David extols the majesty, power, and providence of God, ver. 1, 2.
And his loving - kindness to mankind, ver. 3 - 5.
In giving him dominion over this lower world, ver. 6 - 9.
To the chief musician upon Gittith, A psalm of David.
Title of the psalm. Gittith - This also is supposed to be the name of a
tune, or instrument.
1: In - Not only in Israel, but among all nations. Which shews
that this psalm speaks of the Messiah, and the times of the New Testament.
Heavens - Where thy throne of glory is established, where the blessed
angels celebrate thy praises, where Christ sitteth at thy right hand in
glorious majesty, from whence he poureth down excellent gifts upon babes.
2: Babes - Weak and foolish, and contemptible persons, who are
frequently called babes or children. Such are very unfit to grapple
with an enemy: and therefore when such persons conquer the most powerful
and malicious enemies, it must needs confound them, and advance the
glory of God: as indeed it did, when such mean persons as the apostles,
and disciples of Christ, maintained and propagated the gospel, in spite
of all the wit, power, and rage of their enemies. Ordained - Perfectly
or firmly settled strength; that is, the praise of his strength or
power, (Mt 21:16),
it is rendered praise. Still - Silence and confound them.
Avenger - The devil, and all who are his vassals and espouse his quarrel.
3: The moon - Either the sun is included under this general title:
or he omitted it, because he made this psalm by night. Ordained - Placed
in that excellent and unalterable order, and directed to their several
motions.
4: What is man - How mean and inconsiderable a thing is man, if
compared with thy glorious majesty. Man - Heb. infirm, or miserable
man. By which it is apparent that he speaks of man, not according to
the state of his creation, but as fallen into a state of sin and misery,
and mortality. Mindful - Carest for him, and conferest such high favours
upon him. The son - Heb. the son of Adam, that great apostate from
God, the sinful son of a sinful father, his son by likeness of disposition
and manners, no less than by procreation. All which tends to magnify the
following mercy. Visitest - Not in anger, as that word is sometimes used,
but with thy grace and mercy.
5: For - Thou hast in Christ mercifully restored man to his primitive
estate, wherein he was but one remove below the angels; from which he
was fallen by sin. Crowned - Man, fallen and lost man: who is actually
restored to glory and dominion in Christ his head and representative,
who received this crown and dominion for man's good, and in his stead;
which he will in due time communicate to his members. And so the two
expositions of this place concerning mankind and concerning Christ, may
be reconciled. For he speaks of that honourable estate conferred first
upon Christ, and then by his hands upon mankind. But the words more
literally rendered are, Thou madest him a little less than God.
And hence some have inferred, that man in his original state was the
highest of all creatures.
