PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 375,386 words · 408 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 241
He m11keth the devioes of the people-rather, up to his fashioning, and refuse to take tho tliepeopleB-Of none effect. Another instance impress which he desires to impart; but all, of the more repetition of II thought in other or almost all, owe it to him that they are words. not worse than they are. He considereth Vor…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-3.-(First sermon.) Spiritual worship. "Rejoice," etc. Worship is worth- less if it be not spiritual. "God is a Spirit," etc. (John iv. 24). But worship simply spiritual, with no outward expression, no material symbol, would not suffice man's nature. Man is not spirit only; he is also flesh. His …
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Ver. 6.-Creation. "By the word of the Lord," etc. The Apostle Peter, warning us against applying our hasty reckonings to God's dealings, reminds us that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This he puts in conjunction with the fact that" by the word of the Lord the heavens we…
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is absurd; it is to make God lees powerful than man. Men cannot break or suspend the least law of nature, but men use the laws of nature to carry out their will. 3. Not according to arbitrary capri«. The will of God, which we are to pray to have done (Matt. vi. 10; xxvi. 39), is guided by perfect wisdom, righteousness,…
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only a power that sways matter, but a wisdom which controls mind, so that among the nations there can never bo any plotting which can frustrate or intercept his plans, 6. Omniscience. (Vers. 14, 15.) He espie.1 from afar the hidden thoucrbt of every soul (Prov. xv. 3; Ps. cxxxix.). He knows men's hearts, as having c…
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abuse of their talents might be prevented, and many a holy outlet for their use secured, Well might Frances Il. Havergal write- " Take my voice, and let me sing Always, only, for my King." 5. The largest scope for the noblest music is opened up by the wonders of redeeming love. Poetry, painting, sculpture, musio,-all…
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EXPOSITION. a mixed eharo.eter, being in part didactic PSALM XXXIV. (vers. 11-22), in part e. pso.hn of thanks- Trus is the third of the alphabetical psalms, giving (vers. 1-10). Metrically, it ho.s and appears to have e. special connection been divided into four strophes (Kay), the with the second of them, Pa. xxv. …
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ruaiilllcr of the psalm, to give rensons which probably some circumstances of the time mny incline them to the practice of it (l'ers. made the rcoommendalion advisable. 15-22). 'l'he reasons resolve themselves Ver. 15.-The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (comp. Job xxxvi. 7; Pae, into two main grounds-the tend…
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of our salvation, be "ma.de perfect through own miscond net shall bring destruction suffering " (Heh, ii. 10). Jlut the Lord upon the wicked man-destruction of the delivereth him out of them all When they body in many cases (Ps. vii. 15, 16), in all, havo done their appointed work of purging, if he persists in his wick…
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wrote, was to assume cert.ain principles as true, and reason down to the facts. The new method, to wliich all the victories of modern science are due, is to reason bnck from facts to principles; first carefully observing, then testing your conclusions; first learning by experience, then verifying by experience, This…
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much to be wished that its writer had uniformly turned his own experience to a use as wise 1111 that which he here urges upon others.1 But David's pen might be golden though sometimes his spirit was leaden; and we may study with great advanta"e th~ ideal of life which he sets before us, learning from bis experience …
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II. THESE VARIED EXPf:RIENCES OF LIFE ARE HERE TURNED TO MANIFOLD U9EB.1 1. Towards God. (Vers. 1, 2.) The psalmist vowf that, having such manifold proof of what God is t-0 him, and of his faithfulness to all his promisei, his life shall be a perpetual song o[ praise; that he will make his boast in God's goodness an…
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times for praise, but when the soul is in true fellowship with God it will find "con- tinual" reason for praising him, "Praise" is for " all times," because God fil Is " all times." 'l'hanksgiving has respect to special times, and to what God has done for us, but praise, in its highest sense, is called forth by contemp…
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blessd is the man that trusteth in him." 'l'his call, "Taste and see," is the c:ill of Christ in the gospel. Those who hear it must make a choice, 'l'hey must hear or refuse. But co11sidering who it is that gives the call, and the manifold and powerful arguments by which it is enforced, surely it would be wise ann. rcn…
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Health," nnd much ie done to promote the physical comfort and health of the people. This is good. It is of much advantage that the people, down to the poorest, should have pure air and wholesome food and favourable surroundings, and it is the duty of the Church, as well as the state, to look to these things. Bot more i…
