For God is my King of old
Or "but God", or "verily God", &c. F4; for these words contain the church's consolation under all the above melancholy circumstances, taken from what God was, and had been to her, even Christ, who is God over all; he was her King by the constitution and designation of his Father, and so he had been of old, even from everlasting; for so early was he set up as King; and he had in all ages been exercising his kingly office for the good of his church, and continued to do so; and this was her comfort, and is the comfort of saints in the worst of times, that Zion's King reigneth, see ( Psalms 46:1-3 Psalms 46:5 Psalms 46:7 ) ( 97:1 ) ( Isaiah 52:7 )
working salvation in the midst of the earth;
it is "salvations" F5 in the plural number, and means both spiritual and eternal salvation, which the Lord has wrought out; and is continually applying to his people; and temporal salvation, which the Lord has been and is daily working out; he continually protecting his people, and saving them from their enemies, and delivering them out of their afflictions and temptations; and which the church considers and improves into an argument to encourage her faith, and expect the time when her walls would be salvation, and her gates praise; and she should have reason to say, now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ; and give him all the glory of it; see ( Isaiah 60:18 ) ( Revelation 12:10 ) ( 19:1 ) , which salvation, as it has been, so will be wrought
in the midst of the earth;
meaning not in the midst of the land of Judea, or in Judea, the middle of the world, but openly and publicly in all the earth; though Cyril of Jerusalem says F6 Golgotha is the midst of the earth, where Christ suffered and wrought out salvation; and that it is here referred to.