Ye that love the Lord hate evil - Because it is inconsistent with his love to you, as well as your love to him. He preserveth the souls of his saints - The saints, חסידיו chasidaiv , his merciful people: their souls - lives, are precious in his sight. He preserves them; keeps them from every evil, and every enemy. Out of the hand of the wicked - From his power and influence. read more
Verse 6 6The heavens have declared his righteousness Here he states that there would be such an illustrious display of the righteousness of God, that the heavens themselves would herald it. The meaning is not the same as in the beginning of the nineteenth psalm, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” etc. In that psalm David means no more than that the wisdom and power of God are as conspicuous in the fabric of the heavens, as if God should assert them with an audible voice. The meaning of the... read more
Verse 7 7Confounded be all those who serve graven images. The Psalmist draws a broad distinction here, as in the psalm next to this, between the true God and the false gods which men form for themselves. This he does that the praise which he had ascribed might not be applied to any but the true God. Men are all ready to admit that they ought to celebrate the praises of God, but, naturally prone as they are to superstition, few indeed will be bound down to worship God in the manner which is... read more
Verse 8 8Zion heard, and was glad In the former part of the psalm he had spoken of that joy which should be common to all the world. Now he makes special mention of God’s chosen nation; and this partly, because they were to enjoy the first-fruits of this joy, and partly, because he would remove all occasion for rivalry or envy. Accordingly, having said that the Gentile nations should be brought to equal privileges with the posterity of Abraham, he adds, that the Jews would not suffer any... read more
Verse 9 9For thou, Jehovah, art high above all the earth Having already, in another place, explained these words, I shall not say more at present upon them. Only it is to be noticed, that there is a comparison drawn between God and the angels, and whatever has any claim to eminence. The Psalmist limits all other excellency in such a manner, as to leave no room for questioning that all majesty is comprehended in God only. This was the case more eminently when God manifested himself in his... read more
Verse 10 10Ye that love Jehovah, hate evil Those that fear God are here enjoined to practice righteousness, as Paul says, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity,” (2 Timothy 2:19) He shows from the very nature of God, that we cannot be judged and acknowledged to be his servants unless we depart from sin, and practice holiness. God is in himself the fountain of righteousness, and he must necessarily hate all iniquity, unless we could suppose that he should deny... read more
Metrically, the psalm consists of four stanzas, each of three verses. There is nothing in its contents to fix its date. read more
Jehovah is King. The subject of this psalm, as of the whole group to which it belongs, is the reign of Christ. Some glorious revival in the Jewish Church so uplifted the thought of the writer of these psalms that he sees, as if already present, that blessed advent and reign of the Lord which, whilst it must be the confusion of his adversaries, must also be the everlasting joy of his faithful people. We observe - I. THE AFFIRMATION or THESE PSALMS —that Jehovah is King. "The... read more
The heavens declare his righteousness (comp. Psalms 50:6 ; Matthew 24:29 , Matthew 24:30 ). By signs in the heavens it is proclaimed that the Lord has come to judgment. And all the people see (rather, have seen ) his glory; literally, all the peoples; i.e. all the nations of the earth (comp. Psalms 97:1 ). read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 97:9
For thou, Lord, art high - Thou art infinitely exalted above men and angels. read more