The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 82

22), is not improbable, though it Mnnot be of view into the past; be 1s once more fenr- regarded as more than a reasonable hypo- less in the midst of foes" (Oheyne). I will thesis. not fear ( comp, Pas, xxiii, 4; xxvii. 1 ; Jvi. 4, etc.). What oan man do unto me 1 Mo.n The first eighteen verses are the song of is powerless against God, "If God be for the procession as it winds its way slowly us [i.e. on our side], who can be age.inst us?" up the hill to the great gate of the temple, (Rom. viii. SI), sung alternately, as it would seem, by the Ver. 7.-The Lord bketh my part with two halves of the procession. Ver, 19 is them that help me ; literaliy, the Ltwd i• the utterance of the leader, in the name of on my side among my helpers (comp. Ps. liv. 4). Therefore shall I see my desire upon the whole band, on their arrival before the them that hate me (comp. Pss. liv. 7; lix. gates. Ver. 20 is the reply made to them by 10). those inside. The procession, as it enters, Ver. 8.-It is better to trust in the Lord sings vers. 21-24 antiphonally ns before, than to put confidenoe in man (comp. Ps. all joining in ver. 25. Those already inside lxii. 8, 9). Israel, on its return from the Captivity, had begun by putting a good deal sing ver, 26 in welcome of their friends. of trnst in its human helpers, as Cyrns and Ver. 27 belongs to the leader of the pro- the otber friendly heathen mentioned in cession, and initiates the actual sacrifice. Ezra i. 4-6; iii. 7. But this help, after Vers. 28, 29 are then sung, either by the a little time, had failed them (Ezra iv. 1- whole congregation or by the two parts of 24), and they had found themselves in great difficulties. the procession. Ver. 9.-It is better to trust in the Lord than to put oonfidence in princes. The Ver. 1,--0 give thanks nnto the Lord; for " princes " after Cyrus bacl proved " broken he is good: beoan.se his meroy enduretb for reeds," and, instead of favouring Israel, had ever (comp. Ps. cvi 1, and the comment favoured Israel's enemies (Ezre. iv, 6-24). ad loc.). At last Darius had done them justice, but Ver. 2.-Let Israel now say, that his it was felt that no sure dependence coulcl be mercy endnreth for ever. (For the triple placed either on him or on his successors. division of the people made in this and the Jehovah alone was Israel's safe ground of next two verses-(!) Israel, (2) honse of confidence. He " would not fail them, nor Aaron, (3) those who fear the Lord-see forsake them" (Josh. i. 5). Ps. cxv. 9-11, and 12, 13.) The nature of Ver. 10.-All nations compassed me about. the division is considered in the comment This is, of course, hyperbole. But it was a on Ps. cxv. 11. a fact that all, or almost all, the nations Ver. 3.-Let the house of Aaron now say, among whom the Israelites dwelt were nt that his mercy end ureth for ever. Let the e.11 times hostile to them, and songbt their priests endorse what the people generally destruction. But in the Name of the Lord have declared, that God's mercy is ever- will I destroy them; or, " I will mow them lasting. down•• (comp. Job xxiv. 24), Ver. 4.-Let them now that fear the Lord Ver. 11.-They oompassed me about; yea, uy, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let they compassed me about ( comp. Ps. lxxxviii. the real Israel, the trne worshippers of 17). The special comp11Bsing about alluded Jehovah, those whe worship him in spirit to is probably that in the time of N ebu- and in trnth, set their seal also to the great cbadnezzar, when not only the Babylonians confession, and solemnly sanction what the but the Syrians, the Mou.bites, the Am- people and the priests have done. monites, and the Edomites took po.rt in Ver. 5.-I oalled upon the Lord in dis- hostilities against Israel (2 Kings xxiv. 2; tress; literally, from the strait place; i.e. Ps. cxxxvii. 7). But in the Name of the from tbe straits in which I was. It is Lord I will destroy them. The threefold generally agreed that the Babylonian cap- repetition of this trenchant phrase (vers. tivity is intended. The nation had called 10, 11, 12) lends it vast additional force. to God in its distress by the mouth of It is no casual utterance, no mere wish, or Daniel (ix. 4-19) and of other holy men. thought begotten of a wish, hut a deep The Lord auwered me, and set me in a and firm conviction. large plaoe; literally, the Lord answered Ver. 12.-They oompassed me about like me on the open plain. The idea iB, "The bees; i.e. in vo.st uumbers, and with intense Lord gave me enlargement "-took me out energy, ancl a furious t.lesire to injure (comp. of my straits-" set my feet in a large room" Deut. i. 44; and the powerful description of (Pe. xxxi. 8). Virgil, 'Georg~' iv. 236-238). They are Ver. 6.-The Lord is on my Bide. "At quenched as tile fire of thorns. Their fury this point the speaker transfers hie point dies away e.nd goes out suddenly, like a fire I'S, C1VJ11. 1-29.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 89