Ver. 1. The mighty God, even the Lord] Heb. The God of gods, whether they be so deputed, as angels, magistrates; or reputed only, as heathen deities, 1 Corinthians 8:5. Jehovah or Essentiator, is God’s proper name. Some say God is here thrice named, to note the Trinity in Unity (R. Nahum ap. Nebien). Hath spoken] sc. By the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, spoke much like, Jude 14. The Rabbis say that this psalm is De die iudicii futuro, of the day of judgment. Others, that it is the Lord’s judging of his Church, drawn according to the model of the great and last judgment, whereunto it serveth as a preparation or a warning piece. And called the earth from the rising, &c.] The “habitable part of God’s earth; the sons of men,” Proverbs 8:31, with Malachi 1:11. These are all called to attest the equity of God’s proceedings against a hypocritical nation, children that were corrupters. For God hath thus far instructed all men, that he is to be honoured of all, with all manner of observance, Romans 1:20. Let this be pressed upon all sorts, said Zalcucus the Locrian lawgiver, in the preface to his laws 1. That there is a God. 2. That this God is to be duly worshipped.
Ver. 2. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty] Heb. the whole perfection, or the universality of beauty, Perfectissimae pulchritudinis locus (Trem.); because there especially was God’s glory set forth in his holy ordinances, and more clearly manifested than in all his handiwork besides. See Psalms 48:2. God hath shined] Like the sun in his strength, sometimes for the comfort of his people, as Psalms 80:1; sometimes for the terror of evildoers, as Psalms 94:1, and here. But evermore God is terrible out of his holy places, Psalms 68:35 89:7.
Ver. 3. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence] He doth daily come and sit upon the tribunal in his Church by the ministry of his servants, Matthew 18:17, who must reprove sinners with all authority, and show themselves sons of thunder, that they may save some at least with fear, snatching them out of the fire, Jude 23, as Peter, Acts 2:40, and Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:11, but especially when, to work upon the Proconsul Paulus Sergius, he set his eyes upon Elymas the sorcerer, as if he would have looked through him; after which lightning followed that terrible thunder crack, “O thou full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:9,10. A fire shall devour before him] As he gave his law in fire, so in fire shall he require it. And it shall be very tempestuous round about him] Not before him only, but around him; lest the wicked should hope to escape by creeping behind him. That was a terrible tempest that befell Alexander the Great and his army marching into the country of Pabaza; when, by reason of continual thundering and lightning, with hailstones and lightning bolts, the army was disorganized and wandered any way; many dared not stir out of the place (Curtius, lib. 3, ex Diodor.). Tremellius rendereth it wish wise, but in a parenthesis, Let our Lord come, and let him not be silent. The saints know that they shall be safe, when others shall smoke for it; because God is their God.
Ver. 4. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth] That these dumb creatures may be as so many speaking evidences against an unworthy people, and witnesses of God’s righteous dealings against them. See Deuteronomy 32:1 Isa 1:2 Mic 6:2. The Chaldee thus paraphraseth, He will call the high angels from above; and the just of the earth from beneath.
Ver. 5. Gather my saints together unto me] This seemeth to be spoken to the angels, those active instrumeuts and executioners of God’s judgments. By saints here understand professors at large, all that live in the bosom of the Church visible, and partake of the external privileges only; such as are in the vine, but bear no fruit, John 15:2; have a name to live, but are dead, Revelation 3:1; such as whose sanctity consisteth only in covenanting by sacrifice. Basil saith that such are called saints to aggravate their sins; as a man that hath an honourable title, but hath done wickedly; and is, therefore, the rather to be condemned. When one pleaded once with a judge for his life, that he might not be hanged, because he was a gentleman, he told him that therefore he should have the gallows made higher for him. Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice] But were never brought by me into the bond of the covenant; for then the rebels would have been purged out from among them, as it is Ezekiel 20:37,38.
Ver. 6. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness] Those catholic preachers, whose voice goeth out aloud to the end of the world, Psalms 19:4 50:4. For God is Judge himself] And from him is no appeal; every transgression and disobedience from him shall receive a just recompense of reward, Hebrews 2:2, even those corruptions that are most inward, and lie up in the heart of the country, as it were; those pollutions not of flesh only, i.e. worldly lusts and gross evils, but of spirit also, 2 Corinthians 7:1, more spiritual lusts, as pride, presumption, formality, self-flattery, carnal confidence in external legal worships, the sin principally taxed in this Jewish people here in the next verses.