The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 115

"rec0unted to us" (I,ay). The facts of Ver, 8.-And might not be aa their their past history had been handed down fathers, a atubborn and rebellious genera- orRlly from father to son among the tion ( oomp. Dcut. :xxi. 18, 20, for the Iemelites, not simply learnt from their combination of the two words). The sacred writinge. So the facta of Chris- "stubbornness" of Israel is noted in Dout. tianity have reached us, not morel'° through ix. 27; Judg. ii. 19; and frequenlly by the New 'l'estament, but also by the teach- Jeremiah (iii. 17; vii. 24; ix. 14; :xi. 8, ing or the Church. etc.); their" robelliousness" in Dcut. ix. 7, Yer. 4.-We will not hide them from 24; Isa. :xxx. I, 9; !xv. 2; Jer. v. 23; Ezek. their children. They shall still be handed ii. 3-8; iii. 9, 26, 27; xii. 2, 8, elo. down in the same wny. We of this gene- (<'ompare also fo~ the idea 2 Kings :xvii. ration will still oontinue the practice of 14-17; 2 Chron, xx:xvi. 14-16; Ezra ix. handing down, by word of mouth, to the 6, 7; Neh. i. 6, 7; Dan, ix. 5-11; and next generotion, how God hn.e don.It with Acts vii. 51, "Ye stiff-necked and un- Ismel. Asu.ph's psa.lms were written, it circumcised in heart and ea.re, ye do always must be remembered, to be rerited in the resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, ser~ices of the sanctuary (comp. 2 Chron. so do ye"). A generation tho.t set not their xxix. 30). Showing to the generation to heart aright; literally, that prepared flOt come the praises of the Lord; i.e. the their hea,·t-did not make it ready to receive actions for which he deserves praise. And Divine influences (see I Sam. vii. 3; Job .xi. his strength, and his wonderfal works that 13; 2 Chron. :xx. 33). And whose spirit he bath done (comp. vers. 12-16, and vers. was not steadfast with God. It was not that 23-55). Israel was wholly without religious feeling, Ver. 5.-For he established a testimony but the feeling was fickle, unstee.dfe.st, never in J'acob, and appointed a law in Israel to be depended on (comp. E:xod. xx:xii. 1-6; The "testimony" and the "law" are the Numb. :xvi. 41, 42; Judg. ii. 17, etc.). whob series of commands given by God to his people, beginning with the direc- Vere. 9-72.-Tbe historica.l portion of tions concerning circumcision in Genesis the pse.lm now follows. H commences with (xvii 10-14), and terminating with the le.et precept in Deuteronomy (xxxii. 46). some genera.I remarks on the transgressions They may include also the teachings of Ephraim, i.e. of Israel while under the of God throngh history. These he com- guidance of Ephraim-from Joshua to manded onr fathers, that they should make Samuel (vers. 9-11). It then proceeds them known t~ their children (see Exod. to details, and sketches tb e Israelite history xii. 26, 27; xiii 8, 14, 15; Deut. iv. 9; vi. from the deliverance out of Egypt ~o the 7 ; :xi. 19 ; x:xxiL 46, etc.). Ver. 6.-Tha.t the generation to come establishment of David's kingdom (vers. might know them. " The generation to 12-72). come" is the nezt generation, that imme- diately following those t.o whom the Ver. 9.-The ohildren of Ephraim (comp. command was directly given. Even the ver. 67). Ephraim wn.e the leading tribe, children which should be born. Their from the appointment of Joshua. to succeed actnal sons and daughters. Who should Moses until the establishment of Saul as arise Bll.d declare them to their children. king. Hence the tabernacle was set up The first generation were to hand the within the territory of Ephraim (,Josh. :xviii. knowledg"e on to the second, the second to 1). The importance of Ephraim appears the third, and so on. This is the way in in Judg. iii. 27; vii. 2-:l; viii. I, 2; x. 9; which the bulk of human knowledge :xii. 1-6. Being armed, and carrying bows. sctually passes on. Not much is lee.rot There is no "and" in the original. "Carry• from boOks without a tee.char (see Acts ing bows" is e:xegelice.l of" being armed" viii. 31). (comp. 2 Chron. xvii. 17). Turned back in Ver. 7.-Tha.t they might set their hope the day of battle, The allusion is not to in God. lustruction in God's Law, and in any one particular occn.eion, but to the ill !,is treatment of their forefathers, would success of Israel under the leadership of naturally tend to make the Israelites "set Ephraim during the whole period of the their hope in God," who in the past had Judge3 (see Judg.ii.14; iii. 8,13,31; iv, done so much for them. And not forget the 2; vi. 1; :x. 7, 12, etc.). works of God. 'fhcy could not well forget, Ver. 10.-Tbey kept not the covenant of it they were perpetually reminded of them. God (comp. Deut. xxi:x. 25; :xxxi. 20; I But keep his commandments. If they bore Kings :xix. 10, 14, eto.). And refuaed to God's works-i.e. hie mo.ny mercies-in walk in his law (see J udg. ii. 11-13; viii. mind, they would be the more disposed to 33; :x. 10). . vbedience. Ver. 11.-And forgat hie works (see ver PB, LXXVIII, 1-72.] 'l'llE BOOK OF PSALMS. 125