The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 382

EXPOSITION. 17; Rom. xi. 33-36). Who can show forth PS.ALM OVI. all his praise t i.e. "all the praise really THIS is the first of the strictly "Hallelujah due to him." Ver. 3.-Blessed are they that keep judg- psalms "-i.e. of the psalms beginning with ment, and he that doeth righteousness at the phrase "he.llelu-Jah "-which arcl Pss. all times. No distinction of meaning is cvi., cxi., cxii., cxiii., cxxxv., cxlvi., cxlvii., intended between "keeping judgment" n.nd cxlviii., cxlix., o.nd cl. Eight of these "doing righteousness." Tile second clause ten (o.11 but cxi., cxii.) also end with the merely repeats the first. Ver. 4.-Bemember me, 0 Lord, with the phrase. Pas. oiv., cv., and cxvii. end with favour that thou bearest unto thy people. it, but do not begiu with it. This psalm .A prayer for individual blessing, not very has R general resemble.nee to Pss. lxx viii. usual in a psalm concerned with national and cv., but carries the historical sketch sins ancl national deliverances. Professor to a later pel"iod, and makes more pointed Cheyne compares the parenthetic uttero.nces of Nehemiah (Neh. v. 19; xiiL 14, 22, 31), allusion to the Be.bylonish captivity (vers. but doubts whether the entire passage 41-46). It consists of an introduction (vers. 4, 5) is not an interpolation. 0 visit (vers. 1-5), comprising praise and prayer; me with thy salvation (comp. Pas. xvfa. 35; an historical sketch, which is mainly a con- luxv. 7). fession of the sins of the people (vers. 6- Ver. 5.-That I may see the good of thy 46); e.ud R conclusion, in which prayer and ohoien; or, the good fortune, tile pro~perity, of thy chosen; i.e. their happiness wheu praiso are again united, as in the they are released from the captivity, and introduction. return to their own land (comp. ver. 47). That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy Ver. 1.-Praise ye the Lord (comp. Pas. nation; i.e. " the gladness" that would he civ. 35; ov. 45). 0 give thanks unto the theirs when re-established in their own Lord (so in Ps. cv. 1). Even in their country (see Ezra iii. 12; vi. 22). That I gl"eatest afflictions, the I,re.elites were bound may glory with thine inheritance; or, to give God thanks. His mercies always triumph. exceeded his punishments. For he is good (sec the comment on Pa. o. 5). For his Vers. 6-46.-The pso.lmist now enters on ,meroy endureth for ever. According to his main subject- the tro.nsgressions of Chronicles, this phrase was used at the Israel in the ps.st, and God's manifold dedication of David's tabernncle (1 Chron. xvi. 34, 41), and again at the dedication mercies vouchsafed to them. These he of the temple (2 Cbron. v. 13). It here traces from the time of the Exodus (ver. 7) first ooours iu tho Pdo.lms. to that of tha Bo.bylonish captivity (ver. 46). Ver. 2.-Who oan utter the mighty aots of the Lord l (comp. Ps. I. 2; 11nd for the Ver. 6.-We have sinned with our fathers impossibility of expressing God's gre,1tness, (comp. Lev. xxvi. 40 • 1 Kiugs viii. -t7; see Job xi. 7-9; Pa. xoii. 5; I so.. xl. 12- Ezra ix. 6, 7; Noh. i. 6, 7; ix. 16-18, 2G; 426 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. OVI. 1-48.