_The prophet, setting forth the kingdom of God in Zion,—exhorteth all,
by the example of forefathers, to worship God at his holy hill._
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth _between_ the
cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The LORD _is_ great in Zion; and he _is_ high above all the people.
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; _for_ it _is_ holy.
The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity,
thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; _for_ he _is_
holy.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call
upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies,
and the ordinance _that_ he gave them.
Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest
them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our
God _is_ holy.
This Psalm is a Psalm of blessed doctrine. It exhorts the people of
God to preserve sacredly that true worship of the first commandment,
the praising of God alone, and the continuing in the faith of him,
although the nations on all sides and the whole world should roar
against that people who glory in being the people of God, and who know
that God is to be found no where but in this and that corner of the
earth, in that tabernacle, in that sanctuary, and at that mercy-seat,
where the word and the promise of God are preached. And the Psalm
shows that this true people of God are exposed to the most bitter
hatred of the world and of the devil, and to afflictions of every
kind.
The Psalmist mentions, by name, Moses, and Aaron, and Samuel; those
best of men among the people of God, who endured great afflictions,
both inward and outward, for the sake of the name and the word of God.
The Psalmist shows, however, (as is set forth verses 4 and 5.) and
teaches this people of God, that the highest worship of God is not
placed in ceremonial sacrifices: therefore he says, “Let them praise
thy great and terrible name, for it is holy.” “In this kingdom of God,
(says the Psalmist,) justice and judgment are loved.” “Thou
justifiest,” says he, “thy people;” that is, thou deliverest from sin
and death, and extendest unto them the remission of their sins.
And unto us, who are in and of the church of God, the present Psalm is
a glorious prophecy of Christ, who governs and rules this church, the
true Zion, in the Spirit, throughout the whole world, wheresoever she
is. The holy Psalmist shews us, that Christ, sitting at the right hand
of the Majesty in the heavens, is there continually as our Sacrificer
and our Sacrifice. And he testifies that the whole world rages and
roars against this people and church of God, and kills the saints, and
loads them with all manner of afflictions, on account of their
profession and worship of Christ.