The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 10

Ver. 2.-The Lord's people a,·e a ,·edeeined people. "The ransomed of Jehovah" (Perowne). This has been well called "the psalm of life." While its figures are partly ~uggested by the history of Israel, it is a meditative rather than historical psalm. "It presents to us, first, a magnificent series of pictures of various crises of human life--of the distress which throws men at such times on God in prayer, and of his gracious answer of deliverance; and next, a more thoughtful contemplation of God'B government of the world by blessing and chastisement, by exaltation of the meek and humiliation of the proud." It is evidently composed by one of the returned exiles, and represents the pious feeling of a man who is rejoicing in some new and wonderful redemption of God. In the light of the new experience he reads his own life, and the story of hie race, and ho can see that God has always been, in every sphere, the Redeemer, Deliverer, aad Ransomer. God has a fourfold claim to be called the "Redeemer" of his people. I. GoD's CLAIM ON THE GROUND OF THE GREAT REDEMPTION, That was the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian bondage. Of it Israel was ever kept in mind l>y the Passover rite; by Divine revelations ; by appeals of psalmist and prophet. It was a great redemption in view of (1) the distress from which it delivered; (2) the wisdom and power displayed in it; (3) the issues to which it led. Israel was bound to regard itself as a redeemed people, bound in allegiance to Hs Redeemer, who is to be served by thankful, loving obedience. II. GoD's CLADI ON THE GROUND OF THE MANY REDEMPTIONS, 1. These appear to view in the wilderness-journey, when again and again God delivered the people from their circnmstances, their enemies, and themselves. 2. 'l'hey appear to view in the period of the Judges, when God graciously responded to penitence and prayer, and raised up national deliverers. 3. They appear to view in the period of the prophets, when God held back again and again his threatened judgments. The true reading of each individual life shows the same ever-delivering, rescuing, redeeming God. III. GoD'S CLAIM ON THE GROUND OF BIS LATEST REDEMPTION. That, to the p,almist, was the rescue from the BabyJ.onish captivity. .A wonderful restoration con- sidered as to (I) its time, (2) unexpected manner, (3) important issues, (4) fulfilment of promises. The feature of it that most pleased the psalmist was the gathering of the scattered Israelites, and the uniting of representatives from all the tribes to form the new nation. IV. GoD's CLAIM ON THE GilOUND OF ms SPIRITUAL REDEMPTION, That which was wrought by the agency of the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul-redemption, of which all other redemptions could be only the foreshadowing and illustration. Jesus reveals God the Redeemer.-R. T. Vers. 8, 9.-.A fourfold view of God's relations. This point is illustrated from the first thirty-two verses of tbe psalm, the verses taken as text being the refrain closing the first section. Summing up God's relations with his people, Delitzsch suggestively says : 1. God gave them the lands of the heathen (see Ps. cv. 44). 2. God scattered them in the lands (see Ps. cvi. 27). 3. Gud gathers them from the lands (~ee Ps. cvii. 3). The thirty-two verses, or rather those from ver. 4 to ver. 32, contam four mental pictures: (1) of pilgrims in a barren land of thirst and distress_; (2) of cap_tives lanuuisbing 0 in a captivity, which is the punishment of sin; (3) of foolish men smitten by God's hand with sickness, even unto death; (4) of sailors in extremity of danger on the sea. God is seen in his general relations to all, and in his special relations to each. I. GoD THE REFREBHEB; or, the pilgrim's Provider and Guide. Two sources for hie fi"'ures are before the mind of tLe psalmist. 1. The old wilderness-journey of the I;raelites. 2. 'l'he recent desert-journey of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Doth presented peculiarities of difficulty, trial, and nee~. In bot~ God had _most graciously overcome difficulties, e.nd secured all needed supplies. In neither had_ his people wa.nted any good thing. This will readily be illustrated by details of these Journeys, PB, OVII, 1-48.] 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 11