The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 103

-------- --------------------------- Ver. 152.-Concerning thy teetimoni<!s, I value of its several parts, the psalmist have known of old that thou hast founded found that the final sum wa.s 'truth' -pure, them for ever; rather, from thy f&timonies. absolute truth" (Kay). And every one of The study of God's commandments has thy righteous judgmeuta endureth for ever. long ago convinced the psalmist that they An emphatic repetition of the statement are no passing or temporary enactments, but rue.de in ver. 144. etern,ll laws, decreed and laid down for ever. The "testimonies" spoken of are, of ~ SIIIN, course, the moral precepts of the Law, not its economical or political enactments, Ver. 161.-Pri.uces have pereeouted me without a cause. The "princes" may be "'I RESH. either foreign or native; but from ver. 23 it would rather appear that ne.tivo princes Ver, 153.-Consider mine affliction (see are intended, But my heart standeth i.u above, vers. 50, 67, 71, 75, 92, etc.). And awe of thy Word. Yet I do not fee.r them, deliver me. The "ufiliction" intended is or heed what they say. Of nothiog do I that which the psalmist snff'ers at the hands stand in awe, except" thy Word." of his enemies, who "reproach" him (ver. Ver. 162.-1 rejoice at thy Word, as oue 22), "deride" him (ver. 51), and otherwise that 11.ndeth great spoil, We must not ••persecute" him (ver. 161). For I do not limit this to the promises conto.ined in forget thy Law (comp. vers. 16, 83, 93, 109, God's Law. The p!!almist views the pre- 141, 176). cepts of the Law as a real treasure (vere. Ver. 154.-Plead my cause (comp. Pss. 14, 72, 127), since they make him wise unto x.x.xv. 1; xliii. 1; Micah vii. 9). God salvation. "pleads the cause" of his servants when Ver. 163.-I hate and abhor lying; or, he takes up their quarrel, and avenges "falsehood." False systems of religion e.re them upon their enemies. And deliver me; in the psalmist's thoughts; or, at any re.te, or, "rescue me" (Cheyne). Quicken me false more.I teaching. He is not speaking according to thy Word (comp. ver. 25). of the he.bit of lying. But thy Law do I Ver. 155.-Salvation is far from the love (see the comment on ver. 159). wioked: for they seek not thy statutes. Ver. 164.-Seven times a day do I praise " Sa.h-a.tion" is only attainable by man thee; i.e. repeo.te<lly, an in<lefinite number through obedience to the commandments of of times (comp. Pss. xii. 6; Ixxix. 11 ; Prov, God. If men will not even "seek" to know xxiv. 16). Because of thy righteous judg- and do his commandments, they put "sal- menta (comp. vers, 137, 160). vation" from them. Ver. 165.-Great peace have they whioh Ver. 156.-Great are thy tender mercies, love thy Law (comp. Prov. iii. 1, 2; Isa. 0 Lord; rather, many (comp. Ps. xxv. 6, and xxxii. 17; Jas. iii. 18). There is always note the antithesis between this verse and disquietude where there is sin. A sense of the next, "Many are thy mercies:" "Many perfect pee.ce and rest belongs to those who are my persecutors"). Quicken me accord- love o.nd keep God's Law. And nothing ing to thy judgments (comp. ver. 149). shall o1fend them; rCLther, and they shall Ver. 157.-Me.ny are my persecutors and have no stumbling-block. Nothing she.11 mine enemies. Hitherto this had been cause them to stumble, much less to foll implied (vers. 22, 23, 51, 61, etc.) rather away from grace. than expressed. Now the thought of Ps. Ver. 166.-Lord, I have hoped for thy xxv. 18 comes over the writer, "Consider salvation ( comp. vers. 81, 123), I have mine enemies, for they are many." Yet waited for thee, continue.Uy expecting thee do I not decline from thy testimonies. to come to my aid, and save me from my Repeated from ver. 51. enemies. And done thy oommandme11t1; Ver. 158.-1 beheld the transgre11or1, kept them, i.e., ae far as human frailty and was grieved ; literally, the treacherous would allow. dealers - those who dealt treacherously Ver. 167.