| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. |
Rejoice in the LORD – Rejoicing and the spirit of praise are indissolubly linked in the divine economy. R2031:3
Praise is comely – Gratitude is one of the divinely implanted instincts of a soul bearing the image of God, and should therefore be cultivated. R2031:2
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| 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. |
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| 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. |
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| 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. |
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| 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. |
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| 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. |
By the word – Not Jehovah personally, but he used various agencies. He gave orders and they were promptly executed. E182
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| 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. |
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| 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. |
In awe – Before God, infinite in wisdom, justice, love and power. SM168:4
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| 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. |
For he spake – When we read that Jehovah created the heavens and the earth, we are not to suppose that he personally handled it, but that he used various agencies. R370:4
And it was done – His orders were promptly executed. E182
Satan has never interfered with God's plans. A116
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| 10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. |
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| 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. |
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| 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. |
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| 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. |
From heaven – The bodily presence of Jehovah is in heaven. R5547:6
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| 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
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Looketh upon all – The Lord has means by which he can be cognizant of all earthly affairs. R5547:6
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| 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. |
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| 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. |
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| 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. |
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| 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; |
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| 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. |
Their soul – Being. R277:1
From death – Not the body, but the being, called in the Scriptures, "soul," dies. R205:4, R277:1
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| 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. |
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| 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. |
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| 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. |
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