The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 279

Ver. 19.-They shall not be ashamed in misfortnne or 1.oss, and absolute ruin." The the evil times. If they fall into adversity, good man mr,,y be afflicted; he may even it will not cause them to feel shame. They fall into some fault (Ga.I. vi. 1) or grievous will know that they are not being punished sin (2 Sam. xi. 4); but so long as" the root for evil-doing, but lhat God is trying them of the matter is in him" (Job xix. 28), God and purifying them (Job xxxvi. 8-11). will not suffer him to be prostrated. For And in the de.ye of famine they shall be satis- the Lord upholdeth him with his hand; fied (comp. Ps. nxiii. 19). literally, the Lord suppOTt9 hi9 hand. If he Ver. 20.-But the wicked shall perish falls, God (as Luther says) "catches l1im (comp. vers. 2, 9, 10, 15, 3G); literally, for by the hand, and raises him up ngain." So the wicked shall perish. The happiness of David had himself experienced (2 Sam. the rigllteous cannot be complete until the xii. 13). wicked are removed out of their way; since, Ver. 2.5.-I have been young, and now am so long 0.11 they continue in the world, they old. It is most natural to understand this will be ever vexing tile righteous e.nd literally, and to gather from it that the troubling them (Ps. lvi. l). And the enemies psalmist, whether David or nnother, com- of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs. posed this psalm in advanced life. It has So, many of the old commentators, as Aquila, certainly all the gravity, calmness, serious- Kimchi, and others ; and among moderns, ness, and tone of autllority which befit o. Rosenmiiller, and Professor Alexander. But teachel"of many years and much experience. the bulk of recent critics translate, as the Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, ezcellency of thll pastures (Hupfeld, Ko.y, nor his seed begging bread. The social Hengstenberg, Canon Cook,'.Cheyne, Revised condition of the IBre.elites was very unlike Version); i.e. the ricll herbage which is that of modern European communities. burnt up by the heat or summer (comp. Though there were rich and poor among ver. 2). Both translations seem to be tenable; them, there could scarcely be any that were but tile latter is perhaps preferablB, since 'llery poor. Where there wo.s e. general the consumption of the fo.t of lambs upon obligation upon all well-disposed persons to the altar is connected with the idea, not of lend to such o.s were in need, and no interest rejection, but of aocepta.noe. Into smoke could be asked upon loaDB, and in the year shall they oonsume away (comp. Ps. oii. 3). of jubilee nil debts were remitted, and Ver. 21.-The wioked borroweth, and pe.y- mortgaged lands returned to their origino.l eth not again. The wicked man borrows owners or their families, actual begging with a light heo.rt, thougll he may !Jave no was soo.rcely possible, and at any rate could prospect of ever being able to repay. Living only be brought about by extreme and reck- under God's ourse (ver. 22), he is for tile less misconduct. Many pbilunthropists be- most part not able to repay; w!Jen he hap- lieve that even at the present time in our pens to be able, he is often not willing. own country mendicancy is nearly always the But the righteous showeth meroy, and giveth consequence of persistence in evil courses. (comp. Ps. ox.ii. 5, 9). Tile righteous has Still more must this have been the cnse in not often need to borrow (see Deut. xv. 6; Palestine in the time of the monarchy ( see :uviii. 12, 44). R11.ther, he lends and gives Prov. xx. 4). freely. Ver. 26.-Heis ever merciful, and lendeth Ver. 22.-For such as be blessed of him (oomp. ver. 21). This psalm contains o. good (i.e. God) shall inherit the earth (see above, denl of repetition, perhaps intended to em- ver. 11). And they th11,t be cursed of him phasize corlnin portions of ils teaching (see shall be cut oft' (see above, ver. 9), vers. 1, 7, 8; 3, 27; 11, 22, 29; 7, 3-1, etc.). Ver. 23.-Tha steps of a good mo.n are And his saed is blesaed (comp. Pos. xxv. 13; ordered by the Lord; rather, established; i.e. oii. 28 ; cir.ii. 2). uphcltl, and wade firm. It is not tllo genernl Ver. 27.-Depe.rt from evil, and do good. superintendence of men's stops aud goings The so.me injunction is given, iu enctly the by Gou (Prov. xvi. 9; xx. 24) which fa here same words, in Ps. xxxiv. 14. And dwell spoken of; but the special strengthening for evermore. 'filis is to Lo understood ,1s o. 1md supporting of the steps of t!Je pious. promise, •• If thou wilt dopnrt from evil, 'file word ;:u must be understood, not of o.nd do good, thon thou shalt dwell in tho the ordinary mo.n, but of tile gootl mo.n. lantl for evor" (comp. var. 3). (" i:ll, viii, scilicet justi, ot J ova benodicti," Ver. 28.-For the Lord lovoth judgment Hosonrniillor). And he delighteth in his (comp. Ps. xi. 7). "Jn,lgment"--O!lt:iO- way. lie "knows" it (PH. i. 6), o.nd looks is hero "justice," "rigllteousncss;" as in upon it with favour, o.nd oven "h!Li plco.- Pss. xxxiii. 5; xcix. 4; ciii. G, oto. And 1uro" in it (Ps. xxxv. 27). fors!lketh not his saints (soe vcr. 25; 0.11, l Ver. 2-1.-Though ha fall, he sh11,ll not bo comp. Is1\. xii. 17; xiii. 16, oto.). They o.ro utterly oaat down. "'fho difference," o.s preservod for over. Something has pro- Heugstenborg observes, "is tllo.t botwoen bably l'u.llon out o.t lho commencomeut of 288 TIIE DOOK OF PSALMS. [Ps. x.xxvn. 1-40.