(7) His eyes behold.--Better, his eyes keep watch on the nations. God is, as it were, Israel's outpost, ever on the alert to warn and defend them against surrounding nations.
Let not . . .--Literally, the rebellious, let them not exalt for themselves, where we may supply "horn" as in Psalm 75:4-5, or "head" as in Psalm 3:3; Psalm 110:7. For the rebellious, comp. Psalm 68:6.
Verse 7. - He ruleth by his power forever; his eyes behold (or, observe) the nations. God keeps perpetual watch upon the heathen nations, whose general attitude is that of hostility to his "peculiar people," lest his people should suffer at their hands. Although they may professedly be submissive (ver. 3), their submission is not to be depended on. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. At any time rebellion may break out, his people be attacked, and "the nations" endeavour to "exalt themselves." All such attempts, however, will be in vain, since "by his power God ruleth forever."
66:1-7 The holy church throughout all the world lifts up her voice, to laud that Name which is above every name, to make the praise of Jesus glorious, both by word and deed; that others may be led to glorify him also. But nothing can bring men to do this aright, unless his effectual grace create their hearts anew unto holiness; and in the redemption by the death of Christ, and the glorious deliverances it effects, are more wondrous works than Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
He ruleth by his power forever,.... Christ is the Ruler in Israel, King over his holy hill of Zion; who must reign till all enemies are put under his feet. He rules in the kingdom of nature and providence by his power, and does whatsoever he pleases; nor can any stay his hand. He rules in the kingdom of grace, in the hearts of his people, by his efficacious grace; which makes them willing, in the day of his power, to be subject to him; and in the latter day he will take to himself his great power and reign, when he will be King for ever. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, it shall never be subverted nor usurped; nor will he in it be succeeded by another; he will reign to the end of the world, throughout the thousand years, with his saints on earth, and then with them in heaven for evermore. The Targum renders it,
"over the world;''
over the whole world; for Christ will be King over all the earth in the latter day, Zechariah 14:9;
his eyes behold the nations; the antichristian states. He sees all the idolatry and wickedness committed in them; and his eyes will be as flames of fire to destroy them, when the time is come. The allusion is to God's looking through the pillar of fire and cloud upon the Egyptians in the Red sea, and troubling them, Exodus 14:24;
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. That are rebels against Christ, would not have him to reign over them; antichrist, who exalts himself above all that is called God, and all his followers. Or, "they shall not exalt themselves" (a): or, as the Targum,
"they shall not be exalted in themselves for ever;''
Let not . . .--Literally, the rebellious, let them not exalt for themselves, where we may supply "horn" as in Psalm 75:4-5, or "head" as in Psalm 3:3; Psalm 110:7. For the rebellious, comp. Psalm 68:6.
"over the world;''
over the whole world; for Christ will be King over all the earth in the latter day, Zechariah 14:9;
his eyes behold the nations; the antichristian states. He sees all the idolatry and wickedness committed in them; and his eyes will be as flames of fire to destroy them, when the time is come. The allusion is to God's looking through the pillar of fire and cloud upon the Egyptians in the Red sea, and troubling them, Exodus 14:24;
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. That are rebels against Christ, would not have him to reign over them; antichrist, who exalts himself above all that is called God, and all his followers. Or, "they shall not exalt themselves" (a): or, as the Targum,
"they shall not be exalted in themselves for ever;''
see Revelation 18:7.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
(a) "haudquaquam sese exultabunt", Tigurine version, Musculus, & Gejerus.