Quite in order, this Psalm prepares thanksgiving for the victory and the peace anticipated in the preceding Psalm. And this introduces the praises of the kingdom, which occupy the Prophet’s harp from thenceforward to the end. The first verse is very significant of this. “I will extol thee, my God, O King”—it is God as King that the prophet’s heart now peculiarly or exclusively celebrates. This gives strong and decisive character to this Psalm as being millennial, or touching the kingdom.
The Lord was as “a man of war” in the preceding Psalm, but here, the war being over, He is a “king.” The Jewish millennial people had been just pronounced to be happy (Psa. 144:1515Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 144:15)), and here they utter their happiness. As it were, others had said, “the Lord has done great things for them;” and they now reply, “the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”
Praise and song express this gladness. And so does their conversation; for they speak of His glory and talk of His power (Psa. 145:1111They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; (Psalm 145:11)). In sadness, disciples once talked of the things which had happened at Jerusalem (Luke 24), but now her people help each other’s joy, as they walk and talk together. And converse tunes the heart to praise, and then rapture breaks in on the even flow of their ever cheered and happy spirits. As in the progress of the Book of Revelation the family in heaven are at times heard in their rapture, in the swelling of their joy beyond its orderly current. (See Rev. 5; 7; 11; 12; 14; 15; 19.)
The materials for this unceasing praise are also largely prepared—His mighty acts—the glorious honor of His majesty—His greatness, goodness, and righteousness—His upholding of the weak—His fulfilling of the desire of the needy—His preserving of them that love Him—His vengeance on the wicked—these are among the themes of praise which will engage the joys and songs of the coming kingdom. One generation is to rehearse them to another. And the Lord Himself is the leader of this praise, according to what He had vowed in His distress (Psa. 22:2222I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)). Jesus—the saints or Jewish people—the sons of men or all flesh—the works of creation—all join in their way and measure. The saints, as it were, take it from the lips of the Lord and teach it to the nations, and one generation teaches it to another.
For now, the character or generation of the Jewish people has changed. It has hitherto been “perverse and crooked” (Deut. 32), “stubborn and rebellious” (Psa. 78). But the final generation will be a new creation—a people formed by God to show forth His praise (Psa. 22:30; 102:1830A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30)
18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. (Psalm 102:18); Isa. 43:2121This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21)). The first generation has not yet passed away (Matt. 24:3434Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)). Israel is still perverse; but the Lord will have a seed in Israel that shall be accounted to Him “for a generation.” And such Psalms as this let us see and hear some of their happy enjoyments (See Psa. 12).