The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 96

commandments have I set before my eyes forgiveness with thee, that thou mayeet be ae rules to be observed constantly. feared"). Ver. 31.-1 have stuck unto thy te■tl• Ver. 39.-Turu away my reproach, whioh moniea; or, "oleaved" (ver. 25); i.e. kept I fear; i.e. "tum away from me the only firm and steadfast to them. The writer reproach of which I am afro.id-the reproach does not mean to assert sinlessness, but only of transgressing against thy Law" (comp. sincerity of intention, and a general en• v~r. 31?, For thy judgments are good. deavour to do right. O Lord, put me not to Right m themselves, and conducive to llhame. Suffer me not to fall from thee in man's happiness, such sort that I am put to an open shame. Ver. 40.-Behold, I have longed after thy Ver. 32.-1 will run the way of thy com- precepts (comp. vers. 20 and 131). There mandments, when thou shalt enlarge my are thoee-few, it may bi', but truly bleeaed heart. The phrase used in the second -who "hunger and thirst after righteous- olauee ie ambiguous. It may mean, "For ness" (Matt. v. 6). Quioken me in thy thou hast enlarged my heart." righteouaneu (comp. ver. 37). Help my efforts to walk in thy righteous ways. n Hm. , VAu. Ver. 33.-Teaoh me, 0 Lord, the way of thy statute■. This is the main prayer of Ver. 41.-Let thy meroies come also unto the psalm-a prayer for spiritual enlighten• me, 0 Lord; rather, and let thy mercies ment. It occurs eight times (vere. 12, 26, oome unto me. Each verse of this etanzo. 33, 64, 68, 108, 124, and 135). And I ahall begins with the 11au conjunctive. Even thy keep it unto the end. Either " to the end of salvation, accordiug to thy Word; or, "thy my life," or (as Dr. Kay thinks) "to the promise" (imrah). God's Word was pleclged, uttermost." tho.t he would grant mercy and salvation to Ver. 34.-Give me underatanding, and I all his faithful eervo.nts (Dent. :n:viii. 1- &hall keep thy Law ; i.e. make me fully to 13). understand thy Law, and then I shall as- Ver. 42.-Bo shall I have wherewith to suredly keep it. If I fail now, it is from answer him that reproacheth me (comp. ver. le.ck of wisdom, not of will. Yea, I shall 22). If God's favour were manifestly shown obaerve it with my whole heart (comp. him, his enemies would be su.fliciently var. 69). answered. For I trust in thy Word. This Ver. 35.-llllke me to go in the path of is what he looks for, since he hae o. full thy commandments. Keep me, i.e., from trust in God's promises to his servants. straying out of the right path, through Ver. 43.-And take not the word of truth ignorance or negligence. For therein do I utterly out of my mouth. " The word of delight (comp. vers. 16, 24, 47, 70, 77, 111, trutl1" here is the "well-grounded answer" 174). that the pee.lmiet looks to muke to those Ver. 36.-lnoline my hoart unto thy tes- who reproe.oh him (H1mgetenberg). (See timonies. '.fhe writer rocognizes that the the preceding verse.) If God does not grnnt right inclination of the heart, which he him "meroy o.nd sulve.tion" (var. -U), thfa olaime to have (vere. 7, 1.0, 32, 34, eto.), is answer will be "to.ken out of hie mouth." itself the gift of God. And not to oovetoua- For I have hoped in thy judgments. I have ness; or," to go.in" (comp. ver. 72). trusted in thy vindication of my char11.cter, Ver. 37.-Turn away mine eyes from be- and in thy judgments upon my foes. holding vanity, Let me not be dietre.oted Ver. 44.-So shall I: keep thy Law con- from thy service by the "vanities" of the tinually for ever and ever. God's mercy world-wee.Ith, honour, power, glory, and will dro.w forth the psalmist's gratitude, and the like; rather, quioken thou me in thy make his obedience perfeot and perpetual. way. Give me increased life, strength, and Ver. 45.-And I will walk at liberty. vigour, to walk continue.Uy in the way of Rekhabah is litero.lly "the open square of a thy commandments. city," hence" 11 wide, open, free space," Iu Ver. 38.-Btablish thy Word nnto thy obeying God's oommnndments the psalmist ■erve.nt; or, "make good thy promise unto will not feel himself under constroint, but o. thy servant "-thf promise of aid and sup- wholly free agent. For I seek. thy precepts. port in all times o temptation l\nd difficulty. loclination, not constraint, makes him oboy Who is devoted to thy tear; ather, which God's precepts-he" seeks" them,•• loves" belongeth unto thy fear. The anteoedent to them (ver. 47), "delights in" them ( vers. 16, the relative ie "word" or "promise," and 24, 47). not " servant;" and the prayer is that God Ver. 46.-I will speak of thy te■timoniea will make good to his servant that promise, alao before kings. If occasion otfor, I will which lies at the root of nll reverence aud bear my witness to the excellence of thy godly fear (comp. Pa. cull'.. 4, "There is Law, even before kings. And will not be 106 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. OXIX. 1-176,