Psalm XL
rolls, resembling maps, are still used in the sj-nagogue.s. written of me—or on me, prescribed to me (2 Kings 22.
Ver. 1-17. In this Psalm a celebration of God's deliverance is followed by a profession of devotion to His service. Then follows a prayer for relief from imminent dangers, involving the overthrov.- of enemies and the rejoicing of B.ympathizing friends. In Hebrews 10. 5, Ac, Paul quotes
13). The first istlie sense adopted by Paul. In eithercase, the Pentateuch, or law of Moses, is nieant, and while it contains much respecting Christ directly, as Genesis 3. 15;
49. 10; Deuteronomy IS. 15, and, indirectly, in the Levitical ritual, there is nowhere any allusion to David. 9, 10. Christ's prophetical office is taught. He "preached" the great truths of God's government of sinners. 1 have preached lit., oiiiiouiw.ed f/ood tidhiff.y. 11. may be rendered as an assertion, that Got! w'lH no^ mithhohl, &c. (Psalm
V. ti-8 as the words of Christ, ottering himself as a better
sacrifice. Soniesuppose Paul thus accommodated David's words to express Christ's sentiments. But the value of his quotation would be thus destroyed, as it would have no force in his argument, unless regarded by his readers as the original sense of the passage in the Old Testament. Others suppose the Psahu describes David's feelings in suffering and joy; but the language quoted by Paul, in the souse given by him, could not apply to David in any of his relations, for as a type the language is not adapted
IG. 1). I'i. evils— inflicted by others, iniquities—or penal
afflielioms, and sometimes calamities in the wide sense. This meaning of the word is very common (Psalm 31. 11;
38. 4; cf. Genesis 4. 13, Cain's punishment; Genesis 19.15, that of Sodom; 1 Samuel 28. 10, of the witch of Endor;
al.so 2 Samuel Ifi. 12; Job 19.29; Isaiah 5. 18; 53. 11). This meaning of the word is also favoured by the clause, taken hold of me, which follows, which can be said appropriately of sufferings, but not of sins (cf. Jol) 27.20; Psalm 69. 24). Thus, the diflicullies in referring this Psalm to Christ, arising from the usual reading of tiiis verse, are removed. Of the terrible afflictions, or sufferings, alluded to and endured for us, cf. I,uke 22. 39-14, and the narrative of the scenes of Calvary, my heart faileth me—(Matthew 26.
to describe any event or condition of David's career, and as an individual representing the pious geneitilly, neither he nor they could properly use it (cf. on v. 7 below). The Psalm must be taken then, as the sixteenth, to express the feelings of Christ's human nature. The ditliculties pertinent to this view will be considered as they occur.
1-3. Tlie ligures for deep distress are illustrated in Jeremiah's history (Jeremiah 3K. 6-12J. Patienceand trust man-
ifested In distress, deliverance in answer to prayer, and the blessed effect of it in eliciting praise from God's true worshippers, teach us that Christ's suffering is our example, and His deli venmce our encouragement (Hebrews 5.7,8; 12. -.i; 1 Peter 4.12-16.) inclined—(the ear. Psalm
38), "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." cannot look uii lit., I cannot see, not denoting the depression of conscious guilt, as Luke IS. 13, but exhaustion from suffering, as dimness of eyes (cf. Psalm 6. 7; 13. 3; 36.
17. 6), as if to catch the fain lest sigh, a new song—(Psaira
10). The whole context thus sustains the sense assigned to iniquities. 13. (Cf. Psalm 22. 19.) 14, ^5. The language
3^3. 3). fe«r, and . . . Intst—revere with love and faith. 4. Blessed—(Psalm 1. 1 ; 2. 12.) respectetti—lit., turns towarcU, as an object of confidence, tnrn aside—from true God and his law to fal.sehocKl in worship and conduct. 5. he reckoned \xp In order—(cf. Psalm 5.3; 33.1-1; Isaiah 44. 7), loo many to be set forth regularly. This
is not necessarily imprecatory, but rather a confident expectation (Psalm 5. 11), though the former sense is not inconsistent with Christ's prayer for the forgiveness of His murderers, inasmuch as their confusion and shame might be the very means to jirepare theni for humbly seeking forgiveness (cf. Acts 2. 37). for a reward lit., in consequence of. Aha—(Cf. Psalm 35. 21, 25.) 16. (Cf. Psalm S5.
is but one instance of many. The use of the plural accords with the union of Christ and His people. In suffering and triumph, tliey are one' with Him. 6-8. In Paul's view this passage has more meaning than the mere expression of grateful devotion to God's service. He represents Christ as declaring that the sacrifices, whether vegetable or an i mat, general or special expiatory offerings, would not avail to meet the demands of God's law, and that He had come to render the required satisfaction, which he states was effected by " the offering of the body of Christ," for that Is the "will of God" which Christ came to fulfil or do, in order to effect man's redemption. We thus see that the contrast to the unsatisfactory character assigned the Old Testament offerings in d. 6 is found in the compliance with God's law (cf. v. 7, 8). Oif course, as Paul and other New Testament writers explain Christ's work, it consisted in rnore than being made under thelaw or obeying its precepts. It required an " obedience unto death," and that is the compliance here chiefly intended, and which makes the contrast with v. 6 clear, mine ears hast than opened—Whether allusion is made to the custom of boring a servant's ear, in token of voluntary and perpetual enslavement (Exodus 21. 6), or that the opening
27.) love thy salvation—delight in its bestowal on others as well as themselves. 17. A summary of his condition and hopes, thinkctli upon—or provides for me. " He was heard," " when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, unto Him that was able to save him from death."