Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
riie Happiness of the Godly, PSALM I and the Unhappiness of the Ungodly.
of false-hearted fliitterers, and deliverance fi oni the power of Satan on the other, with which to compare their own spiritual exercises. Here, too, are the fruits of that sovereign mercy, so often sought in earnest pi'ayer, and when found, so often sung in rapturous joy, exhibited by patience in adversity, moderation in prosperity, zeal for God's glory, love for man, justice to the oppressed, holy contempt for the proud, magnanimity towards enemies, faithfulness towards friends, delight in the prosperity of Zion, and believing prayer for her enlargement and perpetuity.
The historical summaries of the Psalms are richly instructive. God's choice of the patriarchs, the sufferings of 1 he
Israelites in Egypt, their exodus, temptations of God, rebellions and calamities in the wilderness, settlement iu Canaan, baokslidings and reformations, furnish illustrations of God's providential government of His people, individually and collectively, tending to exalt His adorable grace and abase human pride. But the promises and proph-
connected with these summaries, and elsewhere presented in the Psalms, have a far wider reach, exhibiting the relations of the book to the great theme of promise and prophecy:
The Messiah and his Kingdom.—David was God's chosen servant to rule His people, as the head at once of the state and the Cluuch, the lineal ancestor, "according to the flesh," of His adorable Son, and His type, in His oJlii iaf relations, both in suffering and in triumph. Generally, David's trials by the ungodly depicted the trials of Christ, and his final success the success of Christ's kingdom. Typically, he uses language describing his feelings, which only finds its full meaning in the feelings of Christ. As such it is quoted and applied in the New Testament. And farther, In view of the great promise (2 Samuel 7.) to him and his seed, to which such frequent reference is made in tlie Psalms,
David was inspired to know, that though his earthly kingdom should perish, his spiritual would ever endure, in the power, beneflcenoe, and glory of Christ's. In repeating and amplifying that promise, he speaks not only as a type, but "being a projihet, and knowing that God had sworn witli an oath to him, that of the fruit of liis loins, according to the tlesli, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne," he " foretold the sutl'erings of Christ and the glory that should follow. His incarnation, humiliating sorrows, persecution, and cruel death are disclosed in the plaintive cries of a despairing sufferer; and His resurrection and ascension. His eternal priesthood, His royal dignity, His prophetical office, the purciiase and bestowal of the gifts of the Spirit, tlie conversion of the nations, the establishment, incrf ase, and perpetuity of the Church, the end of time, and the blessedness of the righteous who acknowledge, and the ruin of the wicked who reject, this King in Zion, are predioteil in the language of assured confidence and joy." W hile these great t'henies have supplied the people of God with a i)oi)ular theology and a guide in religious experience and Christian -lorality, clothed in the language of devotion, they have provided an inspired liturgy in which the pioufl, of all creeds and sects, have, for nearly three thousand years, poured out their x>rayers and praises. The pious Jew, before the coming of Christ, mourned over the adversity, or celebrated the future glories, of Zion, in the words of her ancient king. Our Saviour, with his disciples, sung one of these hymns on the night on which he was betrayed : he took from one the words in which he uttered the dreadful sorrows of his soul, and died with those of another on liis lips. Paul and Silas in the dungeon, primitive Christians in their covert places of worship, or the costly churches of a later day, and the .scattered and feeble Christian flocks in the prevalence of darkness and error through the Middle Ages, fed their faith and warmed their love with these consoling songs. Now, throughout the Christian world, la untold forms of version, paraphrase, and imitation, by I'apists and Protestants, Prelatists and Presbyterians—Independents, Haptists, Methodists—men of all lands and all creeds, in pul)Iic and private worship, God is still adored in the sentiments expressed in these venerable Psalms. From the tone of sorrow and sufl'ering which pervade their earlier portions we are gradually borne on amid alternate confliitts and triumphs, mournful complaints and awakening conlidence ; as we approach the close the tones of sorrow grow feebler, and those of praise wax louder and stronger —till, in the exulting strains of the last Psalm, the chorus of earth mingles with the hallelujahs of the multitudi>, which no man can number, in the sanctuary above.
