Psalm 24:2

Verse 2. (New translation.) For he hath founded it upon the seas, and upon streams doth he make it fast. The reference is no doubt to the account of the Creation, in Genesis, the dry land having emerged from the water, and seeming to rest upon it. (Comp. 136:6; Pr 8:29.) It would, however, be quite out of place to suppose that in such language we have the expression of any theory, whether popular or scientific, as to the structure of the earth's surface: Job says ( Job 26:7 ), "He hangeth the earth upon nothing." Such expressions are manifestly poetical. See Job 38:6 . J. J. Stewart Perowne.

Verse 2. Upon the seas: that is, upon the great abyss of water which is under the earth, enclosed in great hollow places, whence the heads of rivers do spring, and other waters bubble out upon the earth. John Diodati.

Verse 2. Above the floods he hath established it. Both the words (Heb.) (Al) in the two clauses of this verse mean either "above" as we have rendered it, and refer to Genesis 1:9-10 , denoting that Jehovah hath called forth dry land from the midst of the seas, and established it above the floods, and hath set a boundary to the latter never to turn and overflow it (see Job 38:8 : Psalm 104 chronologically Psalms 7:9 ); or "by, or at", as they often denote, and refer to the same subject of the omnipotence of God in relation to the same quoted passages, i.e., that though our globe is situated at or by the floods -- is surrounded with mighty waters whose single wave could bury it for ever, still the Lord has so established it that this never can happen. This is a mighty reason why the earth and all its fulness and inhabitants belong to Jehovah. Benjamin Weiss.

Verse 2. Hereby is mystically meant, that he hath set his church above the waters of adversities, so that how high soever they arise, it is kept still above them in safety, and so shall be for evermore; or it may agree thus -- he will take in all nations to be in his grace, because all be his creatures; he made them so admirable an habitation at the first, and upholds it still, showing hereby how much he regards them; therefore he will now extend his favour further towards them, by taking them in to be his people. Augustine, quoted by Mayer.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 2. Divine purposes accomplished by singular means.

Verse 2. Founded on the seas. Instability of terrestrial things.