Thanksgiving for the Miracles of God’s Deliverance
To the chief musician, for use in liturgical worship, a song or psalm, the name of the inspired poet not being mentioned. V. 1. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands, the call being so general as to include all the inhabitants of the world.
V. 2. Sing forth the honor of His name, exalting Him for the revelation of His essence and attributes; make His praise glorious, recognizing His majesty, giving honor to His renown, in order to spread His praise.
V. 3. Say unto God, How terrible, to be regarded with awe and fear, art Thou in Thy works! Compare Rev. 15, 3. 4. Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee, they fawn before Him with an unwilling, constrained, feigned homage, but are obliged, nevertheless, to submit.
V. 4. All the earth shall worship Thee, the idea of the universal spread of the kingdom of God being in full Accordance with the dispensation of God in all ages of the world, and shall sing unto Thee, accepting Him in adoring worship; they shall sing to Thy name, extolling the glory of God’s essence and attributes. Selah.
V. 5. Come and see the works of God, the invitation being extended to all men to convince themselves from facts illustrated in Israel’s history; He is terrible, demanding awe and reverence, in His doing toward the children of men. V. 6. He turned the sea into dry land, the reference being to the miraculous drying up of the Red Sea, Ex. 14, 21; they went through the flood on foot, walking through the dry bed of the Jordan, whose waters were held back by God’s power, Josh. 3, 17. There did we rejoice in Him, the whole congregation praising God with joy for these manifestations of His almighty favor. A conclusion is now drawn concerning the government of God at all times.
V. 7. He ruleth by His power forever, His government being of everlasting duration; His eyes behold the nations, keeping watch over the affairs of all people in the world. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves, raising their heads in pride, with the notion that there is no one to see their wickedness or to punish it as it deserves. Selah.
Once more the invitation of the believers rings out: v. 8. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard, the need of an open confession of faith must never be forgotten; v. 9. which holdeth our soul in life, placing it out of the reach of danger, in the sphere of life, to enjoy its fullness in communion with God, and suffereth not our feet to be moved, to totter and stumble in a dangerous fall.