The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 297

EXPOSITION. ~ite m8 kindly, 11B in the margin. And let PSALM CXLI. him reprove me; it shall be an excellent ALMOST wholly a psalm of supplication, oil, which sball not break my head • rather David is age.in in danger, and needs e. which mv head shall not re/us~. 'fh~ psalmist will prefer the reproof of the prompt deliverance (ver. 1). This time the ri~hteous to the dainty allurements of the danger seems to be that he may foll a.way, wicked. He will regard their words as e.n and be absorbed into the company of the oil of welcome, snch as was poured upon the wicked. He therefore prays : 1. That b~ad of favoured gnests (Luke vii. 36), and prayer may be with him a settled institu- his head will not re/U3e it. For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities; tion (ver. 2). 2. That he may bo saved rather, their 'lllickednesses. This healina oil from sins of the tongue (ver. 3). 3. That w_ill stre~gthen him to continue to pray for he may be saved from sins of thought or his enemies, eveu though they still continue act (ver. 4). 4. That he may be given in their "wickednesscs." grace to welcome reproof (ver. 5). The Ver. 6.-When their judges are overthrown in sto~y plaoes, they shall hear my words. circumstances of the time are then shortly Calamity opens the heart to receive instruc- touched. There has been a severe judg- tion. The "judges "-i.e. the leaders- ment 011 the rulers of the people (ver. among David's enemies a.re visited with e. 6), and a great national calamity (ver. 7), grievous calamity, expressed mete.phori- with the result that the people are touohed cal~y bf their being dashed upon rocks. This disposes them to listen to David's in their hearts, while David's co11fidcnce in words, which are well worth listenin"'0 to God is in no way diminished. Thi8 is fol- since they are sweet. ' lowed by a renewal of prayer: (1) for his Ver. 7.-0ur bones are soattered at the own deliverance ( ver. 9) ; and (2) for a grave's mouth. The calamity is not con- further pnnishme11t of the wicked (ver. 10). fined to the "judges." The bones of the people generally lie scattered at hell's mouth Ver. 1.-Lord, I ary unto the3; make -unburied, i.e., but ready to go down to he.ate nnto me. The need is pressing and Hades. As when one cutteth and clee.veth urgent. God is therefore entreated to wood upon the earth; rather a.a when one "hasten" ( comp. Pas. xxii. 19; xxxi. 2; cleaves a11d lrreakll up the eo.rtk. "Tlle boues :u;1,viii. 22; xl. 17, etc.). Give ear unto my of God's servants were strewn as thickly voice, when I ory unto thee (comp. Ps. cii. 2). over the grou11d as stones over B newly Ver. 2.-Let my prayer be set forth (or, ploughed piece of soil, so that tho Holy "established ") before thee BB inoeDBe; i.e. Lo.nd looked os if it hod becowe o.u ante- with the regularity of the incense, and with chamber of Ha.des" (Kay). its acceptableness. And the lifting up of Ver. 8.-But mine eyes are unto thee, O my hands as the evening saorifloe, 'fhe God the Lord. I, however, the psalwist says hands wore "lifted up" in prayer, which do uot despair-I look to thee, 0 Jehovnh was reckoned a sort of sacrifice (Hos.xiv. 2), the Lord (comp. Pa. xl. 7)-in thee is my Ver. S.-Set e. watch, 0 Lord, before my trust; leave not my soul destitute. The month; keep the door of my lips (oomp. la~t c~ause is, literally, pour not out my Ps. xxxix. 1). David's was a hasty, im- B?ul; 1.e. destroy me no~o not spill my petuous temper, whioh required sharp con- life ou the ground ( comp. Isa.. !iii. 12). trol. He strove to "keep his own mouth Ver. 9.-Keep me from the snare ■ which with a briclle "-to" be dumb with silence, they have bid for mo, and the gins of the and bold his peace "-but this we.a not workers of iniquity (comp. Pa. xl. 4, 5). always possible for him of his own unassisted Ver. 10.-Let the wioked fall into their etrength. He therefore makes his prayer own nets (comp. Pee. vii. 15: xxxv. 8; lvii. 6; _Prov, v. 22). The mornl sense is always to God for the Divine help. satisfied when the wicked man fa.lie into his Ver. 4.-Incline not my heart to any evil own trap, or is " hoist with his ow11 pet,ird." thing; i.e. let not my heart be inclined to Even a heathen poet could say-- any form of evil. To praotise wioked works (rather, wicked practices) with men that " N ec !ex justior ulla est, work iniquity ; and let me not eat of their Quam necis artifices arte perire sua." dainties. Let me not be drawn in to their life of sinful luxury. Whilst that I withal eaoape; literally, until Ver. 5.-Let the righteous ■mite me; it that 1 pasa over; i.e. whilst I pass over the Rh all be a kindneBB; rather, let tha rightooU8 nets, or traps, in safety. 334 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, CXLI, 1-10,