PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 374,103 words · 397 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 121
HOMILETICS. Ver. 29.-Tlui heart's desire gratified. "He gave them their own desire." Three days' m~r~h from SiD:ai, at the first halting-place, where _the tabernacle wo.s first pitched aft.er qmt_tmg the plain at the foot of that holy mountain, the wandering .Arabs of the desert might gaze on the saddest, most sham…
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Ver. 34.-Mercy remembered in wrath. "When he slew them," etc. Sin is not all wilfulness; it is also infirmity-our calamity as well as our crime. Perhaps, otherwise, repentance and pardon would be impossible. God takes account of men's weakness as well as of their guilt. He alone can hold the balance. This psalm lays a …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-72.-Whole psalm: Warnings against unbelief. I. 1TB PURPOSE. 1. To warn Ephraim; not to taunt and exult over him, but to warn. This psalm seems to belon" to the period of the disruption. Ephraim, with the other northern tribes, had broken away from Judah and from the worship of God, …
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Ver. 8.-Rccrea.nt EpTwat'.m. We do not know what battle this WI\S, Some point to I Chrou. vii. 21; others to Josh. xiii.1, 13 and xviii. 3; others to 1 Sam. iv. But we do m•t certainly k!low. Ephraim's character was such as is here described (see ver. 67). Also Hosea, passim; he terms them "a cake not turned;" "a sil…
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Ver. 32.-The tenacity of sin. This psalm might have for title, "The Devil's Grip;" "'l'he Hrart-hold of Sin;" "The Gates of Hell prevailing," or any other such sad surname. For throughout its weary length it tells of scarce anything else. And would that it were only an old-world story !-a tale of ancient Israel, but of…
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Ver. 36.-The worship that God hates . . L IT IB ALL TOO COMMON. This psalm 18 all taken up 'll"ith the record of such worship. And it did not begin with the people told of here. What was Cain's worship but so much flattery and lying unto God? And all through the prophetic history, the like worship is perpetually denoun…
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I. MAN OAN LIMIT GoD, 1. But this may be 9.uestioned. It should eeem impossible when we think of tbe greatness and power or God, of his uninl!'sal sway, of his infinite wisdom, of the hurt and harm that must come of such conduct. All such considera- tions seem to render impossible the limiting of God. 2. But undoubt…
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wrou~ht during those dread forty days, by repeated and terrible temptation, to make his miHsion ineffectual and to bnffie its design. But our Lord, as we all know, gained si;1:nnl victory, as we also through him may gain like victory. III. How, THEREFORE, Goo REGARDS THEM. 1. The bow was a trusted weapon. "I will not …
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YI. OUR LORD J~us CHRIST IS THE BUPI\EME EXAMPLE OF THIS, Despised of men. My soul, what is he to thee ?-S. C. Yer. 1.-The responsibaity of heai·ers. "Incline your ears." 'l'his pso.lm is regarded ne the first 11nd great.est of the historicll.!. psalms. It is "an inspired comment on the sacred history, with an avow…
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I. IT AnnEBTS ATTENTION. Just as children are all a.live if we propose to tell them e. story, so the teacher o.nd the preacher at once brighten up their audiences when they give o.n illustration. Our Lord always secured attention because he was illustrative. '£here were no o.bstract statements in his teachings; they we…
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Evidently there was some well-:emembered occasion when Ephraim suffered an ignomini0us defeat in consequence of their apostasy from God. There is e. Hebrew legend which records how, during the Egyptie.n captivity, the tribe of Ephraim, in the pride of their heart, endee.voured to forestall the appointed time of the …
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associati0ns. 3. Hebrews delivered from bondage, and from position of peril at the Red Sea. 4. Local deliverances, as in the times of the Judges, early history of David, reigns of Asa nnd Jehoshaphat. 5. National rescue from captivity. 6. Deliverance from ein, by Christ Jesus. Every case is a marvel of Divine wisdom, p…
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Ver. 37.-The grievous sin of insincerity. "For their heart was not right with him ; " Prayer-book Version, "not whole with him; " Perowne, "not steadfast with him." An accusation is brought against God's people by Hosea to this effect, "Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty." Some are said to have" …
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in unrightronrness." 1. Their sin was sensual indijfcl'ence to the wonders of God's redemption. (Yer. 32.) "They believed not his wondrous works "-in connection with their redcmpt.ion from the miseries of Egypt. The same sin now in reference to the 1rnrk of Christ.. 2. The punishment was trouble 11nd death. (Vcrs. 33, …
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from what le rela,ted of the E1!1Jmitee in Pe. and xxxii. 27). And deliver us, and purge oxxxvii. 7. A 100m and derision to them away our sins; litera.lly, make atonement /01' that are round about ua, It was not ao ou,r inns (Exod. xxx. 15); i.e. "cancel them" much the "reproaches" of their enemies (Cheyne), or "for…
