The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 259

£iok, my clothing wns sackcloth. It is sug- their teeth (comp. Job xvi. 9; Pa. xxxvii. gested that David had acted thus., especi- 12). o.lly in the case of Saul, when he vrns first 'Ver. 17.-Lord, how long wilt thou look affiicted with his terrible malo.dy (1 So.m. on 1 "How long?" is the common cry of xvi. 14-23; xviii. 10); but he o.ppears to sufferers (Job xix. 2; Pss. vi. 3; xiii. 1; speak of his habitual practice, whenever lxxix. 5; lxxxix. 46; Hab. i. 2; Rev. vi. 10), o.ny of his friends were sick. (On the put- who do not recognize the wholesome disci- ting on of so.ckcloth o.s o. sign of grief, see pline of suffering, or realize the fact implied Gen. xxxvii. 3-1; 2 Sam. iii. 31 ; xxi. 10; in the pl,ra.se, '' No cross, no crown." l\Ian 1 Kings xxi. 27; 2 Kings vi. 30; xix. 1; desires immediate deliverance; God mostly Esth. iv. l; Job xvi. 15; Pss. xiii. 11; dele.ys his delil'erance until Patience bas lxiK. 11, etc.) I humbled my soul with "bad her perfect work" (Jae. i. 4). Rescue fasting. Another customary indication of my soul from their destructions, my darling grief (see Pss. lxix. 10; eix. 24; Judg. xx. from the lions (comp. Ps. xxii. 20). 26; l Sam. xxxi. 13; 2 Sam. i. 12; xxii. 16; Ver. 18.-1 will give thee tha.n.ks in the 1 Kings xxi. 27; Neh. i. 4, etc.). And my great congregation: I will praise thee prayer returned into mine own bosom (comp. among much people. The promise is re- Mo.tt. x. 13). Pro.yers for otherd, if pre- peat<d (see vers, 9, 10); but, as before, it is vented by their unworthiness from benefit- conditional on deliverance being granted, ing them, are yet not altogether ,;aid and and intended to induce God to grant it, and vain. They bring e. blessing to the me.n to grant it speedily. that offers them. Ver. 14.-1 behaved myself as though he Vera. 19-28,-The main element or this, he.d been my friend or brother. In every the third section or the psalm, is pr&yer. such cnso I sympathized with the sufferer Complaint finds o. voice in vere. 20, 21, anti to such an extent, that my conduct was like thanksgiving in ver. 28; but with these i,x- that of an intimate friend or a brother. I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth oeptions, the strophe is one long stre.in of for his mother. Nay, I went further; I pre.yer. The prayer is, first, nego.tive: "Let took on all thoso outward signs of grief not mine enemies rejoice" (ver. 19); "Keep whioh are usue.l when a man has lost his not silence " ( ver. 22) ; " Be not far from mother. I "bowed down heo.vily," as me" (ver. 22). But after this it becomes though I coul,l sco.rcely stand. The Ori- euto.ls are extreme and e:s:l}ggernted in their mo.inly positive: "Stir up thyself, e.ml manifestations both of joy o.nd grief (see awake to judgment" (ver. 23); "Judge me, Herod., viii. 99). 0 Lord" (ver. 24); "Let them be ashamed Ver. 15.-Dut in mine adversity they re- CLnd brought to confusion tbo.t rojoice at my joiced, and gathered themselves together; hurt" (ver. 26) ; "Let them shout for joy, rather, in my fall, or in my halting; "when I hnlted" ( Hevieed Version). '' The word and be glad, that favour my righteous implies a sudden slip and overthrow," such cause" (vor. 27); "Let the Lord be mo.gni- as is represented in 1 Sam. xviii. 8-29. Yea, fied, which hnth plcueure in my prosperity" the abjects gathered themselves together (ver. 27). ago.inst mo, Compo.re the cnse of Job (Job xxx. 1-14). It is o. matter of common ex- Ver. 19.-Let not them that are mine perience that when men fa.II from a high enemies wrongfully rejoioa over ma (comp. position into misfortuno, tho bnse vulgnr Ps, xxxviii. 19, whore D,wi,l says tlio.t crowd nlwo.ys turns o.gainst them with those who "hated him wrongfully" wrro scoffs nnd jeers and every sort of con- "mnltiplic,I ''). David feels that no ono had tumely. And I knew it not; rnther, and I o.ny reason to ho.to him, since ho ho.cl n.llVliys knew them not; men, i.e., of so low o. con- sought tho good of nil with whom ho came dilion, that I ho.cl no ncquaintance with into contact(see ver. 12). Neither let them them (see the margin of the Revised Ver- wink with the eye that hate me without a sion). The:, did tear me, and consa::l not cause; i.e. let them not have en use to wink (comp. Job xvi. 9). to each other in sclf-congratulatiun on their Ver. 16.-With hypocritical mockers in h11ving triumphed OVCI' ruo complct•·ly. feasts; liternlly, profane jesters of c·,/ws; V t'T. 20.-For they speak not ~ea.ea. Onco i.e. ribald pnrusitcs o.t o. grcnt man's t,i,,lc, morn tl,e language of cornplniut. DaviJ's whose coarse buffoonery entitles thom lo n. enemies, though they hnvo Jrivcn him frou1 share of tho dainties ; they mnde me their the court, o.nd made him CL fugitive nnd n butt, their jest, o.nd their byword (cf. Job wanderer, were not yet sntisfied. They di,l :a:xx. 9). They gnashed upon me with their not speo.k him peaco. 'l'hcy continue,! t,, teeth; i.e. spoke fiercely and nngrily scheme ngainst him. But thoy devise de- ag,dnst me, like doge that snarl and show ceitful matters against them that ,uo quiet  268 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [Ps. xxxv.1--28.