The princes of the people are gathered together, [even] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Ver. 9. The princes of the people are gathered together] Or, the voluntary of the people. The great ones disdain not to meet with the meanest at the public assemblies, for performance of holy duties; but thither they flee one with another, as the doves do to their windows, Isaiah 60:8, glorying in this, that they are Christ's vassals, as did Constantine, Valentinian, and Theodosius, those three great emperors, casting their crowns at his feet, and willing to come under the common yoke of his obedience, with the rest of the people of the God of Abraham, the common sort of Christians (Socrates).
For the shields of the earth belong unto God] That is, those princes and magistrates also, Hos 4:18 Psalms 89:18, belong to the covenant of election; though not many mighty, not many noble are called, 1 Corinthians 1:26, and it was grown to a proverb, omnium bonorum Principum imagines in uno annulo sculpi posse. The Spanish friar was wont to say there were but few princes in hell; and why? because there were but few in all. If such shall show themselves shields to their people to protect them from wrong; and not sharks, rather, to peel them and pillage them God will own and honour such. Others thus: the shields of the earth belong to the Lord, that is, the militia of the world is his; he hath and can quickly raise the Posse comitatus of all countries.
He is greatly exalted] How should he be otherwise who hath so great a command, and useth it for the defence of his people? Especially if the grandees of the earth become religious, and draw on others by their example and liberality? Magnates Magnetes.