Psalms 24:1 «A Psalm of David. » The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
A Psalm of David] The Greek addeth, of the first day of the week (because wont to be sung in the temple on that day), which is now the Christian sabbath, in memory of Christ's resurrection and rule over all, which is here celebrated.
Ver. 1. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof] He alone is the true proprietary, Job 41:11 Deuteronomy 10:14, and the earth is Marsupium Domini, as one saith, the Lord's great purse; the keeping whereof he hath committed to the sons of men, Psalms 115:16; like as also he hath given the heavenly bodies to all peoples, Deuteronomy 4:19, every star being God's storehouse, which he openeth for our profit, Deuteronomy 28:12, and out of which he throweth down riches and plenty into the earth, such as the servants of God gather, and the rest scramble for. What use the apostle putteth this point to, see 1 Corinthians 10:26; 1 Corinthians 10:28, See Trapp on " 1Co 10:26 " See Trapp on " 1Co 10:28 " Other uses may well be made of it; as, that kings and princes bear not themselves as lords of all (the Turk and pope so style themselves; the great cham of Tartary every day as soon as he hath dined causeth, they say, his trumpets to be sounded; by that sign giving leave to other princes of the earth, his vassals, as he conceiteth, to go to dinner), but the Lord's vicarii et villici, viceregents and stewards, to whom they must give an account of all. Again, that God's dear children cannot want anything that is good for them; since they have so rich a Father, who seems to say unto them, as Genesis 45:20, Regard not your stuff, for all the good of the land is yours. To him that overcometh will I give to inherit all things; I have all things, Philippians 4:18 2 Corinthians 6:10 .
The world and they that dwell therein] This is God's universal kingdom by right of creation, Psalms 24:2; besides which he hath a spiritual kingdom over his elect (ut docet nos pulcherrimus hic psalmus, this this most beautiful psalm teaches us, saith Beza), who are here described, Psalms 24:4,6, and encouraged to enlarge their desires after their sovereign in the exercise of faith and use of means, and to give him the best entertainment, Psalms 24:7,10. For the Church is Christ's temple; and every faithful soul is a gate thereof to let him in, as Revelation 3:20 .