The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 123

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS• . yers. 1-50_.-~ con1-ueror'~ son~ of praise ~nd hope. It is not o?X purpose, nor .1s 1t our provmce, m tins section ot the 'Pulpit Commentary,' to wnto homilies on ~pecific texts; but rather to <l.ea.l with this psalm (as we have done with others) as a whole-for it is a unity-and to show how grand a basis it presents for the pulpit exposition of the provisions of" the everlasting covenant" to which allusion is made in the last verse of the psa.lm. The student and expositor might with advantage refer at the outset to Isa. lv. 3, "I will give you the sure mercies of David," with the view of showing that the promises made to Davi<l do immeasurably transcend any merely personal reference; that they include all the blessings which come to us through him -who, though David's Son, wa.s yet David's Lord. There is no reason to doubt the Davidic authorship of the psalm. There are, moreover, more data tha.n most psalms present, to aid us in deciding the approximate da.te of its composition. We have it recorded in 2 Sam. xxii. 4-51. This gives us one historic clue to its date. Besides, the tone of triumph which is heard throughout it wa.s scarcely heard in the later days of David, after his great crime had darkened the remainder or his earthly life. Vere. 19-24 could scarcely have been written after that catastrophe, even though it be urged that David writes rather of his administration as king than ef his behaviour as a man. Regarding, then, the inscription at the head as showing us the occasion on which the psalm was first penned, and taking into account the prophetic far-reaching- ness of its closing words, we are called on to view it in a double aspect-one historical, the other typical. l. LET US SKETCH ITS CONTENTS AS HISTORIOALLY REFERRING TO KING DAVID AND HIS CONQUESTS. 1. Here is a distinct reference to David as king. And while we should miss very much of the significance of the psalm, were we to omit the larger view to which we shall presently refer, yet, on the other hand, if we omit the strictly historical application, our use of the psalm will be strangely incomplete. As, without the historic setting, there would be no basis on which to set anything further, so, without the larger view, there would be no adequate superstructure set up upon that basis. Combine bolh, a.nd the glory of the psalm stands forth as combining inspiration and revelation in the contents of this triumphant song (see ver. 60, where the remark- able phrase occurs, "his king;" i.e. God's king). David was God's appointed king for Israel, and as such he tunes bis harp for J ehovah's praise. 2. Wit}, David as king, God had made a covenant. This is implied in ver. 50, where the mercies already granted are referred to as pledged "for evermore." 3. David had been plunged into fierce conflict. (See vers. 4, 6.) The study of David's life will furnish us with a host of facts in this direction. 4. Conflict had driven hi"' to earnest prayer. (Ver. 6.) Again and again had he pa~se~ thro~gh this experience (see Pss. xxxiv. 6; c.xxxV:iii. 3). 'l'he believe1~s most piercmg cnes are sent upward to God, when he 1s bemg pierced by the sharpest arrows of affliction. How is it that we so often need the 11ressurc of sorrow to quicken us from languor in prayer? Sad,-that prayer should b, forced out rather than drawn out! 6. Prayer had been followed by timely deliverance, This is set forth in poetry which is truly sublime (see vers. 7-16).1 The Divina deliverance was seen : (I) In girding the assailed one with strength (ver. 39). (2) In rescuing him from his pursuers (ver. 16). (3) In causing the foe to be prostrate under tLe conqueror's feet (ver. 40). (4) In bringing forth the conqueror to liberty and gladne81! (ver. 19). 6. Such deliverance led him _to trjumph in God. ~t m'.1-y be asked, however, "Is not such joy in God rather of an mfenor order, when 1~ anses because Go~ has_ done for us just what we wished!" Perhaps so. But that 1s not a correct settmg of the case before us. It is this: Go<l had promised deliverance. David pleaded with God on the ground of the promise ; and ho found the great Promiser true. Hence the jul,ilation. When prayers that arc presented on the basis of God's promise are al,uu<lantly answered, gratitude may well burst forth in holy song (see vers. ~. 2). WLat joy to a believer to read in the trials a1;1d reliofs of life a porpe~ual revelat~on of tlie loving-kindness of God I 7. The mercies of tlie past assure liim of help iii the ' Iu Bishop Perowne's notes, some beautiful explnnations of the grnnd iml\gcry of thia prnlm "l'l"ill be found.  rs. xvm, 1-50.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 125