Vers. 1-5.-The psalm celebrates the majesty of Jehovah as Creator and Ruler of the universe. 'l'hree principal thoughts- !. GOD IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FIERCEST OPPOSITION OF HIS FOES. The "floods" and" rna.ny waters" and" mighty waves" are figures denoting the angry and turbulent opposition of his foes. But he is mightier than and high above them all. 1. Be is actual King, and reigns over the whole universe. (Ver. 1.) He bath girded himself with strength for the subjugo.tion of his enemies. 2. Be created man and nature. (Ver. 1.) "The world is established, that it cannot be mo,·ed." It stands last by his will and power. 3. His righteous sway and government are of eternal duration. (Vers. 2, 4.) .And cannot be overthrown by the utmost power of man. II. Goo IS NOT ONLY ADLE BOT FAITHFUL TO FULFIL THE PROMISES HE HAS MADE. (Ver. 6.) Promises of deliverance from captivity, and of safety and salvation. Jll. BECAUSE GoD IS MIGHTY AND FAI'l'IIFUL AND HOLY, HE WILL PRESERVE HIS CHUROH INVIOLATE. (Ver. 5.) God dwells with his Church and people, and is the guarantee of their holiness nnd perfcction.-S. 300 THI~ BOOK OF PSALMS, [PB, XOIV. 1-28.
EXPOSITION. PSALM XCIV. boast tbemselves ; or, "Mrry themselves proudly" (Cheyne). Tms psalm is primArily (vers. 1-11) e. "cry Ver. 5.-They break m. pieces thy people, for vengeance on Israel's oppressors, passing 0 Lord; or, "crush,"" oppress" ( comp. Isa. into an Rppeal for more fe.ith to God's own iii. 15; Prov. xxii. 22, where the verb is people" (Cheyne). In the le.tter half (vers. evidently used, not of foreign foes, but of domestic oppressors). And afflict thine heri- 12-?3) the psalmist comforts himself with tage; or," thine iuheritnnoe "-those whom the thought that God will assuredly protect thou hast t1tken to be thy "peouliar people" bis own, and bring destruction upon the (Dent. xiv. 2), thine own ex elusive possession. evil-doers (vers. 12-23). Metrically, the Ver. 6.-They slay the widow and the psalm is made up of four strophes-the first stranger, and murder the fatherless (comp. Isa. i.17-23: x. 2; Ezek. xx.ii. 6-9; Mal. of seven verses ( vers. 1-7) ; the next of iii. 5; also Ps. x. 8-10). fonr (vers. 8-11); the third of eight (vers. Ver. 7.-Yet they say, The Lord shall not 12-19); and the last of four (vers. 20-23). see (comp. Ps. x. 11, 13). Foreign enemies Yers. l-7.-ThecryfortJengeance. Israel did not suppose that Jehovah would not is sn1l'ering oppression-not, however, from see, but trusted that their own gods were stronger than he, and would protect them foreign enemies, bnt from domestic tyrants (2 Kings xviii. 33-35). Neither she.11 the (vers. 4-6). Innocent blood is shed; the God of Jacob regard it. "The God of widow and the orphan are trodden down. Jacob" would not be e. nature.I expression God, it is supposed, will not see or will not in the mouth of Israel's foreign foes. They regard ( ver. 7). The psalmist, therefore, knew nothing of Jacob. But it was a.n expression frequently used by Israelites cries ont to God to manifest himself by (Gen. xlix. 24; Pss. xx. 1; xlvi. 7; lxxv, taking signal vengeance on the evil-doers 9; lxxvi. 6; lxxxi. I, 4; Isa. ii. 3; xli. 21; (vers. 1, 2). Micah iv. 2, etc.). Ver. 1.-0 Lord God, to whom vengeanoe Vers. 8-11.-The appeal to Israel. The belongeth (comp. Deut. xxxii. 35, "To me oppressors thought that their condnct would belongeth vengeance and recompence;" not be observed by God, or would not be and Jer. li. 56, where God is called "the ta.ken into account. The psalmist appeals Lord God of recompences," e.s be is here- to them not to be so brutish and foolish literally-" the Lord God of vengeances"). 0 God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show (ver. 8), and argues, from the first prin- thyself; or," shine forth "-me.ke thy jnstice ciples of natural theology, that God must to appear ; show thyself in thy ehe.racter of see and hear ( ver. 9). If he chastises the e. God who will by no means clear the heathen, why should he not also punish guilty (Exod. xxxiv. 7). them (ver. 10)? Ver. 2.-Lift up thyself (comp. Ps. -vii. 6; Isa. xxxiii. 10). "Rouse thyself," that Ver. 8.-Understand, ye brutish among iB, "from thy state of inaction "-come and the people (comp. Ps. xcii. 6). That there -risit the earth as Judge. Thon Judge of were among God's people some so" brutish" the ee.rth ( comp. Gen. xviil. 25; Ps. 1viii. e.s to suppose that God either did not see 11 ). Render a rewe.rd to the proud ; rather, or did not regard their misdoings, appears render a recompenae-as the same phrase is also from Ps. x. 11, 13. And ye fools, when transla1ed in Lam. iii. 64. will ye be wise 1 When will ye put away Yer. 3.-Lord, how long shall the wicked, your folly, and allow Wisdom to enter into how long shall the wicked triumph t "How your hearts? She is always crying in the long?" is the continual cry of the psalmists streets: when will ye consent to listen tn God, as it is of the souls under the altar (comp. Prov. i. 20-23)? (Rev. vi. I O; corn p. a hove, Pss. ,i. 3; xiii. Ver. 9.-:e:e that planted the ear, shall 1, 2; xxxv. 7; lxx.iv. 10; lx.xix. 5; lxxxix. he not hear 1 he that formed the eye, shall 46; xc. 13). It is e. cry of weakness and he not see t This argument for e. real, per- impatience, but has e.n element of faith in sonal, intelligent God appears here, for the it, on which God looks with favour. first time. It is of irresistible force. " Can Ver. 4.-How long shall they utter and it be possible that God, who pla.nntod and !!peak hard things 1 rather, they pour forth, made the curious mechanism of hearing and they utter arrogant things; lit.ere.Uy, arro- vision, ia l.iimself without those fa.culties, or ga,-.u. And all the worker■ of iniquity something e.nalogoll8 to them? Must he not PB, XOIV, 1-23.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 301