LXI. Here we have the prayer of an Israelite living at a distance from his country, and declaring in the simplest possible manner that in spite of this banishment he does not feel remote from God nor deprived of the Divine protection. It is a forecast of the great principle of spiritual worship whi... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE END. OF THE EARTH... — A hyperbolic expression for a great distance. Isaiah (Isaiah 5:26) uses the expression of Assyria, and it would be natural in an exile’s mouth, but must not be pressed to maintain any theory of the psalm’s date. WHEN MY HEART IS OVERWHELMED. — Literally, _in the cove... [ Continue Reading ]
A STRONG TOWER. — Comp. Proverbs 18:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL ABIDE. — Rather, _Let me be a guest in,_ etc. (Comp. Psalms 15:1; Psalms 27:4.) THY TABERNACLE... — It is difficult to decide whether this indicates. the Mosaic tabernacle, and so may be used as an index of the date of the poem; or whether the tent is a general figure for the protection of G... [ Continue Reading ]
HERITAGE. — As the Authorised Version runs, the _heritage_ is length of days, one promised generally to those who fear Jehovah (Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 19:23), and particularly to Israel (Deuteronomy 6:2) and its kings (Deuteronomy 17:19, which passage may have been in the psalmist’s mind). But the... [ Continue Reading ]
See margin, and render as a prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL ABIDE. — Better, _may he sit enthroned._ PREPARE. — Rather, _appoint._ But the LXX. had a different reading, and an ingenious emendation has been suggested from a comparison with Psalms 40:11, viz., “let mercy and truth continually preserve him.”... [ Continue Reading ]