The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 17

doms of light and darkness engaged in their PSALM II. internecine conflict. HERE we have again a psalm without o Ver. 1.-Why do the heathen rage t The iitlc, and, so for, we are left to conjecture psalmist writes with a vision before his its o.o-e and author. The Jews, however, eyes. He "sees Jehovah upon his throne, have ':i.1ways regarded it as Davidical; and o.nd Messiah entering upon liis universal there is evidence in Scripture itself (Acts dominion. The enemies of both on earth iv. 25) that the early Christians were of rise up against them with frantie tumult, and vainly strive to cast off the fetters of the same opinion. Modern critics, for the their rule." Hence his sudden outburst. most p:i.rt, agree, although there are some "What ails the heathen (goim)," ho says. (Ewald, PaulllS, Bleek) who o.scribe it to "that they rage?" or "make an uproar" Solomon, and othera (M1rnrer, Delitzsch) (Kay), or" aesemble tumultuously" (margin who suppose it written by Hezekiah or or Authorized Version and Revised.Version)? What are they about? What do they de- Isaiah. sign? And why do the people-rather, tlte The psalm is certainly Messianic. It is peoplea, or "the maseea" (Kay)-imagine asmmed to be so in Acts iv. 25; xiii. 33; (or, meditate) a vain thing t It must be "a. Heb. i. 5; v. 5. Howernr it may, to e. vain thing;" i.e. a purpose which will come c01tain extent, apply to David, David can- to no.uo-ht, if .it is something opposed to tho will of Jehovah and Messiah. The viaion not exhau,t its allusions. Vera. 7, 8, and shows the psalmist Jew and Gentile banded 12 are iuapplicable to David, and must together against the gospel or Christ.. ~Is rc,fcr to tl,e Messiah. The Jews admitted scope is not exhausted by the exposition the Messia.uic character of the psalm, until of Acts iv. 26, but extends to the whole <lrirnn into denial by the controversy with etrugo-le between Christianity on the 0110 0 Jiand, and Judaism and pag;anism en tho Cit ristians. Most modern critics allow it. other. "The peoples " still to this duy There ia 1, certain correspo. 1dency between "imagine a vain thing" -imagine that I's,. i. natl ii., whicli may account for their Christinnity will succumb to the assaults l,cing placed together. In both the m~in made upon it-will fade, die away, aud itlca is the antagonism between the right- <lisappcar. Eeous nud tl,e wicked. Ps. i. sels forth this Ver. 2.-The kings of the earth set them- selves; or, draw tlwmselves up in army n11tugonism by a contrast between two typi- (comp. Jer. xlvi. 4). Such kinga o.s Herod c:i.l individuala. Po. ii. sliowH the two ki119- the Great, Herod Agrippo., Nero, Oalerius, PB. II, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 11