The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 278

rather, fret not thyself, only to do ellil. No ment on the former passage). For he ■eeth result could be looked for from the sort of that his day I.a ooming ; i.e. God sees tho.t "freLLing" spoken of, but an evil one. Jf the do.y of the wicked man's viaitntion is men will dwell un,lulv on the fact of the approaching (see above, vers. 2, 9, 10: and prosperity of the wicked, o.nd brood upon it comp. 1 Sam. xxvi. 10). in their hearts, they will be apt, in the first Ver. 14.-The wicked hnve drawn out the insto.nco, to envy the wicked, which is o.t sword, and bent their bow, to oe.st down the once " to do evil;" nud from this they will poor and needy. Dadd is perhaps thinking be naturally tempted to go on to o.n imita- especially of bis own persecutors, Saul and tion of their wicked practices, which is to Absalom, who pursued after him with armed assimilate themselves altogether to the men, and sought his life (1 Sam. xxiii. B, 14, enemies of God, nnd to be guilty of practical 26; xxiv. 2: xxvi. 2: 2 Sam. xvii. 24-26: apostasy (comp. Ps. lxxiii. 2, "But as for xviii. 6-8). But he may a.lso ha.ve in his me, my feet were al.most gone; my steps mind the re.ids that powerful chiefs me.de had well-nigh slipped. For I was envious nt upon their weak o.nd peaceful neighbours the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the (Job xxiv. 5-12). And to Elay such a.a be ,ricked "). of a right conversation; or, such as are up- Ver. 9.-For evil-doers shall be out oft'. It right in way; i.e. such as lead a. righteous is foolish to "fret" nnd rage and storm life. against the ungodly whom we see prosper- Ver. 15.-Their sword sha.11 enter into ing, since they will certainly be "cut off" their own heart. Such as "take the sword" sooner or later-sooner rather tho.n Inter, often "perish by the sword" (lllatt. x.xvi. according to the belief of the writer (see 52). Absalom's rebellion cost him his life. vers. 2, 10). But those that wait upon the Marauders would sometimes meet with a Lord (see vcr. 7), they shall inherit the stout resistance, and be slain by those whom earth. It is doubly foolish, since when the they had intended to plunder. And their ,vicked are "cnt off," as they will be bows shall be broken; i.e. they shall meet assuredly some day, the godly will find with failure. themselves the inheritors of the earth. This . Ver. 16.-A little that a righteous man prophecy is partially fulfilled from time to ha.th is better than the riches of many wicked time, and will find its complete fulfilment (comp. P1·ov. :xv. 16: xvi. 8). in the "new heavens and new earth, where- Ver. 17.-For the arms of the wicked in dwelleth righteousness" (2 Pet. iii. 13). shall be broken (comp. Ps. x. 15). The Ver. 10.-For yet a little while, e.nd the wicked shall be dimbled from doing more wick~d sbe.11 not be (compare the comment mischief. If not slain outright, they shall on ver. 2). Yea., thou Ehalt diligently con- return from the combate that they have sider his place, and it shall not be; or, ha provoked with shattered weapons (vcr. 15) shall not be. He sha.11 ha.ve been swept and damaged persons. But the Lord up- e.1,a y ; his "place slmll know him no more" holdeth the righteo111. Their adverse.ties (Ps. ciii 16). in the encounters. Ver. 11.-But the meek &hall inherit the Ver. 18.-The Lord knoweth the days of ea.rth. This prophecy is endorsed by our the upright; literally, of the perfect- Lord (Matt. v. 5). It has only Lad occa.- those who yield him a complete obedience, sional fulfilment hitherto, nota.bly in Moses, Goel to.kes loving note of their do.ye, knows the meekest man of his day (Numb. xii. 3): their number, and the events which each to some extent in St. Louis and other great day will bring. He will co.use all things saints, whose influence ha.a been world-wide, to " work together for their good." And as St. Francis d'Assisi, St. Francis Xavier, their inh~ritanca sha.ll be for ever ( com f· St. Carlo Boromeo, o,nd others. And shall vcrs. 27, 29, and 37; which 1111, like tins delight themselves in the abunda.noe of verse, point, albeit vaguely, to o, future lifo). peace. Being men of peace, the meek, The mere conLiuua.nce of a. man's posterity when they "inherit the earth,'' will estab- in a prosperous condition co.unot cxhn.nst lish u11iversnl pence (Isa. ii 4: xi. G-9; the meauing of such phrases as, "Their lxv. 25; Ezck. xxxiv. 25) and "deligl,t in inheritn.uce aha.11 be for ever:" " Dwell for the abundance of it" (cowp. Ps. l.sxii. 7). evermore:" "The righteous sho.11 inherit Ver. 12.-The wicked plotteth again,t the the land, e.n<l <l well therein for ever." IC just (comp. P.:s. xxxi. 13; xxxv. 4, 7, etc.). David himself meant 110 moro than this, yet Wicked men commonly lay their plots the Holy Spirit which inspired. him may against the righteous, as being Jess likdy have meant more. At o.ny rato, to the to suspect them, aud perhaps as Jess likely Christian the words will al ways bring up to resist their wachi1rntions. And gnaeheth the thought of that "inherit11nce incor- upon him with hi, teeth (comp. Pd. xxxv. IG). ruptible, a.n<l uudcfiled, and th11t fadeth not \'er. 13.-Tha Lord sha.ll laugh o.t him a.way, which is reserved for us In hea.nn '' (comp. Ps. ii. 1; lix. B; and sec the e-:-m- (1 Pot. i. 4). PS, XXXVU, 1-40.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 287