The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 58

EXPOSITION. devoid of all sense and intelligence. Tbe PSALM CXV. satire is somewhat roughly worked out A LlTUnGIOAL psalm, in which a divided (vers. 5-7), but idolatry provokes rough choir, together with a leader-a priest or speaking; and the tone here adopted is precentor-take eepe.re.te pa.rte. The occa- imitated in Ps. cxxxv. 15-18, and echoed sion is one of danger (ver. 2), but, e.t the in Isa. xliv. 9-20. The inspired writers ea.me time, of confident hope and trust ('rera. seem to have felt, that, when idolatry came 3, 9-15). A portion of the choir begin under consideration, the criticism should with an appeal to God for help against the be brief and trenchant. heathen, whose vain worship of idols they Ver. 4.-Their idols are silver and gold. cover with scorn (vers. 1-8), The leader At the best-often mere wood and stone then exhorts to trnst in God in the first (Deut. iv. 28); but the idoh of the Baby- clause of three consecutive verses (¥ere. 9, lonians were mostly of the more precious 10, 11), half the choir responding in the materials (Herod., i. 183; Dan. iii. 1 ; Ep. Jerem., i. 4, 11, etc.). The work of men's second clause. The whole choir raises a hands (Pa. cxxxv. 15; Isa. xliv. 12-17). joyful strain in vers. 12, 13, the leader re- To a.void thi~ reproach, some imo.gea were sponding in vere. 14-16, and the choir said to have fallen down from bee.van (Acta and congregation together concluding the xix. 35). whole with a final burst of praise in vere. Vers. 5-7.-They have months, but they 17, 18. apee.k not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses Metrically, the psalm falls into four have they, but they smell not: they have stanzas or strophes - the first of three hands, but they handle not : feet have they, verses (vers. 1-3), and the other three of but they walk not : neither spee.k they five verses ea.eh (vers. 4-8; 9-13; and through their throat. Possessing a sem- 14---18). blance uf every organ of human sense, they are wholly unable to perform any of the Ver.1,-Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, functions. That men should worship them, but unto thy Name give glory. God is or bolievo ill their power to help, is un utter prayed to help Isrnel, but not for their absurdity. sakes, not to cover them with glory-rather Ver. 8.-They that make them are like for his own sake, that glory may rest on unto them. Equally vain, futile, and power- his Name, and himself, among the nations. less (comp. Isa. xliv. 9; Jer. ii. 5). So is l!'or thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. every one that trueteth in them. To" trust" In order to be true to his q ue.litiee of merci- in an idol is an almost inconceivable folly. fulness and truthfulness. Yet tbere is abundant proof that the heathen Vor. 2.- Wherefore should the heathen actuo.lly did so trust (see Herod., v. 80; viii. say, Where is now their God 1 (comp. Pse. 64, 83). xiii. 3, 10 ; lxxix. 10). If Israel is un- Vera. 9-11,-The idols and the idol-wor- helped, the heathen will triumph, and ask shippers havillg been sufficiently scorned, scornfully what has become of Israel's God? Is he unable, or is he unwilling, to deliver tho lo.tter especially, for their " trust" in them? idols, Israel is exhorted to trust ill the only Ver. 3.-But-rather, and-as though he sure Object of oonfl.denoe, Juhovah. Throo would say, "and all the while, as the several times the leader of tho choir gives heathen scorn and question "--our God is in forth the call-" Trust in the Lord "-and the heavens; in his place, where he al we.ye three several times the ohoir responds with is, watchillg over us. He hath done what- soever he he.th pleased. He has the will to the aoknowledgmont that he, aud he alone, help us, 11nd he has the power to do what- "is their Help o.nd Shield." The exhorta- soever he pleases. tion aeoms to bo arldrcssecl, first, to the luy Vera. 4-8.-The soorn of the heathen is people generally (vor. 9); then to the cleri- retaliated. They scoff at the God of br11cl. cal order (vcr. 10); finally, to all, whether What, then, a.re their own gods? Silver and laity or clergy, who are true IsrneliteH at gold indeed (var. 4), but tho work of human he11rt (comp. vera. 12, 13). hands. Fnehioned iuto a human shape, as Ver. 9.-0 Israel, trust thou in the Lord. if they were sentient beings-but absolutely Follow not the OJ!lmole of th11 hP.i:1U1cr 62 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. oxv. 1-18.