Geneva Study Bible Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Praise {a} ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(a) The prophet exhorts the people to praise God for his past benefits, that by this their minds may be strengthened against all present troubles and despair. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Blessed are they that {b} keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
(b) He shows that it is not enough to praise God with the mouth, unless the whole heart agrees to it, and all our life framed after it. Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; Remember me, O LORD, with the {c} favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
(c) Let the good will that you bear to your people extend to me, that by it I may be received into your number. That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. We have {d} sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
(d) By earnest confession of their sins and of their father's, they show that they hoped that God according to his promise would pity them. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. Nevertheless he {e} saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
(e) The inestimable goodness of God appears in this, that he would rather change the order of nature than have his people not be delivered, even though they were wicked. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. Then {f} believed they his words; they sang his praise.
(f) The wonderful words of God caused them to believe for a time, and to praise him. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his {g} counsel:
(g) The would prevent his wisdom and providence. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. And he gave them their request; but sent {h} leanness into their soul.
(h) The abundance that God gave them did not profit, but made them pine away, because God cursed it. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. The earth opened and {i} swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
(i) By the greatness of the punishment the heinousness of the offence may be considered: for they who rise against God's ministers rebel against him. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. Thus they changed their {k} glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
(k) He shows that all idolaters renounce God to be their glory when instead of him, they worship any creature much more wood, stone, metal or calves. They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had {l} not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
(l) If Moses, by his intercession, had not obtained God's favour against their rebellion. Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: Yea, they despised {m} the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
(m) That is Canaan, which acted as a promise of the heavenly inheritance to come, though it was only worth a penny in comparison to the value of the inheritance itself. But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness: Therefore {n} he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
(n) That is, he swore. Sometimes also it means to punish. To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. They joined themselves also unto {o} Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the {p} dead.
(o) Which was the idol of the Moabites. (p) Sacrifices offered to the dead idols. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them. Thus they {q} provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
(q) Signifying that whatever man invents of himself to serve God by, is detestable and provokes his anger. Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. Then stood up {r} Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
(r) When all others neglected God's glory, he in his zeal killed the adulterers and prevented God's wrath. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. And that was {s} counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
(s) This act declared his living faith, and for his faith's sake was accepted. They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with {t} Moses for their sakes:
(t) If so notable a prophet of God does not escape punishment, though others provoked him to sin, how much more will they be subject to God's judgment, who cause God's children to sin? Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, Yea, they sacrificed their {u} sons and their daughters unto devils,
(u) He shows how monstrous a thing idolatry is, which can win us to things abhorring to nature, while God's word cannot obtain small things. And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went {x} a whoring with their own inventions.
(x) Then true chastity is to cleave wholly and only to God. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Many {y} times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
(y) The prophet shows that neither by menace nor promise we can come to God, unless we are altogether newly reformed, and his mercy covers and hides our malice. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. And he remembered for them his covenant, and {z} repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
(z) Not that God is changeable in himself, but that then he seems to us to repent when he alters his punishment, and forgives us. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Save us, O LORD our God, and {a} gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
(a) Gather your Church which is dispersed, and give us constancy under the cross, that with one consent we may all praise you. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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