Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
(ixxTa Providence over Ilis People. PSALMS CVII—CIX. David Devotclh hif> Enemies.
determination against the "seed" when rebellious, being not erprr.ised in Numbers U. 31-3.3, but implied in the determination against tlie fathers. 38-30. sacrifices of the dernl I. p.. of lifeless idols, contrasted with "the living Go<l" (Jeremiah 10.3-10; cf. Psalm 115. 4-7; 1 Corinthians alllicted lit., rrfflict themselves, i. e., bring on disease, denoted by loathing of food, and drawing near unto [lit., even to] the gates [or, domains, Psalm 9. Ui) of death, sent his word—i. e., put forth His power, their destructions i. e., that which threatened them. To the chorus Is added the mode of giving thanks, by a sacrifice and joyful singing (Psalm 50. 14). 23-.32. Here are set forth the perils of seafaring, futility of man's and efficiency of God's help, go . . . sea—Alluding to the elevation of the land at the coast. Tliese see . . . deep—Illustrated both by the storm He raises and the calm He makes with a word (Psalm 3ii. 9). waves thereof— Hi.i waves (God's, Psalm
12. On the words, "joined themselves to Baal-peor," seo Numbers 2,"). 2, 3, 5. Baal-peor, i. e., the possessor of Peor, tlie mountain on wliich Chemosh, the idol of lloab, was worshipped, and at the foot of which Israel at the time lay encamped (Numl)ers 2!. 2.S). The name never occurs except ir connection witii that locality and that circumstance. provo Uccl—excited grief and indignation (Psalm
42.7). arc . . . end lit., all their voisdom swallows up itself, destroys itself by vain and contradictory devices, such as despair induces. He maketh . . . calm—or, to stand to stillness, or in quiet. Instead of acts of temple worship, those of the synagogue are here described, where the people with the assembly, or session of elders, convened for reading, singing, prayer, and teaching. 33-41. God's providence is illustriously displayed in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the earth's productiveness, and the powers of government. He punishes
6.7: 78. r-S). stood—as Aaron "stood between the living nnd tlie dead, ami the plague was stayed" (Numlers 16. 48). executed .Judgment lit., judged, including sentence and act. 31. counted . . . rlsliteousness—"a.just and revvardable action." tor—or, unto, to tlie procuring of righteousness, as in Romans i. 2; 10. 4. Here it was a particular act, not faith, nor its oliject Christ; and ivhaturis procured was not Jus tifying righteousness, or what was to be rewarded with eternal life; for no one act of man's can be taken for complete obedience. BTit it was that which God approved and rewarded witli a perpetual priesthood to him and his descendants (Numl>ers 25.13; 1 Chronicles fi. 4, Ac). 32, 33. (CC. Numbers 20. 3-12; Deuteronomy 1.37; 3. 28.) went tlie wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and tyranny, this scene of piosperity is changed to one of adversity. He rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another, wander . . . wilderness—reduced to misery (Job 12.21). 42, 43. In this providential government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will be stopped (Job 5. 16; Isaiah ill with [lit., vas had for] Moses—his conduct, though lindei great provocation, was punished by exclusion from
Caiiaati. 34-39. They not only failed to expel the heathen, as God "commanded" (Exodus 21. 32, 33), lit., said (they should], hut conformed to their idolatries, and tlius Iiecaine spiritual adulterers (Psalm 73. 27). nnto devils Sepluagint, demons (cf. 1 Corinthians 10. 20), or evil spirits, polluted witU blood— blood, or murder (Psalm o. 6; 2(i.
52.15), and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy and unbounded love.
91. 40-4.3. Tliose nations first seduced and then oppressed them rcf. Judges 1. 34; 2. 14; 3. 30). Their apostasies ungratefully repaid God's many mercies til! He finally abandoned them to punishment (Leviticus 20. .39). 44-46. If, as is probable, this Psalm was written at the time of the captivity, the writer now intimates the tokens of God's returning favour, repented—(cf. Psalm 90. 13). made... pitied— (1 Kings 8.50; Daniel 1. 9). These tokens tncourage the prayer and the promise of praise (Psalm 30. 4), which is well closed by a doxology.
