PSALM 93
The psalm commences with the celebration of the infinite glory of God. It is then declared that such is his faithfulness that he never deceives his own people, who, embracing his promises, wait with tranquil minds for their salvation amidst all the tempests and agitations of the world.
Psalm 93:1-2 |
1. Jehovah hath reigned, he hath clothed himself with majesty: 1Jehovah hath clothed himself with strength, he hath girded himself: 2 he hath also established the world, it shall not be moved. 2. Thy throne is stable; 3 from then, from everlasting art thou. |
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1 Horsley translates, --
"Jehovah is King,
Jehovah is gorgeously arrayed."
And, on the second line, he has the following note: -- "The construction of the original is doubtful, though the sense be obvious. The text may be expounded in either of these two ways;
2 See volume 2, page 455, note 2. Bishop Lowth supposes that here, as well as in that passage, there is an allusion to the precious and magnificent ornaments of the priests' attire. "Such," says he, "was the gracefulness, such the magnificence of the sacerdotal vestments, especially those of the High Priest; so adapted were they, as Moses says, (Exodus 28:2,) to the expression of glory and beauty, that to those who were impressed with an equal opinion of the sanctity of the wearer, nothing could possibly appear more venerable and sublime. To these, therefore, we find frequent allusions in the Hebrew poets, when they have occasion to describe extraordinary beauty or comeliness, or to delineate the perfect form of supreme Majesty. The elegant Isaiah (Isaiah 61:10) has a most beautiful idea of this kind when he describes, in his own peculiar manner, (that is, most magnificently,) the exultation and glory of the Church, after its triumphal restoration. Pursuing the allusion, he decorates her with the vestments of salvation, and clothes her in a robe of righteousness. He afterwards compares the Church to a bridegroom dressed for the marriage, to which comparison incredible dignity is added by the word Ikohen, a metaphor plainly taken from the apparel of the priests, the force of which, therefore, no modern language can express. No imagery, indeed, which the Hebrew writers could employ, was equally adapted with this to the display (as far as the human powers can conceive or depict the subject) of the infinite majesty of God, 'Jehovah' is therefore introduced by the Psalmist as 'clothed with glory and with strength,' (Psalm 93:1,) he is 'girded with power,' (Psalm 65:7;) which are the very terms appropriated to the describing of the dress and ornaments of the priests." -- Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews, volume 1, pages 174, 175.
3 "Ou, prepare." -- Fr. marg. "Or, prepared."
4 "Selon que ces similitudes-ci prinses des hommes ont de coustume d'estre appropriees a Dieu, pour le regard et la portee de nostre infirmite." -- Fr.