Psalms 93:5

Thy testimonies are very sure,.... Meaning not the works of God, of nature, and providence, which testify of his power and Godhead, and other perfections of it; rather the word of God, the Scriptures

Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever. Thy testimonies are very sure - i:e., thy promises to thy people in thy Word are surely to be depended upon (Psalms 19:7).

Thy testimonies, i.e. thy words; either, 1. Thy precepts, which are commonly called God’ s testimonies. And so having spoken of God’ s kingdom, he now showeth that the laws of that kingdom are just, and true, and holy; which is a singular commendation of it. Or, 2. Thy promises, as may be gathered from the following words, are sure, or true, or faithful; which attribute properly belongs, and every where in Scripture is ascribed, to promises rather than to precepts. And the promises no less than the precepts are God’ s testimonies, or the witnesses or declarations of his mind and will to mankind. And he seems here to speak of those great and precious promises concerning the erection and establishment of his kingdom in the world by the Messias; which, saith he, are infallibly true, and shall certainly be accomplished in thy time. Holiness becometh thine house: this is to be understood, either, 1. Of God’ s church or people, who are sometimes called God’ s house, and whose business and delight is in God’ s house and service there performed. So the sense is, It becometh thy people to be holy in all their approaches to thee, and worshippings of thee. Or rather, 2. Of God himself who dwelt in his house, from whence he gave forth his oracles, and where all his testimonies were kept upon record. This seems better to suit with the context, the business of this Psalm being rather to describe the dominion of God than the duty of his people. And so the sense seems to be this, Holiness is the constant ornament and glory of thy house. Or it becometh thee who dwellest in thy house to be holy in all thy words and actions; and therefore thy testimonies are very sure, and thou wilt undoubtedly fulfil all thy promises. For holiness seems to be here taken for God’ s faithfulness, as it Isaiah 89:35; or, which comes to the same thing, for his justice or righteousness, whereby he is obliged to make good all his promises, as that word is very commonly used.

Psalms 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.Ver. 5. Thy testimonies are very sure] Thy promises infallible; and therefore rage the world never so, thou shalt still have a holy catholic Church, such as whose principles, practices, and aims are divine and supernatural; such as walk worthy of God in all well pleasing, and inasmuch as they have these rich promises, do cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Corinthians 7:1. Holiness becometh thine house] God looks to be served llke himself; he will be sanctified of all those that draw near unto him in holy duties, Leviticus 10:3. This the heathens were not altogether ignorant of, and therefore at their sacrifices the priests cried out τιςτηδε, who is here? whereunto the people that were present answered, πολλοιταγαθοιτεπαρεισι, here are many, and those good men all (Erasmi Praef. in Adag.) - Procul, hinc procul, este profani.

(5) Thy testimonies.—This statement must be taken in close connection with that of the preceding verse. The permanence of the covenant, and of the outward signs that attest it, is to the Israelite proof of the superiority of the Divine power over the forces of nature. We may extend the thought, and say that the moral law is a truer evidence of the existence of God than the uniformity of natural laws.

Verse 5. Thy testimonies are very sure] Thou wilt as surely fulfil thy word as thou wilt keep possession of thy throne. Holiness becometh thine house] Thy nature is holy, all thy works are holy, and thy word is holy; therefore, thy house - thy Church, should be holy. The building itself should be sanctified - should be so consecrated to thy worship alone, that it shall never be employed in any other service. The ministers of this Church should be holy, the members holy, the ordinances holy; its faith, its discipline, and its practice holy. And this at all times, and in all circumstances; for holiness becometh thine house - for ever," לארך ימים le-orech yamin, for length of days. During the whole lapse of time; till the sun and moon shall be no more. The old Psalter says the house of God is man's saule; and of this house holiness is נאוה naavah, "the ornament;" it produces that meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. No decoration of person nor simplicity of dress can supply the place of this heavenly clothing. ANALYSIS OF THE NINETY-THIRD PSALM In this Psalm it is the purpose of the prophet to comfort the Church, oppressed by tyrants and persecutors; and yet she shall not utterly fail. The gates of hell shall not prevail against her; because Christ sits in his Church as King. The sum of it is, - I. The magnificence and power of Christ our eternal King, Psalms 93:1-2. II. That he defends his Church in the day of a storm, Psalms 93:3-4. III. That his laws are holy, and his Church also, Psalms 93:5. I. The prophet in the first verse describes our King: First. From his office: - 1. "He reigns." He is the great and chief Monarch; he is no idle spectator of things below; but wisely, and justly, and powerfully administers all things. 2. He is a glorious King: "He is clothed with majesty." 3. He is a potent King: "The Lord is clothed with strength." 4. He is a warlike King: "He hath girded himself," buckled his sword upon his armour; for offence towards his enemies, for defence of his kingdom. Secondly. From his kingdom: - 1. It is universal: "The world." 2. It is fixed, firm, and stable: "The world is also established, and cannot be moved." 3. It is an everlasting kingdom: "From everlasting to everlasting; thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting." II. But in this his kingdom there are those who raise tumults, commotions, and rebellions. These he compares to swelling waters and foaming waves. 1. "The floods," that is, tyrants, persecutors, c., "have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice the floods lift up their waves." The Church dwells in the sea; and the waves of tyranny, ambition, and malice, beat furiously upon it. 2.

5. Thy testimonies] Many commentators explain testimonies to mean the promises and threatenings which have now been proved true, comparing the use of the cognate verb in Psalms 50:7; Psalms 81:8; Deuteronomy 8:19; &c. But this sense of the word is unsupported, and it is best to take it in its usual sense of the ‘law,’ regarded as bearing witness to Jehovah’s will and man’s duty. Cp. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 111:7. The transition seems somewhat abrupt; yet it is not inappropriate that the Psalm should close with a reference to the revelation which was the distinctive mark of Jehovah’s kingdom (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). holiness &c.] God’s house may be either the Temple or the land. The Psalmist is confident that now the ideal will be realised. Jehovah has returned to dwell there, and it shall no more be defiled by Israel itself (Jeremiah 7:30), no more be desecrated by heathen invaders (Joe 3:17; Isaiah 52:1). for ever] R.V. for evermore; lit. for length of days (Psalms 91:16).

Thy testimonies are very sure - All that thou hast borne witness to; all that thou hast affirmed or declared to be true.

5. Thy testimonies—The words apply to the charges and declarations delivered to Moses for the people, constituting the entire torah, or system of the law, (Psalms 19:7,) but is here specially used of