The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 83

kindled among thorna, which blnzea up being now reached, admission to the interior with vast beat and noise, bot io a short is requested. The gates a.re called "the time dies down and disappears. For in the gates of righteousness," (l) as gates which l!l'ame of the Lord I will destroy them (see none but the righteous ought to enter (see the comment on ver. 11). the next verse); and (2) as gates through Ver. 18.-Thou haat thrust sore at me which e.ccess i3 gained to the sanctuary of that I might fall; rather, thou didat thrU8t him who a.lone is truly righteous, and the (Revised Version). 'fhe pealmiat rero.lle source of all righteousness in others. I the pa.et, a.nd throws himself, e.e it were, will go into them, and I will praise the once more into the midst of the struggle. lord. Praise could be girnn to God any- Thou-mine enemy, Babylon-didst make where; but it was most appropriately offered a desperate onaet upon me, fully intend- "in the courts of the Lord's house, even ing my destruction. :But the Lord helped in the midst of thee, 0 Jerusalem" (Pa. me. Frustrated thy purpose-preserved the cxvi. 19). life, the national life, which thou aimedst Ver. 20.-This gate of the Lord, into at destroying, e.nd so did most effectually which the righteous shall enter; rather, "help me." this is the gate of the Lord: the righuo:1.• Ver. 14.-The Lord ia my strength and [and they alone] ,hall enter by it. "Thie my song, and is become my salvation. The verse seems to stand a.part-a solo. chanted deliverance was such that no worda but by o. voice out of the temple gate" (Kay). thoae of the Song of Mosea (Exod. xv. 2) 'fhough sinners doubtless sometimes entered could fitly celebrate it. (2 Kings xL 13; 2 Chron. xxvi. 16-20: Ver. 15.-The voice of rejoioing and sal- John ii. 14), none but the righteous had any vation is in the tabemacles of the righteous right to enter. (comp. Ezra vi. 16, 22). "Taberne.clea/' or Ver. 21.-1 will pre.iee thee; for thou hast "ten ta," ie continually used by the sacred heard me. The chant of the procession a.a writers a.a a synonym for "dwellings." The it enters-a prolongation of the strain begun uae of the expression here by no means in ver. 19. And art beoome my salvation implies that the Israelites of the time were (comp. ver. 14). actually Ii ving in tents. The right hand Ver. 22.-The stone which the builders of the Lord doeth valiantly (corup. Exod. refused ie beoome the hea.d stone of the corner. xv. 6, 12). God'a right hand we.a at the The primary and literal meaning seems to time stretched out to protect and preserve be--" Israel, which the great of the world, Israel. those who think to arrange the world ac- Ver. 16.-The right hand of the Lord is cording to their own ideas, ho.ve rejected exalted (compare the parallel expression and would fa.in he.,e ce.st a.side, ha.a, never- in Exod. xv. 6, "Thy right hand, 0 God, theless, despite their rejection, o.ttnined to is become glorioU/l in power"). When God's eminence, and been ndvanced, by the course right ho.ad effects a deliverance, it gets, as of events, into such a position, tho.t it mo.y it were, additional glory to itself. The be regarded as the head corner-stone- the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. So, most important of a.II the nations of the already, in ver. 16. Repetition is a special world." Any Messianic reference is second- oharacteriatio of this pee.Im (see vere. 1, 2, ary and subordinate. 8, 4: vers. 8, 9: vera. 10-12, eto.). Ver. 23.-This is the Lord's doing; it is Ver. 17.-I she.II not die, but live. The marvellous in our eyes. This fresh eleva- psalmist speaks, not in his own person, but tion of Israel to importance-especially to in the ne.me of his nation. They had been such great importe.uce-oau only be attri- brought very near to extinction ; but now buted to tho work of Divine providence. the danger we.a past. God he.d given thom It is "the Lord's doing"-literally, "from "a reviving" (Ezro. ix. 8, 9); o.nd they felt the Lord "-nnd is one of the most mar- tho.t henceforth they would •· live." And vellous events of history. deole.re the works of the Lord. They would Ver. 24.-This is the day which the Lord employ the new life granted them in "de- he.th made. The thanksgiving dny is one claring God's works" (see Pas. xl. 5, 10: which he.a been fore-ordained of Goel, o.ncl xovi. 3: cxlv. 4-6): i.e. they would witness brought into existence by him for a specie.I to all men of "the might of his marvellous purpose. Wa will therefore carry out God's acts," and "abundantly utter the memory purpose, nnd rejoice and be glad in it. of his great goodness." Ver. 25.-89.Ve now, I beseech thee, 0 Ver. 18.-The Lord he.th ohastened me Lord; or, "we beseech thee." 'fhe inter- ■ore. Dy the long sufferings of the Cap- jectional HJH is e.e euitnble to the severol tivity. :But he hath not given me over unto epeakcrd as to one. 0 Lord, I beseech thae, death (aee the comment on ver. 17). send now prosperity; i.e. continue to so.ve, Ver. 19.-0peu to me the gates of right- continue to send prosperity. Ismel feels eoumess. The great go.te of the temple its constant dependence upon God, u.nd tha& 90 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. trs. CXVIII. 1-29. •---- • - - - -- ----------------- if the Didne <'are wne remitfod for a a[ly, ened our spirits to see and acknowledge bis or for 1m hour, all would be lost. Tears, mercies; or, perhaps, he hns led us, RB he ns Professor Cheyne observes, continually did the people, by a. pillar of fire in the wil- min,:,;le with Israel's laughter. derness; and now we stBnd before the Bltar Ver. 26. -Blessed be he that oometh with our offering-receive it a.t our hands, in the Name of the Lord. Once more ye priests-and bind the saorilloe with cords, a voice issues from the interior of the even unto the horns of the altar. So shall tC'ruple (comp. ver. 20). The priestly choir the net of thanksgiving be complete, 11nd there stationed to receive the procession, the solemn eervioe ended. The fanciful blesses it as coming "in the Name of the exposition of Luther, lately revived by Pro- Lord;" i.e. for a religious purpose, and with fessor Cheyne, will scarcely approve itself pious intentions. We have blessed you, they to cri ties_ generally. ~ay (or, rather perhaps, we bl.ess you) out of Ver, 28.-Thou art my God, and I will the house of the Lord. "The house of the praise thee : thou o.rt my God, I will Lord is the fountain and the treasury of all exalt thee. This is the acknowledgment blessing" (Hengstenberg). made by each and all, and probably repeated Ver. 27.- God is the Lord, whioh hath many times, while the sacrifloe is being con- showed us light. Having received the sumed upon the altar. priestly benediction, the processionists re- Ver. 29.-0 give thanks unto the Lord, sume their strain. They have entered for he is good: for his meroy endureth for within the courts; they are approaching ever. The psalm ends, as it began, with the alt.ar of sacrifice; they have brought the usue.l thanksgiving refrain (comp. I their offering. "Jehovah," they say, "is Chron. xvi. 34; 2 Cbron. v. 13; Ezra iiL 11; God, and bath given ns light" (see the Re- Pss. cvi. 1; cvii. 1; ex viii. 1-4: cxxxvi. vised Version). That is, he has enlight- 1-26).