Vers. 1-8.-Lamentation over the growing corruption of the nation, "'l'he psalmist is appalled by the rottenness of society around him; unscrupulous ambition appears to rule supreme; truth is scorned as folly, and the god of lies is enthroned in the national heart. But God had not left himself without a witness." Prophets and seers had already declared the Di vine word of promise, that the righteous cause should be upheld and vindicated. I. A DARK PICTURE OF DEPRAVED SOCIETY. 1. T11ere were few conspiC'll,O'UB for righteousness. (Ver. 1.) Not that they had entirely ceased, but that they were fewer than they used to be. " Say not that the former times were better than these." Guard against this natural tendency-natural especially to men who are growing old. 2. The prevalence of unscrupulous falsehood. (Ver. 2.) Lies and flattery and deceit, A disregard for truth was widely spread, one of the sins most destructive of social life. This spirit of falsehood infested their most intimal~ relati~ns- 11 every one wit? his neighbour "-and would corrupt at last even the family relations. 3. They worshipped that which won/or them their evil success. (Vers. 3, 4.) Lying and deceit-the evil power of the tongue---prevailing for the time, made them feel that they were their own lords, that there was no higher power above them. I!. THE PSALMIS'r CONSOLES HIMSELF WITII THE DIVINE PROMISE OF PROTE0TION, (Ver. 5.) 1. That promise inspires hirn to pray for its fulfilment. (Vers.1-3.) All true prayer base~ itself on the Divine promise. "If we ask according to his will, we know that God heareth us." 2. The Divine promise is pure from the alloy that corrupts the words of men. (Ver. 6.) It has no admixture of flattery and deceit as the words of men have. " God cannot lie." 3. That promise guarantees them protection, even when wiclr,edness walks in high places. (Vers. 7, 8.) Wickedness is most alluring when in high places; l>u_t if God helps us to see that it is wi?lrnd,~ess, and keeps .our cou~cience~ clear and active, we are effectually protected from 1t. Ihe defence against wickedness must be a Divine work within us as well as without us.-S. PS, XIII, 1-G.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 81
EXPOSITION.
PSALM XIIL David will not allow himself to be "for- gotten;" he will recall himself to God's THIii writer-e.ge.in, o.ccording to the title, remembrance. "Consider-hear me," he D1i.vi.d-is reduced e.lmost to utter despair. says, " 0 Lord my God; " still "my God," He he.a undergone lengthened persecution- although thou hast forgotten me, and there- the Divine countene.nce has been turned fore bound to "hear me." Lighten mine eyes. Not so mncli "enlighten me spiri- o.we.y from him (ver. 1); it seems to him tually," as ''cheer me up; put bright- that God has altogether forgotten him; he ne.Js into my eyes; revive me" (comp. Ezrn is in extreme perplexity and distress (vor. 2), ix. 8, " Grace hath been showed from the o.nd raises the cry-so often raised by sufferers Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to (Job xix. 2; Pss. vi. 3; xxxv. 7; Ixxix. 5; escape . . . that our God may lighten our eyes, e.nd give us a little reviving"). Lest I xciv. 3, 4; Hab. i 2; Rev. vi. 10)-"How sleep the sleep of death; literally, lest I long?" This cry he repeats fonr times sleep death. Death is compared to e. (vers. 1, 2). He does not, however, quite sleep by Job (xiv. 12), Jeremiah (Ji. 39 despair. In ver. 3 he passes from protest to 57), Daniel (xii. 2), and here Ly David; prayer; o.nd in vers. 5, 6 he proceeds from in the Old Teste.ment; and by our Lord (John xi. 11-13) and St. Paul in the prayer to praise, having ( apparently) through New (1 Cor. xi. 30; xv. 51; 1 Thess. iv. 14, his prayer received an internal assurance of 15). Tho external resemblance of e. corpso God's help. '.!'he tone suits the time when to a sleeping person was the root of the he was "hunted in the mountains" by Saul melill.phor, and we shell do wrong to conclude (1 Sam. xxvi. 20). from its employment anything with respect to the psalmist's views concerning the real Ver. 1.-How long wilt thou forget me, nature of death. 0 Lord 1 for ever 1 God cannot forget, but Ver. 4.-Lest mine enemy say, I have man often feels as if he were forgotten of prevailed against him. The triumph of him (comp. Pas. xiii. 9; xliv. 2-1; Lam. v. David's enemy over him, whether he were 20). David 5eems to have feared that God Saul or any one else, even the ideal wicked had forgotten him "for ever." How long man, would be the triumph of evil over wilt thou hide thy face from me 1 (comp. good, of those who had cast God behind Ps. xxx. 7; Isa. i. 15; Ezek. xxxi.x. 29). their baok over those who faithfully served The "light of God's countenance" shining him, of irreligion over piety. He could there- on us is the greo.test blessing that we know fore appeal to God-not in his own personal (see Pss. iv. 6; xxxi. 18; xliv. 4; 1.xvii. 1; interest, but in the interest of truth and lxxx. 3, 7, etc.). When it is withdrawn, right, and the general good of me.nkind-to o.nd he "hides his face," wo naluro.lly sink prevent his enemy's triumph. And those into despair. that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. Ver. 2.-How long shall I take counsel Thero would be a general rejoicing on the in my soul 1 or, How long shall I arrange part of all his foes, if his arch-enemy suc- plans? (Kay). Tossing on a seo. of doubt ceeded in seriously injuring him. o.ud perplexity, David forms plan after plan, Ver. 5.-:Bnt I have trusted (or, I lru~t) but to no purpose. He seeks to find a way in thy mercy. I know, i.e., thnt thou wilt of escape from his difficulties, but cannot dis- not suffer me to be overcome by my enemy. cover one. Having sorrow in my heart Thou wilt savo me; and therefore my heart daily; or, all the day. It is, perhaps, implied shall rejoice in thy salvation, whereof I that the plans o.re formed and thought over entertain no doubt. o.t night. How long shall mine enemy be Ver. 6.-1 will sing unto the Lord. I will exalted over me 1 A special enemy is oxohe.nge my cry of despair, " How long?" once more glanced at. The allusion seems (vers. 1, 2), forajoyfulsong of thanksgiving; to bo to Saul (comp. Pss. vii. 2, 5, 11-16 • because already I am cheered, I am revived viii. 2; ix. 6, 16; x. 2-11, 15; xi. 5). ' -he (i.e. tho Lord) bath dealt bountifully Ver. 8.-Consider and hear me, 0 Lord with me. And this mental revival is o.n my God (comp. Pss. v. 1; ix. 13; cxli. 1, etc.). assurance of deli veranoo to come.
HOMILETICS. Vers. l, 6.-Despair turned to thankfulness. "How long," etc.? "I will sin"," etc. The last vorse of this tender o.nd be11utiful little pso.lm contl\ins tho reply to tho first, fll4t.\l:II. • & 82 TIIE BOOK OF PSALMS. [1'S. XIII. 1-6,