_The prophet, calling for justice, complaineth of tyranny and impiety: he teacheth God's providence: he sheweth the blessedness of affliction. God is the defender of the afflicted._ THE later Greeks ascribe this psalm to David; and indeed it is an exact description of the courtiers of Saul; who abus... [ Continue Reading ]
YE BRUTISH—AND YE FOOLS— _Ye foolish,—Ye thoughtless._ Grotius observes on the next verse, that this is a most excellent way of arguing; for, whatever perfection there is in created beings, it is derived from God, and therefore must be in him in the most eminent manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT CHASTISETH THE HEATHEN, &C.— Or, _He who instructs the nations, he who teacheth man knowledge, shall not he rebuke?_ Mudge renders this and the following verse thus: _He that instructeth the nations, shall not he find them out? He that teacheth man knowledge,_ (Psalms 94:11.) _The Lord knowe... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN— _How happy the man whom thou instructest, O Lord, and teachest out of thy law,_ (Psalms 94:13.) _to set him at ease from the days of evil, till the pit be digged for the wicked._ "Out of the law of God a good man may set his heart at ease in the days of evil; in full assurance th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JUDGMENT SHALL RETURN UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS— _For judgment shall come about again to justice, and in its train all the upright of heart._ This expression seems figuratively to suppose that God has his rounds or circuits for judgment, when he will do full justice in the sight of all honest men: who... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL RISE UP FOR ME? &C.— _Who will stand up for me against the evil-doers? Who will rank himself on my side against the dealers in vanity_ [_the practisers of idolatry_]_?_—Ver. 17. _If the Lord be not my help, my soul in an instant will be lodged in silence._ Mudge. Several of the versions ren... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SAID, MY FOOT SLIPPETH— The _slipping_ or _moving of the foot,_ is an expression which we often meet with, to signify any inevitable danger, as it does here; and it seems to be a metaphor taken from the sure consequence of such an accident, when two men are engaged at single combat; in which... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MULTITUDE OF MY THOUGHTS— _When my solicitudes are multiplied within me._ The word שׂרעפי _sarappai, solicitudes,_ means the _discursus,_ or _branchings of the mind;_ a word which strongly expresses the action of the soul when it sends itself forth on all sides. "The old version renders it, _... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THE THRONE OF INIQUITY, &C.— _Shall the throne of iniquity be favoured by thee, which giveth a sanction to grievances by its edicts?_ that is, "Shall the tribunal which is erected by our invaders for the oppression of the people be patronized by thee? Shall tyrants be dignified with the name o... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING UPON THEM— Or, _Render them._ REFLECTIONS.—1st, There is an Almighty Judge to whom the oppressed may appeal, and who will vindicate their cause. The Psalmist lodges his appeal with God against his adversaries. _O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth,_ who hath the power to avenge the oppres... [ Continue Reading ]