The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 277

unimpassioned instruction, of a. character 16). And wither a1 the green herb (comp. resembling that whioh makes up the bulk Pee. xc. 5. 6; ciii. 15; Isa. xl. 6, 7; Jae. i. of the Book of Proverbs. Thie tone con- 10, 11; 1 Pet. i. 24). Ver. 8.-Trust in the Lord, and do good. tinues to the end of ver. 88, when there is a. Notwithstanding nny difficulty which the return to exhortation, but exhortation (vere. prosperity of the wicked causes thee, truet 8-l, 87) mingled with instruction (vers. 85, thou still in the Lord; be sure thu.t hie 86, 88-40). The whole poem is grave, providence watches over thee, nnd eu- quiet, equable, devoid of excitement or lyrio de11vour &till to serve him by "<lc>ing good." So ehalt thou dwell in the land, and verily fervour. It is unlike David's other com- thou shalt be fed; rather, du:ell in the land, positions, but may be his, 11e 11sserted in the and feed on faithfulness (Kay); i.e. remain title, and may be the only composition whirh where thou art, and be ea.tisfied with the we poesees of his belonging to hie old age thought of God's fa.ilhfulness. Feed on tllis. (ver. 25). Ver. 4.-Dolight thyself also in the Lord. The object of the poem is to reassure men Draw from communion with God oil that whose minds are disturbed by the fact of inwu.rd intensity of joy which it is capable the frequent prosperity of the wicked, to of giving. And he shall give thee the desires convince them that in every case retribution of thine heart. God will then grant thee will overlllke the ungodly man nt the last, all thy desires, a.nd me.ke thee perfectly hu.ppy. and to impress upon them that the condition Ver. 5.-Commit thy way unto the Lord of the righteous, even when they suffer, is ( comp. Prov. xvi. 8; Pa. xxii. 8). The fa.r preferable to th11t of the wicked, what- meaning is, "Ce.st thyself e.nd thy life un- ernr prospciity they ma.y enjoy. reservedly upon God-yield thyself wholly to him-look to him for support 11nd Ver. 1.-Fret not thyself because of evil- guidance." Trust also in him; and he eha.11 doers. .According to Aristotle, we h11ve a. bring it to pass. "He will 11ccomplieh a.11 specio.l omotiou implanted in our na.ture- that thy faith has l11id upon him" (Kay). v,µea-,s-which ea.uses us to "fret" when we Ver. 6.-And he shall bring forth thy witness undeserved prosperity (' Rhet.,' ii. 9, righteousness as the light, and thy judg- § 1). Ccrtilinly the feeling is very common ment as the noondu.y. If the prosperity of a.nd very strong; it is 11lso characteristic of the wicked frets thee, because it seems to the best nntures (see Ps. lxxiii. 8-14; Job obscure tlly righteousness, eince while he xxi. 7-15; Jer. xii. 1, 2; Mo.I. iii. 15). appears to b11sk in the sunshine of God'11 'l'he feeling does not need to be eradioa.ted, favour, thy life is possibly overshadowed but only to be held in check. F11ith in by clouds and darkness, be sure th11t, in the God's retributive justice will enable us end, this seeming injustice will be remedied. calmly to 11wait "lhe eud" (Ps. lxxiii. 17), God will not frown on tllee always; one do.y in full a.seurnnoe th11t ultime.lely God'e he will tum on thee the light of his venge1mce will overte.ke the wicked man, couuteno.noe, and make thy righteousness cmd he will receive condign punishment. to shine forth like the sun in its noonday Neither be thou envious a.go.inst the workers splendour. of iniquity. Euvy ie not a. natural pa.~sion. V cr. 7.-Reet in the Lord; literolly, bo To en ,·y tile evil-doers on 11ccouut of tlieir silent; i.e. do not murmur; make no com- prosperity is flt once a folly a.ud a d11uger. plaint; be silently acquiescent o.nd resigned. 'J'heir position ie re11lly not enviable; 11ud, And we.it patiently for him. De content if we nllow ourselves to envy them, we sh111l to a.wait hie tiwe, which is sure to be the he tempted to follow their example (see right time. Mennwllilo possess your soul in Prov. xxiv. 1). putieuce. Fret not thyself because of him Ver. 2.-For t?l.ey shnll soon be out down who prospereth in his way ( comp. vor. 1, like the grass. So Zophar, in the Book of whioh this brings out tile sense). It is of Job (xx. 5), "'l'he triumphing of the when the ungodly prosper that the righteous wicked is ahort, and the joy of the hypocrite o.re 11pt to repine. Beoauee of the man who but for a moment." .And, no doubt, if we bringeth wioked devioos to paee. It is the compo.re time with eternity, the longest eucoces of the ungodly in their wicked plots triumph that the wicked ever enjoy is but and schemes which especially vexes the for a brief spnoe, is soon gone, endures "brt righteous (see Job ix. 24; xii. 6; xxi. 7-9; for 11 moment." It has a. oontinu11uce1 how- xxiv. 2-12; Pe. lxxii. 5-12, eto.). ever, which to men in this life sceme long, Vcr. 8,-Cee.ee from anger, end foraake often intoloru.bly long; a.nu hence the dis- wrath; i.e. such auger and such wmth l\11 turbance which men's mincle suffer on the prosperity of the wicked calls forth. account of it (Job ni. 7, 18; P~. lxlliii. 3- Fret uot tbyaeU in auy wise to do evil; 288 THE BOOK OF PSAL~IS. [re,mvn.1-40,