Psalm XLVIII
Ver. 1-14. This Is a spirited Psalm and song (cf. Psnlm
80.), having in ol)al)ly been suggested by the same occasion as the foregoing. It sets forth the privileges and blessings of God's spiritual dominion as the terror of the wicked and Joy of the rigliteous.
ing, but suildenly perishes as (wllil) beasts, whose lives are taken without warning. 13. Thougli their way Is
folly, others follow the same course of life. 14. Like sheep —(cf 1;. 12) nil wit tingly, they—are laid—or, put, &o. deatlk shall feed on (or, lietter, shall rule] them-as a shepherd
1. lo he prnlMcd—always: It Is an epithet, as Psalm 18. .S. monntaln of his holinessIlls Church (cf. Isaiah 2. 2,3;
(cf feed, Psalm '2S. 9, Margin), have dominion over [or, subdue] them In the morning — suddenly, or In their turn, their heaiily lit., /mm or sliapi'. shall consume —lit., is for the consu7nption, i. e., of the grave, fk-om their dwelling — lit., from their home (they go) to it, i. «., the grave. 15. The pious, delivered from the-powerlit,, tht
25.6, 7, 10); the sanctuary was erectc'd first on Mount ZIon, then (as the temple) on Morlah ; hence the figure. !4, 3. Bitualloii— elevation, Joy of, Ac.-source of Joy. sides of the nortli—poetlitally for eminent, lofty, distinguished, as the ancients believed the north to be the highest part of the earth (cf. Isaiah 14. 13). palace* lit., citadels, refuge 302
The Majesty of God. PSALMS L—LIV. 27»e Deslrudion oj Doc^
119. 30). 7-ia. A series of prayers for forgiveness and purifying. Purge . . . hyssop—The use of this plant in the ritual (Exodus 12. 22; Numbers 19. 6, 18) suggests the idea of atonement as prominent here ; j^MJ-i/e refers to vicarious satisfaction (Numbers 19. 17-2U). Make. . .joy—by forgiving me, which will change distress tojoy. Hide, &c.—Turn from beholding. Create—a work of alniiglity power. In me uL, to, or, for me: bestow as a gilt, a heart free from taint of sin tPsalm 24. 4; 73. 1). renew—implies that he had possessed it; the essential principle of a new nature had not been lost, but its influence interrupted (Luke 22. 32;; for v. 11 shows that he had not lost God's presence and Spirit (1 Samuel 16. 13), though lie had lost the "joy of his salvation" (v. 12), for whose return he prays, rlglit spirit lit., constant, firm, not yielding to temptation, free spirit thy ought not to be supplied, for the word free is, lit., willing, and spirit is that of David. "Let a willing spirit uphold me," t. e., with a soul willingly conformed to God's law, he would be preserved In a right course of conduct. 13. Tlien—such will be the
hnnd, of deatti. are taken under God's care. 16-19. ap-
plies this instruction. Be not anxious (Psalm 37. 1,
&c.), since death cuts oft" the prosperous wicked whom you dread. TJiougU . . . lived, &c.—lit.. For in'his life he
blesxed hti soul, or, himself (Luke 12. 1!); lU. 25); yet (ti. 19), he has had his portion, men will praise . . . tliyself—
Flatterers enhance the rich fool's self-complacency; the
f'-rm of address to him strengthens the emphasis of the sentiment. 20. (Cf. d. 12.) The/o% is more distinctly expressed by uademtandeth not, substituted for abidelh not.