Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
PSALMS XXVI—XXIX.
His Faith in God!% Protection,
David's Corcfidence in God.
Ing a sense of sin, humble confession, supplication for pardon, preservation from sin, and IHviue guidance, are prominent topics.
Interrogations give greater vividness to the negation Implied. 2. eat ... my flesh—(Job 19. 22; Psalm 14.4.) The allusion to wild beasts illustrates their rapacity, they stnmblcd—" they" is emphatic; not I, but Oiey were destroyed. 3. In tlie greatest dangers, in this i. e., then. In such extremity. 4, 5. The secret of his confidence is his deliglit in communion witli God (Psalral6. 11; 23.6), beholding the harmony of His perfections, and seeking His favour in His temple or palace ; a term applicable to the tabernacle (cf. Psalm 5.7). There he is safe (Psalm 31.
1. lift up my soul—(Psalm 24. 4; 86. 4), set my affections
(cf. ColOfisians 3. 2). 3. not be ashamed—by disappointment of hopes of relief. 3. The prayer generalized as to all wlio i<«n'< on God i. c, who expect His favour. On the other hand, tlie disappointment of the perfidious, who, unprovoked, have done evil, is invoked (cf. 2 Samuel 22.
9). 4, 3. On the ground of former favour, he invokes DlTuie guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faitlifalness. 6, 7. Confessing past and present
21; 61. 5). The figure is clianged in the last clause, but the sentiment is tlie same. 6. hea<l be lifted up—I shall be placed beyond tlie reacli of my enemies. Hence he avows his purpose of rendering joyful tliaiilc offerings. 7. Still pressing need extorts prayer for lielp. cry with my voice— denotes earnestness. Otlier things equal, Christians in earnest pray audibly, even in secret. 8. The meaning is clear, tliough the construction in a literal translation is obscure. The English Version supplies the Implied clause. To seek God's face is to ^eek His favour (Psalm 105. 4). 9. Hide not, &c. — (Psalm 4. 6; 22. 24.) Against rejection he pleads former raercy and love. 10. In the extremity of eartlily destitution (Psalm 31. 11; 38.
sins, he pleads for mercy, not on palliations of sin, but on God's well-known benevolence. 8, 9. uprlgUt— acting according to His promise, sinners— the general term, limited by tlie meek—who are penitent, in Judgment rightly, tlie wny—and his way—God's way of providence. 10. paths—similar sense—His modes of dealing
(cf. V. i). mercy and truth—(Job 14.), God's grace in promising and faitlifalness in performing. 11. God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested
navif, cf. Psalm 9. 10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed. 13, 13. What he asks for himself is the common lot of all the pious.
11), God provides (cf. Matthew 25.35). 11. tliy -vvay-of providence, a plain path—(Psalm 20. 12.) enemies lit., watchers for my fall (Psalm 5. 8). 12. will lit., sovl, desire (Psalm 35. 25). enemies—lit., oppressors. Falsehood aids cruelty against him. breathe out—as being filled witli it (Acts 9. 1). 13. Tlie strong emotion is indicated by the Incomplete sentence, for which tlie Enyllsh Version sup-
Tlie phrase—inlierit the earth—(cf. Matthew 5. 5), alluding to tiie promise of Canaan, expresses all the blessings included in that promise, temporal as well as spiritual. 14. The reason of the blessing explained—the pious enjoy communion with God (cf. Proverbs 3. 21, 22), and, of course, learn His gracious terms of pardon. 15. Hjs trust in God is fixed, net—is frequently used as a figure for dangers by enemies (Psahn 9. 15; 10. 9). lG-19. A series of earnestappeals for aid, because God had seemed to desert him (cf. Psalm i:?. 1 ; 17. 13, etc.), Ills sins oppressed him, his enemies had enlarged liis troubles and were multiplied, increasing in hate and violence (Psalm 9. 8; 18. 4S). 20. keep my soul —(Psalm 10. 1.) put my trust—flee for refuge (Psalm 2. 12). 21. In conscious innocence of the faults charged by his enemies, he confidently commits his cause to God. Some refer—Integrity, &c.—to God, meaning His covenant faithfulness. This sense, though good, is an unusual application of tlie terms. 22. Extend these blessings to all thy people in all their distresses.
plies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, yet Ibelieved, &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed, to see—is to experience (Psalm 22. 17). 14. Wait, &c.—in confident expectation. Tlie last clause is, lit., and wail, &c., as If expecting new measures of help. . PSALM XXVIII.
