The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 223

a.n liouso of defence to save me; rather, as For thou hast consid6rod my trouble. W,1cn in ihc Revised Version, JJe tl,ou to me a God looks upon trouble and considers it, ~lronr, Bock, an House of defence, etc. (comp. be is sure to oompas.-ionate the sufferer, Pij, xviii. 2). . l\nd to grnnt him some relief. Thou ha.et Ver. 3.-l!'or thou a.rt my Bock; or, my cliff known my soul in adversities (comp. Ps. i. (•v~~. not •11:11), And my Fortress. David 6, "The Lord knoweth the wa.v of tho pre.ye God to be his Rock e.nd Fortreee in the righteous''). God is said to" know" thoso future, because he has always looked to him on whom he looks with approval. ae his Rock and Fortrees in the pa.et. Fa.ith Ver. 8.-And hast not shut me up into the esta.blishee a. claim to ha.ve ite anticipations hand of the enemy; i.e. "hast not delivered ma.de good, Therefore for thy Name's sake me up, without cha.nee of escape, into tho lea.d me, and guide me. Metaphor is dropped, hands of my enemies" (comp. 1 Sam. xxiii. and God is simply asked for guidance and 12). Thou hast set my feet in a large room. direction. In the struggle between Absa.lom Given me, i.e., plenty of space and freedom and Da.vid more depended upon wise counsel for action; not confined me, nor cramped than upon mere force (2 Sa.m. xv. 31-37 ; mo, nor hindered me in a.ny way (comp. xvi. 15-23; :xvii. 5-23). Pas. iv. 1; xviii. 36). Having cheered Ver. 4.-Pul.l me out of the net tha.t they himself with the enumeration of tbeau have le.id privily for me. Absa.lom set a. grounds of encouragement (vers. 5-8), the tmp for Da.vid when be asked permission psalmist agnin returns to prayer. to go to Hebron for the purpose of paying Ver. 9.-:S:ave mercy upon me, 0 Lord, a vow, whereas his object was to get pos- tor I s.m in trouble. The psalmist follows session of a. strengly fortified city (2 Se.m. up his pro.yer for mercy by o.u exposition of xv. 7-9). It wa.s, perhaps, by a. device of his need of mercy. He is in trouble, in sore Ahitbophel'e the.t David we.a induced to quit trouble-"hl\rd pressed," as Hengstenberg Jernse.lem and go into exila, l!'or thou translates-distressed both in mind e.u,I a.rt my Strength (comp. Pss. xviii. 1; :xi:x. body. Mine eye is consumed with grief 15; xxviii. 1, 7, 8, etc.). (comp. Ps. vi, 7, where the expression is Ver. 5.-lnto thine hand I oommit my o.lmost identical). The grief intended is spirit. Our Lord's adoption of these words, "tlmt produced by provocation or spiteful and application of them to himself a.nd his trentment" (Kay). It causes him to weep own depa.rture from earth, he.ve given them so much th11t his eyo is well-nigh "con- o special sncredness ·beyond the.t which sumed" or "ea.ten away." Yea, my soul attaches to Scripture generally. At the and my belly. Somo explain this 119 1nea11- ea.me time, they have impressed on them a. ing simply " my soul o.ud my body" (Heng- new meaning, since David woe not think- etenberg, Alexander, Revised Version); ing of o final coinmitta.l of his soul, ns but others regard the " belly " 119 denoting distinct from bis body, into the hands of " the very centre of physico.l life o.ud of tbo the Creator, but only intended solemnly to emotions" (comp. Job mii. 19). commit himself, both soul and body, into Ver. 10.-l!'or my life is spent with grief, the Divine keeping, to be preserved from and my yea.rs with sighing. The psalmist's the 11tll\oke of bis enemies. Thou ha.st grief is of old sto.nding. It dates from tho redeemed me, 0 Lord God ot truth ; or, thou. time of his great sin (2 Sl\m. xi. 4-17), ltaet delivered me, 0 LOf'd God of truth. It which is thought to ho.vo preceded the is redemption in the general sense of revolt of Abse.lom by the space of twelve "doliverance from peril," not redemption yeo.rs. This sin nccessitalocl a lifolong from sin, of which the psalmist speaks. repentance (P:;s. xxxviii. 17; li. 8, etc.). Dl\vid, having frequently cxperionced such My strength faihth beoa.use ofmiue iniquity. deliverance in the past, ie emboldened to Other causes ho.d, no doubt, contributed to expect now another deliverance. produce the profound depression of the Ver. 6.-1 have hated them that regard psalmist at this period, but none Wl\S of lying vanities. By "lying vnnities" a.re e'}ual foroc with this (comp. Pss. xxxviii. inea.nt idolatrous pra.cticee, or possibly such S-10; li. 1-H, otc.). It Cl\usecl his superstitious usnges ns recourse to witch- strongtb to fail utterly, and led to com- craft l\Jl(l divilmtiou. (For David's hatred ploto prostrnlion both or miml l\nd body. And of such persons ae aro here glanced at, see my bones a.re oonsnmed; i.e. ro.cked witlt Ps. xxvi. 5.) But I trust in the Lord. Who pain, as though they wero being gn1twe<l is tho direct opposite of a\l i• lying vanities," a.wo.y. being at once Almighty, and the "God of Ver. 11.-1 wo.a a reproach among all truth '' ( ver. 5). mine enemies; rather, I am become a Ver. 7.-1 will be glad and rejoioe in thy reproacl1 (Kl\y, Rovi~ed Version). Tho mercy. Anticipating the "mercy" which pe11lmist compll\ins of the loss of bis rcpu- be hl\8 cmved (vers. 2--4), the psalmist to.tion. Abso.lom's robellion wns prcccclc,l determines to '' Lo glad nncl rcjoico in it." by a long course of cl\lumnious accusation  THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. XXXI. 1-24,