The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 69

Of the various ntoompts to supply the wore retired spots at no grcnt distauco, ellipses, and obt.Aiu a satisfe.otory sense, where brigands or others might lie in the following (thnt of the • Speaker's ambush, ready to seize on such of tho Commeut.ar~· ') is probably the best: '' As villagers ns might show themselves. In for the wicked in the height of his scorn- the secret plaoes doth he murde1· the innooent • God will not require'-' There is no (comp. Job xxiv. 14). The usual object God '-such are nil his thoughts." (Com- would bo, not murder, but robbery. Still, 1,are the Revised Version, which is not there would be ce.ses where it would be very rlifforent.) The general sense is that convenient to remove a man, as Jezebel his pride conducts the wicked man to removed Ne.both: and moreover, in every nbsolute atheism, or at least to practical case of robbery, there is a chnnce thnt the atheism ( comp. vers. 11, 13). victim may resist, o.nd a struggle ensue, iu Ver. 5.-His ways are always grievous; which he may lose his life. Bis eyes are rather, firm; i.e. steadfast and consistent, privily set against the poor; or, his eyes lay uot wavering and uncertain. The thoroughly ambU8h for the helpless (Kay). 'l'he word wicked person who "neither fears God nor transluted ''poor" (n,17~) is only found in this regards man," pursues the course which he place and in ver. 10, where the antithesis has set himself; without deviation, turning of " strong ones " seems to imply that the neither to the right hand nor to the left. weak and helpless are meant. Tliere is nothing to hinder him-no qualm Ver. 9.-He lieth in wait secretly as a of conscience, no distrust of himself, no fear lion in his den; or, he lurks in the covert aa of other men's opposition. Thy judgments a lion in liis lair (Kay)--a very striking ure fa.r above out of his sight. They are image I He lieth in wait ( or, lur"8) to oatch held in reserve: he does not foresee them- the poor: he doth oatch the poor, when he he does not believe in them. As for all his draweth him into his net; rather, lnJ drawing enemies, he puffeth at them. His human him into his net. The mode of capture is adversaries he wholly despises, believing intended. that a breath from his mouth will bring Ver. 10.-Be oroncheth, and humbleth them to nothing. himself; rather, crushed, he sinks down. Ver. 6.-He bath said in his heart, I shall The subjeot is changed, and the poor man's not be moved (comp. Ps. xxx. 6). The condition spoken of. That the poor may fall idea of continuance is instinctive in the by his strong ones; rather, and the helpless human mind. "The thing that bes been, (comp. ver. B)/all by his strong ones. The it is that which shall be" (Eccles. i 9). "strong ones" are the ruffians whom the We expect the iron to rise each day, solely wicked man employs to effect his pnrposes. because in the pest it has always risen Ver. 11.-Bo hath said in his heart, God (see Butler's 'Analogy,' part i. eh. i.). hath forgotten (comp. vers. 4, 13). "The The wicked man, who has e.lways prospered, wish is father to the thought." As Deli tzsch expects to prosper in the future : he has no says, "The true personal God would anticipation of coming change; he supposes disturb his plans, so he denies him. 'There that his "house will continue for ever, and is naught,' he says, • but destiny, and thnt l1is dwelling-place to all generations" (Ps. is blind ; an absolute, and that has no :tliL 11) • he thinks that "to-morrow will eyes ; an idea, nnd tho.t has no grasp.' " be as to-dav, and much more abundant" He hideth his face. He looks away; he (Isa. 1vi. 12). For I shull never be in does not wish to be troubled or disturbed adversity; rather, unto generation and by what occurs on earth. So the Epicureans generation, 1 am he w1'o will be eumpt from in later times. Be will never see it (comp. calamity. The wicked man has no thought Job xxii. 12; Pss. lxxiii. 11: xciv. 7). of dying-he will be prosperous, he thinks, Ver. 12.-Arise, 0 Lord (comp. Ps. ix.19). age after age. At this point the psalmist passes from de- Vt:r. 7.-His mouth is full of cursing. scription to in vocation. From ver. 2 to the (On the prevalence of this evil he.bit among end of ver. 11 he he.a described the oonduct, the powerful in David's t~e, see Pss. li~. the temper, and the very inmost thoughts of 12; cix. I 7, 18; 2 Sam. xvi. 5.) And deoe1t the wicked. Now he addresses himself to and fraud; or, guile and extortion (Kay); God-he summons God to arise to vengeance. comp. Pss. xxxvi, 3; lv .. 11. Under h;ia As Hengstenberg says, "Here the second tongue i.B mischief and vamty; rather, as In part begins-prayer, springing out of the the margin, mischief and iiiiquit!f. 'l'hese lamentation which has preceded: " prayer nre stored "unde1 his tongue," ready for and invocation, beginning here, e.nd termi- utterance whenever ho finds a fit occasion. nating at the close of ver. 15. 0 God, lift Ver. 8.-He sitteth in the lurking-ple.cea up thine hand; i.e. to strike, to take cf the villages. These "lurking-places" vengeance on tho wicked. Forget n_ot t_he must not be supposed to have been imri.de humble· or the afflicted. Do not Jusl1fy the villn.ges, but outside of them. 'l'hoy the hidden' thought of the wioked (ver. PS, X, 1-18.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 67