LXXI. The Palestinian collectors of the sacred songs of Israel found no traditional inscription to this psalm, and left it without conjecture of its authorship. In Alexandria it appears to have been attributed to David, but with the addition that it had some peculiar connection with the son of Jonad... [ Continue Reading ]
(1-3) These verses are borrowed, with some verbal alterations, from Psalms 31:1, where see Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROCK. — Better, _cliff_ (Hebrew _selah_)_,_ to distinguish it from _tsûr,_ above.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4-6) These verses are manifestly founded on Psalms 31:8; but the variations are more marked than usual, and indicate a definite purpose of adaptation rather than copying.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HOPE. — Comp. Jeremiah 14:8; Jeremiah 1:7. Also in _New Testament,_ 1 Timothy 1:1, “The Lord Jesus Christ our hope.” Shakespeare, with his fine ear for scriptural expressions, caught this. “And God shall be my _hope,_ my stay.” “God, our _hope,_ shall succour us.” — 2 _Henry VI. _... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK ME OUT. — Comp. Psalms 22:10. The Hebrew is not the same, but the Authorised Version renders by the same word, treating it as a transitive participle of a word that elsewhere only means _to go through,_ a doubtful expedient. The LXX. (and Vulg.) have “protector,” σκεπαστἠς_,_ which is probably... [ Continue Reading ]
A WONDER — _i.e.,_ not a miracle of preservation, but a _monster._ Though men point at him as something to be avoided or mocked, God is his refuge.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-11) This piece may be compared with Psalms 41:6. The formal “saying” (Psalms 71:11), introducing a quotation, is an indication of a late date, the early literature employing no signs of quotation. (See, _e.g.,_ Psalms 68:12; Psalms 68:26.)... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses recall Psalms 22:11; Psalms 35:4; Psalms 35:26; Psalms 38:21; Psalms 40:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
HURT. — Literally, _evil. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Psalms 40:5, which indicates the meaning here. Mere reminiscence must give place to actual calculation, which too must fail before the sense of Divine interference in his favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GO... — Rather, _I will come with the Lord Jehovah’s mighty deeds, i.e.,_ come with the tale of them (as last verse) and praise of them into the Temple. (Comp. Psalms 5:7; Psalms 66:13.)... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ALSO WHEN. — Literally, _yea, even to old age and grey hairs._ Psalms 129:1 shows that this may be a national as well as an individual prayer. THY STRENGTH. — Literally, _thine arm,_ the symbol of power. (Comp. Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 53:1, &c) UNTO THIS GENERATION. — Literally, _to a generation,... [ Continue Reading ]
VERY HIGH. — Literally, _to the height, i.e.,_ to the heavens, as in Psalms 36:5; Psalms 57:10. The clauses should be arranged, _Thy righteousness also, O God, to the height — Thou who doest great things — God, who is like unto thee?_ (Comp. Exodus 15:11.)... [ Continue Reading ]
QUICKEN ME. — According to the written text, _quicken us,_ an indication that the psalm is a hymn for congregational use. As for the change from singular to plural, that is common enough. DEPTHS... — Abysses, properly of water. (See Psalms 33:7.) Perhaps here with thought of the waters on which the... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT ME ON EVERY SIDE. — Literally, either _thou wilt compass with comfort,_ or _wilt turn with comfort._ The LXX. adopts the latter.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE PSALTERY. — See Psalms 57:8, Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LIPS SHALL... — Rather, _my lips shall sing while I play to thee, i.e.,_ a hymn should accompany the harp. There is, therefore, no thought of the union of the bodily and spiritual powers in praise of God, though it is natural the verse should have suggested such an interpretation to the Fathers;... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TONGUE. — Comp. this with the conclusion of Psalms 35... [ Continue Reading ]