Psalm 103:19

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) Prepared.—Rather, established.

Benson Commentary

Psalm 103:19. The Lord hath prepared, &c. — Having celebrated God’s mercy to his people, he now praises him for his excellent majesty and universal dominion; his throne in the heavens — Which expression denotes the eminence, glory, power, stability, and unchangeableness of God’s kingdom; and his kingdom ruleth over all — Over all creatures, both in heaven and earth.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

103:19-22 He who made all, rules all, and both by a word of power. He disposes all persons and things to his own glory. There is a world of holy angels who are ever praising him. Let all his works praise him. Such would have been our constant delight, if we had not been fallen creatures. Such it will in a measure become, if we are born of God. Such it will be for ever in heaven; nor can we be perfectly happy till we can take unwearied pleasure in perfect obedience to the will of our God. And let the feeling of each redeemed heart be, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens - He has "fixed" his throne there. This is the ground of the security that his blessing will be imparted to those who fear him, and to their children's children, or that it will be transmitted to coming generations. God is a Sovereign. His throne is fixed and firm. His dominion is not vacillating and changing. His reign is not, like the reign of earthly monarchs, dependent on the capriciousness of a changeable will, or on passion; nor is it liable to be altered by death, by revolution, or a new dynasty. The throne of God is ever the same, and nothing can shake or overthrow it. Compare the notes at Psalm 11:4.

And his kingdom ruleth over all - He reigns over all the universe - the heavens and the earth; and he can, therefore, execute all his purposes. Compare Psalm 47:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. God's firm and universal dominion is a pledge that He will keep His promises (Ps 11:4; 47:8).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Prepared; or rather, established. Having celebrated God’s mercy to his people, he now praiseth him for his excellent majesty and universal dominion.

His throne in the heavens which notes the eminency, glory, power, stability, and, in changeableness of God’s kingdom.

Over all; over all creatures both in heaven and in earth.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens,.... The heaven is his throne; here he sits enthroned in all the glory of his majesty, with all his attendants upon him, and courtiers about him. The Lord Christ is now in heaven; and where he will continue to the restitution of all things, and from whence his people expect him at the last day. Here he is on the same throne with his divine Father; which throne he has "prepared" or "established" (d), so as it cannot be moved: when others are cast down, this shall stand; his throne is for ever and ever. The Targum in the king's Bible is,

"the Word of the Lord hath prepared, &c.''

And his kingdom ruleth over all; over all created beings; over angels, good and bad; over men, righteous and wicked; over the greatest of men, the kings and princes of the earth. Good angels are subject to him devils tremble at him; saints acknowledge him as their King; the wicked he rules with a rod of iron; and kings reign by him, and are accountable to him; see Psalm 22:28.

(d) "stabilivit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Geneva Study Bible

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. Jehovah hath established his throne in heaven, the sphere of all that is sublime, unchanging, eternal (Psalm 11:4; Psalm 93:2).

his kingdom &c.] Cp. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12. Cp. the watchword of other Psalms of the Return, “Jehovah hath proclaimed himself King” (Psalm 93:1; Psalm 96:10; Psalm 97:1; Psalm 99:1).

19–22. The thought of Jehovah’s supreme and universal sovereignty introduces a concluding call to the whole universe to unite in His praises.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - The Lord hath prepared (or, established) his throne in the heavens. In conclusion, the incomparable majesty of God is set before us, in contrast with the feebleness of man, and he is put forward as the one and only fit Object of worship, alike to the spiritual (vers. 20, 21) and the material creation (ver. 22a), as well as to the psalmist himself (ver. 22b). Seated on his everlasting throne, he challenges the adoration of the whole universe. And his kingdom ruleth over all (comp. Psalm 47:2; Daniel 4:34, 35). Psalm 103:19

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

He is able to show Himself thus gracious to His own, for He is the supra-mundane, all-ruling King. With this thought the poet draws on to the close of his song of praise. The heavens in opposition to the earth, as in Psalm 115:3; Ecclesiastes 5:12, is the unchangeable realm above the rise and fall of things here below. On Psalm 103:19 cf. 1 Chronicles 29:12. בּכּל refers to everything created without exception, the universe of created things. In connection with the heavens of glory the poet cannot but call to mind the angels. His call to these to join in the praise of Jahve has its parallel only in Psalm 29:1-11 and Psalm 148:1-14. It arises from the consciousness of the church on earth that it stands in living like-minded fellowship with the angels of God, and that it possesses a dignity which rises above all created things, even the angels which are appointed to serve it (Psalm 91:11). They are called גּבּרים as in Joel 3:11, and in fact גּבּרי כּח, as the strong to whom belongs strength unequalled. Their life endowed with heroic strength is spent entirely - an example for mortals - in an obedient execution of the word of God. לשׁמע is a definition not of the purpose, but of the manner: obediendo (as in Genesis 2:3 perficiendo). Hearing the call of His word, they also forthwith put it into execution. the hosts (צבאיו), as משׁרתיו shows, are the celestial spirits gathered around the angels of a higher rank (cf. Luke 2:13), the innumerable λειτουργικὰ πνεῦματα (Psalm 104:4, Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 1:14), for there is a hierarchia caelestis. From the archangels the poet comes to the myriads of the heavenly hosts, and from these to all creatures, that they, wheresoever they may be throughout Jahve's wide domain, may join in the song of praise that is to be struck up; and from this point he comes back to his own soul, which he modestly includes among the creatures mentioned in the third passage. A threefold בּרכי נפשׁי now corresponds to the threefold בּרכוּ; and inasmuch as the poet thus comes back to his own soul, his Psalm also turns back into itself and assumes the form of a converging circle.