The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 357

EXPOSITION. PSALM OIV. admitting either rendering, have preferred that of Professor Cheyne. And his ministers "THE psalmist, in a time of severe trouble, a flaming fire; or, "his ministers of flame arising from the power of the heathen, seeks and fire." consolation in reflecting on the greatness Ver. 5.-Who laid the fo11J1dations of the of God in nature." So Hengstenberg, earth ; rather, as in the margin, who founded the earth upon her bases; i.e. fixed correctly. The me.in topic of the pee.Im the earth in its place, on bases - not (vers. 2-32) is thus the greatness of God necessarily material bases-which keep it as seen in his works. A direct ascription steadily where it is (comp. Job xxvi. 7). of prnise precedes (ver. 1) and follows That it should not be removed for ever (vers. 33-35) the dosoi-iption of God's (comp. Ps. xciii. 1). wonders in nature. Ver. 6.-Thon coveredst it with the deep, as with a garment (see Gen. i. 9). A Ver. 1.-Bless the Lord, 0 my soul (see watery covering was spread o.t first over tho comment on Ps. ciii. 1). 0 Lord my God, the whole earth, and enveloped it like a thou art very great. The key-note is etrock garment. The waters stood above the o.t once. All the rest will be nothing but e. mo11J1tains. The highest ineqnalities of development of this vast theme-God's the land were concealed under the watery greatness. Thon art olothed with honour integument. and majesty; or " thou hast robed thyself Ver. 7.-At thy rebuke they :fled. It in glory and grandeur" (Cheyne). reqnired only a few wordR from God (Gen. Ver. 2.-Who ooverest thyAelf with light i. 9) for the whole surface of the earth to as with a garment. Light we.a the first be changed. The waters "fled "-they thing created (Gen. i. 3), before either the shifted their place-removed from some por- hee.Yen (Gen. i. 6-8) or the earth (Gen. i. tions of the earth's snrfaoe, and "gathered 9, 10). In light God, the invisible, as it themselves together" into others, allowi.n-g were, enshrouds himself, m11.king it the the dry land to appear. Elevations and image of his hidden glory. Who stretchest depressions of the land must have at the out the heavens like a cnrte.in; or, "a same time occurred. At the voice of thy canopy" (comp. lee.. xl. 22; xiii. 5; xliv. thunder they hasted away (comp. Job x• 24). The metaphor is taken from the 9, "Hast thou an arm like God, or canst stretching out or "spreading out" of e. thou thunder with a voice like hist"). The tent (see Isa. xl. 22). voice of God, especially when he speaks in Ver. 3.-Who layeth the beams of his "rebuke," is as thunder. ohambers in the waters. God forms himself Ver. 8.-They go up by the motmt:J.ins; e.n upper chamber, o.s a dwelling-plo.oe, in they go down by the valleys; rather, they "the waters that e.re above the firmament" went up mountains; they iaent d<r1U11 valleys. (Gen. i. 7), as a man builds himself e.n upper In the. general commotion of the waters, chamber with beams and rafters. Who as they "hasted away," sometimes vast maketh the olonds his chariot (comp. Iaa. waves swept over mountain-tops, sometimes xix. 1, "Behold, the Lord rideth upon a huge floods washed down the courses of thick cloud"). Who walketh upon the wings valleys-a graphio description of the scene of the wind (comp. Ps. xviii. 10), The which no eye saw, but whioh the poet anthropomorphism will be pardoned for figures to himself-a turmoil and confusion the sake of the beauty of the imagery. beyond that even of the great Deluge itself Ver. 4.-Who maketh his angels spirits. (see Gen. vii. 17-19; viii. 1-3). trnto the Professor Oheyne renders, "Who maketh his plaoe which thou hast (rather, hadst) messengers of winds;" and so (in substance) fo11J1ded for them. The ocean-bed, whioh Jarohi, Aben-Ezro., Rosenmiilh·r, Professor had, in intention, been already prepared to Alexander, and even Heng.;;teuberg. The receive them. difficulty in adopting this rendering is that Ver. 9.-Thon hast set (or, didd set) furnished by the application of the passage a bound that thoy may not (rather, might in Heb. i. 7 ; but the arguments of not) pass over (eomp. Job xxu·iii. 10, 11; Hcngstcnberg go fRr to meet thnt diffioulty. Jer. v. 22). 'fheDeluge is for the time beyond It is to be noted th11t our Re risers, while i the ken of the poet, who is singing Gccl's 898 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, CIV, 1-35.