I. PRESSING APPEAL (1-2). The Prayer. II. PROFOUND AFFLICTION (3-n). The Plea. "For." 1. Distressed in Body (3-5 ). Days shortened. 2. Desolated in Soul (6-7). 3. Derided by Men (8). 4.Disciplined by God (9-n ). Days shortened. III. PERFECT ASSURANCE (12-22). The Persuasion. I. ConcemingJehovah's Permanence (12). 2. ConceÆgJehovah's Pity (13-22). (1 Ç Restoration of Zion (13-14). (ii Result among the Nations (15-16). "When." "Name feared." a) Reverence (15). (b) Reasons (16-17). (iii) Regeneration of Israel ( 18-20). (a) Celebration (18). (b) Causes (19-20). (iv) Result among the Nations (21-22). "When." "Name declared." IV. PROFOUND AFFLICTION (23). Days shortened, V. Pl\ESSING APPEAL (24a).
VI. PERFECT ASSURANCE (24b-28). 1. Concerning Jehovah's Permanence (24b-27). (Messiah). 2. Concerning Israel's Preservation (28). SUPERSCRIPT.-A Prayer of the affiicted, w4en he is about to faint, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Verses 13-14 seem to suggest that this psalm was written when Zion was in ruins and the time of restora tion at hand, but this is not conclusive as the prophetic aspect overshadows the historical. The superscript is unique in the Psalter. This is one of the seven so-called "Penitential Psalms." Note the deep contrast to preceding psalms and the expfanation suggested by the analysis of this section of the Book. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATĝ_ON.-A psalm of sorrow and solace. Long recognised as Messianic, this psalm shows something of the depth of Messiah's humiliation-the Deathless One as death-stricken. Verses 24b-27 are the key to the understanding of the whole c01nposition, so that while the writer primarily refers to Jehovah, contrasting the fulfilment of the promises to Zion with his own brief days, Heb.· i. clearly shows the passage to refer to Christ. We realise afresh the mystery form in which some of the most glorious intimations in the Psalms are clothed. 24a gives Messiah's appeal and the remainder of the psalm Jehovah's answer. What is emphasised here is not so much the atoning sufferings of Christ as His personal sense of rejection in connection with the remnant. These sufferings, however, led to His vicarious death and are inseparably associated therewith. By reason of the latter, the Second Man shall restore to the world more than the first man ever lost through the Fall. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-The Creator and the creature are in Christ for ever linked. The st#f ering saint often :finds solace by reiterating familiar petitions. They are none the lesĞ his own, because they have been the cry of others. Here is another example of shadows shot with sunbeams. No mercy was shown to Him who delighted ğ mercy. Sadness and solitude usually go together (5-6). Zion cannot perish while Zion's God lives (12, 13). The assurance that God will restore Zion is here seen to rest upon (a) the Stability of the Troth (" for," 13 b); (b) the Signs of the Times ("for" r3c); (c) the Solicitude of the True-hearted ("for" 14). True servants of God are always in sympathy with
His purposes (14). The restoration of Zion is prelude to the conversion of the nations ( I 5 ff.). God hears the sighs of His prisoners (20). "God desires that we should know Him since that knowledge is life eternal. He is not greedy of adulation nor depend ent upon recognition, but He loves men too well not to rejoice in being understood and loved by them. Love ever hungers for return." Jehovah's praise shall be universal and unceasing (21). Not only man, but even heaven and earth are transitory contrasted with the eternity of God (26). God's personality in its essential nature is unchanging (27) and Christ is God. He is the unchanging Author of all change. His eternity is pledge of the permanence of His people (28). VERSE NOTES 3. He feels like a sick man whose strength is consumed by a burning fever; "as a firebrand" =::; as charred wood. 4. "for," bÍ. Yea. (a) like a sunstroke; (b) sorrow and sickness deprive Him of all appetite. 5. I.e. groaned himself into emaciation. 6. Comparison with solitude-loving birds which haunt desolate places and ruins. Pelican and owl are both "unclean" according to Mosaic law. 7. "I keep vigil .. . " i.e. his nights are sleepless and he spends them like some solitary bird. The sparrow is a social bird; when one has lost its mate it will sit on the housetop alone and lament by the hour in melancholy chirps. 8. Sufferings aggravated by mockery of foes; (b) i.e. His foes felt they could utter no blacker curse against others than to wish them in circumstances like him; d " th ) some rea , . . . are sworn toge er agamst me. IO. The suffering is on account of sin; viewed prophetically of Christ the sin · is not His own but His people's; (b) i.e. caught up only to be flung away with greater impetus. n. -(a) i.e. lengthening shadows of evening soon disappear; (b) "I am withering away ... 12. "But Thou, 0 Jehovah, shalt sit enthroned for ever; And Thy memorial shall be for generation after generation." He is comforted by the thought not merely ofJehovah's eternity, but of His eternal sovereignty. The memorial Name (Exod. iii. 15) is pledge and proclamation of that sovereign rule. 13. "1:hou (emÎ}1-); '_'set,ÏÐe," i.Ñ. (a) end of the seventy years, Dan. ix. etc.; (b) the still future set tune -m God s counsels. · 15. The Spirit of God always mentions future glory in connection with Messiah's sufferings. 16 ff. "When Jehovah ... Zion, hath appeared ... hath regarded, etc." 20. Comparison to a condemned prisoner languishing in prison. 23. "the way," i.e. of his humiliation. 24. "O my God," Heb. Eli= my El (Mighty One).
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