The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 196

EXPOSITION. mnny characteristics of his style, the B1ldden PSALM XXVII. tro.nsition and change in the tone of thought Trns psalm is one of those which have been being one. It is quite conceivable that called "composite" (' The Psalms,' by Four during the rebellion under Abealom, having Friends, p. 67); and certainly it falls into obtained some important success, he mlly two parts which ofi'er the strongest possible have considered it an occo.sion for thanks- contrast the one to the other. Parl i (vers. giving; and that, after his thanks were 1-G) is altogether joyons and jnbilant. It paid, his thonghts may ha.ve reverted to the records, as has been said, "the triumph of still-continuing difficulties of the situation, a warrior's faith." Po.rt ii (vers. 7-14) the danger which impended (vers. 11, 12), is sad and plaintive. It pleads for mercy the cnlumnies to which he wa.s exposed end forgiveness (vers. 8-10). It complains ( ver. I 2), the desertion of those near nnd or desertion (ver. 10), calumny (,er.12), and dear to him (ver. 10), the fa.et tho.t the chns, imminent danger (vers. 11, 12), It still, tiscment had been provoked by his own siti indeed, maintains hope, but the hope hlls (ver. 9); and so the stro.in, which bognn in only just been saved from sinking into rle- juhilo.tion, mo.y not nnnaturo.lly ho.ve ended spair by an effort of faith (ver. 13), and a in o. pleo. for mercy. detenninlltion to" wait" and see what the The psalm consists of o. strophe (vcrs. 1- end will be (ver. 14). It is thought to 6), an a.ntistrophe (vers. 7-12), and a brief " express the sorrows of a martyr to the epode (vcrs. 13, 14). religious persecutions at the close of the Ver.1.-The lord is my Light (comp.John monarchy" (Four Friends, p. 68). i. 7-9; xii. 35, 36, 46; I Jolm i. 5). The For these reasons the psalm has been sup- statement do(•s not occur in o.ny othor plnoo posed to be "composite;" bnt the queRtion in the Old Testnmcnt, though the ideo. may arises-If the two parts, being so entirely be found in Iso.. h:. I, 20; Micnh vii. 8 ; and elsewhero. Light ho.a bcon well co.llcd "this unlike, were originally distinct and uneon- profoundly beautiful no.me of God" (De- nected, what shoulJ ho.vo led o.ny arranger litzsch). And my Salvation (comp. Pss. niii, or editor to unit.e them? To this question 2 ; l xii. 2, 6). Whom shall Ifear 1 •• If God tliere seerr.s to be no poaeible answer; and be for us, who can be ago.inst us?" (Rom. thus the V'Jry diversity of the two parts would viii. 31). Who co.n be to be feared? (seo Ps. ex viii. 6). Not mo.n certainly; for" what se~w to 8\iow o.n original union. can mo.n do unto us? " Not other goda ; for According to the stntement of the title, they are nonentities. Not dovib; for they the psalm W!lB written by David. It ha.,i can do nothing but by GoJ'e permission. re. xxvn. 1-14.] TllE BOOK OF PSALMS. 199 ---------------------------------- The Lord is the Strength of my life ; Ii te- some Jewish expositors argue) that he will rolly, the atronglwld (comp. Pas. xxviii. 8; e.ctnally hide from his enemies inside the xxxl 4; h:xi. 2; cxliv. 2). Ot whom shall tabernacle. From such a sacrilege be would I be afraid 1 The question is superflnous, have shrunk. He shall set me np npon e. but is repeated to complete the bale.nee of rock (comp. Pss. xvi ii. 2; lxi. 2). The the clauses. "Rock" is God himself, who is always Ver. 2.-When the wicked, even mine David's fine.I Refnge. enemies and my foee, co.me upoa me to eat Ver. 6.-A.nd now shall mine head be up my flesh, they stumbled and fell A lifted up above mine enemies ronnd about specinl occasion seems to be intended, so me. A further and final triumph is confi- thnt the LXX. have rightly, '/il19,v71rrav 1<al dently anticip&tccl. God will complete his {,rerrav. Some unrccor<led event in the war work. He will repulse the "host" by which with Abee.lom before the fine.I struggle, is David is a.bout to be attacked (ver. 3), give probably alluded to. There is an emphasis him victory over it, bring him back from on "mine enemies," which implies that the exile,and grant him once more free access to adversaries were not the foes of the country, the sanctuary. Therefore, says the psalmist, but De1vid's personal foes. will I olfer in bis tabeme.cle sacrifices of Ver. 3.