He ruleth by his power over the world The Hebrew word vlm, olam, which I have translated the world, signifies occasionally an age, or eternity; [1] but the first sense seems to agree best with the context, and the meaning of the words is, that God is endued with the power necessary for wielding the government of the world. What follows agrees with this, that his eyes behold the nations Under the law, Judea was the proper seat of his kingdom; but his providence always extended to the world at large; and the special favor shown to the posterity of Abraham, in consideration of the covenant, did not prevent him from extending an eye of providential consideration to the surrounding nations. As an evidence of his care reaching to the different countries round, he takes notice of the judgments which God executed upon the wicked and the ungodly. He proves that there was no part of the human family which God overlooked, by referring to the fact of the punishment of evil-doers. There may be much in the Divine administration of the world calculated to perplex our conclusions; but there are always some tokens to be seen of his judgments, and these sufficiently clear to strike the eye of an acute and attentive observer.

Footnotes

1 - Our English version renders the word in this last sense. Hammond, with Calvin, prefers reading, "over the world." "That vlm," says he, "aion, as the English age, signifies not only time and duration, but also the men that live in any time, there is no question. And then mvsl vlm, must here most properly be rendered ruling the world, or over the world; and so the Chaldee certainly understood, who read, who exerciseth dominion over the world;' and so I suppose the LXX. their despoxouti tou aionos,' having dominion over the world,' doth import." The Vulgate, in this instance not following the Septuagint, has "in aeternum," "for ever."

He ruleth by his power for ever - literally, "Ruling by his power forever." The idea is, that he does this constantly; in each age and generation. He never has ceased to rule; he never will. His dominion extends from age to age, and will stretch forward forever. The power which he evinced in delivering his people he retains now, and will retain forever. In that unchanging power, his people may confide; that unchanging power, the wicked should fear.
His eyes behold the nations - All nations; all people. He sees all their conduct. They can conceal nothing from him. They should, therefore, stand in awe. The wicked have much to fear from One who sees all that they do, and who has power to crush and destroy them. Compare the notes at Psalm 11:4.
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves - Be lifted up with pride, or feel secure. They cannot overcome an Almighty God; they cannot escape from his power. The word rebellious here has reference to those who are impatient under the restraints of the law of God, and who are disposed to east off his authority. The admonition is one that may be addressed to all who thus rebel against God, whether they are nations or individuals. Alike they must feel the vengeance of his arm, and fall beneath his power.

Be ruleth by his power - His omnipotence is employed to support his followers, and cast down his enemies.
His eyes behold the nations - He sees what they purpose, what they intend to do; and what they will do, if he restrain them not.
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves - They shall not succeed in their designs: they have their own aggrandizement in view, but thou wilt disappoint and cast them down.
Selah - Mark this. It is true.

He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious (e) exalt themselves. Selah.
(e) He proves that God will extend his grace also to the Gentiles, because he punishes among them such as will not obey his calling.

He ruleth by his power forever,.... Christ is the Ruler in Israel, King over his holy hill of Zion; who must reign till all enemies are put under his feet. He rules in the kingdom of nature and providence by his power, and does whatsoever he pleases; nor can any stay his hand. He rules in the kingdom of grace, in the hearts of his people, by his efficacious grace; which makes them willing, in the day of his power, to be subject to him; and in the latter day he will take to himself his great power and reign, when he will be King for ever. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, it shall never be subverted nor usurped; nor will he in it be succeeded by another; he will reign to the end of the world, throughout the thousand years, with his saints on earth, and then with them in heaven for evermore. The Targum renders it,
"over the world;''
over the whole world; for Christ will be King over all the earth in the latter day, Zac 14:9;
his eyes behold the nations; the antichristian states. He sees all the idolatry and wickedness committed in them; and his eyes will be as flames of fire to destroy them, when the time is come. The allusion is to God's looking through the pillar of fire and cloud upon the Egyptians in the Red sea, and troubling them, Exodus 14:24;
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. That are rebels against Christ, would not have him to reign over them; antichrist, who exalts himself above all that is called God, and all his followers. Or, "they shall not exalt themselves" (a): or, as the Targum,
"they shall not be exalted in themselves for ever;''
see Revelation 18:7.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
(a) "haudquaquam sese exultabunt", Tigurine version, Musculus, & Gejerus.

behold the nations--watch their conduct.