LI. This psalm has been so identified with David, that to surrender the tradition which ascribes it to him seems a literary crime. Indeed, the character of the man has been react so constantly through the medium of Psalms 32, 51, that we must admit that a personality, dear to all the religious worl... [ Continue Reading ]
BLOT OUT. — The figure is most probably, as in Exodus 32:32, taken from the custom of erasing a written record (comp. Numbers 5:23; Psalms 69:28). So LXX. and Vulg. Isaiah, however (Isaiah 44:22) uses the same word in a different connection, “I will blot out thy sins as a cloud.” A fine thought that... [ Continue Reading ]
WASH ME THOROUGHLY. — Literally, _Wash me much,_ whether we follow the Hebrew text or the Hebrew margin. The two clauses of the verse are not merely antithetic. The terms _wash_ and _cleanse_ seem to imply respectively the _actual_ and the _ceremonial_ purification, the former meaning literally _to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I. — There is an emphatic pronoun in the first clause which we may preserve, at the same time noticing the difference between the violation of the covenant generally in the term _transgressions_ in the first clause, and the _offence_ which made the breach in the second. (See Note Psalms 51:1.) _... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THEE, THEE ONLY... — This can refer to nothing but a breach of the covenant-relation by the nation at large. An individual would have felt his guilt against the nation or other individuals, as well as against Jehovah. The fact that St. Paul quotes (from the LXX.) part of the verse in Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WAS SHAPEN... — Better, _Behold, I was born in iniquity._ The later rabbis, combining this verse with the mystery hanging over the origin and name of David’s mother, represent him as born in adultery. (See Stanley, _Jewish Church,_ chap. ii., p. 46, Note.) The word rendered _conceived_ is... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUTH. — Or, _faithfulness._ INWARD PARTS. — The Hebrew word is found only once besides (Job 38:36), where it is in parallelism with “heart.” The sincerity and true self-discernment which God requires can only come of spiritual insight, or, as the last clause states it, divine instruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
HYSSOP. — The mention of this connects this verse with the priestly ordinances concerning leprosy and contact with a dead body (Leviticus 14; Numbers 19); but generally it is a repetition of the former prayer to have the breach made in the covenant - relationship healed. (Comp. Isaiah 1:18.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BONES WHICH THOU HAST BROKEN... — Through his whole being the psalmist has felt the crushing weight of sin; to its _very fibres,_ as we say, his frame has suffered.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIDE THY FACE ... — _i.e.,_ thy angry look. (See Psalms 21:9.) More usually the expression is used in the opposite sense of hiding the _gracious_ look. As long as Jehovah kept the _offences_ before Him the breach in the covenant must continue.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHT SPIRIT. — So LXX. and Vulg.; but the _constant_ of the margin is nearer the Hebrew, and better.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST ME NOT AWAY. — This phrase is used of the formal rejection of Israel by the God of the covenant (2 Kings 13:23; 2 Kings 17:20; 2 Kings 24:20; Jeremiah 7:15). Its use here not only confirms the explanation of the notes above, but makes in favour of understanding the whole psalm of the community.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOY OF THY SALVATION. — This again points to a sense of restoration of covenant privileges. THY FREE SPIRIT. — Rather, _with a willing spirit._ Or we may render, _a willing spirit shall support me. _... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE CONVERTED. — Better, _shall turn to thee._ (See Note Psalms 50:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
BLOODGUILTINESS... — Literally, as in the margin, _bloods._ So in LXX. and in Vulg., but thus hardly making it clear whether the word implies the guilt of blood already shed or anticipated violence. The latter would rather have taken the form of Psalms 59:2, “from men of blood.” Probably we should r... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LIPS. — Comp. Psalms 71:15. The sense of forgiveness is like a glad morning to song-birds.... [ Continue Reading ]
SACRIFICE. — The rabbinical commentators on this verse represent _the penitence_ of David as having taken the place of the _sin-offering_ prescribed by the Law. In the mouth of an individual, language with such an intention would not have been possible. To the nation exiled and deprived of the legal... [ Continue Reading ]
DO GOOD. — The last two verses have occasioned much controversy. They do not fit in well with the theory of Davidic authorship, Theodoret long ago saying that they better suited the exiles in Babylon. They seem at first sight to contradict what has just been asserted of sacrifice. On both grounds th... [ Continue Reading ]