Ver. 1-9. An Earnest cry for Divine aid against his enemies, as being also those of God, is followed by the P.salmist's praise in assurance of a favourable answer, and a prayer for all God's people.
1. my rock—(Psalm 18. 2, 31.) be hot silent to me lit., from me, deaf or inattentive, become like them, &c. share their fate, go down Into tlic pit—or, grave (Psalm
PSALM XXVI.
30. 3). 2. lift up my hands—a gesture of praj'er (Psalm
63. 4; 141. 2). oracle—place of speaking (Exodus 25. 22; Numbers 7. 89), where God answered His people (cf. Psalm
Ver. 1-12. After appealing to God's judgment on his avowed integrity and innocence of the charges laid by his enemies, tlie Psalmist professes delight in God's worship, and prays for exemption from the fate of the wicked, expressing assiirance of God's favour.
5. 7). 3. Draw me not, &c.—implies punishment as well as death (cf. Psalm 26. 9). Hypocrisy is the special ivickedness mentioned. 4. The imprecation is justified In v. 5. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin. endeavours points out their deliberate sinfulness. 5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment, destroy
1. Judge—decide on my case—the appeal of innocence, in nfine integrity-freedom from blemish (cf. Psalm 25.
21). His confidence of perseverance results from trust in God's sustaining grace. 2. He asks the most careful scrutiny of liis allections and thoughts (Psalm 7. 9), or mo-. . . build . . . up—The positive strengthened by the negative form. 6. supplications—or, cries for mercy. 7. The repetition of lieart denotes his sincerity. 8. The distinction made between the people, their strength—and the anointed—may indicate Absalom's rebellion as the occasion. 9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view, feed them—as a sliepherd (Psalm 23. 1, &c.). PSALM XXIX. Ver. 1-11. Trust in God is encouraged by the celebration of His mighty power as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions.
tives. 3. As often, the ground of prayer for present help is former favour. 4-8. As exemplified by the fruits of Divine gi-ace, presented in his life, especially in his avoiding the wicked and his purposes of cleaving to God's w<n"- sliip. wasli mine Itands—expressive symbol of freedom from sinful acts (cf. Matthew 27. 24). tlic habitation of tlij' house—where thy house rests—as the tabernacle was not yet permanently fixed, honour dwelleth—conveys an allusion to the Holy of Holies. 9. Cfatlier not, <tc. bring me not to death, bloody men—(cf. Psalm 5. 6). 10. Their wliole conduct is that of violence and fraud. 11,12. But, (Sc.—He contrasts his character and destiny with that of the wicked (cf. t'. 1, 2). even place—free from occasions of stumbling—safely in his course Is denoted. Keuce he will render to God his praise publicly.
1. Give—or, ascribe (Deuteronomy 32. 3). mighty—or, sons of the mighty (Psalm 89. 6). Heavenly beings, as angels. 2. name—as (Psalm 5. 11; 8. 1). beauty ofholi ness—the loveliness of a spiritual worship, of which the perceptible beauty of the sanctuary worship was but a type. 3. The voice of tlie I>ord—audible exhibition of His power in the tempest, of which thunder is a specimen, but not tlie uniform or sole example, the waters—are the clouds or vapours (Psalin 18. 11; Jerenilali 10. 13). 4. powerful . . . majesty lit., in power, in majesty. 3, 6. The tall and larye cedars, cspocially of Lebanon, wo
PSALM XXVII. Ver. 1-M. With a general strain of confidence, hope, and Joy, especially in God's worship. In the midst of dangers, the Psalmist Introduces prayer for Divine help and guidance.
1. light—Is a common figure for comfort, strength—or, stronghold—af Tordlng security against all violence. The