tect, strengthen, and sust&in him. For the Ver. 15.-He made a pit, and digged it, righteous God trieth the hearts and reius aud is fallen into the ditoh which he made (comp. Jer. xi. 20; xvii.10; xx.12). "The (comp. Psa. ix. 15, 16; xxxv. 8; )vii. 6; heart, es the sent of the understanding and Prov. xxvi. 27; xxviii. 10, eto,). There are the will, the reins of natural impulses and several i\lustm!ions of this Jaw of God's affections " (' Speaker's Oommentary '). providence in Scl"ipture, the most striking Ver. 10.-My defenoe is of Go:i; literally, being that of Haman. Its existence as a m~ shuld is on God; i.e. "rests on him" law was noticed by some of the clo.ssical (Ltay)-is upheld by him. Which saveth writers, as Ovid, who says- the upright in heart (comp. Ps. cxxv. 4). Yer. 11.-God judgeth ths righteous; " N ec lez j ustior ul!a est, rather, God is a 1-ighteous Judge. So Rosen- Quam neois artifices arte perire sue.." miillcr, Bishop Horsley, Dr. Kay, the Ver. 16.-His misohief shall return upon ' Speaker's Commentary,' and the Revised his own head, and his violent dee.ling upon Y ersion. And God is angry with the wicked his own pate. Some critics see in this a evary day. There is no need of inserting continuation of the metaphor, nnd suppose the words, "with the wicked," since, of that, while the sinner is in the pit, tho heo.p course, it is with the wicked that God is which his owu hands have thrown out falls a~gry. W~at the psal~ist means to ~ssert in upon him 11nd crushes him. But it is csp~cially 1s . that Gods anger . con~mues perhaps better to underataud the words in a against the wicked as long as their wicked- more general way. ness continues. Ver. 17.-I will praise the Lord aooording Ver. 12.-lf he turn not, he (i.e. God) to his righteousness. Another abrupt tran- will whet his sword (comp. Deut. xxx.ii. sition-a song of thankfulness to Jehovah 41; Isa. xxvii. l; xxxiv. 5). "Every new for giving the deliverance which the psalm- trans"ression," says Bishop Horne, " sets a ist foresees, and considers as good es 11ccom- fresh ~d,,.e to God's sword." He he.th bent plished. And will sing praise to the Ne.me his bow,"and m&de it ready; rather, T,e hath of the Lord most high (comp. Pa. viii. I, bent his bow, and fixe_d it; Le. held it in the 9, "How exoellent is t/iy Nama in all the position for taking 1um. earth I"). God is identified with his Na.we Ver. 13.-He bath prepared for him the very commonly in Scripture, or, perhaps we instr-aments of death. These are probably should say, the Name of God is used as a not the sword and the bow, but the "arrows" periphrasis for God himself. Whero God of the next clause. They are prepare,! "for puts his specie.I prese~ce, he is se.i~ to "p_ut J..iim," i.e. for the wicked man. He ordaineth his Ne.me" (Deut. xu. 5, 21 ; 1 Kmgs xiv. his arrows age.inst the parsecutors; rather, 21; 2 Chron. xii. 13). His Na.me is "holy he malcetl, his arrows to be fiery ones. and reverend" (Ps. cxi. 19); "incense is Hengstenberg notes that "in sieges it was offered unto it" (Mal. i. 11); it is "m11gni- customary to wrap in.lle.mmable matter fied for ever" ( J Chron. xvii. 24); for it round arrows, o.nd to shoot them after it had the temple is built (1 Kings viii. 44); Leen kindled" (compare the "fiery darts" through it the godly "tread down their of St. Paul, Eph. vi. 16). enemies" (Ps. xliv. 5); the "desire of men's Ver. 14.-Behold, he travaileth with ini- souls is to it" (Iso.. xxvi. 8). (See o.lso Pa~. quity, and he.th conceived miBohief, and xcii. I ; xcvi. 8; xcix. 3; ciii. 1; cv. l; brought forth falsehood (comp. Job xv. cxiii. 1; cxv. l; ex.ix. 55; cxlv. I, 2, 2lt 35; Isa. liL 4). The" falBehood" intended cxlviii. 13; cxlix. 9.) is probably tho bringing of Cal.Be charges against David (see vers. 3-5).
HOMILETICS. Ver. 11.-God's righteous displeasure against sin is ~n a~i~ing_rea?ity._ "God is a ri<>hteous Judge," etc. (Revised Version). Confidence m J?ivm~ Justice 1s one ~f tho a:epe,t roots of religion. On this faith Abrah~m. b~ed h1S daring_ but humble mter- cession for the cities (Gen. xviii. 25). To this JU~t!ce the psalmist, deeply wronged aud falsely accused, makes impassioned appeal. 'lh1e. (and many other passages o_f) Scripture is grievously misjudged if read as the outpourmg of persona~ reven_ge. David is perfectly willing to suffer, if he deserves it (vcrs. _4, 6): The enemies aga~nst wh~m (here and elsewhere) he appeals are not merely his _p1:1va_to [,oes:, but ~od s enemies puLlic rebels against law and truth, "workers of IIlHJUl~Y· ~~d is an_gry • • • evc,ry day." Q.d.: God's righteous displeasure against si"! i~ an abiding realitp- . J. CoNscrENCE PROVES THIS. Co~_science is _t~o echo w1t~rn the ~oul of God~. vo11ce, ., accusing or else excusing" (Rom. 11. 15), praising or blammg, snymg always, T.1ou PB, VU, 1-17.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 45