PSALM CVIII.
Ver. 1-13. This Psalm is composed, v. 1-5 of Psalm 57.
7-11, and v. 6-12 of Psalm 60. 5-12. The varieties are verbal and trivial, except that in v. 9, "over Pliilistia will I triumph," differs from Psalm 60. 8, the interpretation of which it confirms. Its altogether triumphant tone may intimate that it was prepared by David, omitting the plaintive portions of the other Psalms, as commemorative of God's favour in the victories of His people.
PSALM CVII.
PSALM CIX. Ver. 1-31. The writer complains of his virulent enemies, on whom he imprecates God's righteous punishment, and to a prayer for a Divine interposition in his behalf appends the expression of his confidence and a promise of his praises. This Psalm is remarkable for the number and severity of its imprecations. Its evident typical character (cf. v. 8) Justifies the explanation of these already given, that as the language of David respecting his own enemies, or those of Christ, it has respect not to the penitent, but to the Impenitent and implacable foes of good men, and of God and His cause, whose inevitable fate Is thus indicated by inspired authority.
Ver. 1-43. Although the general theme of this Psalm may have been suggested by God's special favour to the Israelites In their restoration from captivity, it must be regarded as an Instructive celebration of God's praise for His merciful providence to all men in their various emergencies. Of these several are given—captivity and bondage, wanderings b.v land and sea, and famine; some as evidences of God's displeasure, and all the deliverances as evidences of His goodness and mercy to them who humbly seek Him.
1, 2. This call for thankful praise is the buiden or chorus
(cf. t>. 8. 15, Ac), reileemed of the Liord—(cf. Isaiah .35. 9,
1. God of my praise—its object, thus recognizing God as a certain helper. Be not silent (cf. Psalm 17. 13; 28. 1). 2. For the mouth . , . opened [or. They have opened a wicked mouth] against me lit., with me, i. e., Their intercourse is l.ving, or, they slander me to my face (Matthew
10). say—i. e., that His mercy, &c. hand of—or, power of enemy. 3. gathered—alluding to the dispersion of captives throughout the Babylonian empire, from the south —lit., the sea, or, lied Sea (Psalm 114. 3), which was on the south. 4-7. A graphic picture is given of the suf Terings of those wlio from distant lands returned to Jerusalem;
28. 59). 3. (Cf. Psalm .3.5. 7 ; 69. 4.) 4, 5. They return evil for good (cf. P«alm 27. 12 ; Proverbs 17. 13). I give myselfunto prayer—or lit., I (am) prayer, or, as for me, prayer, i. e., it or, as city of habitation may mean the land of Palestine, fainted—was overwhelmed (Psalm 61. .3; 77.3). 8, 9. To the chorus is added, as a reason for praise, an example of the extreme distress from which they had been delivered —extreme hunger, the severest privation of ajourney in the desert. 10-16. Their sufferings were for their rebellion against (Psalm 105. 28) the words, or purposes, or promises, of God for their benefit. When humbled they cry to God, who delivers them from bondage, described as B dark dungeon with doors and bars of metal, in which they are hound In Iron—<. e., chains and fetters, shadow of death—darkness with danger (Psalm 2:^. 4). broken—
Is my resource for comfort in distress. 6. over him—one of his enemies prominent in malignity (Psalm 55. 12). let Satan stand—as an accuser, whose place was the right hand of the accused (Zechariah 3. 1,2). 7. The condemnation is aggravated when prayer for relief Is treated as a sin. 8. The opposite blessing is long life (Psalm 91. 16; Proverbs 3. 2). The last clause is quoted as to Judas by Peter (Acts 1. 20). office—lit., charge, Septuagint, and Peter, oversight. 9, 10. Let his family share the punishment, his children be as wandering beggars to prowl in their desolate homes, a greedy and relentless creditor grasp his substance, his labour, or the fruit of it, enure to strangers and not his heirs, and his unprotected, fatherless lit., shivered (Isaiah 45.2). 17-22. Whether the same or uot, this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which sin brings its own punishment, are