Psalms 89:17

Psa 89:17 For thou [art] the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

Ver. 17. For thou art the glory of their strength] And hence it is that they are filled top full with comfort, and do over abound exceedingly with joy in all their tribulation, 2Co 7:4.

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.

18. (Psa 89:17) For the beauty of their strength (art) thou, and in thy favour thou wilt lift up our horn. God is at once their mighty ornament and their glorious protection. See above, on Psa 78:61. In thy favour, at the time, and by the means, of thy experienced favour. Lift our horn, enable us to triumph in security. See above, on Psa 75:10, and below, on Psa 92:10.

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

89:17-18 The Lord protects his people with the same power by which he established the created order.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

In that they are preserved and continue, they ought to give the praise and glory only to thee.

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

Verse 17. For thou art the glory of their strength] They are strong in faith, and give glory to thee, because they know that their strength cometh from the Lord of hosts.

And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.] Instead of תרום tarum, "shall be exalted," תרים tarim, "thou shalt exalt," is the reading of several MSS.: but תרום tarum, "shall be exalted," is supported by forty-four of Kennicott's MSS., and sixty of De Rossi's, as well as by several ancient editions, with the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and Arabic Versions. In the enjoyment of the Divine favour they shall grow more wise, more holy, more powerful, and, consequently, more happy.

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

17. For thou art the glory of their strength. The same sentiment is confirmed when it is declared, that God never leaves his faithful servants destitute of strength. By the appellation the glory of their strength, which is ascribed to him, is meant that they are always so sustained by his present aid as to have just ground to glory in him; or which amounts to the same thing, that his power appears always glorious in aiding and sustaining them. They are, however, at the same time, reminded of the duty of yielding to God all the praise of their being preserved in safety. If this is true as to the present life, it is much more truly applicable to the spiritual life of the soul. Farther, the more highly to magnify this instance of God’s liberality, we are taught, at the same time, that it depends entirely upon his good pleasure, there being no other cause of it. Whence it follows, that they are wholly bound and indebted to Him who is induced by his free bounty alone to continue to extend to them his help.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(17) Glory.—Better, ornament. The crown of a nation’s strength is not the triumphs it wins, nor the prosperity it secures, but the spirit in which these are used. Humility, and not pride, acknowledgment of God, and not conceit in her wealth or power, was the ornament of Israel’s strength, and made her greatness in her best days.

Our horn shall be exalted.—See Note, Psa_132:17. Modern Eastern proverbs, such as “What a fine horn he has!” spoken of a great man, still preserve the figure.

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

17. Jehovah alone is the strength of which they boast. Cp. Psa_44:6 ff.

in thy favour] Cp. Psa_44:3; Psa_30:7.

our horn shall be exalted] So the Qrç, with the LXX and Syr. The Kthîbh, with which agree Targ. and Jer., has wilt thou exalt our horn. Cp. Psa_75:5; Psa_75:10. By the change of person, the poet claims his share in this glorious inheritance. “They gives place to we unconsciously, as his heart swells with the joy that he paints.” (Maclaren.)

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.

For the Lord is our defence,.... From all their enemies, being all around them, as a wall of fire to protect them, and as the mountains were round about Jerusalem, and being kept by his power as in a fortress, strong hold, or garrison, unto salvation; or our shield (f); see Psa 84:9 as are his favour, righteousness, and salvation, Psa 5:12 or "to the Lord belongs our defence or shield" (g) our protection and salvation is from him:

and the Holy One of Israel is our King; he who was to be, and is of Israel according to the flesh, and is holy in his nature, life, and office; he is King of saints, that rules over them, protects and defends them, and therefore they must be happy: or "to" or "with the Holy One of Israel is our king" (h); Christ is King of Zion by designation, appointment, and constitution, of God the Holy One of Israel, the holy God that has chosen Israel for his peculiar people; though it rather seems that Christ is the Holy One by what follows.

(f) "clypeus noster", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine version; "scutum nostrum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (g) "Domino", Pagninus, Montanus. (h) "et sancto Israelis", Pagninus, Montanus.

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

For thou art the glory of their strength - The ornament; the beauty; the honor; that is, Their strength derives its beauty and honor, not from anything in themselves, but from the fact that it is derived from thee. The strength thus imparted is an honor or ornament in itself; it is an honor and glory to them that it is imparted to them.

And in thy favor - Or, by thy favor, or good pleasure.

