A meditation upon the mighty power and wonderful providence of God. God's glory is eternal. The prophet voweth perpetually to praise God.
THOUGH this psalm has no title in the original, it is said to be David's by all the old versions, except the Chaldee; and certainly the thoughts and expressions of it throughout, and especially in the first part of it, are so lofty and grand, that they may well be supposed the composition of the Royal Prophet. However, be the author who he will, it is universally allowed to be one of the finest poems that we have upon the works of creation and the providence of God: and as it is upon so general a subject, it is proper to be used at all times. Bishop Lowth observes, that there is nothing extant which can be conceived more perfect than this psalm. See his 29th Prelection. Dr. Delaney imagines it, with great probability, to have been composed by David while he was in the forest of Hareth, where he was surrounded by those pastoral scenes which he so beautifully describes; for, after some general observations upon the works and wisdom of God in the creation, he descends to the following particulars: the rise of springs, the course of rivers, the retreats of fowls and wild beasts of the forests and mountains; the vicissitudes of night and day, and their various uses to the animal world; the dependance of the whole creation upon the Almighty for being and subsistence. He withdraws their breath, and they die; he breaths, and they revive; he but opens his hand, and he feeds; he satisfies them all at once. These are ideas familiar to him, and his manner of introducing them plainly shews them to be the effect of his most retired meditations in his solitary wanderings. Life of David, book 1: chap. 8.