The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 179

(BCe Deut. xxiv. 15; u.n<l comp. Ps. xxiv. bound to pray for everything on which 4). salvation depends-as, for instance, light Ver. 2.-0 my Oo:l., I tr11St in thee (comp. nnd guidance. On thee do I wait all the Pss. vii. 1 ; xi. 1; xxxi. 1, 6, etc.). Let me day, In pmyer for these blessings, I we.it not be ashamed; ie. <lo not disappoint my on thee all the day long. trust, and thereby bring me to shame (cornp. Ver. 6.-Remember, 0 lord, thy tender Job vi. 20). Let not mine enemies triumph mercies, and thy loving-kindnesses. Past over me. It does not appear whether the mercies form u. ground for the expectation "enemies" intended are dornestic or foreign of futnre blessings. God's character cannot foes. Either would triumph were David change; his action as one time will always disappointed of u. confident expectation. be consistent and harmonious with his action Ver, 8.-Yea, let none that wait on thee at another. If he has been kind and merci- be ashamed. The prayer passes from the ful to David in the past, David may count particular to the universal. What De.vi,l on his continuing the same iu the futnre. desires for himself he desires also for e.11 For they have been ever of old. Not lately the true servants of God-all who wait on only, or to David only, have his mercies him, look to him, seek for indice.tio11s of been shown, but through all past time, to his will (comp. Ps. cxxiii. 2). Let them be all his servants, from of old. ashamed whioh transgress without cause. Ver. 7.-Remember not the sins of my Let shame be the portion, not of thy ser- youth, nor my transgressions. Job thonght vants, but of thy e.t.!verso.ries-of those who that God counted ago.inst him the "iniqui- transgress ( or rebel) without reasonable ties of his youth" (Job xiii. 26); David, ce.uae. Such persons deserve to be brought with greater faith and a deeper insight into to shame. the true cha.racier of God, can ask with Ver. 4.-Show me thy ways, 0 Lord; confidence thnt his mny not be reckoned teach me thy pa.the, An echo of the prayer against him. .A.n earthly father does not of Moses when his people were rebellious remember them age.inst his son. How much a.t Sinai (Exod. xxxiii. 18), reiterated by less will our heavenly Father I According David in Ps. xxvii. 11, and perhaps a.gain to thy meroy remember thou me, for thy in Ps. lxxxvi. 11 (see o.lso Ps. cxix. 88). goodness' sake, 0 Lord! Still, put me not Man is so wanting in spiritual understand- from thy mind. "Remember thou me" ing, eo more.Hy blind e.nd ignorant, the.t, always-but in the light of thy tender unless enlightened from on high, he ce.nnot mercy, with the ro.ys of thy love streaming discern aright the " way of godliness; " he over me 11nd hiding the deformities of my does not know at o.ny given moment what transgressions. Do this " for thy goodness' God would ho.ve him to do. Hence it is sake," i.e. beau.use thou nrt essential Good- the consto.nt pro.yer of every religions me.n ness, perfect Tenderness, perfect Love. tliu.t God will " lighten liie darkness;" Ver. 8.-Good a.nd upright is the Lord. "me.ke his we.y plain before his face; " A. transition. From proyer the ps11lmist "show him the po.th thnt he should wnlk turns to reflection, nnd meditates awhilo in;" ennble him to see, if no more, nt any (vers. 8-10) on the oho.meter ond ways of re.ta the next step which it is his duty to God. God is, indeed, "good," o.s he has to.ke. The idea hne been beautifully ex- implied in the preceding verse-i.e. kind, pressed by II modern poet- tender, gentle, merciful; but he is nlso "upright" (i~;)-just, straight, strict, un- "Lend, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom devinling from the po.th of right. As Dishop Leo.d thou mo on. Butler observes, "Divine goodness, with The night is dark, 1111d I nm fe.r from which, if I mistake not, we make very free home; in our speculations, mo.y not bo u. ho.re single Lead thou me on. disposition to produce happiness, but e. dis- Keop thou my feet; I <lo not ask to see position to make tho good, the faithful, the 'l'he distant scene; one step enough for honest man happy" (' Ano.I.,' i. 2, p. 41)-11 me." disposition, i.e., to be just as well o.s merci- ful-to distribute Loppiness by the co.non Ver. 5.-Lend me in thy truth, and tee.oh of right. Therefore will he teach sinners me. "Thy truth " woul<l seem to mean in the way. He will not o.lio.ndon sinners- here "the true, right po.th "-the" wny of this is his "goodne~s;" but will reeloim godliness." The prnyer is thnt God will them, chosten them, make them to wolk itt both teach this to the psnl1Dist nnd "lead his w11y-thi~ is his uprightness. him in it "---011use him, i.e., to wnlk in it, Ver. 9.-rhe meek will he guide in nnd never stray from it, so long os he lives. judgment. It is only snch sinners ns nro For tho!l 11rt the Goi of my enlva.tion. Thou art tho God from whom nlono I obtain snl- vatiou, nu<l to whow nlonc, thcroforc, I am I"meek "-i e. humLlo, submissive, contrite, teachabl,!-tlrnt God will tu.ko iu lmnu un,l to11ch. The proud o.u,l per verso ho will 182 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. XXV, 1-22.