The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 109

Judge on the Throne, a Judge ef perfect rigldeo11,,.•ness-and One who will listen to his cr:r (ver. 7). He knows God as One who saves the trusting ones from their foes by lns own omnipotent hand. 4. Hence to him David makes his appeal. (Ver. 2.) Note: Only one who is at peace with God, and who is among the upright in heart, could possibly make such an appeal as tbis,-for sentence to come forth from God's presence must be a terror to the rebel, for that sentence could only be one of condemnation, But souls in harmony' with God can lovinoly look to God as their Redeemer, their Goel, their Vindicator; they will say, with Job "I know that my Redeemer livetb • n or wit• h Cromwell, "I know that God is above 'all ill reports; and that be will in his , own. time vindicate me." Yea, they can call 011 God to do this, leaving in his hands the time and the way of doing it (cf.1 John iii. 21, 22). 5. With the appeal, David joins fervent supplication. (1) With regard to his enemies. That God would arise, i.e. interpose in ihe way of providential aid; that he would cast down the wicked from their high pretension~, and disappoint them, i.e. prevent them-be beforehand with them, and frustrate their evil designs ere they attempt to carry them out. (2) With regard to himself. (a) That God would deliver him out of their hand. (b) That God would hold up his goings in the right way. (c) 'fhat God would keep him (a) as the apple of the eye (literally," the little man,"" the daughter of the eye ")-an exquisitely beautiful figure, admirably adapted to be the basis of an address to the young on God's care in the structure of the eye; (fJ) as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings- another figure of marvellous tenderness 1 (Pss. :u.xvi. 7; lvii. 1 ; lxi. 4 ; xci. 4 ; Matt. xxiii. 37). Nor let it be unnoticed that for all this, David utte1ed a" piercinl( cry" (for so the word in the first verse signifies). 6. David remembers that, after all, he has no rea.son to envy his persecutO'l's; that, after all, it is far better to know God as his God, and to ba,e him as a Refuge, than to have all the ease, comfort, and wealth which this world can give. And this brings us to note- H. THAX, IlEllARKABLE AS THE PSALMIST'S CASE IS, IT PRESENTS TO US A STILL MORE REMARK.AllLE CONTRAST.2 (Ver. 14.) How much force is there in the expression, "As for me" (cf. Ps. lv.16) ! Note: Amid all the confusion, strife, and whirl of earth, each man has a distinctive individuality, which is all bis own, and is never confounded with another's (Gal. vi. 5; Isa. xl. 27). No one has a right to think he is lost in the crowd (2 Tim. ii. 19 ; Rev. ii. 17; Isa. xliii. 1; Luke xii. 6, 7). Each one has a relation to God entirely hi.8 own. The bad may mingle with the good, but are never con- founded with them. Not one grain of wheat is by mistake cast into the fire, nor yet one of the tares gathered into the garner. All that is momentous in hope, character, relation, security, destiny, gathers round the individual. Each one has an" As for me." In the psalm before us there are indications of six points of difference between David a.ud bis enemies; 110 vital a.re they, that not all the distress which he suffers from them could make him desire to change places with them. 1. He is right; they are in the wrong, (Ver. I.) As we have before said, the writer by no means claims to be perfect, but he knows that he has chosen the side of righteousness, and is sincerely anxious to walk according thereto; he walks in his integrity, though he may be conscious of coming far short of his own ideal. But as for hie enemies, to be ic the right is no concern of theirs! Their's is might against right. Note: Happy is the man who sees infinite honour in being right, however much it may cost him I 2. God is to him a Defender; to them he is a Judge-to condemn them and put them to shame. This is the ground- tone of the psalm. The throne of the great Eternal is to the psalmist one of grace, mercy, and love; but to bis enemies, it appears to shoot forth devouring flame. Note: God will seem to us according to our state before him (see Ps. xviii. 25, 26). 3. The psalmist addresses God in confident hope ; they resist God, in proud defiance. The whole attitude of David's enemies was one of proud self-confidence: "Our tongues are our own : who is Lord over us?" Hence: 4. The throne of righteousness, which was the safety of David, was the peril of his persecutors. His joy was their dread. Wicked 1 See remarks of Hupfeld, Wordsworth, and Briggs, in Scho.ff'e Lange, in lon. • The structure of these verses is difficult. See cotes thereon by Bishop Perowno and Mr. Briggs; and above all, the priceless tre11tiso of John Howe, on' 'fhe Blessedness of the Righteous,' which treats the last verse of this pealm with unapproached grandeur. Helpful and illustrative notes thereon will also be found in the edition of tho Penlter published by the R.'f S. (1891). PB. xvn. 1-15.J THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 111