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HOMILETICS, Ver. 9.-" For the glory of thy Name." The mariner throws out hie heaviest anchor 'l\'hen the s_torm rages; if that will. not hold, nothing else can save. So the psalmist puts out this plea. The templ'st of ,1udgment was swl'eping over the land. The future was dark. Israd's unfaithfulness bad forfeited G…
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stumbling-block to Christian readers. But there they are, and we cannot get rid of them. 2. They are very natural. The spirit of resentment and revenge is a definite part of human nature; it may manifest itself in varied forms, more or less barbaric, nccording to the degree of civilization which has been reached, but i…
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world. They are not merely historical incidents. They are not merely isolated calamities. They are linly seen and apprehended aright when they are seen to be Divine permissions, and even tnken up and used for high moral ends by/Diviae power. They are one form in which God's Church is disciplined, and, through d'iscipli…
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"Vers. 6, 7.-Praying against our enemies. The gravest difficulties in treatinO' the Book of Psalms concern the entire psalms, and the passages in the psalms, which seem to be invocations of wrath on personal enemies. This is reasonably felt to be wholly contrary to the spirit of Christianity. It is not, however, usual…
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the Old Te~tRment wbi.:h illustrate this "covering over of sin." The.y are Moees' intercession with God in the matter of the golden calf. The atonement made by Aaron ia connection with the rebellion of Korab, Dathan, and Abiram. And the vindication of Phinehas, when Balaam's bad addce bad brought moral woes on Israe…
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Ver. 18.-Divine relationship, our 'bese plea in J'YT'ayer. "We tby people and sheep of thy pasture.", This verse gives a gleam of hope and confidence at the end of the long cry of anguish. Compare a New Testament cry, "Though we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself." Illustrate by our Lord's dis…
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EXPOSITION. kingdoms, the greater prl.l't nUaohing itself PSALM LXXX. to tile rival power. Stir up thy strength; i.e. " rouse thyself from tb ine inaction- A PSALM in which the writer entrnats Goel come forward, and make thy might to to restore bis favour onoe more t.o Israel, appear." And come and save us; litera…
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Vere, 8-19.-The poet, to excite God's (or, hef' ,hoots, Revised Version) unto the compBeeion, proceeds to depiot Israel ae it river, The Euphrates (see Gen. xv. 18; l Kings iv. 21, 24). wae ond as it is, He adopts the figure of Ver, 12.-Why hast thou tbeu broken o vine, perhe.ps suggested to him by the down her hed…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 3, 7, 18.-..:4. cry of weakness, a prayer of faith. "Turn us , •• we shall be turned." The life of the individual, of the Church, of the nation, depends not on means, methods, forms, institutions. With God is the fountain of life. These words are a cry of weakness, helplessness, humiliation; but a…
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I. Tm~ VARIOUA REFERENOES T(I THEM IN THE SCRIPTURES, 1. In connection with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. (Gen. iii. 24.) This passage tells but little of the nature of I hese exalted beings, only that they were held fit to occupy the place where only perfect righteousness could dwell. But neither their …
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esp<>cially thei>' Goil, Renee our argument for faith. If God be our Gorl then ho will help us. 'fhus "Fait~'s day grows brighter as the hours roll on ; and her prayors gro"· more full and mighty." Prayer warms to its work, and in it. Often we begin with but scant store of trust, but as we pray on our hope and confi…
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Designed for fruit; carefully tended; highly esteemed; thoroughly cleansed; diligently gurmled. 2. Israel had been brought out of Egypt. 3. The nations of Canaan were driven out. 4. Israel became a settled nation. 6. Strong. 6. Populous. " Fi /led the land;" covering the hills and the plains. 7. Dominion increasing, fr…
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Ver. 1.-Throned abomi the cherubim-a conception of Go<l. Prayer-book Version, "Thou that sittest upon the cherubim;" Perowne, "Thou that sittest (throned above) the cherubim;" Revised Version margin, "dwelleet between." It iF. plain that this pAAlm was composed when Israel was groaning under some foreign opprnRsion …
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Apply to the redempUon of the world from sin through our Lord Jesus Christ. What activity, energy, skill, and power were required for the great salvation! II. THE STRENGTH OF GoD'e WISDOM NEEDED FOR BA VINO WORK. The histories of the Old Testament abundantly illustrate the fact, that God's times and ways of saving are…
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your hands are full of blood." And the prophet, for himself, says (!ix. 2), "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins hn.vo hid his face from you, that be will not bear." And a psalmist expresses the true feeling when be writes, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hoar …
