The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 118

a troop. The military koy-note is at onM Ver. 35.-Thon hast also given ma tl.!a struck. Gl!rlud (11,~) is o. marauding bo.nd shield of thy se.lvation; i.e. i,1 battle thou of liglit-ormed troops sent out to plunder o.n e_xtendest over me the shield of thy prntcc- enemy's country. Da.vid •· ran through" such t10n. Nothing was more common in ancient a "troop," when he puraued o.nd defeated warfare than for o. warrinr, while he was the Amalckiles who had plundered and engaged in using hie offensive weapons, hurnt Ziklng (I S,un. xxx. 17). It is called especially the bow, to be protected from the three times o. gl!dud (vers. 8 and 15 twice). missile• of the enemy by a comrade who And by my Ood have I leaped over a wall. h~ld a eliield before him. Tho Assyrinn Shur (11:i) is a rare word for "wall," occur- krnge were constantly thus defended in ring in the Hebrew text only here and in Gen. battle, o.nd it was even common for o.n xlix. 22, though UBed 11lao of the wnlls of ordinary o.rcher to be similarly guarded (see Jerusalem in the Chaldee of Ezra. (iv. 'Ancient Monarchies,' vol. ii. pp. 30, 32, 33, 12, 13, 16). It may designate the walls for illustrations). And thy right hand hath of Jerusalem in this pla.ce, a.nd David may holden me up. The" right hand" is always intend to allude to hie conquest of the spoken of as the nrm of greatest strength stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites (comp. Pas. xliv. 3; xiv. 4; xlviii. 10; Ix. (2 Sam. v. G, 7). 5, etc.). Aud thy gentleness he.th me.de ma Ver. 30.-As for God, his way is porfect great; rather, tt,y condescension (liay)-the (comp. Deut. xxxii. 4, " His work is quality in God which most nearly corre- perfect, for 1111 bis ways are judgment "). sponds to humility fa man. Tho word is What God does, he dues effectually; he not elsewhere used of GoJ. does not have recourse to ha.If-measures. Ver. 36.-Thou hast enlarged my steps The word of the Lord is tried; i.e. tile nuder me, that my feet did not slip. Job promises of God are sure, they ha.ve been often cumplnined that God" hedged in his tested, and tried as by fire, and will never stepi" (iii. 23) and "fenced up his wo.y" foil. He iR a :Buckler to all those that trust (xix. 5), so that he had no liberty of in him (oomp. 'fer. 2). movement. Do.vid enumerates nmong tho Ver. 31.-For who is God save the Lord l blessings wbioh be receives of God, tho (seo Exod. xx. 3; Dent. xxxii. 39), As the freedom which he enjoys (comp. Pa. xu:i. one and only Goel, absolute confidence mu.y 8). He is at liberty to go where ho likes. be placed in Jehovah, who is 11ble to protect aud nlso bis footsteps "du not slip." This nnd preserve lo the uttermost a.II who serve is rather an independent clnuse tho.n a con- him (comp. 2 Sam. vii. 22-29). Or who is sequeuce. Tro.nelate, and my ankles slip a Rock save our Go;l l (comp. ver. 2; and not. see elBD Deut. xnii. 4, 18, 30, 31; and Ver. 37.-I ha.ve pursue~ mine enemies Ps. lxi. 2). and overtaken them (see 1 S:ii"u. xxx. 8-17; Vor. 32.-It is God tbo.t girdath me with 2 13e.m. viii. 1-13; x. 6-18). Neither did strength (comp. ver. 39). And maketh my I turn o.gain till they were coneumod. 'fbo way perfect. J{eepe me, i.e., in the right greatest severities exorcised by Dnvid seem wny-the wny of bis commandments. to hnvo been thoso against Edom (1 I{ings Ver. 33.-He me.keth my feet like hinds' xi. 15, 16) nnd Ammun (2 Sam. xii. 29-31). feet (comp. 2 Sam. ii. 18; 1 Chron. xii. 8; Otherwise be would seem not to ho.vo used, Ho.b. iii. 19). 'l'he Isrnelitee reckoned swift- with o.ny grcnt hnrshness, hie rights us 11 ness of foot, agility. nn,l endurance nmong conqueror. the highest of wnrlike quo.lities. These Ver. 38.-I ha.ve wounded them that they quulities were needed especially in the wore not able to rise: they are fallen under pursuit of defoated enemies ; o.nd the my feet. It is remo.rknble tba.t the uu tions rupidity of David's conquests (2 So.m. v. 6- which Do.vid subdued sco.rcoly over, wliilo 10; viii. 1-14; x. 15-20) must be ascribed he lived, rose up o.go.in iu revolt. to them mainly. And setteth me upon my Ver. 39.-For thou ho.st girded me with high ple.ces; i.e. eatnblishee mo in the strength unto the bo.ttle. Having bonste,! strongholds tho.t commnnd my extensive of his own notions during the spo.eo of two territory, nnd gi vo me secure posees,ion verses (vers. 37, 88), David falls back upon of it, ns Zion, Rabbath-Ammon, Do.mo.scue, his hnbitual o.cknowlodgmonts, thnt nil Petro., perhaps Zobnh, Rehob, nnd others. which be hns done be.s beon done wholly Ver. ,H.-He teacheth my he.nds to-wnr, through tho stren~th of the Divine nrm, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms whioh has upheld him, sustained him, nnrl (comp. Pe. cxliv. 1). "A bow of steel" is givon him the victory. Thou hast subdued o. mistrnnele.tlon, since nl!'chusha (n~1111) is not under me those that rose up against me; '' steel," but" brnes," or rather" bronze"- rather, thou 111ut bowed down mine aclveT- o.nd bows of steel were unknown to the eariea under ma (Hengstonberg, Kay, nndrnts. Compare the comment on Job Cheyne). u. 24 (' Homiletic Commentary,' p. 342). Vor. 40.-Thou hast a.lso given mJ the 120 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, XVIII, 1-50.