-Though e.n host should encamp joy; or," sacrifices of joyfnl sound," nccom- against me, my heart shall not fear. I u the p11nied with singing and instrnmenta.l music first burst of joy e.t his recent victory, the (comp. Ps. lxxxix. 15). I will sing, yea, I "host" which remains unconquered seoms I will sing praises unto the Lord (comp. of light &eeount-let them o.dve.nce-let Eph. v. 19). them "encamp against him "-his heart will not be afraid; but when the joy bas Vers. 7-14.-The strain now entirely bnd full vent, there is a re&ction; the obangas. The rhythm alters from a jubi- enemies then appear more formidable, and lant double be11t to a slow and mournful God's o.id is besought against them (see cadence. A cry is raised for mercy and vers. 9-12). Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. "In pity-the wrath of God is deprecated-re- this" may be either "in the fact that the jection and desertion are conternplnted nnd Lord is my Light and my Salvation" (ver. prayed against (vers. 7-10). The danger 1), or" in caBG of such an event as war and from the enemy appears great and formid- attack on the pa.rt of the enemy." able (vere. 11, 12). With e.n elfort of foitb, Ver. 4.-0no thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I saek after. A most em- the writor just saves himself from desp11ir phatic introduction of the new topic I Amid (ver. 14). o.nd then, in brave words, bruccs nil my joy and jubilation, there is still one himself up for further endurnnce. thing which I need, which I entrant Jehovah to grant-that thing I she.II continue to seek Ver. 7.-Hear, 0 Lord, when I orywith my nfter until I obtain it, viz. that I may dwell voice: he.ve mercy also upon me, and e.nswor in the house of the Lord all the days of my me. There is no "when" in the origiu11l. life. The psn.lmist is evidently debarred The clnuses a.re short, and broken, "Hear, nceess to tho ennctuary; ho feels his exclu- 0 Lord; with my voico I cull; pity me, 11nd siou from it a terrible privation; he longs answer me." to be there-to "dwell" there (comp. P~. Ver. 8.-When thou sai<lst, Beek ye my xxvi. 8); to offer there "encrificcs ol joy" fe.oe; my heart so.id unto thee, Thy face, (vcr. Ci); to eing there psalms of th11nks- Lord, will I seek. The or,ler of the wor<ls giving. He would fa.in also behold tho in the origin11l is as follows: "To thee snirl beauty of the Lord-·d,v "j~v6-r·q-ra, LXX. my heart-Seek ye my fooe-lhy face, Lord, -" nil th11t is engnging an gro.cious in his will I seek." And the full meaning seems revellltion of himself" (Ko.y); "not the to be, "To thee said my hcl\rt-llast thou outw11rd beauty of tho sanctue1ry, but the en.id uuto men, Seek ye my rnce ? l for ono gr11cious attributes whioh its rituul symbol- will obey thee-Thy fnce, Loni, will I ~eek." ized" (' Speo.ker's Commentary'). And to 'l'ho comman<l, "Seek yo my fn.ce," hn,l inquire in his templa. It h11s nlre11<ly been given by D11vid to tho pcoplo on tho nppeared. from I's. v. 7, that tl.10 word dny tha.t he set up tho nrk upon Mount "tomple" or "pn.ln.ce" (lteylml) was applied Zion (1 Chron. xvi. 11). It w,is probnbly in Davirl's time to tho tabcrn11cle. regnrded e.s impliod in Dout. iv. 2D. Ver. 5.-For in the tim9 of trouble he Ver. 9.-Hide not thy faoe far from mo. shall hide ma in hia pavilion; in the It wou!tl bo useless for Dn.\'i,l to "scok secret of bis ta.bernaclo shall he hide me. God's face," if Got! should ,lc-lermino tn 'l'bis is not to be unilcratoorl liternlly. "hi,lo his foco" from him. David f,•lt Dnvid means that hie spirit will find II re- from timo to timo n.s if God's foco wns hi,ld,m fuge with God in times of trouble, not (ns from him, 11s wo sco in other psalms (Pss. x. 2◊() THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [I'S, XXVII. 1-14.