Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. O Lord our Lord ] wnynda hwhy Yehovah Adoneynu; O Jehovah our Prop, our Stay, or Support. ynda Adonai is frequently used: sometimes, indeed often, for the word hwhy Yehovah itself. The root d dan signifies to direct, rule, judge, support. So Adonai is the Director, Ruler, Judge, Supporter of men. It is well joined with Jehovah; this showing what God is in himself; that, what God is to man; and may here very properly refer to our Lord Jesus.
How excellent is thy name in all the earth! ] How illustrious is the name of Jesus throughout the world! His incarnation, birth, humble and obscure life, preaching, miracles, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension, are celebrated through the whole world. His religion, the gifts and graces of his Spirit, his people-Christians-his Gospel and the preachers of it are everywhere spoken of. No name is so universal, no power and influence so generally felt, as those of the saviour of mankind. Amen.
Thy glory above the heavens. ] The heavens are glorious, the most glorious of all the works of God which the eye of man can reach; but the glory of God is infinitely above even these. The words also seem to intimate that no power, earthly or diabolical, can lessen or injure that glory. The glory and honour which God has by the Gospel shall last through time, and through eternity; and of that glory none shall be able to rob him, to whom majesty and dominion are eternally due. This has been applied by some to the resurrection of our Lord. He rose from the dead, and ascended above all heavens; and by these his glory was sealed, his mission accomplished, and the last proof given to his preceding miracles.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1, 2 - The psalmist seeks to give unto God the glory due to his name. Ho bright this glory shines even in this lower world! He is ours, for he made us, protects us, and takes special care of us. The birth, life preaching, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are known through the world. No name is so universal, no powe and influence so generally felt, as those of the Saviour of mankind But how much brighter it shines in the upper world! We, on this earth only hear God's excellent name, and praise that; the angels and blesse spirits above, see his glory, and praise that; yet he is exalted fa above even their blessing and praise. Sometimes the grace of God appears wonderfully in young children. Sometimes the power of God brings to pass great things in his church, by very weak and unlikel instruments, that the excellency of the power might the more evidentl appear to be of God, and not of man. This he does, because of his enemies, that he may put them to silence.
Original Hebrew למנצח5329 על5921 הגתית1665 מזמור4210 לדוד׃1732 (8:2) יהוה3068 אדנינו113 מה4100 אדיר117 שׁמך8034 בכל3605 הארץ776 אשׁר834 תנה5414 הודך1935 על5921 השׁמים׃8064
