1 A Psalme or song for the Sabbath day. It is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord, and to sing praises vnto thy Name, O most High:
2 To shew foorth thy louing kindnesse in the morning: and thy faithfulnesse euery night:
3 Upon an instrument of tenne strings, and vpon the psalterie: vpon the harpe with a solemne sound.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy worke: I will triumph in the workes of thy hands.
5 O Lord, how great are thy workes! and thy thoughts are very deepe.
6 A brutish man knoweth not: neither doeth a foole vnderstand this.
7 When the wicked spring as the grasse, and when all the workers of iniquitie doe flourish: it is that they shall be destroyed for euer.
8 ¶ But thou, Lord, art most high for euermore.
9 For loe, thine enemies, O Lord, for loe, thine enemies shall perish: all the workers of iniquity shalbe scattred.
10 But my horne shalt thou exalt like the horne of an vnicorne: I shalbe anointed with fresh oyle.
11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies: and mine eares shall heare my desire of the wicked that rise vp against me.
12 The righteous shal flourish like the palme tree: hee shall growe like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shal still bring forth fruit in old age: they shalbe fat, & flourishing:
15 To shew that the Lord is vpright: hee is my rocke, and there is no vnrighteousnesse in him.
Praise is the business of the sabbath. (1-6) The wicked shall perish, but God's people shall be exalted. (7-15)
1-6 It is a privilege that we are admitted to praise the Lord, and hope to be accepted in the morning, and every night; not only on sabbath days, but every day; not only in public, but in private, and in our families. Let us give thanks every morning for the mercies of the night, and every night for the mercies of the day; going out, and coming in, let us bless God. As He makes us glad, through the works of his providence for us, and of his grace in us, and both through the great work of redemption, let us hence be encouraged. As there are many who know not the designs of Providence, nor care to know them, those who through grace do so, have the more reason to be thankful. And if distant views of the great Deliverer so animated believers of old, how should we abound in love and praise!
7-15 God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in displeasure; yet they flourish but for a moment. Let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the gospel, that being daily anointed by the Holy Spirit, we may behold and share the Redeemer's glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive, and makes them fruitful. Other trees, when old, leave off bearing, but in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.