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satisfy our feeling that we ought to feel. 3. They honour our departed friends. 4. 'l'hey e.ro silent prayers which God heeds. II. 'l'HE MIBBION OF THE TEARS OF CONCERN FOR OTHERS. Illustrated by our Lord's concern for Jesusa.lem. Observe that tears are not becoming while there is any hope of their yielding to graciou…
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Ver. IB.-Gocl's grace owr best safeg'IJ,<1,rd. "So will not we go back from taee." This assurance implies that the people, in whose name the psalmist speaks, bad fully learned the lesson which God designed to teach them by the withdrawal, which was chastisement, and involved bitter distress and humiliation. They had…
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EXPOSITION. Neh. xii. 27). Here the timbrel (9n) seems PSALM LXXXL to take the place of the cymbal. PnoFESsoa CHEYNE regards this psalm as Ver. 3.-Blow up the trumpet in the new moon. There was e. blowing of trumpets composed of "two distinct lyrica.l pa.sea.gee," at the beginning of every month (Numb. accidentally …
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to Yer. 5. It is rather an introduction to proportioned to our el\ger longing for them. the monody whnewith the psalm (as it lms As Christ could not do hie miracles in one come clown to us) ooncludes-the mournful place because of their unbelief (Mo.rk vi. 5, complaint of God l\gRinst his peopk So 6), so God cnnnot give…
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HOMILETICS. Ver, 13.-God'a lamentation over man's lost opportunities. "Oh that my people," etc. I Among the saddest words ever spoken are those we utter concerning what might have been. Lost opportunities; neglected duties; mischance that was within a hair- breadth of good fortune; misunderstandings that a little cand…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS, Ver. 10.-• Open thy mouth wide;" or, great expectations encouraged, There is no one that we like less than a man who is always begging. Our way is to tell people who a.~k of us, that they are not to come a,,aain, or that we can do but very little for them. And those who ask know how we …
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Christ , .. clennseth from ~u sin;" there is, therefore, absolute warrant for expectiug such cleansing; and we nee:l not think, thouih practically we do, that the blunder of n little lad known to the writer, is really the truth. In repeating the General Con- fossio::i, when he came to tho words, "anrl there is no healt…
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Vers. 1-3.-The consecration ef music. Instrumental music was associated with the Mosaic festivals; but the organization of music for ordinary religious worship is supposed to have been the work of David. The important differences between ideas of music in the ancient East and in the modern West needs to be carefully…
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exclaims, "The language of one I know not, I hear i" and what he hears he proceeds to tell in the following Yerses. God's voice sounded strange to him. I. THE UNKNOWN VOICE OF Gon. Illustrate by the direct speaking of God from SinRi, which ~o alarmed the people. All close commu11ications of God with men, ~d1ethcr b…
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Ver. 9.-fie sole Object of worship. This verse recalls to mind the second recitation of the Decalogue in Deut. v, "In ver. 9 the key-note of the revelation of the Law from Sinai is struck; the fundamental command which opens the Decalogue demanderl. fidelity to Jehovah, and forbade idol-worship as the sin of sins." The…
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Yer. 13.-The sorrow of God. Occasioned by this-he could not do for his people what be would. He would have delivered them from their foes, and fed them with the finest of the wheat. They, by their conduct, compelled him to withhold his hand, and eveu to smite instead of bestow. Compare the sorrow of Christ when looking…
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juslice; do not refuse to hear their cause'' Ver. 6.-I have said 1 Ye are gods; l.e. (comp. 1"11. i. 23; Jcr. v. 28). Do justioe "in my Lnw I hare called you gods "-I to the afflicted and needy. After eons,•nt- hnve given you this lofty name (see Exod. inl(" to hear their cause, be sure thou doest xxi. 6; xxii. 8, 9…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vera. 1-B.-Oorruptio optimi pessima est. We have here a vivid picture of the corruption of men, supposed to be, and who shonld have been, the best in Israel. It. refers to the judges, and tells them bow judges are judged (Acts xxiii. 3). And it may be applied to all misuse of power or abu…
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ier: 1.-The Judge of the;'udges. "He judgeth among the gods "-elohim, a term sometimes used for those high in office (see Ei.:od. xxi. 6; xxii. 8, 28). Called gods as being God's representatives. The psalm may be illustrated by the address of Jehoshaphat to the juages, given in 2 Chron. xix. 6, 7. Our Lord gives the…
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them of the ruin they are bringing on society. St. James reminds us that this "undue pfLrtiality," this "accepting the person," this showing preference for the rich, is not confined to judges. It may be observed even in the relations of the Christian Church (see Jae. ii. 1--4). I. THERE IB NO "ACCEPTING THE PERSON" WI…
