LXXVII. The affliction out of which the mournful cry of this psalm rises is presented in such general terms that there is no single indication by which to refer it to one period more than another. As the consolation is sought entirely in the history of national deliverance, and not in any display of... [ Continue Reading ]
I CRIED... — Better, following the Hebrew literally, “My voice to God — and let me cry; My voice to God — and He hears me.” The Authorised Version has followed the LXX. and Vulg. in neglecting the striking changes in mood running through this psalm. Soliloquy and narrative alternate as the poet’s m... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SORE RAN ... — The text of this verse is evidently faulty. As it stands it is unintelligible. _My hand was poured out and grew not dull_ (like a corpse). The LXX. and Vulg. have, “with my hands against Him, and I was not deceived,” pointing to a different reading. Symmachus has, however, “my hand... [ Continue Reading ]
I REMEMBERED. — Better, “If I remember God I must sigh; I meditate, and my spirit faints.” OR, “Let me remember God, and sigh; I must complain, and my spirit faints.” The word rendered _overwhelmed_ (comp. Psalms 142:3; Psalms 143:4) means properly _covers itself up._ In Psalms 107:5 it is transl... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HOLDEST MINE EYES WAKING. — Rather, _Thou hast closed the guards of my eyes — i.e.,_ my eyelids. The Authorised Version mistakes the noun. _guards,_ for a participle, and mistranslates it by the _active_ instead of the _passive._ For the verb _hold_ in the sense of _shut,_ see Nehemiah 7:3, and... [ Continue Reading ]
I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE. — Better, “Let me recall my harpings in the night; Let me complain in my own heart, And my spirit questions and questions.”... [ Continue Reading ]
(7-9) The self-questionings here follow as they rise sigh after sigh in the poet’s heart. God’s silences have always been more appalling to the human spirit than even the most terrible of His manifestations. To the pious Israelite, to whom the past history of his race appeared one scene of opportune... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID... — The word rendered “infirmity” may, by derivation, mean “wounding” or “piercing.” So Symmachus, “my wound;” Aquila, “my sickness.” Gesenius says, “that which makes my sickness.” If we keep this meaning we must understand mental sickness or “madness,” and understand the poet to say tha... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL REMEMBER. — The written text is, “I will celebrate.” The intention is the same in both cases. Instead of continuing to despair, the poet resolves on seeking encouragement for his faith in grateful praise of God for past mercies, and especially for the ancient deliverance from Egypt, which occ... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SANCTUARY. — Rather, _with the holy, i.e.,_ with “Israel,” the “saint” of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS SAW THEE. — Possibly alluding to the “look” which troubled the Egyptians (Exodus 14:24). WERE AFRAID. — Better, _writhed,_ as in travail pains. WENT ABROAD — _i.e.,_ darted hither and thither. The arrows are the lightnings.... [ Continue Reading ]
(16-20) The prominence given to Joseph is a feature common to the Asaphic psalm. With this magnificent lyric of the passage of the Red Sea comp. Habakkuk 3:10. The narrative in Exodus says nothing of a storm, but Josephus has preserved the tradition (_Ant.,_ 2:16. 3). Philo also mentions the storm.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE HEAVENS. — Literally, _in the vault._ The Hebrew, _galgal,_ from _gâlal,_ “to roll,” has the same derivation as “vault” (_volutum,_ from _volvo_). It is strange that this rendering, which so well suits the parallelism, should have been set aside by modern scholars in favour of “whirlwind” or... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT KNOWN. — “We know not, they knew not, by what precise means the deliverance was wrought; we know not by what precise track through the gulf the passage was effected. We know not; we need not know. The obscuring, the mystery, here as elsewhere, was part of the lesson.... All that we see disti... [ Continue Reading ]