Digital Logos Edition
Albert Barnes and James Murphy wrote this verse-by-verse commentary on Psalms. Published in the 1800s, it is still well-loved and well-read by evangelicals who appreciate Barnes' pastoral insights into the Scripture. It is not a technical work, but provides informative observations on the text, intended to be helpful to those teaching Sunday School. Today, it is ideally suited to anyone teaching or preaching the Word of God, whether a professional minister or layperson.
“The passage cannot be understood as referring to Christ without admitting his existence previous to the incarnation, for all that follows is manifestly the result of the exalted rank which God purposed to give him as his Son, or as the result of the promise made to him then.” (Pages 18–19)
“The reasons for supposing that its authorship is to be traced to David are the following:—(a) It is expressly ascribed to him in Acts 4:25, 26: ‘Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?’” (Page 8)
“It is probable, as we shall see, that he meant to say, God had conferred great honour on men—men so humble and weak that they might be compared to infants—by making them the means of overthrowing his enemies, thus showing the greatness of the Divine condescension.” (Page 67)
“But the more probable interpretation is that which refers it to the state of the heart—the internal ornament—with which we should approach God,—to a holy and pure state of mind—that beauty or appropriateness of the soul which consists in holiness or purity.” (Page 248)
“Our Lord. The word here used—אֲדֹנָי, Adonai—means properly master, lord, ruler, owner, and is such a title as is given to an owner of land or of slaves, to kings, or to rulers, and is applied to God as being the ruler or governor of the universe.” (Pages 66–67)