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Ver. 6.-0ur changing estimates of men. "I have said, Ye are gods . . . but ye shall die like men." Life, in its progression, involves a process of " disillusioning. n The youth builds " castles in the air," " castles in Spain ; " but advancing life deals with them as the growing sunshine deals with morning mists. We…
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810). More rcoently, ProfCBeor Ohcyne hu wii.h one oon■ent (comp. ver. 8). They are argned strongly in favonr of a Maooaboan confederate agalmt thee ; literally, have entered into a OOt!mant again«t theti. A date, And endCBvoured to identify the con- formal treaty aeenia t.o be intended. federecy with that deBCribe…
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'holds IP. pl!Lce In the greRt confederacy, and of leut account (see Job xiii. 25; From the historic1Ll books h would Rppeer xv. 7; xxi. 18; xii. 29; Isa. xl. 24; xii. 2; tb1Lt this ocourred but once, viz. in D1Lvid'1 Jer. xiii. 24; Mai. iv. 1). gre1Lt WILr with the Ammonitca 1Lnd their Ver. H.-A, the fire burneth a…
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much more when confederate together, as they often are I 3. United. (Ver. 5.) Every- thing at t.imes seems to be in league against the soul, as were Israel's enemies against them, our Lord's enemies against him. 'l'hey come from all quarters (see vere. 6--8); foes from the south and east are first named, then those …
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the secure, the etern&l life. 4. It is God who hides them. (Cf. Ps. xxxi. 20; John x. 28.) He does this by his providential care and by keeping them in his own love. And the majority of them he has hidden from men below in his own blessed presence in heaven. The Church on earth is a little flock indeed, not absolutely,…
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Ver. 2.-Thefoes of the Church are thefoes of God. The psalmist calls the enemies of his nation God's enemies. " Thine enemies make a tumult." But it would not be a matter interesting to us, or one about which we could pray, if they were God's enemies only. The point of importance is that ,they are God's enemies just…
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Ver, 3.-The Lord's hidden ones. "Those whom thou hast set apart and guarded as thine own peculiar possession." Tho~e whom thou hast undertaken in a special manner to protect, "Those whom God holds in the hollow of bis hand; those to whom he is a wall of fire round about them, that none may do them hurt; those to whom h…
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confidence in God's ability to help now, by thinking ltow overwhelming was the destruction of God's enemies on other occasions. Compare our anxiety to know how many ,rnre slain on the field of battle. 'l'he two victories specially recalled are those of Deborah and Barak over the host of Sisera, and of Gideon over th…
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Vera. 1-18.- What God is to his people. The following general truths may be gathered up from this pRalm. !. 'J'HAT SOMETilllEB THE CHURCH OF GoD IS THREATENED BY A COMBINATION OP' MANY DANGEBB. As now-by science, philosophy, historical criticism, the spirit of commerce and the spirit of mammon, and what is called a wo…
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out for the livin 6 God; rRther, rejoicetli'; or God rests on those who net as above de- "sings out R nole of joy" unl-0 the living scribed, nnd causes them <Jver to increase God. So. Hengstenberg, who sRys, "The in righteousness and true holiness. 'l"erb if:, 1s of frequent occurrence in the Ver. 7.-They go from st…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 6.-Living water from hidden ,prings. "Passing ••• 11 well." "The valley of Baca," i.e. of weeping, or lamentation. The image is of a c;,mpany of pilgrims towards the holy city, whose way lies through a desolate, sterile valley. In that "dry and thirsty land" many a traveller has fainted with thirst. …
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escutcbeoo, no barrier against their renewed consecration and acceptance, The senti• rueol of the text is-Delight in GO<£s wo,·ship and service. "A day," etc. Secondly, a single day so spent-in worship, such as every devout Israelite partook, and service, the pri,·ilei!e of a Levite-outweigbs in true joy and solid w…
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'l'he Korahitee were (1 Chron, ix, 17) keepers of the door of the tabernacle, and, in in Moses' time, watchmen at the entrance of the Levites' camp, and afterwards (1 Chron. xxvi, 1-19) were appointed as guardians of the temple doors (see ver.10 of this peo.lm). The writer longs to be a.gain at his loved work in the…
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Ver. 10.-Stmnge preferences. I. THOSE HEBE NAMED, 1. That a day spent in God's courts is better than a th-Ousand anywhere el.se. But such preference makes it certain that not any day in God's courts can be meant; for too many days are spent there which might just as well be spent elsewhere. They bring no good to any…
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Ver. 2.-God the Living One. The precise expression here used is only found besides in Ps. xiii. 2. "In the New Testament the name • living Gfld' is found in St. Matthew's and St. John's Gospels, in the speech of Paul and Barnabas in the Acts (xiv. 14), in several of St. Paul's Epistles, four times in the Epistle to the…
1,211 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.