This Psalm constitutes another of the praises prepared for the kingdom. “The instrument,” as one has expressed it, “is tuned here at the door.” It is of larger compass than the preceding song, celebrating the praise of the Lord in all His high and holy honors—in His power and knowledge, in creation and providence, in Israel, in grace, and in judgment—as one who, though so high that He numbers and names the stars, yet hears the cry of the young ravens. And the God of heaven and earth is Israel’s God. He who does His pleasure throughout the universe gives peace and plenty to Israel. Zion is therefore especially summoned to join in this praise, for God has especially become her God; and they who have been forgiven much and blessed much should love much and praise much.
And as the previous Psalm had shown how God received praise in His acts of grace and redemption, beyond all that His acts in creation had brought Him, so here we see that the same acts of grace and redemption bring Him more delight than the others. It is not “the strength of a horse” or “the legs of a man,” that are now the divine delight, though such show forth His handiwork; but “the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.”
Nothing gratifies love (we may, from this, say) like using it. Love does not act to be admired, but to be used. Nothing answers the heart of Jesus so much as drawing from Him, and trusting Him. The woman of Samaria far more refreshed Him by going away with a heart filled out of His wells, than had she said to give Him (though He needed it then) out of her pitcher. For that enabled Him to say, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” This was Jesus on earth, this is God in heaven. And Israel will give Him this delight by and by, as now every poor sinner does who knows that the blood of Christ and the righteousness of God are his precious property, and therefore takes them, and all things with them, as the gift of grace, with confidence and joy of heart.
NOTE—The Septuagint divides this Psalm into two, beginning a new one at Psalm 147:1212Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. (Psalm 147:12). (See Psa. 10 note.)