The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 258

14; lxx. 2; h:xi. 18), and e.monnt to e. sort who is like unto thee 1 The " bones" here of commonplace, to be used whenever tho represent, not the fra.mo only, o.s in Pe. machinations of his enemies against him are xxx1v. 20, but the entire nature. David the subject that occupies his thought. promises that his whole nature shall bear Ver. 5.-Let them be as chaff before the witnes_s . to God's mer_cy and goodness, wind (comp. Ps. i. 4; Isa. xvii. 18; xxix. 5; proclaim mg that there 1s "none like unto Hos. xiii. 3). Chaff is the type of whatever hiru" in these respects, none other that co.n is light, vain, futile, and worthless; clrnff deli ve1· from danger as he can anJ does. As driven before the wind repr!ll;ents the con- Hengstenberg observes, "He seeks to make fused rout of a beaten army flyiug without ~he Lord grant tho desired help by promis- any resistance before e.n enemy. And let mg that the help afforded would yield e. the angel of the Lord ohase them; rather, rich_ harvest of praise o.nd thanksgiving." smite them. The angel of the Lord, who Which deliverest the poor from him that ia protects the righteous (Ps. xxxiv. 7), is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the called on to complete the discomfiture of needy from him that spoileth him t (comp. the wicked ones, who are David's enemies. Ps. lxxxvi. 1, where David again calls him- Ver. 6.-Let their way be dark and self "poor and needy;" i.e. in w11nt of help Blippery; literally, darkneBs and slipperiness; and peace o.nd comfort; not absolutely i.e. let them fly along dark and slippery without means, or be would not offer any paths, where they cannot see their way, and temptation to the spoiler. . will be sure to stumble e.nd fall. And let the angel of the Lord perseonte them; Vera. 11-18.-Tbe second part of the rather, pursue after them. psalm begins with e. long complaint. David Ver. 7.-For without cause have they hid sets forth the woes under which he is for me their net in a pit; literally, the pit of suffering. There 1Lre: l. Calumny (ver. 11). their net. This is explained by some to 2. Ingratitude (vers. 12-14). 3. Male- mean "the destruction of their net;" by volence (ver. 15). 4. Insult from the vile others, "the pit that is covered by e. net." Bnt neither explanation is altogether satis- and base (ver. 16). He then passes to factory. Some therefore suppose e.n acci- prayer: Will not God rescue him (ver. 17)? dental transposition of a word. Which In conclusion, be for the second time without cause they have digged for my promises praise and thanks (ver. 18). eonl. "Without cause" means " without pro.ocation on my part." Ver. 11.-False witneases did rise up; Ver. 8.-Let destruotion come upon him they laid to my charge things that I knew at nnawares; i.e. let the evil happen to him not ( comp. Pa. xx vii. 12); literally, mali- that he designed ngainst othera. As he ciom, or unrighteous witnesseB (see Exod. s0nght to catch otLers in traps of which xxiii. 1). It is not probable that witnesses they knew nothing (ver. 7), so let an un- in 11, court are intended. David's calumni- expected destrnction come upon him. Aud ators accused him privately to Saul of let his net the.t he hath hid catoh himself "seeking bis hurt" (1 Sam. xxiv. 9), and (comp. Pos. iL 15, 16; lvii 6; cxli. 10). so stirred Saul up ugainst him (1 Sam. It is the perfection of poetic justice when xxvi. 19). By what is here said, they " the engineer" is "hoi:.t by his own appear to have accused him to his fo.ce, and petard." Into that very destruction let to have endeavoured to ext.ort from him a him fall; rather, for ootruction let him fall confession of guilt. therein; i.e. let him not only foll into his Ver. 12.-They rewarded me evil for good own trap, but let Lie fall prove bis destruc- (comp. ver. 13). Among those who sl1Ln• tion. David's imprecations have al ways dorcd him were persons with whose troubles something a.bout them from which the he had sympathized, and for whom he had Christian shrinks; and this is particularly pro.yed with fa.sting when they were sick. the case when he asks for bis enemies' His worst persecutor, Saul, admitted the d, struction. char go here m11de. "Thou urt more right- Ver. 9.-And my sonl sb.All be joyful in eous than I," he B'.litl; "for thou hast the Lord. A sudden transition from impre- r~wo.r<letl me good, whereas I have renarded calory prayer to thauksgi ving, or rather, to thee evil" (1 Sam. xxiv. 17). To the the promise of it-" My soul shall Lo joy- spoiling of my soul; or, the desolating of my ful;" i.e. it shall be so when my prayers Baul. 'l'he result of his enemies' m:ichi- ham been grRI1ted. It shall rejoice in his no.tious o.gflinst him was to make him. a salvation. "Salvation" here is, lll I doubt, fugitive o.nd o. wanderer, to sep1Lrnte b1m cspecio.lly, deliverance from tho immediate from the friend whom ho tontlorly loved, danger, but, perhaps, even here, uot only from his wife, his parents, and the greator il.ie.t (see the comment on ver. 3). part of his acquo.intuuce. Ver. 10.-All my bone& shall say, Lord, Ver. 13.-But as for me, when they were PB, XXXV, 1-28.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 267