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Expanded Comments |
God abases the Proud, but exalts the Righteous.
For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song. |
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1 We give thanks unto thee, O God;
We give thanks, for thy name is near:
Men tell of thy wondrous works.
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2 When I shall find the set time,
I will judge uprightly.
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3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved:
I have set up the pillars of it. {Selah
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The earth – Not the literal, physical earth, but the symbolic earth, society as at present organized. R1813:6
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4 I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly;
And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
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5 Lift not up your horn on high;
Nor speak with a stiff neck.
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6 For neither from the east, nor from the west,
Nor yet from the south, cometh lifting up.
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Promotion – All prominence, all promotion, and all control of the Church, is in the hands of the Lord. R5711:1
Cometh – The Church is on the way to a promotion, a prominence, greater than that of all others. R5710:6
Neither – Throughout the Scriptures, the North seems to be closely associated with Jehovah's government of earth. R5710:3[R5710:9]
The members of the Church do not promote their own selfish interests, but lay down their lives in carrying out God's great purpose and plan. R5711:1
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7 But God is the judge:
He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.
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God is the judge – The great eminence which Lucifer in his pride sought to grasp, that he might "sit on the sides of the north," will be granted as a reward to The Christ. (Isa. 14:13; Psa. 48:2) R5711:2
All things are of the Father and by the Son. In this work of judging the world, Christ will be the Judge, and the Church will be the associate judges. R5710:6
He – "God hath set the members, every one of them, in the body as it has pleased him." (1 Cor. 12:18) R5711:2
Putteth down – Therefore a brother, losing the office of elder or deacon, should accept the decision as from the Lord. R5305:6, R5711:3
The Lord will put down the attempt of the great usurper, Satan, to rule the world. R5710:5, R5305:5
Setteth up another – God sets up elders and deacons through the voice of the church. R5305:5
As he set up Nebuchadnezzar as the head of gold and raised up Pharaoh. (Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17) R5305:2
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8 For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth;
It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same:
Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.
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9 But I will declare for ever,
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
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10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off;
But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. |
All the horns – Horns are symbols of power. T42
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