The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 98

are opposed to the entire tenor of' Scripture. 1 YoD. Teach me thy ate.totes (comp, urs. 12, ~6, 33, 68, 108, 124, 135). Ver. 73.-Thy hands have ma.de me and fashioned me (comp. Pss. c. 3; cxxxviii. 8; cxxllix. 14). The "fundamental pRssa.ge" t:) TETH. is Dent. xxxii. 6; but the present psalmist seems to follow Job x. 8. Give me under- Ver. 65.-Thou hast dealt well with thy standing, that I may learn thy command- servant, 0 Lord. Notwithst11nding all that ments. If thou hast done so much for me, he bas suffered from the" persecution" of wilt thou not do more? Without "under- princes (ver. 161) and the "contempt" (ver. sta.nding" this body that thou hast given 22) and "derision " of the wicked genemlly me is nolhing wortli (comp. ver. 3!). (ver. 51), the psalmist feels that God's deal- Ver. 74.-They that f.lar thee will be glad ings with hirn have, on the whole, been when they see me; literally, will see me and good and gracious. According unto thy Word. be glad. I she.II be a. fresh proof to them .As thou hast promised in thy Word to deal that God does not forsake hie servants. with thy servants (comp. vers, 41, 58, 170). Because I have hoped in thy Word. I have Ver. 66.-Tea.ch me good jndgment and not fallen from grace-I have contir,ued to knowledge j i.e. give me sound jndgment trust in thy promises. and ;wisdom, to discern riglit from wrong. Ver. 75.-1 know, 0 Lord, that thy j11dg- For I have believed thy ccmma.ndmenta. I ments a.re right j literally, are rightwwme311 have looked to them, and trusted in them -have in them nothing that is not just and as my guides in the way of righteousness good. And that in faithfulness thou ha.et (comp. ver. 105). afflicted me, The Prayer-book Version Ver. 67.-Before I we.a afflicted I went brings out the full sense of the words, astray. "Sweet a.re the uses of adversity." "And that thou in very faithfulnen hast 'l'he psalmist feels and confesses that the caused me to be troubled" (comp. vem 67, afflictions, which he bas suffered (see com- 68, 71, with the comment furnished by Heb. ment on ver. 65), h11ve been good for him. xii. 5-ll). They have made him less npt to" go astray" Ver. 76.-Let, I pray thee, thy meroifnl than he was (oomp. ver. 71). But now have kindness be for my oomfort (comp. ver. 41 I kept thy Word (comp. vers. 51, 56, 87, etc.). and Ps. xc. 15). After affliction men feels Ver. 68.-Thou art good, and doest good. the need of" comfort," and longs for some Even chastening is a. proof of thy goodness. ma.nifestntion of the Divine "kindness." By it thou "doest good" to thy servants Aooording to thy Word unto thy servant, (see Heb. xii. 10, ll). Tea.eh mo thy statutes, According to the general tenor of thy pro- Impress thy Lo.w upon me, eveu though it mises. be by chastening. Ver. 77.-Let thy tender mercies como Ver. 69.-The proud have forged a lie unto me, that I ma.y live. The ps,llmi~t•s age.inst me; literally, patched up a lie aftlictione have brought him neur to the against me (oomp. vers. 22, 23, 42, 78, eto.). gates of deo.th. God must visit him with Dut I will keep thy preoepts with my whole his "tender mer-Oies" for Lim ouce more to heart (comp. vere. 2, 10, 3'1, eto.). "Tile "live." For thy Law is my delight. Hie conneotiou of the clauses is-that nll the renewed life will bo an exercising of himself craft and ma.lice of bi, enemies should only in God's Lo.w, since tba.t Law is bis "de- leo.d him to obey God with a. more undivided light" (comp. vers. 16, 24, 47, Ill, 17-l). bee.rt than ever" (Professor Alexa.ndor), Ver. 78.-Let the proud be a.shamed; i.e. Ver. 70.-Their heart is a.s fa.t a.s grease; put them to aha.me (comp. Pee. xxxv. 4, 26; i.e. dnll, gross, insensible to spiriluRl tliings xl. 14; lxx. 2; lxxxiii. 17, otc.). For they (see Ps. xvi i. 10; loa.. vi. l 0). But I delight dealt perversely with me without a. oa.nse j in thy Law. My heo.rt is unliko tlieirs. rather, for wit/1 lie• t/,ey subo,1"1 me ( comp. Thy Law is a. "cleli~ht" to it (comp. vers. ver. 6\:1). Dut I will meditate in thy pre- 16, H, 35, eto.). cepts. Repeo.tcd from v,·r. 15. Ver. 71.-lt is good for me that I have Ver. 79.-Let those tha.t fear thee turn been afflicted (see the comment on ver. 67). unto me; or, "return to rno;" i.e. reoover That I might lea.ru thy statutss. The whole their confidence in me, when they see that nation "learnt God's stntutes" by the I Rm not forsaken of thee (see vers. 76, 77). affliction of the Bo.bylonish Co.ptivity. In- but a.w the recipient of thy" tender mercies." di vidua.ls "learnt" them C'4 ua.lly by thoir And those that have known thy testimonies; specie.I cho.etisemente. or, according to another reading, "and let Ver. 72.-The Law of th:, mouth is better them know thy testimonies;" i.e. "let them unto me than thousands of gold and silver; learn from my experience to know thy pre- i.e. I value it more than o.ny a.mount of cepts better." earthly riches. Ver. 80.-Let my heart be sound in thy  108 TIIE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. CXIX, 1-176.