I. SUMMONS TO PRAISE (1-5). PERSONAL. First Note, "Bless Jehovah, 0 my soul." 11. SUBJECT OF PRAISE (6-19). JEHOVAH'S CHARACTER MANI FESTED IN REDEMPTION. Grace and Government. 1. Joyful Confession (6-12). (i) Divine Righteoqsness Exhibited to Israel (6-7). (ii)-Divine Lovingkindness Exemplified in Experience (8-12). Its Proof-Sins Pardoned. 2. Instructive Comparisons (13-16). (i) Compassion of God-Like a Father (13-14). (ii) Course of Man-Like a Flower (15-16). 3. Joyful Confession (17-19). (i) Divine Lovingkindness Enduring in Character (17-18). Its Permanence-Saints Preserved. {ii) Divine Rule Established in General (19). III. SUMMONS TO PRAISE (20-22). UNIVERSAL. Final Note, "Bless Jehovah, 0 my soul." SUPERSCRIPT.-David's. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-The psalm seems to belong to David's later life (5). He identifies himself with the destinies of the nation, which in his character as king he represented before God. There is no note of.sadness in the music of this psalm despite 15-16. Here is the praise promised in 'ci. l. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Pss. ciii. to cvi. show the blessed consequence of Messiah being "cut off" as in cii. Here Messiah Himself leads the praises of a restored Israel. It is a song of millennial saints on earth. With her national life redeemed from destruction
and strength renewed Israel will call for universal praise and see the glad response. In the day contemplated, Israel's blessed experience will include in the fullest way bodily healing (3 ), a pledge of which was seen in Messiah's ministry at His first Advent. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-This world will one day hear praise flowing like one unbroken stream ever broadening as it runs. God's gifts are all benefits whether pleasurable or otherwise (2). Note the fivefold activity of our God: (a) Remission, (b) Restoration, (c) Preservation, (d) Corot?-ation, (e) Satisfaction (3-5). This. cata logue of blessings begins with forgiveness and ends with immortal youth (3-5). The divine lovingkindness and compassion make a beautiful garland for the brow of the redeemed (4b). David's God is·not a God of imagination but of revelation (7 ff.). Jehovah's loving kindness is constant like the sunshine; His· anger transitory like the lightning { 8). God's blessings are universal, but man is not hindered from self-exclusion. Note the threefold condition, "them that fear (revere) Him" (11, 13, 17). Though slow to anger, the time comes when God must convict His people of their sin and show His indignation by chastising them; but even then His anger does not last for ever (9). He chastises less than iniquities deserve (10). Man's weakness appeals to God's compassion (14). Man is like a fragile earthen vessel, therefore God handles us tenderly (14). God remem bers what man forgets ( our infirmities) and forgets what man remembers (our sins) (14); c£ Isa. xliii. 25; xliv. 42. Man soon passes away, but God's compassion endures for ever (17). They who fear God may safely leave their posterity to His care (17). The universe praises the mighty Makeà and Ruler; man alone praises the merciful Mediator and Redeemer (20-22). Worship links the individual with the Infinite (20-22). VERSE NOTES I. "soul," word here evidently ref. to the·complete personality, the sum totality of being, c£ Gen. ii. 7. Next line views the unity of personality in its diversity of powers. "all"· f "b fi "· d alin , i.e. any o ; ene ts, 1.e. gracious e Lgs. 3. "healeth," c£ Exod. xv. 26, where the· divine title is Jehovah-Ropheca. d ten er mercies, = compassions. 5. Br. "Who adometh thee to the full with goodliness"; (b) no reference here to fable, but to fact. Moulting and renewal of a bird's feathers result in continued accuracfand;trength in flight. The eagle's wings never .seem to tire.
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