The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 22

See the next clanse. And like oil into his Ver. 25.-I became (rather, am beoo,ne) bones. The oil, wherewith it was 11sual to also a reproach unto them; i.e. to my enemies. anoint the frame, was believed to penetrate, I am l\n object of their reproach and scorn. not only inoo the tissues, but into the very When they looked upon me they shaked bones and marrow. their heads. In derision (comp. Pee. xxii. Ver. 19.-Let it be nnto him as the 7; xliv. 14; Matt. xxvii. 39). garment which covereth him. Let it cling Ver. 26.-Help me, 0 Lord my God. to him both outwardly and inwardly- Connect with ver. 21. 0 save me aocording inwardly, as the penetrating oil; outwardly, to thy mercy; i.e. "l\s thou art wont to e.s the everyday dress. And for a girdle show mercy, show mercy now to me." wherewith he is girded continually. The Ver. 27.-That they may know that thia "girdle" or "waistcloth" was even more is thy hand (comp. Ps. lix. 13). "Deliver inseparable from the wearer than his beged, me," prays the psalmist, "in some signal his "cloak" or "wrap." way, so that my enemies may be forced to Ver. 20.-Let this be the reward of mine recognize thy hand in my deliverance, and adversaries from the Lord; rather, this is to confess that thou, Lord, hast done it." the reward, or the wages. Th is is what their Ver. 28.-Let them ourse, but bless thou; conduct bas earned, and what they have i.e. "Let them curse, if they will. What received, or assuredly -will receive. And of matters it ? Provided only that thou them that speak evil age.inst my sonl (see blessest." When they arise. When they above, ver. 2). attempt to put their m"levolent designs in Vers. 21-29.-The psalmist now turns act. Let them be ashamed; or, "they shall be ashamed" (Revised Version); i.e. they t.e God in prolonged prayer, setting forth shall fail so utterly, that they shall be his needs (vers. 22-25), and entreating for covered with shame. But let thy servant help (,er. 26), deliverance (,er. 21), blessing rejoice j rather, but thy servant shall rejoice. (ver. 28), and triumph over his enemies "Thy servant" is the psalmist himself (comp. Ps. lxix. 17). He will rejoice at (ver. 29), their failure, which secures his safety. Ver. 21.-Bnt do thon for me; or, "deal Ver. 29.-Let mine adversaries be clothed thon with me " ( see the Revised Version). with shame; rather, my adversaries shall be O God the Lord; literally, Jeho'Dah tlte Lord, clothed with shame. " The prayer is now, e.s in Pss. lxviii. 20 ; cxl 7; cxli. 8; Hab. iii. in conclusion, changed into a confident 19. For thy Name's sake; i.~. suitably to thy expectation" (Dean Johnson). And let Name-according to thy historically mani- them (rather, and shall) cover themselvea 1e..«ted attributes. Because thy mercy is with their own confusion, as with a mantle good, deliver thou me. A variant echo of (comp. ver. 18). Instead of the "cursing" the preceding- clanse (comp. Ps. hdx. 16). with which the wicked delighted to clothe Ver. 22.-For I am poor and J:!.eedy (comp. themselves, they shall be forced to wear ver. 16). David was "poor and needy" a covering of shame and confusion of face. both when bunted npon the mountains by Saul, and when forced to flee from Absalom. Vera. 30, 31.-The psalm terminates with And my heart is wounded within me. a short burst of pr11.ise, the writer feeling The wonnd to David's heart was, on the assured that his prayer is granted, and tho.i former occasion, from the malignity of Saul; on tbe latter, especially rrom the desertion of he will shortly triumph over his enemies. his "own familiar friend whom he trusted." Ver. 23.-I am gone like the shadow when Ver. 30.-I will greatly praise the Lord it declineth; rather, lilce a Blwdom (comp. with my mouth. The expression "greatly Ps. ciL 11 ). Wben shadows "decline," they praise" does not occur elsewhero in the nre just about to cease and disappear. I Psalms. It is indicative of an unusually am tossed np and down as the locust; or, slrong feeling of thankfulness. Yea, I will "I am carried away"-swept off, i.e., or praise him among the multitude j i.e. in the juot ready to be swept off, from the ~:ice of congregation. tl,e earti.J (see Exod. L 19; Joel 11. 20; Ver. 31.-For he shall stand at the right Nah. iii. 17). hand of the poor. God will always come to Ver. 24.-My knees are weak through the assistance of the poor and needy, when fasting. I have bron;.;ht myself down to unrighteous men oppress them, and will extreme weakness by penitential fasting for grve .them help and deliverance. To save my sins (comp. Pss. xxxv. 13: lxix. 10). him from those that oondemn his soul. The ~d my flesh faileth of fatness; literally, of salvntion is not always from tbe death of oil. In my state of mourning and penitence I the body, or there could h11ve been no Lave abstained from anointing myself (2 Sam. martyrs; but in all oases it is o. deliveranoe :s.iv. 2), wl,ich bes still further weakened me. of the soul. rs. 01:1:. 1-31.) 'l'HE DOOK OF PSALMS. 23