The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 224

nf David (2 Sam. xv. 1-4), whereby men's case he could not hope thnt they would heart.a were stolen a.way from him, and bis spare his life (2 Sam. xvii. 2, 12). character blackened. His enemies made Ver. 16.-Me.ke thy face to shine upon the most of these ill reports, and turned thy servant. 'fhie expression is first used them to his reproach (comp. Ps. lxix. 18- in the blessing of Moses (Numb. vi. 25). 20). But especially among my neighbours. Its intrinsic beauty and poetry recom• Not that they reproached him moro tho.n mended it to the psalmists, with whom it others, but that he felt their reproache1 recurs frequently ( comp. Pee. iv. 6; Ix vii. more keenly. And a fear to mine acquaint• 1; lxxx. 5, 7, 19; cxix. 185). It may be a.nce. His acquaintances were afraid of regarded as equivalent to" Be thou favour- being recognized as such, and involved in able and gracious unto thy serve.nt." Save his ill repute. They that did see me with- me for thy meroiea' sake j literally, ,ave me out; i.e. "out of doors," or "in the street." in thy mercy. Fled from me. A voided my contact, not Ver. 17.-Let me not be ashamed, O Lord wishing to be seen with me (comp. Ps. (see the comment on ver. 1). For I have lxxxviii. 8). oalled upon thee. "I have," i.e., "been Ver. 12.-I am forgotten as a dead man ever thy true worshipper." Even when I out of mind (comp. Ps. h::xxvili. 5). I am have sinned (ver. 10), my sins have not like a broken vessel Of 110 value to e.ny been "sine of unfaithfulness," but lapses, one; only fit to be thrown away. sine of infirmity, unpremeditated yielding& Ver. 13.-For I have heard the slander of to temptation. Let the wicked be ashamed. many (see the comment on ver. 11). The Bring shame, i.e., upon those who a.re at calumnies circulated age.inst him had once my enemies and thine-the wicked reached David's ears, and these had so and impenitent generally-and, among affected him that he felt as described in the them on my present adversaries, those who preceding verse. Fear was on every side, are collected together to carry on war while they took oou.nsel together age.inst age.inst me. And let them be silent in the me. Fea.r was "on every side"-in his grave; or, in SheoZ. Let a slop be put to own heart, and in the hearts of all his friends their slanders (ver. 13) and lying speeches -when it came to the point of his enemies (ver. 18); let them be ailenced by removal holding a formal council, in which the from this world to the land of the departed. matter discussed was the best mode of Ver. 18.-Let the lying lips be put to proceeding against him to take a.way his silenoe, whioh speak grievous things life. The particulars of ench a council a.re proudly and oontemptuoualy age.inst the given in 2 Sam. xvii. 1-14. They devised righteous j rather, which ,peal, arroganr.y to take away my life. That David's life (comp. 1 Sam. ii. 3). The pride and in- was sought is apparent from the last cle.uBe solence of David's enemies is strongly of ver. 2, "I will smite the king only." noted in the Second Book of Samuel (see Ver. 14.-But I trusted in thee, 0 Lord. xvi. 7, 8; xvii. 1-3). Ht1ving fully represented the miserable Ver. 19.-0h how great is thy goodness, condition to which he is reduced (vere. whioh thou hast la.id up for them that fear 9-13), David now returns to expressioDB of thee! Another tro.nsition. David turns trust in God, and to earnest prayer to him from prayer to praise, o.nd in the four next (comp. ver. 6). I said, Thou art my God; verses (vers. 19-22) eulogizes the good- rather, I have said. In e.11 my sufferings, ness and mercy o.nd marvellous loving- dangers, and difficulties, I have always kinducss of God, who has wrought glori, clung to thee, ::ind said, "Thou, and thou ously for his people in the pa.et, and has alone, art, and ever shalt be, my God." further an ample store of meroios lo.id up Ver. 15.-My times are in thy hand. for them in the future. Which thou hast "My times," i.e. "all the varied events, wrought for them that trnst in thee before happy or rnd, wbich make np the parti- the sons of men! God had wrought his coloured wet; of life" (Kay). Not one of mercies for his own people, but in the aight them but is shaped by thee and ordered by of men generally, whether good or bad. thee. Deliver me from the hand of mine Ver. 20.-Thou she.It hide (or, thou hided) enemies, and from them that persecute me them in the secret of thy presence from the (comp. vers. 1, 2, 4). The great need under pride (rather, conspiracies) ot me.n. Intense existing circumstances was deliverance. light forms as good a hiding-place as Absa.lom was looked for daily to "pass over intense darkness. No vision can peuetre.te Jordan, and a.11 the men of Israel with it. It is "too dazzling bright for mortal him" (2 Sam.."tvii. 24). A battle was eye." Thus those whcm God brings close imminent. If the day went age.inst David, to himself, e.nd on whom he pours the light aud bis army was defeated, he would of his countenance, need no other protection. nc,cessarily fall into the hands of his Their life is hid in God. Thou ■halt keep •·enemies" and "persecutors," in which them (or, thou keepeat them) aeoretly in a l'B, Xll'.XI. 1-24.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS.