The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 83

The plm1se, "Al-taschith," in the "title," the meaning to be, "For it fa not from the is probably a mu3ical term. It occurs also east, nor is it from the west, nor yet from in the titles of Pee. !vii., !viii., and !ix. the mountRinous desert [that help cometu)." But the ellipse of the main idea is impro- Ver. 1.-Unto th3e, 0 God, do we give bable. The address is to the enemies who thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for threaten Israel, " Lift not up your horns-- that thy Name ia near thy wondrous works speak not proudly-for exaltation comes not deolare j literally, and thy Name is near from any earthly quarter-east, west, north, (i.e. thy providence and care 11re close to or south" ("north" being omitted, as us); tliis do thy 1oondrous ,rorlca declare. sufficiently implied in the othera); it is God The •• wondrous works'' are those of times alone who gives it, and he is not likely to past (comp. Ps. lxxiv. 12-15), whereof the give it to you." psalmist anticipates a continuance or Ver. 7.-But God is the Judge ( comp. Pss. repetition. 1. 6; lxxxii. 1: xciv. 2; and, especi3lly, Ver. 2.-When I shall reoeive the con- the original of all the later passages, Gen. gregation; rnther, when I shall haDe ap- xv iii. 25). He putteth down one, and setteth pointed a set time. It is agreed that the np (or, exaltetk) another (comp. 1 Sam. ii. speaker, in this verse and the next, is God, . 7; Dan. ii. 21: iv. 17). True equally of who announces that ho is about to descend nations and of individuals. in judgmcnt, This, however, he will do Ver. 8.-For in the hand of the Lord there "at his own set time," for which men must is a cup, and the wine is red. The " cup we.it patiently (comp. Hab. ii. 3). I will of God's fury" is e. frequent metaphor with judge uprightly ; or, "with nprightnese" the prophets (Isa.. li. 17, 2l; Jer. xxv. 15, (comp. Ps. !viii. 1). 17, 28; xlix. 12; Lam. iv. 21; Ezek. x.riii. Ver. 3.-The earth and e.ll the inhabitants 31-33; Hab. ii. 16, etc.); and is commonly thereof are dissolved. They "melt" with represented as full of wine, which his fear (Ps. xlvi. 6), either at God's coming in enemies have to drink. The "red!less " of judgment, or e.t the dissolution which e. the wine typifies tlie shedding of blood. It hostile invasion is bringing on their land. is full of mixture. Mingled, i.e., with I bear up the pillars of it. MeUI1while God spices, and so made stronger and more upholds, and will uphold, both the moral efficacious (see Prov. ix. 2; xxiii. 30; and pliysice.l order of things. He will Cant. viii 2; Isa. v. 22). And he polll'eth neither suffer the earth to be moved, nor out of the same, God pours out the cup of the supports on which society depends to his fury on all nations, or persons, whom he fe.il and crumble away. chooses to afflict, and they are compelled to Ver. 4,-I said. It is doubtful who is the drink of it (Jer. x.xv. 15-28). But the dregs speaker. Professor Cheyne regards the thereof, all the wicked of the earth llh&ll entire passage from the beginning of ver. 2 wring them out, and drink them. To drink to the end of ver. 5 as spokeu by the o. cup, dregs e.nd all, is to empty it wholly, Almighty ; but most commentators assign to s1mllow down nil its contents. vere. 4 and 5 to the psalmist or the people Ver. 9.-But I will de~la.re for ever; i.e. of Israel. Unto the fools; i.e. to the enemy "I will declare these things "-viz. God's which was attacking Israel; literally, to just judgments upon the wicked. I will the boasters, or to tJ.e arrO!lant ones (see Bing praises to the G~d of Jacob. On the Revised Version). Daal not foolishly; force of the phrase," God of Jacob," see lhe rather, deal not 10 arrogantly. Do not set comment upon Ps. xx. 1. yourselves so proudly against the Almighty. Ver. 10.-All the homs of the wicked also And to the wioked, Lift not up the horn; will I 011t 01[ Besides declaring God"s •·•· be not fierce and menacing, like o. bull judgments and singing his praises, the who threatens with his horn~. psalmist adds that he will, as far o.s lies in Ver. 5.-Litt not up your horn on high; his power, seek to e.dva.nce God's cause, e.nd speak not witli a stiJf neck, The phrase, "a establish his kingdom, by checkiug, con- stiff neck;'' common in the Pcntatcuch trolling, e.nd putting down the wicked. (Exod. xxxii. 9; xxxiii. 3, 5; xxxi v. 9; 'fhis he expresses by the metaphor, "I will Deut, ix. 6, 13; x. 16; xxxi. 27),is re.re cut oft' their horns;" i.e. bring down their elsewhere. It expresses pride, arrogance, ha.u~htiness, and deprive tliem of the po>wer and obstinacy. of aoing mischief. But the horns of the Ver. 6.-For promotion !ometh neither righteous shall be exalted. Then, as a from the east, nor from the west, nor from necessnry consequence, "the borne of the the south, So H~pfeld, Kay, Cnnon Cook, righteous "-their power f\Ild might e.nd und the Revised Version. Otliers suggest glory-will be exalted  92 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, LXXV, 1-10.