The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 147

ascertain; but this is of comparatively small importance, That the psalm is meant for a public thanksgiving is clear; and thus, with differences of detail in application thereo_f accor~ir~g- to circumstance9? it may furnish a basis for helpful teaching on days of nat1_onal reJ_o1cmg over t}1e mercies of Go~. \Vo must, however, carefully avoid two CITors m openrng up the hid treasure of this psalm. We must not interpret it as if its references were only temporal, nor as if we lost sight of the supernatural revelation and of the l\Iessianic prophecies which lie in the background thereof; nor yet, on the other hand, may we interpret its meaning as if the religious knowledge or conceptions of Israel's king were as aclvanccd as the thoughts of Paul or John. E.g. "His glory is •great in thy salvation.•: If '':e w~re_ to int_erpret this word "salvatiou" as meaning, pnmanly, the redemption which is m Chnst Jesus, we should be guilty of an ana- chronism. Its first meaning is, rescue from impending trouble or danger. 'l'his, how- ever, may be regarded as prophetic of the triumph awaiting the Church's Kiag; but our exposition will be sure and clear only as we begin with the historic mcaaincr, and then move carefully forward. The prayers and thanksgivings of a people cann~t rise above the level of inspiraLion and revelation which marked the age in which they lived. w·e, indeed, may I).OW set our devotions into another form than that which is representcrl by vers. 8-12; ancl, indeed, we are bound so to do. For since revelation is progressive, devotion should be correspondingly progressive too. So that if the remarks we make on the psalm are in advance of the thinkings of believers in David's time, let us remember that this is because we now look at all events and read all truth in the li.;ht of the cross, and not because we pretend to regard such fulness of meanina as belonging to the original intention of the psalm. 'l'here are here six lines of expo': sition before us. 1. IlERE IS THE RECALL OF A TIME OF TROUBLE - OF TROUDLE WHICH GATHERED BOUKD THE PERSON OF THE KIKO. (Ver. 1.) We cannot decide(nor is it important that we should) what was the precise kind of anxiety which had beea felt. The word" life" in the fourth verse may indicate that some sickness had threatened the life of the king. The word ''deliverance" and the allnsions to" enemies" rather point to peril from hostile forces. Either way, when a monarch's life is threatened, either through sickness or ll·ar, the burden is very heavy on the people's heart. The first cause of anxiety was felt in Hezekiah's time; the second, often and notably in the days of Jehoshaphat. II. THE TROUBLE LED TO PBAYEB, We gather from the contents of the psalm that the specific prayer was for the king's life, either by way of recovery from sickness or of victory in war. Nole: Whatever is a burden on the hearts of God's people may be laid before God in prayer. Prayer may and should be specific; and even though oar thought, desires, and petitions in prayer may be very defective, still we may tell to God all we feel, knowing that we shall never be misunderstood, and that the answer will come accordina to the Father's infinite wisdom, a.ad not accordin~ to our defects; yea, our God will do abundantly for us above all that we can ask or think. Hence we have to note- III. 'l'IIE PBAYEB Bnouo11T AN ANSWER. The trust of the praying ones was not disappointed (cf. vers. 2-7). The jubilant tone of the words indicates that the prayer had not been barely, but overflowiagly answered. God's good things had gone far ahead of the petitions, and had even anticipated the king's wishes and wants (ver. 3). "Life" had been asked ; and God bad granted "length of days for ever and ever." This cannot refer to the personal earthly life of any human king; the meaning is that in the deliverance vouchsafed there had been a new confirmation of that "everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure," wherein God had promised to establish David's throne for ever (Pss. lxi. 6; cxxxii. 11-14). Dr. Moll says,1 "I find here the stronO'est expression of the assurance of faith· in the personal continuance of the life of those°who hold fast to the covenant of grace in living communion with Jehovah." Yea the old Abrahamic covenant bas been again confirmed. "Thou hast made him to be blessinO's for ever" (see Revised Version margin). So that this deliverance th\18 celebrated i; Hebrew song is at once a development of God's gracious plan, nnd the answer to a king's and a people's prayer I "Thou set test a crown of pure gold upon hie head" (ver 3; cf. 2 Sam, xii. 30). 1 Bee Scba.1J's Lange,' Old Testament Psalms,' p. 162; and F11usset's 'Studies,' p. 109, PB. xxt, 1-13.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 149