Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
The secret of the Lord - On the word here rendered "secret," see the notes at Job 15:8. It properly means a couch or cushion; and then, a divan or circle of friends sitting together; then, deliberation or consultation; then, familiar contact, intimacy; and then, a "secret," - as if it were the result of a private consultation among friends, or something which pertained to them, and which they did not wish to have known. It is rendered "secret" in Genesis 49:6; Job 15:8; Job 29:4; Psalms 25:14; Proverbs 3:32; Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 25:9; Amos 3:7; "counsel" in Psalms 55:14; Psalms 64:2; Psalms 83:3; Jeremiah 23:18, Jeremiah 23:22; and "assembly" in Psalms 89:7; Psalms 111:1; Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 15:17; Ezekiel 13:9. The word "friendship" would perhaps express the meaning here. The sense is, that those who fear the Lord are admitted to the intimacy of friendship with Him; are permitted to come into His presence, and to partake of His counsels; are allowed free access to Him; or, as it is more commonly expressed, have "fellowship" with Him. Compare I John 1:3. The language is such as would be applied to the intimacy of friends, or to those who take counsel together. The language belongs to a large class of expressions denoting the close connection between God and His people.
With them that fear him - With those who truly and properly reverence Him, or who are His true worshippers: Psalms 5:7; Job 1:1.
And he will show them his covenant - Margin, "And his covenant to make them know it." The meaning is, that God will impart to them the true knowledge of His covenant; or, in other words, He will enable them to understand what there is in that covenant, or in its gracious provisions, that is adapted to promote their happiness and salvation. The word "covenant" here is the same term which is commonly used to describe the arrangements which God has made for the salvation of people: see Psalms 25:10. Whatever there is in that arrangement to promote the happiness and salvation of His people, He will cause them to understand.
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