I. INTERROGATION. The Psalmist Expostulates (1). Jehovah. II. IMPUTATION. The Psalmist Exposes (2-11). The Lawless One. I. Accusation of Pride and Recklessness (2-6). (i} Oppression of the Meek (2-3). (ii) Glorification of Self (4-5). (iii) Occasion of Pride (6). Vain Thoughts. 2. Accusation of Perfidy and Ruthlessness (7-11). (i) Deception in his Words (7). (ii) Description of his Wiles (8-10). (iii) Occasion of his Perfidy (11). Vain Thoughts. ill. INVOCATION The Psalmist Entreats (12-18). Jehovah. 1. Petition for Remembrance ( 12 ). 2. Parenthesis. The Wicked One (13). 3. Anticipation, of Response (14). 4. Petition for Recompense (15). 5. Parenthesis. The Anointed One (16). 6. Anticipatio_n of Response (17-18). SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-See Notes to Ps. ix. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-See Notes to Ps. ix. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-God is never an indifferent or indolent spectator of His people's sufferings, I. Faith and appearances often conflict, but true faith ever sees the invisible, I. Few indeed are the saints who have never cried to God during trial, "Why-Why," 1. Countenance often corresponds to character, 4. He who defies God and derides man is a wicked (lit. lawless) one, 5. "I shall not be moved" may be the language of folly (6) or of faith, 8. Man with out God becomes like a wild beast, 8-10, see Dan. iv. 24-25, 33; of the World Powers, Dan. vii. ; of the Man of Sin and Antichrist, Rev. xiii. 1, 2. Folly judges by appearances, while faith triumphs over appearances, 4. In his own proper time, and only then, God
takes matters in hand, 14. The helpless saint "abandons" (so lit.) himself to God Who never abandons him, 14, with ix. 10. The time comes when God must interpose in judgment; further patience would be no longer forbearance but weakness. That Jehovah is King for ever 3;I1d ever (16) is a fact that brings comfort to the saints, but may well cause consternation to sinners. Faith realises and enjoys what is yet to be, 17-18. This psalm presents perils of f-he pilgrim. VERSE NOTES 1. God is said to be "far off" when He remains aiparently indifferent to the distress of His people. Conversely He is said to be 'near" wheė He manifests His power on their behalf; (b) lit. "Why muffiest Thou?"-as if God covered His eyes from seeing and His ears from hearing, cf. Pss. lv. 1; Isa. i. 15; Lam. iii. 56. The preceding psalm, ix. 9, had declared God to be a stronghold in just such seasons. 2. The cause of the cry; (b) br. "They (the poor) are being taken in the plots, that they (the wicked) have devised." 3. "wicked ( = lawless) one boasteth ... " i.e. of having his own way; (b) or, "And in his rapacity renounceth ... " 4. "The lawless in his disdain (saith), 'He will not make requisition;'" "th h " Ii ( ) liii .. oug ts, = t. p ots, s. .wĘ 2 ; see xiv. 1; . I. 5. His plans appear to succeed; cf. lxxiii. 3-5. The possibility of divine retribution does not enter his calculations; "puffeth at," i.e. by Ofen gestures expresses contempt for them; colloęuially, he says, "Pooh-pooh.' Compare another contemptuous gesture, "sniff,' Mal. I. 13. 6. Contrast the arrogance of the godless with the assurance of the godly, xvi. 8. 7. "deceit," lit. deceits; "oppression" abetted by fraud. bcx. quoted Rom. iii. 14; (b) i.e. wickedness is thorĚmghly to his taste, he rolls it under his tongue like a delicious morsel; Job xx. 12. 8-10. A threefold description of the wicked one; (a) as a lawless bandit; (b) as a lurking lion; (c) as a luring hunter. 8. "lurking places" = in ambush; "helpless," = wretched or unfortunate, an obscure Hebrew word peculiar to this psalm, IO, 14. 9a. " ..• the poor, dragging him off in his net." ua. "God,"= El (Mighty One). Experience seems to confirm his assumption in 4; ctr. the faith of the saints, ix. 12, 18. "A· "cf··· ·· 6 · "G d" El "lifi h d" . d f nse, . m. 7; vn. ; ix. 19; o t . . . an = attltu e o action; (b) and so disprove the calumny of the wicked, II; see ix. 12. 13. "wicked" = lawless one, significantly mentioned six tjmes in these two psalms, viz. ix. 5, 16; x. 3, 4, 13, 15. "Th h " h th . k d think ( ) " · " ou ast seen, w atever e wic e may . II ; spite, = misery, or vexation; (c) is an appeal to experience; "orphan" mentioned as a typical example of one friendless and helpless; cf. Exod. x:xii. 2 ff.; Mal. iii. 5. 15. Paralysing thus his power for mischief; "seek out"= require, s.H.w., 4, 13, and ix. 12. Evil will be exterminated from the Messiah's Kingdom.
RESPONSE OF THB DESPISED REMNANT 16. May be allusion to 2 Sam. iv. 6-7, and to the expulsion of the Philistinc1, mentioned, 1 Sam. xxxi. 7. The Canaanites were never wholly exterminated from the land till David1s day; ''his land,,. c£ Lev. xxv. 23 ;Joel ii. 18. 17. "heard,. as well as "sccn,U 14; "desire of the meek," ctr. the desire of the ,vicked, 3; (b) or, "Thou confirmest •.. causest ..• " 18. (b) I.e. in defying God and destroying men: "man" = enosh (frail man). Book One. II. Response of the Despised Remnant, ix.-xv. 2. The Theme Expanded. Experiences of the Evil and the Enemy, Xl.-XV.
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