The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 105

was pursued after by the wicked king iu tho life "-here oolled "the works of Adam"- wilderness of Maon (l Sam. xxiii. 2G). (So i.e. of tho naturnl man. By the word of thJ liitzig, llloll, and tho • Sponkcr'e Com- lips I hne kept mo from the paths of the mentary.') destroyer. By attending to thy Law, nn,l following it (see Ps. oxix. 11), I have re- The metriool armngement is somewhat frnined myself from sin, and avoided tho doubtful. Perhnpe the best division is that wicked courses of lhe violent (comp. 1 Sam. of Dr. Kay, who mnkes the poem one of four xxiv. 4-10). stallZILB-the first of five verses (vers. 1-5); Ver. 5.-Hold thou up my goings in thy the second of four (vers. 6-9); the third of paths, that my footsteps slip not. So Do Watte and Roseumiiller; but most recent three (vcre. 10-12); and the fourth also critics prefer to consider the words as an of three (vers. 13-15). assertion rather thnn n prayer, and tmnslnte, "My steps have held fast to thy paths: Ver. 1.-Hea.r the right, 0 Lord (comp. [therefore] my feet have not been moved" Ps. ix. 4). Here and elsewhere the psalmist (Kay, Hengetenberg, .Alexander, Cheyne, assumes that rigLt is on his side, anJ that • Speaker's Commentary,' Revised Version). he iB persecuted unjnstly. Unless he had Ver. 6.-I have called upon. thee, for thou been convinced of this, be could not have wilt hear me, 0 Go:i (comp. ver3. 1, 2). called on God to vindicate him. The nar- Having established, as the ground of his rative in 1 Sa.m. xvili.-xxvii. fully justifies claim to be heard of God, his own sincerity, his conviction. Attend unto my cry (comp. steadfnstness, and virtuous course in life Pss. iv. 1; v. 2; lxL 1). Rinnah, the word (vers. 3-5), David now recurs to his translated "cry" here (aud in Ps. lxi. 1) is original intent, and resumes his "prayer.'' a strong term: it means "shout," "outcry" He is sure that God will hear him, since his -most often, though not here, " a shout of prayer is grounded Qn "right." Inclina joy." Give ear unto m7 prayer, that goeth thine ear unto me, and henr my speech not out of feigned lip3; rather, feigning lips, (comp. Pas. lxxi. 2; lxxxviii. 2, etc.). or guileful lips-lips, i.e., thnt speak fo.lse- Ver. 7.-Show thy m:uvallous loving hood knowingly. kindness, 0 thou that savest by thy right Ver. 2.-Let my sentance com9 forth from hand them whioh pat their trust in thee thy presence. David does not doubt, nny from those that rise up against them. It is lllore than Job (xiii. 18), what the sen- uncertain to which clause of the seutence tence will be. As right is on bis side (ver. the word "'It!?'~ belongs. Its -position seems I), it must be in his favour. Let thine eyes to nttach it rather to thoso who resist behold the things that ara equa.l; literally, God than to those who trust in him. See Let thine eyes behold equities. the marginal version, which has, Othou that Ver. 3.-Thou ha.et proved mine heart savest them uhich truat in thee from those ( comp. Pss. xx vi 2 ; I.xvi. 9 ; xcv. 9; c:nxix. that rise up against thy right hand. But 23). "Proved" means "tried," •• tested," the rendering in the text of the Authorized examined strictly, eo as to know whether Version is preferred by most writers. there wo.e any wickedness in it or not. Ver. 8.-Keap me as the apple of the eye Thou hast visited me in the night. The (comp. Deut. xxxii. 10, where the enme night is the time when men can least escape simile is used). Here, however, the expres- those searching, testing thoughts which sion employed is still more tender and more GoJ's provide □ ce then especially sends, to practical : "Keep mo," says David, 11 ns the "try the very Leart and reins" (Ps. vii. 9). apple, daughter of tlte eye." Hide me under Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; the shadow of thy wings. Thie seems nlso rntLer, and findest nothing. The process to be a reminiscence of Deuteronomy, where, was one begun in the past, and continuing artor the mention of the "npple of the eye," on in the present. God was ever searching the writer continues, 11 A!l nn engle stirroth David nnd trying him; but" found nothing," up her nest, fluttereth over her young, i.e. no alloy, no base metal, no serious flaw spreadeth nbroad her wings, taketh them, in his character; not that he was sinless, beareth them on her wings ; so the Lord but that he wne sincere and eamest-n true alone did lead him, and there wns no strange worshipper of God, not a hypocrite. I am god with him" (Deut. xx1ii. 11, 12; comp. purposed that my mouth shall not transgreBS. further Pss. xxxvi. 7; !vii. 1; Jxiii. 8; xoi. 4). "If nny nmn offend not in word, the same Ver. 9.-J!'rom the wioked that opprosa is a perfect 1nan" (Jas.' iii. 2). Dnvid's me; or, lay me waste-treat me os invndcrs resolution to "keep the door of his lips" treat an enemy's territory (see Isa. xv. I), wc,u\d have a chnslening i □ fluence over both From my deadly enemies, who compass ms his tl10ugh ta and acts. abo11t; literally, my e1iemies in soul-those Ver. 4.-Concerning the works of man; who in heart nncl mind are wholly set agninst i.e. '' with respect to the actions of ordinary me. When hunted by Saul upon the moun- PB, XVJL 1-15.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 107