The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 135

from what le rela,ted of the E1!1Jmitee in Pe. and xxxii. 27). And deliver us, and purge oxxxvii. 7. A 100m and derision to them away our sins; litera.lly, make atonement /01' that are round about ua, It was not ao ou,r inns (Exod. xxx. 15); i.e. "cancel them" much the "reproaches" of their enemies (Cheyne), or "forgive them" (Hengsten- thot vexed oncl grieved Israel, as the jeers berg, Kay). For thy Name's sake (c1Jmp. and scoffs which they heord on every side Pse. xxiii. 3; xxv. 11; x..xxiv. 3; Ezek. (oomp. Lam. i. 7, 20; ii. 15; iii,. 62, 63). xxxvi. 22). Ver. 5.-How long, Lord 1 i.e. "How • Ver. 10.-Wberefore should the heathen long, 0 Lord, ie this condition of things to say, Where is their God l (so Joel ii. 17). endure?" (comp. Pee. vi. 5; xc. 13; Rev. vi. A triumph over a foreign nation was always l 0). An ellipse arter " how long?" is com- regarded in the ancient W1Jrlrl os a triumph mon. Wilt thou be angry for ever 1 (see over their gods. Their gods were bound to Pee. xiii. I; lxxiv. 12; Lam. v. 20). Shall protect them, and, if they did not, must thy jealousy burn like fire 1 H was their either have been absent or powerlcee (comp. worship of other gods that God especially 2 Kings xviii. 33-35; xix. 12). Let him visited on his people by the Babylonish be known among the heathen in our sight captivity (see Jeremiah, passim). by the revenging of the blood of thy servants Ver. 6.-Pour out thy wrath upon the which is shed; rather, let there be shoim heathen that have not known thee. It is forth among the heathen in ou.r sight ven- not the heathen that had never heard of geance for the blood of thy ser·vant. that has God who are intended, but those who, having been shed; or, iu other words, "Let an heard of him, had refused to" know" him evident judgment, visible to us, fall upon (comp. Exod. v. 2), as was the case with all the heathen who have shed the blood of our the nations round about Canaan. And upon brethren, thy true servants." An immediate the kingdoms that have not called upon thy judgment is prayed for; hut it did not Name. Now that we are punished, go on to please God to send the judgment till after punish those who havo persecuted us, and the expiration of a long term of years. who are at least as guilty ae ourselves. Ver. 11.-Let the sighing of the prisoner "The prayer rests," as Hengstenberg re- come before thee; or, the groaning, as in marks, "upon what God does constantly. Exud. ii. 24. The Babylonians treated tlleir Judgment begins at the house of God; but Jewish capti,es variously. Some, like it proceeds thenoe to those whom God has Daniel and the "Three Children," were employed 11B the instrument of his p,mish- favoured, and exalted to high places. But ment. The storm of the wrath of God the bulk of them were afflicted and oppressed always remains to foll at last upon the (see Lam. i. 3-5; v. 18, etc.). But, whether world Rt enmity with his Church." well or ill treated, all sighed to rctnrn Ver. 7.-For they have devoured ;Jacob, (comp. Ps. cxxxvii. 1-6). According to and laid waste his dwelling-place. This the greatness of thy power preserve thou and the preceding verse occur also, almost those that are appointed to die; liter.illy, word for worJ, in Jer. x. 25. It ie difficult that are children of death, which may have to say which wriLer ho.a quoted from the the meaning assigned to it in our version, other. or may simply signify," those whose death Ver. 8.-0 remember not against ns is imminent"-who cannot live long now former iniquities; or, the iniquities of our that they are torn from their country. The /orefathen (ao Professor Cheyne and the phrase recurs in Ps. cii. 20. Revised Version); comp. Lev. xxvi. 45, "I Ver. 12.-And rander unto our neighbours will remember to them the covenant of their sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, onccstors"-whcre the same word (c•~~tt")) wherewith they have reproaohed thee, 0 is used. Let thy tender mercies speedily Lord. (For the "reproach" intended, see prevent us; or, come to meet 11,3 (Ka.y, ver. 10.) 'fhe wholo passage weo.ns, Cheyne). For we are brought very low "Punish them seven times as much as thou (comp. Pes. cxi. 6; oxlii. 6). hast punished us." Then their reproa.ch Ver. 9.-Help us, 0 Go(!. of our salvation, will be seven times as great. for the glory of thy Name. The calamities Ver. 13.-So we thy people and sheep of suffered have not extinguished all fnith or thy pasture (see Pa. lniv. I; and comp. hope. God ie still the God of Isro.el'e e&l- Pa. lxxviii. 52). Will give thee thanks for vation, i.e. the God from whom 11,lone salva- ever. When thou hast punished our ene- tion can be obto.iued and mny be expeotcd. mies, and delivered us, we will give thee He is entreated to come to Iere.cl'e nid, not thanks perpotunlly, and show forth thy for their Hakes, ae they aro wholly unde- praise to all generation& An instwlce of serving, but for hie own glory (comp. Exod. id~ntioal porallelism. xuii. 12; Nv111b. xiv. 13; Deut. ix. 28;  HS THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, LXXIX, 1--13