EXPOSITION. indicated by the pa.use-me.rlr, "Selah.'' PSALM LIV. Then, confident of his prayer having been Tms is a short psalm, written in a time of heard, the psalmist breaks out into e. joyous great trouble, and containing, first, an burst of thankfulness and self-gratulation (vers. 4-7). The Lord is with them that earnest prayer for deliverance (vers. 1-3); uphold my soul; rather, of them (Revised o.nd then an expression of confidence in Version); i.e." one of them." But the in- God's aid, and of thankfulness for the tention is not to place God on a par. with deliverance, which is counted as o.bsolutely other helpers. Rather, as Professor Oheyno remarks, it is to make him the representa- certain (vers. 4-7). The "title," whioh tive of" the class of helpers." assigns the psalm to David, and makes the Ver. 5.-Re shall reward evil unto mine occasion his betrayal to Saul by the enemies; literally, he shall return the wrong Ziphites, nppears to be trustworthy. upon my adversaries. "The wrong" is that which his adversaries had wished to inflict Ver. 1.-Save me, 0 God, by thy Name; upon the psalmist, viz. death (see 1 Sam. i.e. by tbe qualities of which thy" Name" xxiii. 19, 20). Cut them off in thy truth; is significant-power, goodness, and truth. or, "in thy truthfulness" (Cheyne). God And judge me; i.e. ". vindicate me,'' or he.::! given his people-those who were faith- "jndge my cause." By thy strength; or, ful to him-the promise of his protection, "thy might "-the might which tho_u pos- and, heing true, could not go back from his sessest as e. giubor, or "hero." word. Ver. 2.-Rea.r my prayer, 0 God; give ea.r Ver. 6.-I will freely sacrillce unto thee. to the words of my mouth (comp. Pss. Confidence has now mounted up to cer- xxxix. 12; Iv. 1), tainty. Regarding the deliverance as ac- Ver. 3.-For strangers a.re risen up complished, the psalmist promises a free- age.inst me. David's designation of his will offering (HengHtenberg, Kay, Canon foes as "strangers" has been made an Cook) to God, so soon ns ho can approach are-ument aa-ainst the trustworthiness of the the sanctuary. The phrase used is the "title," sinie the Ziphites were Israelites ordinary one for so.crificcs of thanksgiving of the tribe of Judah (Josh. xv. 55). But (Numh. xv. 3). I will praise thy Namo, 0 he might well call those "strangers" who Lord; for it is good (comp. Ps. Iii. 9). were treo.ting him as an alien. Comp. Pa. Ver. 7.-For he hath delivered me out of en:. 5, where "the psalmist, heavily op- all trouble. "'fho poet looks forward, and pressed by his countrymen, ~.omplains tho.t treats tbo future as po.et" (Cheyne). He he dwelt in Meshec-h and Keclar" (Heng- sees tho "troubles" over, the Ziphites dis- stenberg). And oppressors seek after my appointed and puuished, himself not only &oul; or, my life. The phrase is exactly preserved from the immediate danger, hut that used in I Sam. xxiii. 15, when David altogether freed from trouble of every kincl, we.sin the wilderness ofZiph, in a wood, and and rejoices in the dclivcro.nce which he " saw that Saul was come out to seek his life." feels hns been accorded him. And mine eye They have not set God before them (comp. hath seen his dcsiro upon mine enemica. Ps. l.xxxvi. 14). Dal'id, on the contrary," set Thero is nothing about "desire" iu the the Lord always before him" (Ps. xvi. 8). original, which seems rather to mean, Ver. 4.-llehold, Go:!. is mine Helper. "Mino eye hns looked, calmly and lnisurcly There is a l)aue,e between vers. 3 e._nd 4, upon my (defea.ted) enemies" (eo Dr. Kuy:, PB, LV, 1-23,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS, 4:18
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-7 .-Peril and prayer. Here we have- I. PERIL MOVING TO PI\AYER, (Vers. 1-3.) Danger may arise from various causes, Soul-danger is the worst. Then when sore pressed and in trouble, the instinct of tb1. heart is to cry to God, "Save me I" Prayer is "the mighty utterance of a mighty need" (Trench). II. PRAYER INBPmmG CONFIDENCE, (Ver. 4.) Prayer brings the soul into the very presence of God. '!'be thought of what he is (" thy Name") and of what he has done (" God is mine Helper"), furnish ample pleas for entreaty, and sure ground for hope. Experience gives us courage to cleave to the word of promise, "If God be with us, who can be against us?" III. CONFIDENCE ANTICIPATING DELIVERANCE, (Ver. 5.) The nearer we get to God, the more truly we are in sympathy with him, so as to make his will our will, the more certain do we become of deliverance, We rise to the vision of victory. God is ever on the side of right. There may still be clouds, but we see the bright light shining above the clouds. There may still be struggles and pains, but we press on with renewed ardour and assurance, for we know whom we have believed, and that be is able to keep that which we have committed to him, and to bring forth judgrnent unto victory. IV. DELIVERANCE AWAKING PBAISE, (Ver. 6.) Some forget their obligations to God when the danger is past; but it will not be so with the righteous. Like the Samaritan leper, they return to give glory to God-with sacrifices of thanksgiving and songs of praise.-W. F. Vere. 1-7.-Prayer for deliverance. I. A PRAYER TO BE DELIVERED FROM IMPENDmG DANGER. (Vers. 1-3.) The prayer is grounded: 1. Upon the Divine nature. "By thy Name, by thy strength." It is God's nature to save; be uses his omnipotence on behalf of those who call upon him. 2. Upon the righteousness of his cause. "Judge my cause [or, 'avenge me'] bytby strength." We can pray when we are pleading for a good cause. 3. Upon the character of those who threatened his safely. (Ver. 3.) They were not men who acted as if they were seen of God; did not set God before them. II. 'l'rm TRIUMPHANT ASSURANCE OF THE PSALMIST'S FAITH. (Vera. 4-7.) 1. He is assured of the general truth that God was his Helper. (Ver. 4.) He knew that God stood to him in that relation usually, and for ever. He would therefore trust. 2. Bis assurance is so great that he regards his deliverance as already accomplished. (Vere. 5-7.) He is therefore at rest and in peace, delivered from danger. 3. He will sacrifica and praise as one already saved. Fnith-real faith-is nlways joined to works.-S.