XXV. This acrostic psalm offers nothing definite for ascertaining its date, but is usually referred to the exile times, when the faithful among the captive Israelites were “waiting” (Psalms 25:3; Psalms 25:5; Psalms 25:21) for the redemption of their race. It is full of plaintive appeal to God for... [ Continue Reading ]
WAIT ON THEE. — More literally, as in LXX., _wait for thee,_ with idea of strong endurance. The root means to _make strong by twisting._ (Comp. Psalms 25:5; Psalms 25:21, where the same word occurs, though in a different conjugation.) The Vulgate has _qui sustinent te,_ “who maintain thee,” _i.e.,_... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH. — Better, _make me walk in_ — _i.e.,_ make me to have an actual experience of the Divine faithfulness in my passage through life.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVER OF OLD. — Better, _from ancient times _... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) “With recollections clear, august, sublime, Of God’s great Truth and Right immutable She queened it o’er her weakness.” — A. H. CLOUGH.... [ Continue Reading ]
MERCY AND TRUTH. — Or, _grace and truth;_ recalling John 1:4, and showing how the conception of God and His ways was gradually passing over from the domain of the Law to that of the Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MAN IS HE...? — For the emphatic question compare Psalms 34:12. THE WAY THAT HE SHALL CHOOSE. — Rather, _the way that he_ should _choose_ — _i.e.,_ the way of right choice. The LXX. and Vulg., however, refer it to God — “the way in which He took delight.”... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL DWELL. — Literally, _shall lodge the night_ (comp. margin); but here, as in Psalms 49:12, with added sense of permanency.... [ Continue Reading ]
SECRET. — Rather, _familiar intercourse_ (so Symmachus). The Hebrew word primarily means _couch,_ and then the confidential talk of those sitting on it. In Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 15:17, the word is rendered “assembly.” The English word _board_ offers a direct analogy. The word _divan_ seems to have... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TROUBLES. — The consensus of commentators is for a different division of the Hebrew words. ... “Relieve my sore heart, And release me from my distress.”... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse, beginning with _Pe,_ was apparently a later addition. Not only is it an isolated line, interfering with the alphabetical arrangement, but it also differs from the rest of the psalm by employing _Elohim_ in the place of _Jehovah._ (Comp. Psalms 34:22.)... [ Continue Reading ]