-llfy soul hath kept thy teati- against the Divine covenant. Becaue they monies. In will and intention I ho.ve kept not thy Word (comp. ver. 136). always been fo.ithful unto thee; I he.ve Ver. 159.-Couider how I love thy striven to keep all thy commandmeate, precepts (comp. vers. 97, 113,119,127, 163). And I love them exceedingly (comp. vere. Quicken me, 0 Lord, according to thy loving- 97, 127, 159, etc.). kindne11. Slightly varied from ver. 149. Ver. 168.-1 have kept thy preoepte and Ver. 160.--Thy Word is true from the thy testimonies (comp. vere. 166,167). The begio..ni.ng; rather, the sum of U,y Word i, assertion is made more broadly than a. truth. (So Hengsteaberg, Kay, Cheyne, Christian would me.ke it. But there is no and the Revised Version.) "After examin- intention to ciBim absolute perfection (see ing the Divine Word, and estimating the verd. 67, 71, 116, ll7, 133, 176, etc.). F11r PB. OXIX, 1-1'76.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 113 ---------------------------- ------ all my ways are before thee. Knowing mandment1 are righteousnees. And there- that nothing which I do, or say, or think fore are ..-orthy objects of praise. is hidden from thee, I have striven to Ver. 173.-Let thine he.ud help me; keep thy Law in thought and word and literally, be to help me; i.e. be ever ready to deed. help me. J'or I have chosen thy precepts. I have ce.st e.side all other helpers, and have M TAU, pinned my faith on thee and thy Word. Ver.174.-1 have longed for thy salvation, Ver. 169.-Let my cry come near before 0 Lord (comp. vers. 81, 166). And thy Law thee, 0 Lord. The "cry" is probably for ~ my delight (see vers.16, 35, 47, 70, 77,111). deliverance from his enemies (see ver. 166); Ver. 175.-Let my soul live, and it shall but this, he feels, depends upon his own praise thee; i.e. "quicken me; give me faithfulness. Hence the prayer in the true life in my soul and spirit-my real second clause, Give me understanding e.o- nelf-and then my praise shall be ever of cording to thy Word (comp. ver. 144). thee." And let thy judgments help me. Ver. 170.-Let my supplication oome Let the course of thy providence be such as before thee. A repetilion of the "cry" in to help me to praise thee. the preceding verse, which is distinctly Ver. 176.-1 have goue astray like e. lost shown by the next clause to be a cry for sheep ( comp. ver. 67). Some see in this deliverance-Deliver me acoording to thy verse nothing bnt e. refereuce to tho ou l• Word; or, "according to thy promise " ward circumstances of the psalmist's life. ( imrathlca), God had " promised " to But this is certainly not the idea generally deliver all those who in the day of trouble attached in Scripture to the image of the should call upon him (Pes. 1. 15; xci. 15). "lost sheep" (see Isa. liii. 6; Jer. l. 6; Ver. 171.-My lips shall utter praise, Luke xv. 4-7; 1 Pet. ii. 25). Dean when thou he.et taught me thy statutes; Johnson's exposition is probably correct, rnther, let my lips pour forth praise, for thou "I have we.ndere,I far from thee e.nrl from teachest me thy statutes. . Tbo psalmist feels home, as e. sheep lost and ready to perish that his prayer for enlightenment (ver, in the wildemess." Beek thy servant. 169b) is answered. or just about to be "Seek him, lest he be not able of himself to answered, and that therefore it behoves him seek thee; and bring him again to thy fold." to gush forth with praise like a fountain J'or I do not forget thy commandments. In (comp. ver. 7). my worst wanderings I have not fallen Ver. 172.-My tongue shall speak of thy away wholly from thee. Thy Law has been Word; or, "let my tongue respond to thy ever in my thoughts. I have not "for• promise "-return praise, i.11., for the fulfil• gotten" it, but meditated on it and. longed ment of thy promise. J'or all thy com- for it ( vers. 15, 20, 40).