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L A GREAT DELIVERANCE CELEBRATED. (Vers. 4-6.) Salvation. 1. Be was in great trouble and danger. (Vers. 4-6.) That the nature of the danger is not explained. Sin and sorrow our greatest trouble. 2, He earnestly sought deliverance. (Vers. 4-6.) No salvation except to earnest seekers. 3. God answered him and saved Mm. H…
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he is on the defensive; Se.ul is hunting him PSALM XXXV. upon the mountains. And stand up for mine help (comp. Ps. vii. 6). Standing is A PSALM ascribed to David by the title, and the ne.tur11l posture of one who interposes to with many characteristics of bis early sty le help another. -abrupt, impassioned, full of …
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14; lxx. 2; h:xi. 18), and e.monnt to e. sort who is like unto thee 1 The " bones" here of commonplace, to be used whenever tho represent, not the fra.mo only, o.s in Pe. machinations of his enemies against him are xxx1v. 20, but the entire nature. David the subject that occupies his thought. promises that his whole…
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£iok, my clothing wns sackcloth. It is sug- their teeth (comp. Job xvi. 9; Pa. xxxvii. gested that David had acted thus., especi- 12). o.lly in the case of Saul, when he vrns first 'Ver. 17.-Lord, how long wilt thou look affiicted with his terrible malo.dy (1 So.m. on 1 "How long?" is the common cry of xvi. 14-23; …
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ill the land. David, if let alone, was willing literally, ah I our soul, i.e. "our heart's enough to have r,•mained "quiet in the desire is accomplished; we havo got our land." He was a fugitive and an outlaw; wish." Let them not se.y, We have swal- but, could he ha'<c obtained a safe refuge- lowed him up; i.e. dest…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-28.-A hard case-a ve7'!J hard one-laid before God. This is one of those psalms in which the writers often meet with much scolding and with scant sympathy. It hns been said that this psalm is not worthy of David. We are not prepared to say so : but we are prepared to contend that ma…
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David and those who favoured his righteous cause might rejoice in God's salvation (ver. 9); that God would execute righteousness and judgm1mt (ver. 24); that he would not permit the malicious joy of the enemy to continue (vcrs. 19 25) • that the righteous might yet shout for joy at the triumph of their cause (ver. '…
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vere. 4, 5, 6, 8 would ill become ue (cf. Rom. xii. 19, 20). 6. Nevertheless, it is perfectly true that severity to evil-doers is sometimes the greatest mercy to the Church of God (Acts v. 1-11). 7. God, even now, very often answers the agonizina prayers of saints by" terrible things in righteousness" (Ps. !xv. 5; Rev.…
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(vers. 9, 10). In the second part of the psalm he reverts to the cruel treatment ho hnd received, but speaks of it with more calmness-more in sorrow than in anger. Ho remembers how he had tried to be patient, how he had r('strained himself and returned good for evil. But it had been in vain, Brooding upon this, his hea…
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Vers. 1-10.-Battle and victory. The psalmist complains of unbelievers, ungodly enemies, prays for deliverance, giving promise of thanksgiving if his prayer is granted. 'l'be psalm falls into three divisions, in each of which the three elements of complaint, prayer, and thanksgiving are contained. The divisions are vers…
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EXPOSITION. the meaning is far from clear. Dr. Kay PSALM XXXVL translates, " Transgression's oracle to the Tms short psalm is mainly didactic. It wicked is, ' In the interior of my own heart ; ' " and understands the meaning to places in contrast the extreme wickedness of be that the sinfulness of the wicked man …
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Ver. 4.-:e:e deviseth misohiet upon hill ciow (Kay, Aleunder, Cheyne, Revised bed; ra.th er, he devi•eth iniquity-the same Version)-" is thy loving-kindness I" How word as in the preceding verse. In the doee it exceed all that we could have night, when he should be locked in innocent o.nticipo.ted I How far does it go …
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tion," the psalmist passes on t.o prayer ; enemies as the souroe" (Canon Oook). and is content to ask the.t God will bo in And let not the hand of the wioked remove the future such aa he he.s been in the po.et- me i or, drive me away (Revised Version), i.e. that he will " lengthen out," prolong, or force me into exile,…
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Ver. 9.-" The fountain of life." This short but sublime psalm opens in a minor key. With a few powerful strokes the psalmist paints the blindness, untruthfulness, blasphemous presumption of an ungodly life-a life void of godly fear, and of that hatred of evil without which there is no true love of goodness. '!'hen a…
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HOMILIES BY VA.RIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-4:.-God's revelation of man to himself; or, the transgressor' s heart turned inside out. It has been thought by some that this psalm was written about the time when Saul gave his daughter Michal to David with a treacherous design (see Walford, in we.); by others, that it is a gene…
