The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 333

Ver. 8.-Mine enemiea reproe.oh me e.11 and deliver his saints out of their han,ld. the day, The reproach of their enemies Tho "Zion," on which he would "h;iva was always felt by the Israelites oe n bitter mercy," was not the city only, bnt lh" nggmvntion of their afflictions (see Pas. xiii. people belrmging to it. For the time to 10; xliv. 13-16; lxxix. 4; lxxx. 6, etc.). favour her (or, pity her), yea, the set time, They that are mad against me are sworn is come. By "the set time" is prnbahly against me ; rather, use me a8 their c!M'Be meant the time fixed by Jeremiah for lbe (comp. Jer. xxix. 22). It was e. common termination of the Captivity and the restora- form of cursing among the Israelites to wish tion of Jerusalem (Jer. xxv. 11, 12; xxix. e. man the same fate as hil.d befallen some 10), and alluded to by Daniel in Dan. ix. 2. one whose unhappiness was notorions. This time, the psalmist saya, e.pproacbes. Ver. 9.-For I have eaten ashes like Ver. 14.-For thy servants take pleasure bread; i.e. " the 'ashes ' of humiliation in her stones (comp. Isa. !xiv. 10, 11; Lo.m. have been my food. I have, e.s it were, fed iv. 1; N eh. ii. 13; iv. 2). To this day the on them." A literal mingling of ashes with same affection is shown by Israelite pilgrims his food is not to be thought of. And at tile" Jewr/ Wailing-Place." And favour mingled my drink with weeping (comp. (re.ther,pity) the dust thereof. The rubbish Pss. xiii. 3 ; lxxx. 5). in which the stones lay (Neh. iv. 2) seems Ver. 10.-Bece.use of thine indignation to be intended. and thy wrath. " The bitterest ingredient Ver. 15.-Bo the heathen shall fear the of our cup of sorrow," says Dean Johnson, Name of the Lord (comp. Isa. lix.19). The "is to know that it is owing to J ehove.h's restoration of J eruaalem could not but im- wrath e.nd fierce anger for sin." For thou press great numbers of the heathen, and hast lifted me up, and cast me down. " Ele- tend to the enle.rgemen t of J ehovah's king- vated me," i.e. "only to cast me down, and dom. And all the kings of the earth thy so make my affliction the greater." The glory. Oriental hyperbole, if confined to allusion is probably to the former prosperity the immediate effects of the rebuilding of of the speaker, and of Israel genero.lly, in the earthly Jerusalem; but simple truth, if their own land, and their present misery in extended to the establishment on earth of Babylon (compare, however, Job xxvii. 21; the new and heavenly Jerusalem (Isa. hv. XXX, 22). 17-25; Rev. xxi. 1-24). Ver.11.-My days are like a shadow that Ver. 16.-When the Lord shall build up deolineth; literally,that lengthe11s,e.s slle.dows Zion; rather, ber,ause the L(Yrd hath built up do when the day declines (comp. ver. 2i). Zion. The psalmist, in prophetic ecstasy, The psalmist, like his nation, 18 old before sees the future e.s past. The verbs in this his time; the she.des of evening ho.ve come and the next verse are all preterite. Ha upon him, when he should lle.ve been in his &hall appear in his glory; rather, hath ap- midday brightnees. And I am withered peared in his glory (see Isa. xl. 5). like grass (comp. ver. 4). The ''I" here Ver. 17.-Re will regard the prayer ot is emphatic ('l!:)-not only is the psalmist's the destitute, and not despise their prayer ; heart withered, but he himself is altogether rather, he hath regarded . . . and hath not scorched and dried up. despised (see the Revised Version). The Ver. 12.-The second part of ·the psalm word translated "destitute" is elsewhere here begins. Against the complaint is to (Jer. xvii. 6) only used e.s the name of a be set the confident hope and consolation. shrub-probably the dwarf juniper, still so But thou, 0 Lord, she.It endure for ever. God co.lied by the Arabs. The dwarf juniper does not" wither'' or decay-God aud God's he.s "e. gloomy stunted appearance" ('fri~- purposes" endure for ever." It matters not tre.m), and well symbolizes the Israal uf the that Israel is brought so low, and seems at Captivity period, dry and withered, like a the last gasp; God can re.ise up his people, wretched desert shrub. and will do so in his own good time (vers. Ver. 18.-This she.11 be written for the 13-17). And thy remembrance unto all generation to oome ; or, let it be written; generations; or, thy memorial (Revised Ver- -ypa.tf>11-ro, mll-r11, LXX. The mercy of God in sion); see Exod. iii. 15. God's "remem- restoring his people to their own land and branoe," or "memorial," consists in the oity must be recorded in writing, as his recollection, that his faithful ones he.ve, of past mercies h1we been (Exod. xvii. H: ; his historically manifested attributes. If Deut. xxxi. 19), for the edification of future this recollection is never to puss e.way, his generations. The record wns made by Ezra faithful ones must remain also, to keep and Nehemiah. And the people which shall it up. be oreated ahe.11 praise the Lord. Restored Ver.13.-Thoushe.lt arise, and have meroy Israel is spoken of as a new creo. tion ( cum p. upon Zion (comp. Pss. iii. 7; xii. 5; lxviii. Ps. xxii. Sl; Isa. xliii. 7, 21). It was, in- 1). God is so.id to "e.rise," when he bestirs deed, a sort of resurrection from the <lead himself to take vengeance on hie enemies, (see Ezek. xxxvii. 1-10). (For the" praiale" 3i2 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. on. 1-28.