Psalms 135:14

Psa 135:14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

Ver. 14. For the Lord will judge his people] Iudicabit, id est vindicabit, he will preserve them, and provide for their welfare.

And he will repent himself] This is mutatio rei non Dei, effectus non affectus. Some render it, He will be propitious; others, He will take comfort in his servants. See Jdg 10:16.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14. (Psa 135:14) For Jehovah will judge his people, and for the sake of his servants will repent. He will fulfil the promise in Deut. xxxii. 36. He will judge (i.e. do justice to) his people. See above, on Ps. lxxii. 2. For the sense in which repentance is ascribed to God, see above, on Psa 90:13.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, govern and defend his people.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 14. The Lord will judge his people] He will do them justice against their enemies.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(14) From Deu_32:36.

Judge—i.e., see them righted.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14. Taken verbatim from Deu_32:36; cp. Psa_90:13. In virtue of His relation to Israel He will do them justice, and not finally abandon them.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The idols of the Heathen are silver and gold,.... This, with what follows, is observed, to show that when God judges his people, and takes vengeance on their enemies, the idols they serve will not be able to protect them, and deliver them out of his hands; and also to prove what is before asserted, that our Jehovah is great above all gods, Psa 135:5; the matter of which they are made is at best gold and silver, which are the dust and metals of the earth, or what the prophet calls thick clay, Hab 2:6; and are the creatures of Jehovah, and at his dispose, who says, the silver and the gold are mine, Hag 2:8; and who is infinitely above them in value and worth; even the knowledge of him, and the words of his mouth, doctrines, and precepts, are better than gold and silver, Pro 3:14;

the work of men's hands; which they form out of gold and silver into such shapes and figures, and therefore can never have deity in them; and a most stupid thing it is to imagine that the Godhead is like to gold and silver, graven by art and man's device, Act 17:29; See Gill on Psa 115:4.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

For the Lord will judge his people - He will interpose in their behalf by his judgments, or by directing the course of events in their favor. This language is copied literally from Deu 32:36 : “For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants.” It is there a part of the song of Moses after the journey through the wilderness, after smiting the kings of the Amorites and of Bashan; and when, delivered from their enemies, the Israelites had come to the borders of the promised land, Deut. 31. The language was, therefore, especially appropriate to the design of this psalm.

And he will repent himself concerning his servants - In behalf of his people. That is, he will do as if he repented, or had changed his mind. He will stay his judgments. He will not suffer his people to be destroyed. He will not permit the judgments which seemed to threaten their entire ruin to be carried out to the full. They shall be arrested midway as if God had then changed his mind. Of course, all this is language accommodated to human weakness, and to the manner of speaking among people.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Will judge his people; will in due time plead the cause of his people, or give judgment for them, as this phrase is used, Deu 32:36; Jer 5:28; 22:16.

He will repent himself concerning his servants; he will recall that severe sentence which for their sins he had passed upon them, and be reconciled to them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 14. For the LORD will judge his people. He will exercise personal discipline over them, and not leave it to their foes to maltreat them at pleasure. When the correction is ended he will arise and avenge them of their oppressors, who for a while were used by him as his rod. He may seem to forget his people, but it is not so; he will undertake their cause and deliver them. The judges of Israel were also her deliverers, and such is the Lord of hosts: in this sense as ruling, preserving, and delivering his chosenJehovah will judge his people. And he will repent himself concerning his servants. When he has smitten them, and they lie low before him, he will pity them as a father pitieth his children, for he doth not afflict willingly. The Psalm speaks after the manner of men: the nearest description that words can give of the Lord's feeling towards his suffering servants is that he repents the evil which he inflicted upon them. He acts as if he had changed his mind and regretted smiting them. It goes to the heart of God to see his beloved ones oppressed by their enemies: though they deserve all they suffer, and more than all, yet the Lord cannot see them smart without a pang. It is remarkable that the nations by which God has afflicted Israel have all been destroyed as if the tender Father hated the instruments of his children's correction. The chosen nation is here called, first, "his people", and then "his servants:" as his people he judges them, as his servants he finds comfort in them, for so the word may be read. He is most tender to them when he sees their service; hence the Scripture saith, "I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Should not the "servants" of God praise him? He plagued Pharaoh's servants; but as for his own he has mercy upon them, and returns to them in love after he has in the truest affection smitten them for their iniquities. "Praise him, O ye servants of the Lord."

Ver. 14. The LORD will judge his people. Others would like to do it, but must not. The world has seven judgment days in every week, but shall not be able to condemn the saints. He himself will judge. How will he judge them

1. Their persons, as to whether they are in or out of Christ.

2. Their principles, as to whether they are genuine or spurious.

3. Their prayers, as to whether they are availing or useless.

4. Their profession, as to whether it is true or false.

5. Their procedure, as to whether it is good or bad. W. J.

Ver. 14.

1. The position of believers his people.

2. The discipline of God's family.

3. The tenderness of the Lord to them.

4. The safety of believers: they are still the Lord's.

Psalms 135:15*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. Repent himself concerning his servants—That is, will change his method of treating them, and turn away his judgments, and remember mercy, when they turn to him. The author here undoubtedly glances at the recent deliverance from Babylon.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For the Lord will judge his people; i.e. will right them whenever they are wronged. (see Exo_2:23-25 Exo_3:7-9 Exo_6:6 Psa_54:1-3) And he will repent himself concerning his servants. God "will not keep his anger for ever". (Psa_103:9) When he has sufficiently chastised his sinful servants, he will "repent," or "relent" (Kay, Cheyne), with respect to them, and receive them back into favor. The history contained in the Book of Judges strongly illustrates this statement. (Jud 3:6-11, 12-30 4:1-3, 13-16 6:1-16 10:6-18 11:4-33 13:1-5, etc.)

The Divine repentances.

The explanation is often made that the changes of Divine plans are responsive to changes in the circumstances of God"s people. It is seeing deeper into the heart of truth to see that the Divine repentances even answer to the changing moods of God"s people. His "repenting himself concerning his servants" is really his "having compassion on them;" and that is responding to their moods. The separate meanings of the word "repentance" have often been presented, and the very limited senses in which the term can be applied to God have been variously shown. It represents the Divine responsiveness, which is as perfect as any other Divine attribute. It greatly helps us to see clearly that the Divine repentance is a perfect thing, because repentance, though it may be a right thing in man, is closely associated with frailty and evil. Repentance involves change of plan; and this must be based on change of mind. But we have constantly to change our minds and change our plans, in order to meet new conditions; and we never dream of such changing being wrong. They are not made wrong by calling them "repentances." It is the association of sin with the change which brings in the element of regret which characterizes human repentance; but as there is no sin in God, there can be no regret; and we must eliminate these features from repentance when we apply the term to God.

I THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN. There is no such thing as change in God, as repentance in God relative to the world of things. This theological truth science does but express by the "invariability of natural law." There is no created thing that has independent action, so nothing can ever make new conditions for God to adjust himself to. Man alone can do this, because he can act independently.

II THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN"S CIRCUMSTANCES, There is a sense in which man is ever putting himself into fresh circumstances. What should we have to say of the helplessness of God, if he could not adjust himself to new conditions?

III THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN"S MOODS. For the Divine relations are spiritual; they mainly concern the man himself. And changing spiritual moods require wise and gracious adjustments on the part of God. R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Judge - Will in due time plead the cause of his people. Repent - He will recall that severe sentence which for their sins he had passed upon them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

repent

(See Scofield "Zec 8:14").

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For the Lord will judge His people He will judge their judgment from their enemies.

and relent He will have another thought.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.