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the drift of the godless man (ver. 5): "He abhorreth not evil." The issue of a materialistic denial of God, and of a materialistic view of man, must be the denial of ovil as evil, Evil cannot exist if atoms of matter be all. For molecules never break the ranks, and can never get out of harness. And he who first abhors …
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example of the wicked, as by a flood, quits the subject., and recovers himself by reflect- ing on~ a different theme." 1 Whether this be precisely the correct account of the matter or no, certain it is that too prolonged a ga.ze into the desperate wickedness of man would unnerve us and would generate a spirit of misant…
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kindness. The same word as is rendered "mercy" (Authorized Version) in ver. 5. But the translators saw the meaning of " mercy "per se becoming "loving-kindness" towards us. Not only has the sun light, but we feel the warmth of his rays. Even so the tender mercy of God discloses itself to us in innumerable acts of kindn…
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Vers. 1-12.-We have here a terrible pictui·e of the wicked man. L His HEABT IS THE SEAT OF EVIL. It is there as an "oracle." It is enthroned. It speaks with authority. It gives forth its decrees for obedience. The true is opposed by the false. Righteousness gives place to unrighteousness. All counsels of reason and …
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ehe.lt love thy neighbour e.s thyaeH," ie eet at nought. Even in the Churches the lee.van of selfishness is se.dly opere.tive. Bot '' God is love." He is the great Giver. His delight is to show mercy, to do good and to communicate. He has come nearer the.never in Christ Jesus, and under the strong and loving covert of …
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the fitter to face the ~welling of Jordan (Jer. xii. 5). Above all; let us remember that only in God can we find a sure Refuge from all trouble (ver. 7). "Though griefs unnumbered throng thee l'Ound, Still in thy God confide: Whose finger marks the sp,as their bound, And curbs the hendlong tide." W.F. Vers. 1-12.…
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unimpassioned instruction, of a. character 16). And wither a1 the green herb (comp. resembling that whioh makes up the bulk Pee. xc. 5. 6; ciii. 15; Isa. xl. 6, 7; Jae. i. of the Book of Proverbs. Thie tone con- 10, 11; 1 Pet. i. 24). Ver. 8.-Trust in the Lord, and do good. tinues to the end of ver. 88, when there is …
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rather, fret not thyself, only to do ellil. No ment on the former passage). For he ■eeth result could be looked for from the sort of that his day I.a ooming ; i.e. God sees tho.t "freLLing" spoken of, but an evil one. Jf the do.y of the wicked man's viaitntion is men will dwell un,lulv on the fact of the approaching…
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Ver. 19.-They shall not be ashamed in misfortnne or 1.oss, and absolute ruin." The the evil times. If they fall into adversity, good man mr,,y be afflicted; he may even it will not cause them to feel shame. They fall into some fault (Ga.I. vi. 1) or grievous will know that they are not being punished sin (2 Sam. xi. 4)…
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this line, which ought to begin with the unjust judge. These promises are not letter ain. llut the seed of the wioked universal nor absolute, since many good shall be cut off. The wicked shall perish, men have been assassinated by their enemies, not only in their own persons, but in their as Abel by C11in; aud ma.ny ha…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 4.-Delighe in God. "Delight thyself," etc. The order of these words makes all the differeuce between a religion of selfishness and a religion of love. Not, " The Lord will give you what your heart is set on; therefore delight in him;" but," Delight thyself in the Lord ; let him be thy Joy-Fountain of …
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L WE NEED REST. 1. Physical rest, in due amount, is a very deep need of life. At our peril we despise it. There are forms of animal life which are sleeplcs~, but they are of very low types. The child, for many years, needs to spend half his life in sleep. The strong man needs from a quarter to a third of his time for…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1--40.-The good man's directory. This is a very remarkable. psalm. Its theme is one throughout its entire length. Yet it is not so much drawn out con- secutively as repeated proverbially. This may be partly accounted for by its alpha- betical structure.1 There is no advance between t…
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the ungodly are, with all their noise and parade. 2. Hence a second duty is presented to us: •• Trust" and "Rest in the L<n-d." Two expressions for substantially tho same attitude of spirit. But this restful trusting is put in contrast from fretting. Your work iR not to worry, but to trust your God. Now, in what sen…
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them under four heads. 1. Fret not. 2. Trust. 3. Wait patiently. 4. Do right. These four may be reduced to two: trusting and trying; or, in other words, lo restin"' e.nd working. Both are included in the verse already qnoted. "Trust in the Lord~ e.nd do right." While these duties in corn bination make up "the whole d.u…
