THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., ORAN Oil' OLO!JC&STER;
AND BY THB
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
WITH
INTRODUCTIONS BY TBII
VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWLINSON, M.A. REV. A. PLUMMER, M.A., D.D.
NEW EDITION.
FUNK & WAGNALLS COl\tPANY LONDON AND NEW YORK 1907 P&DITD BY WILLI.All CLOWBS AND 501'5, LIIUTBD>,. LONDOS .&.Nit BECCLU. THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, 11:'.">JTBl) 11T 'l'IIS
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., J;&AJ< 01' G L0170U'I'B8;
AND BY THB
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
·p SALM S. e!xposilfon BY REV. G. RAWLINSON, M.A., OAliON or CilTBBllUBY.
~omiletics Bv REV. E. R. CONDER, D.D., AND
REV. W. CLARKSON, RA.
W.omilfrs b!.! l::Tntious fa uti)ors. REV. W. FORSYTH, D.D. RF.V. S. CON"WAY, R.:\, REV. R. TUCK, B.A. REV. 0. SHORT, D.D.
VOL. II.
NEW EDITION.
FUNK & WAGN.ALLS COMPANY LON'DON AND NEW YORK Hl07 THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
EXPOSITION. I who had wished for "the wings of a dove'• PSALM LVL (Pa. lv. 6), and was compelled to be silent Tu1s and the following have been called while he was in captivity. "twin pHlms." They begin with the same Ver. 1.-lle merciful unto me, 0 God: for words, are nearly of the same length, and man would swallow me np; literally, man have each e. refrain which divides them into panteth after me-like a wild beast after two portions. Formally, the chief differ- his prey. The contrast is sharp between "man" (enosh, "weak man") and G'Jd ence between the two is that Ps. lvi. has (Elohim, "the Mighty One"). He fighting an epilogue, or e.ppendix (vers. 12, 13), after daily oppresseth me; rather, all the day the second refrain, to which there is nothing long is he fighting and oprwessing me. correspondent in Ps. lvii. Both psalms were Ver. 2.-Mi.ne enemies; literally, my written under circumstances of great dis- watchers-those who keep a continual guard tress, e.nd the tone of thought in them is over me. If David had been seized and made a prisoner by the Philistine lords, this very similar. Each begins with comple.int, expression wonld be very appropriate. and earnest pre.yer for deliverance, while Would daily swallow me up; rather, pant each ends with praise and triumph. after me all day. For they be many that The present psalm has a very complex fight against me. The "lords of the Philis- heading, or" title." First, it is addressed, tines" were, doubtless, " many ; • thej" seem to haYe, all of them, opposed theru· like most of the other psalms of this book, selves to David (1 Sam. xxix. 2-9). O thou " to the chief musician," or "precentor." Most High. This rendering is now generally Then it is said to be "On the silent dove abandoned, since marom (Ci-ir,i), "height," of far-off regions." Thirdly, it is called is nowhere else used in this sense. Dr. "Michtam of David," which some explain Kay, Hengstenberg, and the Revised Ver- as "a golden psalm composed by David." sion render "proudly;" Professor Cheyne, "with high looks." And fourthly, the occasion of its composi- Ver. 3.-What time I am afraid, I will tion is declared to have been "the seizure trust in thee; literally, the day when I am of David by the Philistines iu Gath." afraid. When the day comes that I feel David's nulhorship may readily be acceptecl, fear stealing over me, by an act of will I for the psalm is, as Ewald says," one of the (even I, weak as I am) will put my trust in thee (comp. Pss. vii. 1 ; xi. 1 ; xviii. 2, 1:1ost beautiful in the Psl\lter." And the etc.). occasion is not to be lightly set aside; since, Ver. 4.-In God I will praise his word; e.ltllough no seizure of David by the Philis- rather, through God; i.e." with God's help, tines of Gath is mentioned in 1 Samuel, by his grace," I am ready to pmise whatever such an event is quite conceivable; while sentence be pronounces, whatever fiat goes forth from him. In God I have put my trust no compiler or editor of a late date would (so ago.in, ver. 11 ). This is at once tho have ventured to interpolate such a fact refrain and the key-note of the psalm. In into the accepted history of David. The all dangers, in all troubles, whatever hap- "silent dove" is, no doubt, David himself, pens, whatever seems to be impending, the PSALMS-II, B
503 2 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. Lrs. 1,v1. 1-13.