He causeth the vapours to ascend, &c.— Dr. Russel, in his description of the weather at Aleppo in September, tells us, that seldom a night passes without much lightning in the north-west quarter, but not attended with thunder; and that when this lightning appears in the west or south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain, which is often followed with thunder. This last clause he afterwards explains by telling us, that though in the year 1746 it begun to be cloudy on the fourth of September, and continued so for a few days, and even thundered, yet, as rain fell till the 11th, &c.—which shews that his meaning was, that the lightning in the west or southwest points, which is often followed with thunder, is a sure sign of the approach of rain. A squall of wind, and clouds of dust, are the usual forerunners of these first rains. Most of these things are taken notice of in the present passage, and in Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16 and serve to illustrate them. The Doctor's account determines, I think, that the נשׂאים nesiim, which our translators render vapours, must mean, as they elsewhere translate the word, clouds. It shews that God maketh lightnings for the rain: those in the west and south-west points are at Aleppo the sure prognostics of rain. The squalls of the wind bring on these refreshing showers, and are therefore precious things of the treasuries of God; and when he thunders, it is the noise of waters in the heavens. How graphically do the prophets describe the autumnal rains, which God brings on the earth after the drought of summer, and how much greater energy appears in these words after we have gained an acquaintance with the weather in the East, than before. See Observations, &c. p. 41.
Related Commentaries of Psalms 135:7
Psalms 135:7
7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.