5.
By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
5. terrible things—that is, by
the manifestation of justice and wrath to enemies, accompanying that
of mercy to His people (Psalms 63:9-11;
Psalms 64:7-9).
the confidence—object
of it.
of all . . . earth—the
whole world; that is, deservedly such, whether men think so or not.
6.
Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
6-13. God's great power and
goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in
His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting
men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7;
Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His
fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man
and beast.
7.
Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8.
They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
8. outgoings of . . . rejoice—all
people from east to west.
9.
Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
9. visitest—in mercy (compare
Psalms 8:4).
river of God—His
exhaustless resources.
10.
Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
6-13. God's great power and
goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in
His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting
men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7;
Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His
fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man
and beast.
11.
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
11. thy paths—ways of
providence (Psalms 25:4; Psalms 25:10).
12.
They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
12. wilderness—places, though
not inhabited by men, fit for pasture (Leviticus 16:21;
Leviticus 16:22; Job 24:5).
pastures—is literally,
"folds," or "enclosures for flocks"; and in Job 24:5 it may be "lambs," the same word used and so
translated in Psalms 37:20; so
that "the flocks are clothed with lambs" (a figure for
abundant increase) would be the form of expression.
13.
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
6-13. God's great power and
goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in
His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting
men with awe and dread (Psalms 26:7;
Psalms 98:1, &c.), and in His
fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man
and beast.