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now am old.". We may regard him therefore as speaking in this psalm with the fulness of knowledge and the cou6dence of ripened wisdom. His old experience has attained to prophetic strain. Let us consider two pictures. I. THE EVILS OF ENVY. _It _is commo1!· It takes_ its rise and works upon the lower par~ of o?-r na…
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desires. We are in danger of being distracted and harassed, and of even yielding to envy and discontent. 'l'he cure is from God. When we come to know him as he is, to believe in him o.s he has revealed himself in Christ Jesus, we are able to rest in him with confidence, leaving everything to his righteous and loving ru…
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Vers. 1-11.-ConfidenC<!i in God. The text of the whole psalm is in the first two verses. We are not to be discouraged in the service of God by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is more apparent than real, and is a short-lived prosperity. At the seventh verse the psalm takes a fresh start from the same key-note. L …
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e.ncl is sorry for his sin. He pre.ye to God begins with a description of his bodily (vers. 1, 21); Le pours out his complaints troubles; and, first of all, declares that to him (vcr. 9); he hopes in him (ver. there is '' no soun<iness in his flesh," i.e. no healthiness, no feeling of vigour, no vite.l 15); finally…
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moat tangible are tho pain caused by the hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine desertion of his "lovers," "friends," and deceits all the day long; literally, ,peak "kinsmen" (ver. 11), and th(, alarm arising maligrdty; i.e. calumniate me- bring false a<'-eusalioas against me (comp. 2 Se.m. xvi. from tl,e action t…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 4.-0onviction of sin an el,ement of true (Jhristian life. "As a heavy burden," Jonah, when carried down in his living tomb to "the roots of the mountains," with the sea-weeds about his head, was not plunged in a deeper sea of trouble than David in the experience this psalm records (comp. Ps. xxxii. 3-…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-22.-Sin stinging lil,e an adde;r. This has been called one of the peni- tential psalms. It may be called so without any severe strain of language; and yet its penitential tone is very far removed from that of either the thirty-second or the fifty-first psalm. There is little doubt …
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purifying from corruption, and healing disease. And that revelation of God as our Salvation which was made in germ to the Hebrews, is disclosed more fully to us un,ler Christ. He is "made wisdom from God unto us, even righteousness, sanctification, an,! redemption; that (according as it is written) he that glorieth, le…
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EXPOSITION. to ver. 5; (2) from ver. 0 to ver. ll ; and PSALM XXXIX. (3) from ver. 12 to the end, THE pea.I.mist, vexed and disgusted with Ver. 1.-1 said, I will take heed to my life, feeling a desire to murmur and com- ways, that I sin not with my tongue. There plain, bat aware that his words are watched, are no…
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not exo.ctly the req ueet of Job, who desired occurs to him-the sin which has brought to be at once cut off (Job vi, 9; vii. 15; upon him all hie misery; and his first prayer xiv. 13), but it is e. request conceivecl in the is to be" delivered" from it, llake me not so.me spirit, The pse.lmist is weary of life, the …
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I. Tms SEEMS AN UNNECESSARY PRAYER-AT LEAST AT FIBST' SIGHT. If any truth is obvious, it is this-of the brevity and frailty of life. Brief at longest (Ps. xc. 10), especially if we reckon the time spent in sleep or dissipated in numberless trifles (ver. 5); frail,ever carrying within it the germs of decay and dissol…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-13.-Unburdening the heart to God in a time of sore affliction, when nothing can be said to man. J eduthun, whose name stands at the head of Pss. xxxix., !xii., and lxxvii., was one of a musical family entrusted with the conduct of the musical service in the time of David. The psalm…
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it was looked on by him a.s a. chastisement for his transgressions (cf. vere. 8, 11). 2. It is, under s'UCh cr'.rcurr.stances, very hai·d to be absolutely still. So the first verse implies. There is little indication tha.t the disturbing trouble arose (as some suggest) from seeing the prosperity of the wicked; but e…
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II. How FAB Ill TRE OOUBBE TAKEN BY DAVID, IN ms AFFLICTION, A GU1DE FOR us? 1. In some respects we may well imitate him. In restraining our words before man, and in telling all our cares and woes to God exactly as we feel them, and in such a way as will best relieve an overburdened heart. 2, In other respects we shoul…
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No wonder, if in thought of these things, we should cry, "Spare me I" II. Tlu.T GOOD MEN BOMETDIES SOBIN)[ FBOM DEATH UNDER A SENSE OF WEAK• NESS .AKD UNPBEPABEDNESB. Some are prepared to die. But such a state of mind is rare and inconstant. The best of men have their times of misgiving, as well as their moments of ex…
1,204 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.