Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
David Exhorteih to Praise. PSALMS XXX—XXXII. Bemission of Sin a great Blessing.
5. 8), and begs for an attentive neanng, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to his own perfections for a safe guidanceand release fromthe snares of his enemies. On the terms " rocks," &c., (cf. Psalm 17. 2 ; IS. 2, 50 ; 20. 6 : 23. 3 ; 25.
shivered, utterly broken. The waving of the mountain forests before the wind is expressed by the figure of skipping or leaping. 7. dlv Uletli lit., heivs off. The lightning, like flakes and splinters hewed from stone or wood, flies through the air. 8. tUe wilderness—especially Kadesh, south of Judea, is selected as another scene of this display of Divine power, as a vast and desolate region impresses the mind, like mountains, with images of grandeur. 9. Torror-stricken animals and denuded forests close the
21). 5,0. commitmy splrit—mylife.or myself. Our Saviour used the wordson thecross,notas prophetical, but, as many pious men have done, as expressive of his unshaken confidence in God. The Psalmist rests on God's faithfulness to His promises to His people, and hence avows himself one of them, detesting all who revere objects of idolatry (cf. Deuteronomy 3'2. 21 ; 1 Corinthians 8. 4). 7. hast known my soul, &c.—had regard to me in trouble. 8. shut me up . . . enemy—abandon to (1 Samuel 23. 11). large room —place of safety (cf. Psalm 18. 19). 9, 10. mine eye, &c.— denote extreme weaki>ess (cf. Psalm 6. 7). grief—mingled sorrow and indignation (Psalm 6. 7). soul and . . . belly—the whole person. Though the el Tects ascribed to grief are not mere figures of speech—spent . . . con-* sumed—must be taken in the modified sense of wasted and decayed. Iniquity—or, sufl Tering by it (cf. on Psalm illustration. In view of this scene of awful sublimity, God's worshippers respond to the call of v. 2, and speak or cry, "glory!" By temple, or palace (God's residence, Psalm 5. 7), may here be meant heaven, or the whole frame of nature, as the angels are called on for praise.
10, 11. Over this terrible raging of the elements God is enthroned, directing and restraining by sovereign power; and hence the comfort of His people. " This awful God is ours, our Father and our Love."
PSALM XXX.
Ver. 1-12. Lit., A Psalm-song—a composition to be sung with musical instruments, or without them—or, "Song of the dedication," ikc, specifying the particular character of the Psalm. Some suppose that " of David " should be connected with the name of the composition, and not with " 7io».se ;" and refer for the occasion to the selection of a
40. 12). 11. among—or, lit., from, or, by my enemies. The latter clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till, 12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel. 13. For—introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes. 14-18, In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it. times—course of life, deliver . . . Itand—opposed to " shut, me up," &c., of v. 8. make . . . sUlne—(Cf. Numbers 6. 25; Psalm 4. 6.) Deprecating from himself, lie imprecates on the wicked God's displeasure, and prays that their virulent persecution of him may be stopped. 19-21, God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people, tlie secret of tUy presence—or, covering of thy countenance ; the protection He thus affords ; cf. Psalm 27. 5 for a similar figure; "dwelling" used there for "presence" here. The idea of security further presented by the figure of a tent and a fortified city. 'i'i. For I said— And I said. In an adver.sativo sense. I, thus favoured, was despondent. In my haste—in my terror, cut off . . . eyes from all the protection of thy presence. 23,24. the Lord site for the temple (1 Chronicles 21. 26-30 ; 22. 1). But " house" is never used absolutely for the temple, and dedication does not well apply to such an occasion. Though the phrase in the ifebrew, " dedication of the house of David," is an unusual form, yet it is equally unusual to disconnect the name of the author and the composition. As a "dedication of David's house" (as provided, Deuterouomy 20. 25), the scope of the Psalm well corresponds with the state of repose and meditation on his past trials suited to such an occasion (2 Samuel 5. 11; 7. 2). For beginning with a celebration of God's delivering favour, in which he itivites others to join, he relates his pi'ayer in distress, and Goil's gracious and prompt answer.
