The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 255

EXPOSI'l'ION. night. The suitableness of worship every PSALM xcn morning 11.nd evening has been almost Ta:s p,o.lm is entitled, "e. Psalm or Song univerae.lly felt. The Mosaic Lo.w pro- vided for it by the establishment of the for the sabbo.th do.y," o.nd was therefore, morning 11.ud evening sacrifice (Exod. xxix. we may conclude, intended for liturgical 38, 39), with the accompanying ritual. use in the temple on that weekly festival Jewish piety added 11. noonday prayer (Pa. Jewish tradition so.ye that it was snug in lv. 17; Dan, vi. 10), and Christian zeal the morning a.t the time of the drink offering established the "seven hours of prayer." Morning and evening still, however, remain, of the first lam b. It was also, we 11.re told. by common acknowledgment, the most ap- recited on the second day of the Feast of propriate times for worship. Tabernacles (' Middoth,' iL 5). The pee.Im Ver. 3.-Upon e.n instrument of ten is altogether one of praise end thanks- strings, e.nd upon the psaltery, Some think giving. It is optimistic, looking forward that only one instrument is intended here, and translate, "Upon e.n instrument of ten to the complete destruction of all God's etring-e, eren upon the psaltery" (or, "the enemies (vers. 7-9), and the complete lute "). (On the character of the psaltery, triumph 11.Ild happiness of his faithful ones see the comment on Pe. xxxiii. 2.) Upon the (vere. 10-14). Some Jewish commentators 'harp with e. solemn sound. The reference viewed it as descriptive of the final sabbath is clearly to the public service of the temple, since in the private devotions of the faithful of the world's rest; and so Atho.naeius, who instruments were not likely to be used. says of the author, .Al11,, iK<•V11" 'N/11 ")'Ell'tJ- Ver. 4.-For thou, Lord, hast made me uoµEvTJv 0..11&.1rauuu,. glad through thy work. It is difficult to Metrically, the psalm seems to divide say what " work" is intended. Some have into three portions, the first and second of supposed "the work of creation," as the pee.Im is one "for the eabbath" ( see ti tie) ; four verses each (vere. 1--4, 5-S), the third but perhaps the general" working" of God's of seven verses (verH. 9-15). providence in the world is more probable, (So Hengstenberg, Kay, and Cheyne.) I Ver. 1.-It is a good thing to give thanks will trilllllph in the works of thy hands. unto the Lord (comp. Ps. cxlvii. 1). By A repetition for the sake of emphasis. "a good thing" is meant that wbich is at Ver. 5.-0 Lord,how great a.re thy works! once right and pleasant. And to sing (comp. Pe. :ir:J.. 5). Mighty and wonderful, praises llll.to thy Name, 0 Most lligh. I srael'a i.e., a.re the ways of Providence. And thy Lord, Jebovah, is also "the Most High over thoughts are very deep (comp. Job xi. 8). e.11 the earth" (Pa. lxxxiii 18), a.nd should Ver. 6.-A brutish man knoweth not ; ut e.11 times be thought of e.s both. neither doth a fool understand thi.B, A \' er. 2.-To show forth thy loving-kindne11 rude, uncultivated mo.n has no conception In the morning, all.cl thy faithfulD.e11 every of the wonderful depth of God's thoughts- PB, ltoII, 1-15.) 'CHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 283