1 ; xiii. 1; lxix. 17, etc.); and BO also did ornelty; or, 1Jiolence. To II breathe out" other saints (Pss. xliv. 24; lxxxviii. 14). In violence, threats, shmghter, mRlice, otc., ia. most instances, probably, God sends the a common metaphor in many languages feeling as a chttstisement, that the henrt (Acts ix. I; Aristoph., • Eq.,' I. 487; Hor., may turn with more sincerity to him. Put • Od.,' iv. 13, I. 19, etc.). not thy servant away in anger; i.e. reject Ver. 18.-I had fainted, unless I had me not-cast me not off. The verb used is believed to see the goodness of the Lord in very strong nnd emphatic. Thou hast been the land of the living. In the original, by my Kelp. Ever in the past I have had the figure aposiopesis, the apodosis ie thee for Helper (comp. Pss. iii. 8-7; iv. 1; omitted, "had I not believed that I should vi. 8-10; uiii. 2, etc.). God's goodness to see the goodness of Jehovah in the lo.nd us in the past must ever be our chief ground of the living [i.e. in this present world], of confidence in him for the future. Leave then .. .'' He shrinks from sto.ting the me not, neither forsake me, 0 God of my consequences. He would ho.ve fainted, or aalva.tion (comp. Ps. xciv. 14). despaired, or lost all faith in religion (com- Ver.10.-When my father and my mother pare, for similar uses of the figure aposiopesi•, forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Gen. iii. 22; x.xxi. 41 ; 1. 15; Exod. xxxii. We are not to gather from this that David's 82; Dan. iii. 15; Zech. vi.15 ; Luke xiii. 9). father and mother had forsaken him. They By an effort of faith, the psalmist saved were probably dead at the time of his flight himself from the despair which threatened from Absalorn. What David means is that, to seize upon him, and assured himself that even if forsaken by his nearest and dearest, he would yet experience II the goodness ot he would not be forsaken by God. The ex- the Lord" in some merciful interposition pression is proverbial. an,l deliverance, while he still remained on Ver.11.-Teaoh me thyway,O Lord (comp. earth, before he "went whence he shoulrl Ps. xxv. 8, and the comment ad Zoe.). not return-to the land of darkness and And lead me in a plain path; literally, a the shadow of death, a land of darkness as lef!el path-a path traversing a flat and darkness itself, and of the sh11dow of death, smooth country, not one where the ground without any order, and where the light is is rugged and beset with rocks and preci- as darkness" (Job x. 21, 22). pices. Becanae of mine enemies. David's Ver. 14.-Wait on the Lord. This is an enemies are ever at hand, to swallow him exhortation, not to others, but to him sell up (Ps. Jvi. 2). If his way he not plain and ( comp. Ps. I.xii. 5; and see also Pse. xlii. 5, smooth, it will be to their advantage and to 11; xliii. 5). His stronger self exhorts his his detriment. weaker self not to despair, but to wait upon Ver. 12.-Deliver me not over IID.to the will God-to tarry, i.e., the Lord's leisure-and, of mine enemies; literally, the aoul of mine mean wbile to be of good oourage ; or, be enemie,; i.e. their desire (see Pee. x:z:xv. 25; strong (comp. Dent. xxxi. 6; Josh. i. 6; ::di. 2), which was no doubt to capture him, 1 Chron. xxii. 18), o.s the phrase is else- and bring him a pri•oner to Jerusalem. For where generally tro.nslo.ted. "Be strong,'' false witnesses are risen up against me. 'I he he says to himself, and he (i.e. God) shall party which attached itself to A.bee.lorn ac- strengthen thine hea.rt. "Aide-toi, le ciel cused David of crnelty to the house of Saul l'o.idera.'' Make o.n effort to be strong, end (2 Sam. xvi. 8), and probably of other crimes the strength will be given thee, as thou o.nd miedemeanoure. A.beo.lom himself ac- mo.kest it. Then in this strength, thus cused him of a failure in his kingly duties given, continue thy wniting-Wait, I ea.y, (2 Sam. xv. 3). And such u breathe ont on the Lord.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 8.-The believing heart's obedience to God's command. "When thou s:iidst," etc. If we were to translate strictly word for word, we shoul<l read this verse, "To thee said my heart-Seek ye my face-thy face, Jehovah, I will seek." Our trans- lat-0rs (a.ad Revisers) have wisely preferred plain Eaglish to pedantic rigour, and have given as the probable meaning, "When thou saidst," etc. 'l'his, says Calvin, is 11 dialogue between the believing heart and God. Ho likens the Divine invitation, "Seek ye my face," to the key wherewith faith opens the door for prayor. "Without this prelude, no one shall lead the chorus of prayer." The reply of the heart he likens to the echo sleeping in silence, till the voice calls it forth. I. WnAT 1s MEANT BY SEEKING Goo's FACE? 1. To seek the favour of God: q.d. his pardoning mercy, the smile of his approval, the assurance of his loving-kindness, the happy, peaceful sense of his presence and care. '!'here is a notion in many minds l'B, XXVU, 1-14.) 'fHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 201