1. lifted lue up—as one is drawn from a well (Psalm 40.
2). "-i. licaled me—affliction is often described as disease (Psalm 0.2; 11.4; 107. 20), and so relief by healing. 3. The terms describe extreme danger. soiU—or, myself, grave —^(7., hell, as in Psalm 16. 10. liast kept me . . . pit quickeneil or revivtd me from the state of dying (cf. Psalm 2S. 1). 4. remembrance—the thing remembered or memorial. Iiolliiess — as the sum of God's perfections. . . proud doer— t!ic Lord is kee]>ing faith— i. e., with His people, and Is repaying, &e. Then let none despair, but take courage, their hopes shall not be In vain.
PSALM XXXII.
(cf. Psalm 22. 3), used as name (Exodus 3. 15; Psalm 135. 13). 5. Relatively, the longest experience of Divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions. 6, 7. wiiat particular prosperity Is meant we do not know. Perhaps his accession to the throne. In his self-complacent elation he was checked by God's hiding His face (cf. Psalm 22. 2-1; 27. 9). trouble*! — confounded with fear (Psalm 2. 5). 8-11. As In Psalm 6. 5; 88. 10; Isaiah .38. 18, the appeal for mercy is based on the destruction of his agency in praising God here, which deatli would produce. The terms expressing relief are poetical, and not to be pressed, though dancing Is the translation of a word which means a lute, whose cheerful notes are contrasted with monrning, or (Amos 5. 16) walling, sackclotli— was used, even by kings, in distress (1 Chronicles 21. 10; Isaiali 37. 1); but gladness, used for a garment, shows the language to be figurative. Iti. Though —my— is suppll(Kl before—glory—It Is better as I'salm 16.
Ver. 1-11. Maschil—lit., giving instruction. The Psalmist describes the blessings of His forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and deduces from his own experience Instruction and exhortation to others.
1, 2. (Cf. Romans 4. 6.) forgiven— /i7., taken away opposed to retain (.lohn "20. 2;i). covered—so that God no longer regards the sin (I'salm 85. 3). Imputelh—charge to him, and treat him accordingly, no guile ov, deceit, no false estliiL-vtc of himself, nor insincerity before God (cf. Romans 8. 1). 3, 4. A vivid description of felt but unacknowledged sin. when lit., for, as v. 4. thy hand of God, or, power In distressing liim (Psalin ;?8. 2). moisture—vital juices of the bod.v, the parching heat of which expresses the anguish of the soul. On the other figures, cf. Psalm 6. 2, 7; 31. 9-11. If composed on the occasion of the fifty-first Psalm, this distress may have been protracted for several months. 5. A prompt fulfilment of the purposed confession Is followed by a prompt forgiveness. O. For this i. e., my happy experience, godly pious In the sense of Psalm 4.3. a time—(Isaiah 55. 6)
10, to receive It as used for tongue, the organ of praise. The ultimate end of God's mercies to us Is our praise to Him. PSALM XXXI. Ver. 1-21. The prayer of a believer In time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his nttention, till, In the assurance of strong but submissis-e faith, ho rises to the language of unmlngled Joyful trust, and exhorts others to like love and confldenre towards God.
when God's Spirit Inclines us to seek i>ardon. He Is ready to forgive, floodii, Ac—denote great danger (I'salm 18. 17;
00. 12). 7. His experience Illustrates the slatemcnt of v.
6. 8. Whether, as most likely, the language of David (cf. Psalm 51. 13), or that of God, this Is a promise of Divine guidance. I will . . . mine eye—or, 7)i,(/ o.yo shall bo on thee, watching and directing thy way. 0. The latter clause, more literally, "in that Ihry come not near thee"—i.
e., because tliey will not come, Ac, unless forced by 1)1 1 and bridle. 10. The sorrows of the Impenitent contrasted with the peace and aafety scoured by God's mercy. U«
1. expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm. He .seeics help in God a righteous goverumeut (Psalm