The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 24

EXPOSITION. thousand men, chiefly, no doubt, Absnlom'e PSALM III. partisans, fell in the battle (2 Sam. x viii 7). Many are they that rise up against me ; Turs psalm is entitled, "a Psalm of David i.e. "thnt rebel against me, and rise up in when he fled from Absalom bis son;" nrme to make wnr upon me" (comp. Pss. literally, "in bis filght from Absalom bis xviii. 48; xliv. 5; lix. I, etc.). son." The historical correclneee of the Ver. 2.-Ma.ny there be which say of my title bas been questioned (Hitzig, De soul, There is no help for him in God. When Wette), but without nny sufficient reason. Absalom first raised the standard of revolt, there were no doubt many who looked to The Da.vidioal composition is almost uni- see some signal Divine interposition on ,·crsally allowed. If it be asked at what behalf of the anointed king and against time during the flight the psalm may be the rebel; but when David fled, nnd with supposed to have been written, the best so few followers (2 Snm. xv. 18), nod in hie answer would seem to be tbu.t of Paulus, flight spoke so doubtfully of his prospects (2 Sam. xv. 26), nnd when no help seemed "on the eve of the battle which is described to arise from any quarter, then we oan well iu 2 Sam. xviiL 1-8." understand that men's opinions changed, The composition is made up of three Rnd they came to think thnt David was ports-a strophe, an antistrophe, and au God-forsaken, nnd wou\,I succumb to his epode, ench termino.ted by the word selah. unnaturnl foe (comp. Ps. lxxi. 10, 11). Partisans of Absn\om would see in Dnvid's Some critics, however, make out four parts, expulsion from his capitol o. Divine Nemesis by dividing the epode. But the absence of (2 Sam. xvi. 8), and regnrd it as quite the word eelah at the close of ver. 7 is n11tural that God should not help him. against this. Selah. There is no traditional explo.nation of this word. The LXX. rendered it by Ver. 1.-Lord, how are they increased that Bul.,j,"11.µ.a, which is said to mcon "a change trouble me! rnthcr, Lord, how numerous are of the musical tono ; " but it is agBinst they that trouble me! We are told, in the this cxplnnation tlmt selah occurs some- Book of Samuel, that "the conepiro.cy was times, ns here, at the and of a psBlm, where strong, for the F,ople increased oontinually no chBnge WIIB possible. Other explanations with Absalom' (2 Sam. xv. 12), and o.go.in, rest wholly on coujecture, and nre valueless. " Abealom, o.nd all the people, the men of Ver. 3.-But thou, 0 Lord, nrt a shield for Israel, oame to Jerusalem, and Ahithophcl me; or, about me (see tbe Revised Version). with him" (2 Sam. llvi. 15). Ahithophel (For the sentiment, comp. Gen. xv. 1; Deut. proposed to attock David with twelve xniii. 29; 2 Sam. xxii. 3; Pss. xxviiL 7; thousand men only (2 Sam. xvii. I), but the uxiii. 20; lxuiv. 9, etc.) The expression uctunl number which went against him has peculiar force in Dnvid's 1nouth, who, 01uet bo.ve been fnr larger, for QOIDll twent1 ns I\ "m1111 of wnr," fully appreciated tlut • 0 l'l!.\LI\IS,  18 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. m. 1-8. --------------------------------·--- Baving power of a shield. My glory (comp. (Kay)-a military term (comp. lsl\. Ps. !xii. 7). And the lifter up of mine head. xxii. 7). As God had raised up Dnvid to the throne Ver. 7.-Arise, 0 Lord (comp. Numb. x. (2 Sam. ii. 4; v. 3), and prospered him in 35 : Pss. vii. 6; ix. 10; x. 12; xvi i. rn ; his w1t1-s (2 Sam. viii. 1-14), e.nd exitlted lxviii. 