Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
A Thanksgiving for Victory. PSALMS XX—XXII. Complaint and Prayer in Great DUtrcss.
throw, reaching to posterity, is due to their crimes (Exodus 20.5,6). 13. turn tlieir back lit., place them [as to the] shoulder, against the face of tlieiu—The shooting against their faces would cause theivi to turn their backs In flight. 13. The glory of all is ascribablc to God alone. PSALM XXII.
eJrects. It is a rule, God's testimony for the truth, His spei-iiil ami goiieial prescription of duty, fear (as its cause) and judicial d(;(ri Mion. It is distinct and certain, reliable, right, pure, holy, and true. Hence It revives those depressed by doubts, makes wise the unskilled (2 Timothy
3. 15), rejoices tlie lover of truth, strengthens the desponding (Psalm 18.4; :U. 0), provides permanent principles of conduct, and by God s grace brings a rich reward. 13-14. The clearer our view of the law, the more manifest are our sins. Still lor its full effect we need Divine grace to show us our faults, acquit us, restrain us from the prac-
Ver. 1-31. The obscure words Aijeleth Shahar in this title have various explanations. Most interpreters agree in translating them by "hind of the morning." But great difference exists as to the meaning of tliese words. By some they are supposed (cf. Psalm 9.) to be the name of the tune to which the words of the Psalm were set; by others, the name of a musical instrument. Perhaps the best view is to regard the phrase as enigmatically expressive of the subject—the sufl'erer being likened to a hind pursued by hunters in the early morning {lit., the dawn of day)—or that, wliile hind suggests the idea of a meek, innocent sufferer, tlie addition of morning denotes tice, and free us from the power of sin. Thus only can our conduct be blameless, and our words and thoughts acceptable to God.
PSALM XX.
Ver. 1-9. David probably composed this Psalm to express the prayers of the pious for his success as at once the head of the church and nation. Like other compositions of which David in such relations is the subject, its sentiments have a permanent value—the prosperity of Christ's kingdom being involved, as well as typitled, in that of Israel and its king.
relief obtained. The feelings of a pious sufferer in sorrow and deliverance are vividly portrayed. He earnestly pleads for Divine aid on the ground of his relation to God, who.se past goodness to His people encourages hope, and then on account of the imminent danger by which he is threatened. The language of complaint is turned
1. Kear thee — graciously (Psalm 4.1). name of— or manifested perfections, as power, wisdom, Ac. defend tUce—set thee on high from danger (Psalm 9. 9; 18. 3). a. strengthen thee sustain in conflict; even physical beneto that of rejoicing in the assured prospect of relief from suffering and triumph over his enemies. The use of the words of the first clause of v. 1 by our Saviour on the fits may be included, as courage for war, &c., as such may proceed from a sense of Divine favour, secured in the use of spiritual privileges. 3. all thy offerings— or gifts, vegetable offerings, accept lit., turn to ashes (cf. 1 Kings cross, and the quotation of v. 18 by John (19. 24), and of
I'. 22 by Paul (Hebrews 2. 12), as fulfilled In His history, clearly intimate the prophetical and Messianic purport of the Psalm. The intensity of tlie grief, and the completeness and glory of the deliverance and triumph, alike appear to be unsuitable representations of the fortunes of any less personage. In a general and modified sense
18. Selah—(Psalm 3. 2.) 4. thy counsel—or plan. 5. alvatlon—that wrought and experienced by him. set up onr banners—(Numbers 2. 3, 10.) In usual sense, or, as some render, mai/ lue be made great. 6. He speaks as if suddenly assured of a hearing, his holy heaven—or,
(cf. on Psalm 16.), the experience here detailed m.ay be adapted to the case of all Christians suffering from spiritual foes, and delivered by Divine aid, inasmuch as Christ in His human nature was their head and representative.
lit., the heavens of His holiness, where He resides (Psalm 2.
