Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
A Orieivus Complaint. PSALMS CII—CIV. Tlie Mighty Power of God.
reliable and honest men for my servants. 7. not dwell —Ut., not iit, or tarry, or be established. 8. tvlll early gtmction—ii., pit of corruption (Psalm 16. 10). croivneth —or, adorneth (Psalm 11). tender mercies—compassions (cf. Psalm 25. 6; 40. 11). 5. By God's provision, the saint retains a youthful vigour like the eagles (Psalm 92.
or, diligently, city of the Lord—or, holy place (Psalm 48.
2), where wicked men shall not be tolerated. PSALM CII.
14; cf. Isaiah 40. 31). 0. Li./., rigt Uconmcss and judtjmaiU. denoting various acts of God's government. 7. ways of providence, etc., as usual (P.salm 2>. 4 ; 67. 2). nets—/i'/.. wonders (Psalm 7. 11 ; 78. 17). 8-10. God's benevolence im-
Ver. 1-28. A prayer ^of t?ie afflicted, &c.—The general terms seem to denote the propriety of regarding the Psnim as suitably expressive of the anxieties of any one of David's descen dants, piously concerned for the welfare of the Church. It was probably David's composition, and, tlioush specially suggested by some peculiar trials, descriptive of future times. Overu'helmed—{ct. Psalm 61. 2). Complaint—(Psalm oo. 2.) Pouring out the soul—(Psalm 6"2.
plies no merit. He shows it to sinners, who also are chastened for a time (Exodus 34. 6). keep (anger)—in Leviticus 19. 18, bear a grudge (Jeremiah 3. 5, 1'2). 11. great efficient. 13. removed . . . from ns—so as no longer to affect our relations to Him. 13. pitictli lit., has compassion on. 14. he [who formetl. Psalm 94. 9) knowetli our ftiune— Ji/., our form, we are dust—made of and tending to it (Genesis 2. 7). 15, 16. So short and frail is life that a breath may destroy it. it is gone lit., it is 7wt. know it no more—no more recognize him (Psalm 90.6; Isaiah
8.) The tone of complaint predominates, though in view of God's promises and abiding faithfulness, it is sometimes exclianged for that of confidence and hope.
1-3. The terms used occur in Psalm 4.1; 17.1,6; 18.6;
SI. 2, 10; 37. 20. 4. (Cf. Psalm 121. 6.) so tliat 1 forget—or, have forgotten, i.e., in my distress (Psalm 107.18), and hence strength fails. 5. voice . . . groaning—effect put for cause, my agony emaciates me. (5, 7. The figures express extreme loneliness. 8. sworn against ine—or lit., by me, wishing others as miserable as I am (Numbers 5.
40. 6-8). 17, 18. For similar contrast cf. Psalm 90. 2-6; 102.
27, 28. sncli . . . covenant—limits the general terms preceding. rig Uteoii8i»ess—as usual (Psalm 7. 17 ; 31.1). 19. God's firm and universal dominion is a pledge that He will keep H;s promises (Psalm 11. 4; 47. 8). 20-33. do his commandments . . . word—or, lit., so as to hearken. tSc,
21). 9. nslies—a figure of grief, my bread; weeping or *ears, my drink (Psalm 80. 5). 10. lifted . . . cast me down—or, cast me away as stubble by a whirlwind (Isaiah i. e., their acts of obedience are prompt, so that tliey are ever ready to hear, and know, and follow implicitly His declared will (cf. Deuteronomy 26. 17; Luke 1. 19). ye Ikis hosts—myriads, or armies, as corresponding to angels of great power: denoting multitudes also, all his workscreatures of every sort, everywhere.