1). This call is geucrally made when him aboye nil the other kings of the period, God's forbearance towards his enemies is so he was well able now, if he so willed, to thought to have been excessive, and his restore him to his place and re-establish tolerance of sinners too great. Se.ve me, 0 him in the monarchy (comp. 2 Sam. xv. 25; my God. D,\vid was in imminent danger, Ps. xliii. 3). " All Israel " had come against him (2 Sam. Yer. 4.-I cried unto the Lord with my xvi. 15), He was short of supplies (2 Sam. voice; rather, I cry u'llto tlw Lord with my xvii. 29). He was doubtfol how God was dis• .,oice ; i.e. enrnestly and constantly ( comp. posed towards him (2 Sam.xv. 25, 26). It was Pss. lxnii. 1 ; cxlii. 1). And he heard (rather, a time when, unless God would so.ve, there hea,·s) me out of his holy hill; or, "the hill could be no hope. Hence the intense earnest- of his holiness" (comp. Ps. ii. 6). Though ness of his prayer. For thou hast smitten Dn,·id is in exile at llfahana.im (2 Sam. all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone. Here- x,ii. 24), bis thoughts revert to Jerusalem, tofore, i.e., thou hast al ways taken my part- to the holy hill of Zion, e.nd the nrk of thou hast smitten mine enemies, and given God, which he has there" set in its place" me victory over them, and by breaking their (2 Sam. vi. 17); and be knows that God, jaw-bones thou hast taken away from them who "dwelleth between the cherubim" all power to hurt (see Ps. !viii. 6). The (1 Sam. iv. 4), will hear him, though so far reference is, of course, to David's long Ecries off. Sele.h (see the comment on ver. 2). of victories, as those over the Philistines Ver. 5.-I laid me down and slept; (2 Sam. ·v. 17-25; viii. 1), over l\Ioo.b (2 literally, as for me, I laid me down, etc. A Sam. viii. 2), over Hadadezer, King of contrast seems intended between the king Zobe.h (2 Sam. viii. 3, 4), over the Syrinns and some of his companions. "I, for my of Damascus (2 Sam. viii. 6), over the part," he says, "confident in God, calmly Edomites (2 Sam. viii. 13, 14), over the laid me down and slept; I did not allow Ammonites (2 Sam. L 7-14), and over the the danger which I was in to interfere with "Syrians beyond the river" (2 Se.m. x. 16- my repose at night." Others, probably, 19). Thou hast broken the teeth of the were less trnstful I a.waked. When ungodly (comp. Job iv. 10; Ps. !viii. 6). morning came, i.e., I awoke, as usual, from The ungodly, enemies alike of David aud qniet and refreshing slumbers. For the of God, are represented as wild beasts Lord sustained me; rather, sU1Jtaineth me. whose weapons a.re their jaws e.nd teeth. Now and always I am sustained by the Let God break these, and they a.re harmless. Almighty. Ver. 8.-Ss.lvation belongeth unto tho Ver. 6.-I will not be afraid of ten Lord; or, salvation is the LOTd' s (Ke.y). "To thousands of people. (On the vast multitude him alone it belongs to save or 1.o destroy. of people that h:i.d collected to attack the Therefore is my prayer addressed to him, fugitive king, see the comment on ver. 1.) and him only" (see ver. 7). Thy blessing David, however, did not fear them. Like is upon thy people; rather, let thy blessing Asa (2 Chron. xiv. II) and Judas Maccabeus be upon thy people. " Whotever becomes of (1 Me.cc. iii. 18), be knew that there was no me," i.e., "let thy people be blest" (Kay). real might in "the multitude of an host" David is not deterred, by the revolt of almost (Ps. x.niii. IG). God could save equally the whole people against him, from com- with many or with few, and against many mending them to God, entreating God's or against few (comp. 2 Kings vi. 15-17). blessing upon them, and desiring their wel- That have set themselves age.inst me round fare. He echoes .Moses (Exod. xxxii. 31 1 about; or, rn'llged themselves agaimt me 32); he anticipates Christ (Luko xxiii. 34).