Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
But thou, O Lord - What a wonderful character of God is given in this verse! Adonai , the Director, Judge, and Support; - but instead of Adonai , thirty-four of Kennicott' s MSS. have Jehovah , the self-existent and eternal Being; - El , the strong God; rachum , tenderly compassionate; channun , the Dispenser of grace or favor; erech appayim , suffering long, not easily provoked; rab chesed , abundant in blessings; and emeth , faithful and true. Such is the God who has made himself more particularly known to us in Christ. The scanty language of our ancestors was not adequate to a full rendering of the original words: "And thu driht God gemildsiend, and mildheort, gethyldig and mucel mildheortnysse and sothfaest - And thou, Lord God, art mild, and mildhearted, patient, and of much mildheartedness, and soothfast," - steady in truth.
In the old Psalter the language is but little improved: And thou Lorde God mercier, and mercyful, sufferand, and of mykel mercy, and sothefast.
The word mercier is interpreted, do and dede of mercy.
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.