Angus' or Bickersteth's arrangement may be profitably used as a guide for finding a Psalm on a special topic. I' is a little modifieil, as follows:
1. Didactic—Good and l>ad men, Psalm 1, 5, 7, 0-12, U, 15, 17, 21, 2.1, 32, 31, 3(i, 37, 50, 52, 53, 58, 73, 75, 84, 91, 92, 94, 112, 121,
12.S, lis, l.iH; God's Law, Psalm li), 119; Human life vain, I'salm 49, 90; Duty of Rulers, Psalm 82, 101.-2. Praise.
(1) For God's goodness generally to Israel, Psalm 40, I.S, (!,), fti, (W, 7(i, SI, S.>, 9S, 10.), 121, VX, 1'29, i;«, 13G, 149; (2) To Good Men, Psalm 2.i, 91, 100, m, 107, 117, 121, If), 14(i; (.'!) Mercies to Individuals, Psalm 9, 18, 22, 30,40, 7.''), 105, 108, 110, 1'8,
138, 144 ; (4) I-'or His attributes generally.
148, l.W.—3. Devotional—expressive of (1) Penitence, Psalm 0,2."), 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143; (2) Trust in trouble. Psalm 3, 10,
27, 31, .54, .56, .57, (il, 62, 71, 86; (3) Sorrow with Hope, Psalm 13, •2'2, 09, 77, 88; (4) Of Deep Distress, Psalm 4, 5, 11, 28, 41, 5.5, .59,
64,70, 109, 120, 140,141, 143; (5) Feelings when deprived of Uellgious Privileges, Psalm 42,43,63,84; (6) Desire for Help, Psalm 7, 17, 20, 3.5, 44, 00, 74, 79, 80, 83, 89, 94, 102, 12!), 1:J7; (7) Intercession, Psalm 20, 67, 122, 132, 144.-4. Historical, Psalm 78,
105, 106.-5. Proplietical, Psalm 2, 16, 22, 40, 45, 08, 09, 72, 97, 110, IIS. A'oc-The compiler of tlie following notes has omitted all references to authors, as needle.ssly encumbering the commentary. He has had before him the works of Calvin, .Scott, Poole, Aliisworth, ('ol)bln, (Jelce, Vatablus, Tholuck,
J. H. Michael i.s, Uosenmuller, and Alexander. To the two last named he has been particularly Indebted for the parallel passages. He has made a free use of the views advanced by these authors, and claims no credit for any thing In the work except the conciseness united with fullness of exposition. 'Whoever attempts It will find It far easier to wrlto a long commentary than a brief one.
Ject. The use of the plural may denote fulness and variety (2('hri)iilcles 9.7). coiiiisc-I . . . way . . . sent—With their corresiiondlng verbs, mark gradations of evil, as a<'tlng on the principles, cultivating the society, and permanently conlormlng to the conduct of the wicked, who are described by t hree tiM tns, of which the last Is indicative of the boldest Impiety (cf. Psalm '20.4.5; .leremlah
PSALM I.
Ver. 1-0. The character and condition, and the present and future destiny, of the pious and the wicked are described and contin Hted, teaching that true piety Is the Kource of ultimate happiness, and sin of misery. As this
Is a summary of the teachings of the whole book, this Psalm, whether designedly so placed or not, forms a suitable preface.
1.5. 17). a. liiw—all of (iod's word then written, especially the books of Moses (cf. Psalm 119. I, 55, 97, Ac). 3. like a tree—(.leremlah 17. 7, 8.) iilnnteil—settled, fast, by—or over, the rivers—canals for irrluatlou. shiUl |tros|tcr—
1. Ble«»e«l—it/., oh, the happiness— an exclamation of Strong emotion, as If resulting from reflecting on the aub-