The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 20

EXPOSITION, the month of the deoeitful; litero.lly, of PSALM CIX. deceit-the nbstract for the oonorete. Are l'nE title of this pso.lm-" To the cl1ief opened against me ; litero.lly, have they musician, a psalm of David "-is thought to opened t1pon me (Kny, Cheyne, Revised Ver- s10n ). They have spoken against me with a le not inappropria~. We may have here lying tongue (comp. Pas. xxvii. 12: xxxv. David's own appeal to God against his per- 11). Calumny and misrepresentation are secutors, and especially against a chief per- ever the portion of thb children of God. secutor, who may be Saul, or Doeg, or D,ivid was calumniated by Saul (1 Sam. Ahithophel, or Shimei. The psalm opens xxii. 7-13), by Absalom (2 Sam. xv. 3, 4), with mingled complaint and prayer. The by Shimei (2 Sam. xvi. 8), an<l others. One more perfect than David was e<en more adversaries are spoken of in the plural (vers. calumniated (Matt. xi. 19; xii. 24; xxvi. 2-5). They have abused and maligned the 61 ; Luke xxiii. 2, etc.). writer, have returned evil for the good that Ver. 3.-They oompassed me about also he has sought to do them, and given him with words of hatred. The hatred of the wicked for the good is a plain fact of his- hatred for his love (ver. 5). Tile psalmist, tory, nnd quite indisputable. " Words of in return, utters against them, or rather hatred" are less patent, since they are often against his chief persecutor, a series of male- restrained from prudential considerations. dictions (.ers. 6-15) which constitu~ a But sometimes free vent is given to them (see standing difficulty to all biblical apologists. 2 Sam. xvi. 5-8). And fought against me without a cause (comp. Pas. xxxv. 7, 19 • They are cer~.e.inly entirely alien to the lxix. 4; cxix. 161). Saul's hatred toward.i Christian, though not perhaps to the Jewish David was markedly of this character-un- spirit (oomp. 2 Kings i. 10-12; Luke ix. provoked by either act or word from its 54-56). It is impossible t,o read or re- object. Learse them without pain. The attempt Ver. 4.-For my love they are my adver- saries. The tenderness Rnd kindness of the made to explain them as the utterances of good towards wicked men does not soften David'sadversa.ries(Kennicott,Mendelssohn, them. Rather it provokes the1n to greater Westcott) is unsatisfactory. We mnst ad- hostility. This was seen clearly in the mit tliu.t they are the psalmist's own 1 ana- instance of Saul Bat I give myself unto themas, andjndge them from this standpoint prayer; literally, but T prayer; i.e. "but I am wholly prayer," "I do nothing during (see the comment on vers. 6-15). They their attacks on me but pray for them." are followed by an analysis of the evil tem- Ver. 5.-And they have rewarded me evil per in the adversaries which has led them for good, and hatred for my love; or, "tliiu into their evil courses (vers. 15-20). The they rewarded me." The verse is a corollary psalmist then turns to God in prayer, en- from what has gone before, not anything additional. treating his !Jelp, and setting forth his own necessities (vers. 21-29). Finally, he winds Vere. 6-15.-The impreco.tory porlion of up with a short burst of praise, since he is the psalm now begins. It is no doubt true confident that his prayer is heard, and that t,o say, with Tholuck, that "no passion is he will be delivered from his persecutors discerniblo in the imprecations, dreadful as (vers. 30, 31). they are." Clearly the writer is not moved Vera. 1-5.-The initial prayer and com- by personal feelings of hostility, but by a plaint. The prayer occupfos one verse only spirit of justice, and an intense abhorrence Yer. 1); the complaint four verses (vers. of sin. He delivers a calm judicial sentence. Still, the spirit of Christian love must ever 2-5). shrink from such utterances, which belong Ver. 1.-Rold not thy peaoe, 0 God of my to an earlier and less perfect dispensation praise ( comp. Pas. :uviii 1: xxxv. 22; (comp. Luke ix. 51-56). xxxix. 12). If God makes no sign when men are grievously persecuted, he seems to be Ver. 6.-Set thou a wicked man over him; indifferent t,o their sufferings. Surely he i.e. to judge him (see ver. 7). A persecutor will not thus treat one who praises him con- deserves t,o be himself persecuted, an op- tinually (Pas. xxii. 26; l:ui. 6). presssor to be himself oppressed. "Neo Ver. 2.-J'9r the moutb. of tb.e \fick~d a11,d, ,ex jnstior 'II.Un est, Qua.Ill 11ecjs a1titloe.1t rll. on:. 1-31.) TilE BOOK OF PSALMS 21