marrying Moabitish women, This was" the iniquity of his fathers." Then ver. 16, which at first sight seems not to correspond with David's character, finds its warrant in that da.rk page of his history when he slew Uriah, having first taken from him his wife, Natha.n distinctly charged him with having" no pity." What wonder that the foul-mouthed Shimei should exaggerate and enlarge this with the charge which ver. 16 contai □ s? But in the closing section of the psalm how exact the correspondences are with the moral history I The earnest pleading of ver. 21 seems but the echo of the words in the history, "It may be that the Lord will look upon mine affiiction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day" (2 Sam. xvi. 12). Thus, then, from first to la.at the psalm "fits into the folds of th~ narrative of David's flight; the key turns without the slightest strain in the wards of the lock," and the whole of these correspondences go to show that the impious speeches in vers. 6-19 are not those of David against Shimei, but his and others against David. V. BUT, IT WILL BE SAID, ST, PETER DISPROVES ALL THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, And doubtless the common interpretation has been upheld by his words in Acts i. 16. But "the Scripture" (not "this" Scripture, see Revised Version) which "it was needful should b« fulfilled" is not that in Pss. lxix. 25 and cix. 8, but that in P~. xii. 9 (see reference), which is plainly concerning Judas; and the quotations further down in ver. 20 a.re not concerning JudaR, but are aimply applied as apposite to him-just as we constantly quote texts and sentences when they suit any particular case, without any idea that they were designed specially for such case. And even if this be questioned, and it be said, "the quotations do refer to Judas," it does not follow that David actually spoke the words. The psalm was his, and as a whole it is assigned to him-the part which belonged to his enemy, as well as those bitter portions which undoubtedly belonged to him. But we do not believe that they do refer to Judas in any other way than that which we have said; for if so, then the dreadful denunciations upon him must be attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ l But that he who when on the cross prayed for his murderers, " Father, forgive them," etc., should utter such cursings as these, is altogether and horribly unbelievable. VI. .A.ND THE INTERPRETATION IS WELL SUPPORTED. It is that of many Jewish rabbis, of Mendelssohn, of Kennicott, Lowth, etc. (see Mr. Hamrnond's article); and, above all, it must commend itself to t.he heart and conscience of those who love God's Word, and desire that others should love it too. 'l'he view we have combated lays a burden grievous to be borne on those who believe that in the Scriptures "holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." And this burden we have thus tried somewhat to relieve.-S. C.
Ver. 31.-The Helper of the poor. I. THE Poon. Who are these? Not alone those that are poor in this world's good, for such may often be rich in heavenly we_alth. But the poor are those of whom Christ says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit "(Matt. v.). Nor is it those only who are spiritually poor, for many such, like the people of Laodicea, do not think themselves poor, but the reverse. But those of whom we speak know and feel and confess themselves to be poor. They disclaim all merit, goodness, righteousuess, of their own. 'l'beir only hope is in Christ. II. THOSE WIIO CONDEMN THEM. 1. 'l'here is the Law, the strength of sin. 2. Their own indwelling sin and its deeds. 3. '!'heir miserable unbelief. 4. Those wl1om, ere they were saved, they led astray. 5. Those whom, since then, they have failed to pray for and warn as they should. All these have just accusations to bring; but there are 1>thers which are unjust. III. THE LonD WIIO HELPS THEM, "He shall stand at his right hand to save him." AR a friend, close at hand, full of love aud power through hi~ sacrifice and his Spirit.-S. C.
Ver. 4.-0omplaining to God. "I am for prayer." "I find refuge in prayor, com- mitting myself and my cause unto thee." The point of the psalm which seems to bo missed is this-the psalmist, deeply moved in his feeling by the treacherous wrong done to him, nevertheless does not express his feeling to his fellow-men, nor net revengefully toward his enemies, but lets out his heart to God, speaking quite freely to him nil that he thought and felt. It may, indeed, bo said that the p~almist shouhl not have felt 213 TIIE BOOK OF PSALMS. [Pe. en:. 1--31,