61. 6). 11. sliadow . . . declineth—soon to vanish in the darkness of nlglit. 1:4. Contrast with man's frailty (cf. Psalm 90. lliy remembrance—that by which thou art remembered, tliy promise. 13, 14. Hence it is here adduced, for [or, ivhen] . . . the set time, &c.—the time promised, the indication of which is the interest felt for Zion by the'people of God. 15-17. God's favour to the Church will afl'ect her persecutors with fear. When the I/ord sitnll bnild—or better, Because the Lord liath built, &c., as a reason for the effect on others ; for in thus acting and hearing the humble. He is most glorious. 18. people . . . created— (cf. Psalm 22. 31), an organized body, as a Church. 19-83. A summary of what shall be written. For—or. That, as introducing the statement of God's condescension, to loose . . . appointed—or, deliver them fPsalm 79. 11). To declare, &c., or. That God's name may be celebrated in the assemblies of His Cliurch.galliered from all nations (Zecharlah 8. 20-23), and devoted to His service. a3-28. The writer, speaking for the Church, finds encouragement in the midst of all his distresses. God's eternal existence is a pledge of faitlilulncss to His promises, in tile way—of providence, weakened—/(V., afflicted, and made fearful of a premature end, a figure of the apprehensions of the Church, lest God might not perform His promise, drawn from those of a person in view of the dangers of early death (cf. Psalm 89. 47). Paul (Hebrews 1. 10) quotes V. 2G-2S as addressed to Christ in His Divine nature. The scope of the Psalm, as already seen, so far from opposing, favours this view, especially by the sentiments of v. 12-15 (cf. Isaiah 60. 1). The association of the Messlali with a day of future glory to the Church was very intimate In tlio minds of Old Testament writers, and with correct views of His nature It is very consistent tliat He should be addressed as the Lord and Head of His Church, who would bring about that glorious future on which they ever dwelt with fond and delightful anticipations.
PSALM CIV.
Ver. 1-35. The Psalmist celebrates God's glory in His works of creation and providence, teaching the dependence of all living creatures ; and contrasting the happiness of those who praise Him with the awful end of the wicked.
1. God's essential glory, and also that displayed by Hia mighty works, afford ground for praise. 3. Ilglit—Is i» figurative representation of the glory of the invisible God (Matthew 17. 2; 1 Timothy 6. 16). Its use in this connection may refer to the first work of creation (Genesis 1. 3). stretelies ont tlic heavens—the visible heavens or sky which cover the earth as a curtain (Isaiah 40. 12). 3. tu tlie waters—or, it maybe with; using this fluid for the beams, or fiames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and winds as means of conveyance, walketli—or, moveth (cf. Psalm 18. 10, 11; Amos 9. 6). 4. This is quoted by Paul (Hebrews 1. 7) to denote the subordinate position of angels, i.e., they are only messengers as otlier and material agencies, spirits— lit., UHttds. flaming llr«—(Psalm 105. 32) being here .so called. 5. The earth Is firmly fixed by His power. 6-9. These verses rathir descrilxtlie wonders of tlie flood thun the creation (Genesis 7. l!l, 20; 2 IVter 3. 5, 6). God's methiHl of arresting the Ihxul and making its waters subside Is poetically called a rebuke (Psalm 76.0; Isaiah 50. 2), and the process of tluir subsiding by undulations among the hills and valleys Is vividly descril)ed. 10-13. Once liestructive, these wateis arc subjected to the service of God's crenturi's. In rain and dew IVoni Ills chajnbers (cf. r. 3), and fonnlainsand slre;«ms, tli<\v gi ve drink to thirsting animals, and fertilize the soil. Trees tims nourished supply homes tosinging birds, and the earth teems with the productions of God's wise agi-ncics. It, 15, so that men and beasts are alniixlantly i>ri)vided with food, for tlie servlc< lit., for the culture, Ac, by which lie secures the results, oil . , . hIiIix^— lU., in<i/:i,'S hi.\ face to shi)ie mnrc than
PSALM CIII. Ver. 1-22. A Psalm of Joyous praise, in which the writer rises from a tliankful acknowledgment of personal blessings to a liv(!ly celebration of God's gracious attributes, as not only intrinsically worthy of praise, but as specially suited to man's frailty, and concludes by invoking ail creatures to unite In his song.
oil, i. (?., .so (^hoers and Invigorates liim, that outwardly ho appears better than if anointed, strengtltenelli . . . heart-gives vigour to man (cf. .ludgcss 19.5). 10-19. Goii's care of even wild animals and un<'i\ltivated parts of the earth. 30-3.'{. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed limes an<rsens;>ns. 34-30. l'"roni a view of the earth thus lull of God's Idesslngs, the writer imsseo to the sea, which, in Its i)nineiislty, and as a scene and means of nnin's a<'tlvity In commerce, and the home of countless nuiltltudcs of creatures, also displays Divlno
1. ItlesH, Ac—wlien God Is the object, praise, my soul —myself (rsalni 3. 3; 2.'). 1), with allusion to the act, as one of Intelligence, all . . . witlilii me—(Deuteronomy 6. 5.) his lioly name—(Psalm h. 11), His complete moral perfections. 'Z. forget not all—not any, none of His benefits. 3. diseases, as jienal Inlllctlons (Deuteronomy 39.2; 2 Cln'onicles 21. 19). 4. redcemetli—cost Is Unpllcd. de376