I. INVOCATION OF DIVINE AID (1-5). I. Request (1). 2. Reasons (2-5). Causdess Enmity. II. IMPRECATION OF THE DECEITFUL ADVERSARY (6-15). ill. INVOCATION OF DMNE AID (16-27). I. Against the Adversary (16-20). 2. About the.Adversary (21-27). (i l Prayers and Pleas (21). The Cry. (ii Plaint (22 ). The Cause. (iii Parables (23 ). The Comparison. (iv) Plaint (24-25). The Cause. (v) Prayers and Pleas (26-27). The Cry. IV. INFLICTION UPON THE DECEITFUL ADVERSARY (28-29). V. INDICATION OF DIVINE ASSURANCE (30-31). I. Ascription of Praise (30). Rendition of Thanks. 2. Anticipation of Preservation (31). Reason for Thanks. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Psalm of David. PRIMARY•AssocIATION.-Written by David during the period of Absalom's rebellion; c£ 4-5 with 2 Sam. xviii. 5. The psalm has then much in common with xxxv. and lxix. In a commonly accepted view this is the last and most strongly-worded of the imprecatory psalms, on which see Appendix IV. David's one weapon against Ahithophel the traitor was prayer, 2 Sam. xv. 3 r; Ps. lxiv. 2. It is
qµite possible, however, that verses 6-15, or even as far as verse 19, are not David's own words at all, but the imprecation of his enemies. Note that the pronouns change fr0111 the plural to the singular at verse 6 and back again to the plural at verse 20. Scripture structure is frequently elliptical, leaving the word "saying" to be understood at the beginning of a quotation. See, for instance, r Kings xx. 34; Ps. ii. 2-3; Isa. xiv. 8; xviii. 2; xxiv. 14-15;Jer. xi. 19; 1. 5; Acts x. 15, etc. So here the construction may be, "(Saying), Set Thou ... " This then would be the substance of Shiniei' s cursing, 2 Sam. xvi. 5-14. The word "This" (20) is emphatic, and in the view just given, would mean, "This (cursing) is . .. " connecting with the history, 2 Sam. xvi. ro, and adding force to certain verses of our psalm, especially 28. Contrast the assurance of David (3 I) with the desire of his enemy (6). The fact that Sb is applied to Judas seems to argue against this interpretation but is not conclusive. Because of the difficulty the analysis is given with some hesitancy. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION. -This overrides the primary inter pretation. The application to Judas, the betrayer of our Lord, gives the clue to the Messianic import. Here is the voice of the Prince of Martyrs identifying Himself with God's witnesses who have suffered at the hand of man from Abel on throughout the world's history. Messiah's atoning sufferings at the hand of God are not found in this psalm. The prophetic aspect also looks beyond Judas to apostate Israel persecuting the godly remnant and especially to Antichrist in whom treachery finds its climax. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-All the people of God earnestly desire the eradication of evil and the triumph of truth. Grace has its limit; if its offers are refused, man's condemnation is increased. There is no contradiction between God's character and His acts. God finds it necessary at times to eradicate an evil seed lest the evil harvest overwhelm the good. Causeless enmity has its origin in the condition of heart from which it springs (3). There is One. whose 'love was answered by loathing (5). "The SWl that invigorates the living breeds corruption in the dead." The silence of God may be con trasted with the clamour of our foes (r ). God is the sole object of the believer's praise ( 1). Ancestors and posterity often partake of a common sin (13). Man's choice of evil is frequently followed by self-retributive action. "The world is a mirror which usually gives back the smile or frown which we present to it" (17-18). It is far
better to have the Almighty at our right hand (3 I) than the Adversary (6). The mouth may be used in wickedness or in worship, but not the same mouth (2, 30); c£ Jas. iii. 9 ff. Many of God's saints have been hurried out of life by evil men (23a). Contrast the justified man (31) with the condemned man (6). VERSE NOTES I. Or, "Be not silent ... " 2. Br. "For a lawless man's mouth, yea, a mouth ... " This points to the leader of the psalmist's enemies. 3. "Yea, with words of hatred have they ... " 4. "{In return) for my love . . . but I (am all) prayer." Heb. word for "adversaries" here is characteristic of this psalm (20, 29 and cf. 6); elsewhere in Psalms only xxxviii. 20; Loci. r3 = accusers, opponents in a court oflaw. (b) A forceful idiom; parallel passage (xxxv. r3) suggests that his prayers were for these adversaries-a proof of the love for w¥ch they requited evil. 6 ff. Represents a trial and condemnation before a tribunal. 6. "Set (in office)" or, appoint. The culprit is himself in office (8); let him be brought before superior authority-"adversary" or, accuser; c£ Zech. iii. 1. 7. I.e. shown up to be what he really is and so condemned; ( b) i.e. a prayer only wrung from his heart in extremity and not prompted by true repentance; last despairing cry for mercy after the day of grace is past; plea for clemency rejected. 8. Denotes a premature end; (b) with Ps. lxix. 25 is quoted {Acts i. 20) of Judas but is not the ultimate fulfilment; judicial office is implied, trans. "overseership. 9 ff. It seems well to point out here the important addition at Exod. xx. 5 ; "of them that hate Me." This should prevent• misconstruing the divine principle, yet Israel were guilty of it, see Ezek. xviii. where God Himself reprobates such misunderstanding. Nevertheless the character of the father may have much to do with the condition of his children. The consequences of sin are often far-reaching in family history. 10. I.e. they seek their bread far from their ruined home. 13. The extinction of the. family is regarded in the East as the most terrible of calamities. 14-15. C£ 9 note. 15. "Let them ... ; " i.e. the iniquity and the sin, 14; {b) "them"= the ancestors. 18. Indicates a deliberately chosen policy. 19. "{So) let it ... and as the belt ... " i.e. let the ju?gment suit the sin. d"' d rewar , i.e. wages earne , not s. .w. as m 5. 21. "But Thou,Jehovah, Lord, work Thou for (lit. with) me." The combined title, "Jehovah Adonai" occurs in the Psalms only four times, and elsewhere only once. 22. "I" {emph.). 23. Form of the Heb. verb indicates compulsion from without; (b) i.e. as a locust swept along helplessly by the wind; cf. Exod. x. 19.
This book has 150 chapters