Our horn shall be exalted - The horn is a symbol of power. Compare Psa 22:21, note; Psa 75:4; Dan 7:8, note; Job 16:15, note. The meaning here is, that their power had been derived from God; or that all which contributed to their exaltation and honor in the world, had been derived from him.

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

All that strength in which they do or may glory is not their own, but is a mere vouchsafement of thy grace, and to thee alone belongs the glory of all their valiant achievements.

Our horn shall be exalted, i.e. our power and honour, which now lies in the dust, shall be raised and recovered.

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

Ver. 17. For thou art the glory of their strength. Surely in the Lord Jehovah have we both righteousness and strength. He is our beauty and glory when we are strong in him, as well as our comfort and sustenance when we tremble because of conscious weakness in ourselves. No man whom the Lord makes strong may dare to glory in himself, he must ascribe all honour to the Lord alone; we have neither strength nor beauty apart from him.

And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. By the use of the word our the Psalmist identifies himself with the blessed people, and this indicates how much sweeter it is to sing in the first person than concerning others. May we have grace to claim a place among those in covenant with God, in Christ Jesus, for then a sense of divine favour will make us also bold and joyous. A creature full of strength and courage lifts up its horn, and so also does a believer become potent, valiant, and daring. The horn was an eastern ornament, worn by men and women, or at least is so at this day, and by the uplifting of this the wearer showed himself to be in good spirits, and in a confident frame of mind: we wear no such outward vanities, but our inward soul is adorned and made bravely triumphant when the favour of God is felt by us. Worldly men need outward prosperity to make them lift up their heads, but the saints find more than enough encouragement in the secret love of God.

Ver. 17. In thy favour our horn shall be exalted. A man of lofty bearing is said to carry his horn very high. To him who is proudly interfering with the affairs of another it will be said, "Why show your kombu", "horn", "here?" "See that fellow, what a fine horn he has; he will make the people run." "Truly, my lord, you have a great horn." "Chinnan has lost his money; aye, and his hornship too." "Alas, alas! I am like the deer, whose horns have fallen off." Joseph Roberts "Oriental Illustrations."

Ver. 17.

1. The blessedness of the righteous.

(a) Their internal glory. Reliance upon divine strength.

(b) Their internal honour. "In thy favour", etc.

2. The participation in that blessedness. The their of the people of God becomes our. Their strength our horn. Happy they, who, with respect to all the privileges of the saints, can thus turn their into our.

Ver. 17.

1. Consider our natural weakness.

2. Consider our strength in God.

3. Give God the glory of it.

Psalms 89:18*

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

For thou art the Glory of their strength; or, "the Ornament that in which their strength and might as a people culminate. And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Thy favour towards us exalts us among the nations.

The exalted horn; or, the secret of strength.

The horn is a constant symbol of strength; the exalted horn, therefore, of strength triumphant. Now, we observe

I STRENGTH IS THE GREAT NEED OF THE SOUL OF MAN. Not physical strength, nor intellectual, nor social, but spiritual. There may be knowledge, and good desire, and religious emotions, and holy resolve; but all these things leave a man weak unless they be rendered effectual by a fervent will.

II ITS SECRET IS THE FAVOUR OF GOD. For that favour:

1. Restores it.

2. Sustains it.

3. Inspires it.

4. The loss of God"s favour paralyzes it.

We know how the favour of men, their applause and encouragement, puts strength into us: how much more the conscious favour of God! With that there is nothing a man will not do and dare and be.

III THOSE WHO ARE IN THAT FAVOUR ALONE POSSESS THIS SECRET. We may know of it, speak of it, extol it, commend it, and yet not be "in" it. We enter into it:

1. By coming away from whatever cannot dwell with it; from all known sin especially.

2. By surrender of our will our heart, that is to God.

3. By keeping touch with God, in habitual prayer, praise, and obedience. So we enter this favour, and abide there. S.C.

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

The glory - To thee alone belongs the glory of all their valiant achievements.

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

You are their majestic strength

The abstract noun "strength" can be stated as an adjective. AT: "You make them wonderfully strong" (See: Abstract Nouns)

You are their

Here "their" refers to the Israelites. The writer would have included himself as a member of the Israelites. AT: "You are our" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

we are victorious

Here "we" refers to the writer and the Israelites but not to Yahweh, to whom he speaks. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We")

For our shield belongs to Yahweh

The king who protects his people and whom Yahweh chose is spoken of as if he were a shield that belongs to Yahweh. (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

majesty

favor

shield

king

Israel

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.