moat tangible are tho pain caused by the hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine desertion of his "lovers," "friends," and deceits all the day long; literally, ,peak "kinsmen" (ver. 11), and th(, alarm arising maligrdty; i.e. calumniate me- bring false a<'-eusalioas against me (comp. 2 Se.m. xvi. from tl,e action tnken, simultaneously, by 7, 8). his ill wishera and adveraaries (ver. 12). Ver. 13.-l!ut I, as a dee.f man, heard These afflictions bo.vo reduced I,im to a not. I took no notice, i.e. I made as if I condiLion of ailenee-nlmost of apathy, such was deaf. And I was as a dumb ma.n that e.s is described in vers. 13, 14. openeth not his mouth. So far tb is psalmist, whether David or another, was a type of Christ (see Isa. !iii. 7; Matt. xxvi. Ver. 9.-Lord, e.ll my desire is befora 63; xxvii. 14; 1 Pet. ii. 23). thee ; and my grcaning is not bid from Ver. 14.-Thus I was e.s a man that thee. This hns been called " the first hea.reth not, e.nd in whose m,uth are no indication of hope in this psalm;" but reproofs j i.e. I was like e. man who io there is e. gleau, of hope in the prayer unable to answer, to reprove, or rebuke of ver. I. Hope, however, does here show on adversary. So great 'l'l'as my self-1·c- itself more plainly than before. The straint. psalmist bas laid "all his desire" before Ver. 15.-For in thee, 0 Lord, do I hope. God, and feels Lhat God is weighing and Thus I octed, because my hope we.s in thee. considering it. He has also opened .to him I looked for thy interposition. I knew that "all his groanings''-uttercd freely all Ins thou wouldst "maintain my right, and my complaint. This he could he.ve been led cause" (Ps. ix. 4) in thine own good time to do only from a conviction that God and in thine own good we.y. I e.aid to myself was not irrevocably offended with him, but in my heart, Thou wilt hear-or rather, lhoi, might, by repentauce, confession, and earnest wilt answer (ReYised Vcrsion)-0 Lord my striviug after amendment (ver. 20), be recon- God j and I was cot1tent tu leave my defence ciled, nnd induced to become his Defence to thee. (ver. 15) o.ud hia Salvation (vcr. 22). Ver. 16.-For I said, Hear me, lest other- Ver. 10.-My heart panteth. This verse, wise they should rajoica over me; rather, which reverts to the bodily sufferings, seems for I said, I will be silent, lest othe,.wise they a little out of pince. But Hebrew poetry should rejoice over me. I feared lest by is nut logico.1, nnd cares little for exact answering rashly or intempc,e.tely I miglit arrangement. 'fLree more bodily trouules give my enemica oec,1siun against me. I are noticed, of which tide is tbo first-the knew by experience tlrnt, whan my foot heart "pants," i.e. throbs, or palpitates slippeth, they magnify themsl'l ves against violently. My strength faileth me. The me. They e.ro always on tho wntcb to strength suddenly rails. As for the light catch ut o.ny slip on my part, nnd make of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. it a ground for mognifying themselves and The sight swims, and is swallowed up in denying me. Hence my silence. darkness (comp. Job xvii. 7). Ver. 17.-For I am ready to he.It. I nm Ver. 11.-My lovers e.nd my friends ste.nd weak nnd helpless, liable ot any moment aloof from my sore; or, from my stroks to stumble and fa)l. And my sorrow is (comp. Ps. xxxix. 10, where the same word oontinually before me ; i.e. my sin, which is used). The pse.hnist feels himself to be I sorrow over, which lies at the root of all "stricken, smitten oi God" ( liju, liii. 4), my distress (comp. Ps. Ii. 3). Ho looks for comfort one.I sympathy to his Ver. 18.-For I will decla.ro mine iniquity; friends, but they, with a sellisl1noss that I will be sorry for my sin. 'fho four "fors," ia ouly too common, hold aloof, drnw o.way beginning four consecutive versos, are some- from him, und desert him (oomp. Job xix. what puzzling. C<1no11 Cook su~gost..:, that 13, H). And my kinsmen stnnd afar o:ff; tboy introduce four reasons for the psalmist's or, my 11eighliours. 'l'lle stricken deer is silence (vc•ra. 13, H) ond olistincnco from for,mkcn by tho rest of the herd (oomp. solf-justificotion: (I) because God heor8 Mu.It. xxvi. 56, 58). him, nu,l will mako answer for l,im (vcr. Ver. 12.-They also that seek aftor my 15); (2) because, if ho spoke, he might life lay snares for me. To the desertion of give further ooeasiou to his enemies (ver. friends is added the persecution of enemies, 16); (3) because ho feels in d11nger, anti who te.ke advantage of 1he debility and is conscious of sin (vcr.17); o.nd (4) beettuso prostration caused by siokness 1o plot ho has no oourso opon to him but confossiou a"ainst the wrilor's life, to "lay snares for and contrition. If we ore justified in him," ond dovise evil age.inst him. 'l'boae attributing the psohn to David, and in who assign tho psalm to David suppose assigning its composition to tho period the devices de,cribed in 2 Sam. xv. 1-6 lo immediately preceding Absalom's rebellion, be referred to. And they the.t seek my we must look upon it o.s opening to WI 300 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [Ps. xxx.vnr. 1-22.
a view of David's condition of mind at that David and joined the party of his son time which is of groat interest. (2 Sam. xv. 12, 13). Ver. 19.-But mine enemies are lively, Ver. 20.-They also that render evil for and they are strong. The psalmist goes good are mine adversaries (comp. Ps. xxxv. back to the thought of his enemies, to 12). Because I follow the tlung that good whom he has made no answer, and whom is; literally, because I follow good. he has not ventured to rebuke (vers. 13, 14). Ver. 21.-Forsake me not, 0 Lord (comp. He remembers that they are full of life Pss. xxvii. 9 ; lxxi. 9, 18; cxix. 8). God and strength ; he calls to mind the fact never really forsakes his saints (Ps. xxxvii. that they are many in number; he puts 28), He witbdrn.ws sometimes for wise on record the cause of their enmity, which purposes the sense of his presence and is not his sin, but his earnest endeavour favour, so that they feel as if tbey were to forsake his sin and follow after righteous- forsaken; but thfa is only temporo.ry.; O my ness (ver. 20); and then, in conclusion, be God, be not far from me (comp. Pss. xxii. makes a direct appeal to God for aid against 19 ; XXXV, 22; lxxi, I 2). them-first negatively (ver. 21), and then Ver. 22.-Make haste to help me, 0 Lord poilitively in the final outburst, " Make my Salvation (see Pss. xxii. 19: xxxi. 2: haste to help me, 0 Lord my Salvation" xl. 13: lxx. 1: lxxi. 12, etc.). This so (ver. 22). And they that hate me wrong- frequent cry always shows i=inent peril: fally are multiplied. This suits well the or at any rate, a belief in it. The writer here time of Absalom's conspiracy, when day was in danger doubly-from disease and from by day more and more of the people forsook his enemies. Thus he might well cry out.