This psalm is thought by Calvin and others to have been written for the sake of the Jews that returned from the Babylonish captivity; and is a prediction of great and famous things done in the times of the Maccabees to Heathens and their princes, so Theodoret; the Syriac version entitles it,…

Praise ye the Lord Or “hallelujah”; the title of the psalm, according to many; sing unto the Lord a new song; for a new mercy received, a new victory obtained, or a new salvation wrought; more particularly the new song of redeeming grace through Jesus Christ, the song of the Lamb, in distinction…

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him Or, “in his Makers” [[8]], Father, Son, and Spirit; as in ; see also ; for all three Persons had a concern in the creation of man at first, “let us make man” ; and have in the formation of every individual man; of the Israelites as men, and of them as a body…

Let them praise his name in the dance In a chorus of saints, joining together in their expressions of joy, by words and gestures; an ancient practice that went along with singing praises, ; or rather, “with the pipe” [[9]], as some render it; a musical instrument used in former times in the worship…

For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people Not all mankind; though they are all his people by creation, and are under the care of his providence; yet they are not all acceptable to him; some are abhorred by him for their sins and transgressions: but these are a special and peculiar people, whom he…

Let the saints be joyful in glory In the glory put upon them now, being beautified with salvation; in the righteousness of Christ on them, and the grace of Christ in them, which makes them all glorious within; and in the glory they expect to have hereafter, both upon their bodies and souls, and in…

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth Or “throats” [[11]]; loudly declared by them. The word “praises” is not in the text, and so may be read, “the high things of God” [[12]]; or, “the heights of God”, as the Septuagint: and these are the perfections of God; as his omniscience, which is…

To execute vengeance upon the Heathen Either upon the Gentile world, in the first times of the Gospel; when the apostles, going there with the twoedged sword of the word, vehemently inveighed against the idolatry of the Heathens, and exhorted them to turn from their idols to serve the living God;…

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron. ] Which is thought to allude to what was done to the Canaanitish kings, in the times of Joshua; and to the princes of Midian by Gideon; and to Agag by Saul; and to the Ammonites, Syrians, and others, by David: but it refers…

To execute upon them the judgment written In the law, according to the Targum; either upon the seven nations of the land of Canaan, ; or upon all the enemies of God and his people, ; or rather in the Gospel; which declares, that whoever believes in Christ shall be saved, but whoever believes not…