The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 101

best, attention is distracted, and energies refrain (comp. vers. 11, 26, 33, 64, GB, 108, w,•akencd. 135). Ver. ll6.-Uphold me according nnto thy Ver. 125.-I am thy servant; give me Word, that I may live; or, "nccording to understanding, that I may know thy testi- thy promise.." God's sustaining grace, monies. As thy serv1mt (see vcrs. I 7, 23, always needed to "uphold" the righkous, 38, 49, 65, eto.), I havo a claim upon thee is graciously "promiserl." them. Their for thy hP]p. What I ask is discernm,·nt- "life" depends upon God's faithfulness to to understand the full meaning of thy Law his promise. .And let me not be ashamed (comp. vers. 34, 66, 73, 144). of my hopa. As he would be, if God's Ver. 126.-lt is timo for thee, Lord, to promise were not kept. work; or, " to act;" i.e. to lay aside Ver. 117.-Hold thou me np, and I shall quiescence, and come forward as the active be safe; i.e. from falling away. And I will ltuler of the universe. For they have have respect nnto thy commandments con- made void thy Law. The wicked have tinndly (con,p. ver. 112). cast thy Law behind their back, and, so far Yer. 118.-Tho!l hast trodden down all as lay in their power, "made it void"- them that err from thy statutes; rather, repealed it, cancelled it, thou despisest all them that go astray fron. Ver.127.-Therefore I love thy oommand- thy statutes. Thou m,,kest light of tllem. ments. BecaUBe the wicked "make void" The LXX. have, ,{uuolvo,a-as. For their thy commandments aud cast them aside, deceit is falsehood. " Their subtle policy "therefore·" I all tho more "love" them. is but a lie" (Kay). It rests on lies, and Above gold; yea, above fine gold ( comp. ends in disappointment. ver. 72.). Ver. 119.-Thoa. puttest away all the Ver. 128.-Therefore I esteem all thy wicked of the earth like dross. The wicked precepts concerning all things to be right. are ultimately separated from the righteous, I do not pick and choose among thy com- and cast away •· as dross,'' since they can man<lmenta which I will neglect and which serve no g-ood end (comp. Matt. xiii. 30, I will obey, but esteem them all as perfect, 49, 50). Therefore I love thy testimonies. and obey them all. "Eclecticism of every Not because the wicked suffer, but because kind in reference to the Word of God is they are prevented from injuring the rejected" (Hengstenberg). And I h9.te righteous. every false way (comp. vers.104, 168). All Ver. 120.-My flesh trembleth for fear ot ways a.re "false" except the way of God's thee (comp. Isa. vi. 5; Jcr. xxiii. 9; Hab. commandments iii. 16). And I am afraid of thy judgments. Thy "judgrucnts" upon the wicked cause El P111. me to shudder with fear. Ver. 129.-Thy testimonies are wonder- ful; literally, wonders; i.e. prodigies of moral excellence. Th81'aCore doth my soul i1 Am. keep them. I obey thy Law, not only Ver. 121.-I have done judgment and because it is thy Law, but still more justice (comp. vers. 30, 31, 55, 56, etc.). because it is intrinsically "holy, just, and Leavo me not to mine oppreBBors; rather, good" (Rom. vii. 12). t/wu wiU 1Wt leave me to mine oppres6ors. Ver. 130.-The entrance of thy words The nexus of the thought seelllB to be, giveth light; rather, the openi·ng(oropening "As I have not oppressed any, so wilt up) of thy words. Their full exposition and thou not suffer me to be crushed by interpretll.tion (comp. vers. 98-100, 104, oppression." 105, etc.). It gi vath understanding to the Ver. 122.-Be surety for thy servant for aimple (comp. Ps. xix. 7; Prov. i. 4). g~od (comp. Job xviL 3; Isa. xxxviii. 14). Ver. 131.-I opened my mouth, and panted "For good" means "so that it may be well (comp. Ps. xxxviii. 10). The idea int(,nded with him." Let not the proud oppress me to be expressed is that of earnest and eager (comp. vers. 51, 69, 78, 85, etc.). desire. For I longed for thy oommand.mente Ver. I 23.-Mine eyes fail for thy salva- (see vers. 20, 40). tion; i.e. through looking for it, and vainly Ver. 132.-Look thou upon me; rather, expeciing it (comp. vers. 81, 82). And for turn thee unto me, but in the sense of" tum tha word of thy righteousness ; i.e. and round and look upon mo." And be merciful through looking for the fulfilment of thy unto me (comp. vers. 41, 58, 76, 77, eto.). righleoUB promises. As thou usest to do unto those that love thy Ver. 124.-Deal with thy servant acoord- Name ; 1itcrall y, as Ihy rule is with those that iDg unto thy mercy (comp. vers. 41, 77), love thy Name. And t~ach me thy statutes. Tliis phrase Ver. 133.-Order my stops in thy Word; occurs BO oft.eu that it becomes a sort of perhaps ra.tbor, establish my ateps by thy PB, CXIX. 1-176,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 111