The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 47

Ver. 2.-Leat he tear my ooul like a lion Compo.re the imprecations of Job upon him. (oomp. Ps. v. 6, where there is a similnr obrnpt self (Job xxxi. 8, 10, 22, 40). tronsilion from the plural to the singular Ver. 6.-A.rise, 0 lord, in thina anger. number), On both occosions David fears To call on God to " arise" is to Mk llim to one special enemy-then probably Ahitho- take action, to lay aside the ncutrn.1 attitude phol, now Soul. 'fhe simile or the lion is in which he most commonly shows himself ono frequent in the Psolms (see Pss. x. 9; to man, and to interfere openly in the con- xvii. 12; xxii. 13, 21; xxxv.17; liv, 4, etc.). cerns of earth. To call 011 him to " arise in Bending it in pieoes. As the lion docs a his anger" is to entreat him to vindicalo sheep. While there is none to deliver. No our cause against those opposed to us, and human helper, at once willing and able to to visit them with some open manifestation give deliverance. of his dLspleasure (comp. Pss. iii. 7; ix. Ver. 3.-0 Lord my God, it I have dona 19; x. 12; xvii. 13; xliv. 26; hviii. 1). this; i.e. "this which is laid to my charge." lift up thyself. This is even a stronger The general charge ago.inst David in Saul's expression than "o.rise" (Isa. x:u:iii. 10). lifetime was that he "aought the king's It is o. coll on God to appear in his full lmrt" (1 So.m. xxiv. 9). Afterwards he strength. Because of tho rage of min9 wns occnscd of being " a bloody man " enemies; or, (J,flainat /he rage of mine enemies (2 Sam. xvi. 8)-the deoth of Iahboshelh, (Kay, Revfaed Ver.,ion). Forco must bo ond perhaps of others, being regorded as his met by force. David justifies bis oppenl for work. If there be illiquity in my hands, o.id by alleging the violence and fury of If, i.e., I ha\'0 committed any criminal act, those whoso nttacks he has to me~t. And if any definite offence can be chnrgcd against awake for me to the jul!gment that thou me. Humnn weaknes~ ond imperfection hast oommanrlad. The two clause-a are not David does not mean to deny, but, like Job, connected in the origino.l, which mns, he maintains in n certain qualified sense his "Awake for me: thou hast comruand2d rig} teon.ness. judgmcnt.'' Tbo meaning seems to be, Ver. 4.-If I have rewarded evil unto "Arouse thyself on my behalf-jurlgmcnt fa him that was at peace with me. This is n thing which thou hast ordaineJ-surcly probably the true meaning. David denies now is tho time for it." that he bas wantonly attacked oncl injured Ver. 7.-So shall the congregation of the nny ono with whom ho was on friendly and people compass thoe about. Then, if thou peaceable terms. No doubt he was accused wilt show thyself in juJgment, tbo congre- of having estranged Saul by plotting to take gation of the peoples-not, apparenlly, Israel the crown from him. (Yea, I have delivered only-will crowd around thee, in ocknow- him that without causa is mine enemy.) ledgment of thy mnjesty, and recognize in '1.'his tronsle.tion, which is roto.ined by our thee the righteous Judge of oil the earth. Revisers, has tho support also of Ewnld, For their sakes therefore return thou on high; Hupfcld, Mr. Aglen, and tho • Speaker's rnther, and abou it ( or, abooe them ; i.e. Cooomonto.ry.' If occeptcd, it must be con- obove the congregation of the peoples) re- si,lcrcd o.s n reference to 1 Sum. xxiv. 7, or tiirn tho11 on high. After coming down to else to 1 Sam. xxvi. 9, or both, and us n cnrlh, and executing judgwent, then go sort of purcnlhclio protest, "Nay, not only ho.ck to thy throne in heaven. hnvo I not injured 11 friend, but I have gone Ver. 8.-The Lord shall judge the peopb. so for ns to let my enemy escnpe me." A Hitherto judgmcnt ho.s been praycJ for, ,lill'crcnt meaning is, however, given to lho now it is nnnounced, •• Tho Lor,! ehall possnge by mo.ny critics, as Rosenmilllcr, judge"-shnll decide between D,1vid o.nd Hcngstonberg, Bishop Horsley, Cheyne, etc., his enemies-shall judge them in his nngcr, who regard the sense o.s running on without o.nd at the snwe timo judge D,wid, i.e. nny parenthesis, nud tr11nslote, •• If I have vindicato his cnuse, David has no ,h-siro oppressed him who without cnnse is mine to escape this jndgment. J'udge me, ho enemy.'' Dovid, o.ccording to this view, snys, 0 Lord, aooording to my rightoonsncsJ. denies that he hos either injured n friend or Judge me, i.e., and, if thou findest me right- requited evil to o foe. eous, acquit wo nnd vindicate me. And Ver. 5.-Let the enemy persecute my according to mi.ns integrity thnt id in me; soul, o.nd take it. "If I ho.vo been guilty litera1ly, which id 011 me (comp. Job xxix. of any of these a.et~, than lc:t my enemy not 24, "I put on i-ighteousncdd, and it olothcJ only persecute my soul, ns ho is doing (vers. mo ; my judgooent was as a robe nnd 11 1, 2), but take it-mo.ko it his prey-obto.in diodcm"). ,111 I power over it." Yea, let him tread down Ver. 9.-0h let the wioked.nees of the my life upon the earth ; i.e. "utterly destroy wioked oome to an end. It is not the r<'- mo ond bl'ing me to ruin.'' And not only movo.l of the wicked, but tho rc111ov11l or so, but also lay mine hon6ur in the dust; i.e. their wickedness, thnt D,wid desires (comp. "bring me down to the grave with she.me," Ps. x. 15). But establish the just; i.e. 1iro-  THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [i>s. vu.1-17.