Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 108:4
For thy mercy [is] great above the heavens: and thy truth [reacheth] unto the clouds.
4. For thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens,
And thy truth (reacheth) unto the skies.
This verse gives the reason for the praises which he purposes to offer. Once more God’s lovingkindness and truth had been attested by the deliverance of Israel from exile. Cp. Psa 98:3. The change of ‘ unto the heavens’ into ‘ above the heavens’ is a loss to the sense, making the second line an anticlimax.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For thy mercy … – This is taken from Psa 57:10. The only change is in the expression above the heavens, instead of unto the heavens. The sense is essentially the same. The particular idea here, if it differs at all from the expression in Psa 57:1-11, is, that the mercy of God seems to descend from heaven upon man, or comes down from on high.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 108:4
For Thy mercy is great above the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Gods mercy above the heavens
I. The ideas involved in this representation.
1. Its lofty conspicuousness.
(1) It is clearly expounded in the Word of God, which every one may read in his own tongue.
(2) It is openly proclaimed by the ministers of God, who are commanded to preach it everywhere.
(3) It is pre-eminent in the earth, as actually attracting the attention of mankind, even among the wisest and most advanced nations.
2. Its wide embrace. The heavens encompass and enclose all the earth. So that the people at the antipodes see the same sun and moon and stars that we see. What an emblem of the comprehensiveness of the Gospel!
3. The almighty sovereignty. The heavens rule the earth physically: so Gods mercy governs all the events of mankind. His dominion, through Christ, rules everything in the Church, and subordinates everything in the world. Think of His benign character, His holy law, His gracious purposes: and then see how He can abase the proud, reward the wicked, avenge the just.
4. Its settled stability. Christ reigns on high, and maintains His majesty and state, undisturbed by worldly tumults, darknesses, and changes.
II. How to be contemplated.
1. With ardent admiration, delight, and confidence.
2. With cheerful submission.
3. With watchful care to please God: for He is over us everywhere.
4. With hope as to the future: for He must bring final victory to the good and true, and reign till all foes are under His feet. (Anon.)
The immensity of mercy
I. The moral character and number of its objects.
II. The grand purpose of its operations. Why does it exercise itself towards this universe of sinners? In one word–to restore them to the image, the friendship, and the blessedness of God.
III. The extraordinary means it employs.
1. The gift of Christ.
2. The preaching of the Gospel.
3. The ministry of Providence.
4. The agency of the Spirit.
IV. The countless multitudes it has saved. John in his day beheld multitudes which no man could number, etc.
V. The exhaustless provisions which remain.
1. Equal to the emergency of the greatest sinner. Magdalene, the thief, Saul, the sinners on the day of Pentecost, etc.
2. Equal to the emergency of all the sinners that will ever be. (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
For thy mercy is great above the heavens,….. It is in
Ps 57:10, “thy mercy is great unto the heavens”.
[See comments on Ps 57:10].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
clouds = skies.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy mercy: Psa 36:5, Psa 85:10, Psa 89:2, Psa 89:5, Psa 103:11, Isa 55:9, Mic 7:18-20, Eph 2:4-7
clouds: or, skies
Reciprocal: Exo 34:6 – truth Psa 8:1 – thy Psa 57:5 – Be thou Psa 57:10 – For Psa 86:13 – great Psa 148:13 – glory Dan 4:22 – thy greatness