6; 11.4). saving . , . hand—His power which brings salvation, his anointed—not only David personally, but as the specially appointed head of His church. 7. remember—or cause to remember, mention thankfully (1 .Samuel
1. A summary of the complaint. Desertion by God, when overwhelmed by distress, is the climax of the sufferer's misery, words of my roaring—shows that the complaint is expressed intelligently, though the termr roaring Is figurative, taken from the conduct of irrational creatures in pain. 3. The long distress is evinced by—am. not silent lit., not silence to me, either meaning, I continr ually cry; or, corresponding with thou hearest not, or anr swerest not, it may mean, there is no rest or quiet to me. 3.,
17.4.5; Psalm 33.16). 8. They—t. e., who trust in horses, &o. stand upright lit., we liave straightened ourselves up from our distress and fears. 9. let the king hear—as God's representative, delivered to deliver. Perhaps a oetter sense is, "Lord, save the king, hear us when we call," or pray. PSALM XXI. Ver. 1-13. The pious are led by the Psalmist to celebrate God's favour to the king in the bounties already conferred and in prospective victories. The doxology added may relate to both Psalms; the preceding of petition, chiefly this of thanksgiving, ascribing honour to God for His display of grace and power to His church In
Still he not only refrains from charging God foolishly,, but evinces his confidence in God by appealing to him. thou art holy—or possessed of all the attributes which encourage trust, and the right object of the praises of the Church: hence the sufferer need not despair. 4, .5. Past, experience of God's people Is a ground of trust. The mention of " our fathers" does not destroy the applicability of the words as the language of our Saviour's human, nature. 6. He who was despised and rejected of His own. people, as a disgrace to the nation, might well use these words of deep abasement, which express not His real,, but; esteemed value. 7, 8. For the Jews used one of the gestures (Matthew 27. 39) here mentioned, when taujiting Him on the cross, and (u. 43) reproached Him almost in the very language of this passage, trusted in. tlie Lordi all ages, not only under David, but also under his last greatest successor, "the King of the Jews."
1. thy strength . . . thy salvation— as supplied by thee. 2. The .sentiment affirmed in the first clause Is reaffirmed by the negation of Its opposite In the second.
3. preveiitest lit., to meet here in good sense, or friendship (Psalm .59.10; cf. opposite. Psalm 17.13). blessings of goodness—which confer happiness, crown of pure gold —a figure for the highest royal prosperity. 4-6. (Cf. 2 .Samuel 7. 1.3-16.) The glory and blessedness of the king as head of his line, including Christ, as well as In being God's specially selected servant, exceeded that of all others, made lUin most blessed—or set him to be blessings, as Abraham (Genesis 12. 2). with thy countenance —by sight of thee (Psalm 16. 11), or by thy favour expressed by the light of thy countenance (Numbers 6. 25), or both. 7. The mediate cause is the king's faith, the efficient, God'b mercy. 8. The address Is now made to the king, hand—denotee power, and—right hand—a more active and ettieient degree of Its exercise. And out—reach, lay lit., rolled—i. e., his burden (Psalm 37. 5; Proverbs 16. 3) on the Lord. This is the language of enemies sporting with his faith in the hour of his (Jesertion. shootiout [or, opea] the lip—(Cf. Psalm 3.5. '21.) 9, 10. Though irouically spoken, the exhortation to trust was well founded oa his previousexperience of Divine aid, the special illustration of which is drawn from the period of helpless infancy, didst make, me hope—or lit., made me secure. 11..From this statement of rea.sons for the appeal, he renews it, pleading, his double extremity, the nearness of . trouble, and the absence of a helper. 13, 13. His enemies, y.'ith the vigour of bulls and rapacity of lions, surround him,.engerly seeking his ruin. The force of both ft.^ures is gnater without the use of any particle denotiag. comparison. 14, ijolil of, indicating success In pursuit of his enemies. 9. The king Is only God's agent. anger—ii7, /ace, as appearing against them, as a llery oven—as in It—10. fruits Children (Psalm 37. 25; Hosea9. 16). 11. This terrible over23