THE REDEEMED I. EXPRESSION OF PRAISE (1-2). r. The Regard (1a). 2. The Reasons (1b-2a). 3. The Resolve (2b). "I will call upon." IL EXPERIENCE OF PERIL (3-6). r. The AfH.iction (3 ). 2. The Appeal (4). "I beseech Thee." 3. The Answer (5-6). GQd'é Attrib1,1tes-God's Actions.
III. EXPRESSION OF PRAISE (7-9). 1. The Rest (7a). 2. The Reason (7b-8). 3. The Resolve (9 ). "I will walk." IV. EXPERJENCE OF PERIL (10-n). I. The Assurance (10a). 2. The Affliction (10b). 3. The Agitation (n). V. EXPRESSION OF PRAISE (12-14). I. The Reflection (12a). 2. The Reason (12b). 3. The Resolve (13-14). "I will take ... " (Triple). VI. EXPERIENCE OF PERIL (15-16). I. The Affliction (implied) (15). 2. The Appeal (16ab). Lit. "I beseech Thee." 3. The Answer (16c). VII. EXPRESSION OF PRAISE (17-19). 1. The Resolve (17-19b). "I will offer ... " (Triple). 2. The Response (19c). "Hallelujah." PRIMARY AssocIATION .-Anonymous. An individual thanks giving belonging to the post-exilic period. Late grammatical forms and allusions to former psalms seem to indicate this. Note alternation of petition and praise. The psalmist had experienced a recent deliver ance from deadly peril, the nature of which is uncertain. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-lsrael's early millennial praise. Under her legal vow she utterly failed, but will fulfil her thanksgiving vows in the day of coming blessing, lvi. 12; Isa. xix. 2r. The nation will offer these in full realisation that her salvation is solely due to the work of Another in her behalf: PERSONAL APPLICATION.-In the psalmist's story do we all recognise our own ( 1 ff.) ? His own name is a plea which God will certainly honour (4). It is in our personal experience that we realise the character of God (5). God's answer surpasses our appeal (4 with 8). Our Redeemer (8a); our Comforter (Sb); our Keeper (8c). God ever delights to give to the maximum of our capacity, not the minimum consistent with our safety (8). "Ripples of doubt and fear do not prove the absence of a deeper trust" (10). Experience teaches that all confidence in man (lit. the adam) is in vain (11). Human help is delusive ( 11). Verse 8 shows abundant reasons for the "rest" of verse 7. The best way to requite God is to receive
and own His grace with thanksgiving (12-13). The way to render thanks is to receive more grace ( 13). Blessings received in private should be acknowledged in public ( 14). Public expression of gratitude to God is often stressed in the Psalter. The "blood" of His people is no trivial thing in God's eyes-their death not lightly permitted (15). VERSE NOTES I. Lit. "I love, because Jehovah heareth my voice even my ... " The unusual form of expression, verb without expressed object, is found again, 21 IO; cf. I John v. 19 R.V. 2. Br. "For He ... and I will call as long as I live." 3. ( b) "And the straits of Sheol . . . " ifi:-1" 5. mere w = compassionate. 6. "simple" i.e. sincere or guileless, or those whose lack of experience exposes th d d " em to anger; save , see 13. 7. "rest," Heb. plur. indicating full and complete rest. IO. Br. "I believed when I (thus) spake ... " i.e. even when he was saying, "I am afflicted and all men deceive me," he yet retained his faith in God. II. "I (emph.) said in my agitation . .. " cf. xxxi. 22. 13. "salvation" lit. salvations; c£ "rests" (7); ref. may be to the cup drunk as a part of the sacrifice of thanksgiving (14), c£ "cup of blessing" I Cor. x. 16; "call upon" ;a;: rather, proclaim, i.e. acknowledging that to God alone is gratitude due; so 17. 15. Under the bitter persecution of the last days the question of life or death for the godly remnant of Israel will have great significance, for their hopes of blessing are centred upon the earthly inheritance. D¯th would seem to cut off participation in the promise, but here is the precious assurance confirmed by Rev. xiv. 13, that those who will suffer death dt,Iring that period will not be the losers. Although the verse has ·this special reference, yet it contains comfort for saints of all ages; "saints" = beloved, or, favoured ones. 16. Lit. "I beseech Thee, Jehovah, for I am Thy °ervant . : ."; "son of Thy handmaid," syn. for "thy servant" but denoting a closer relationship, as servants born in the house (Gen. xiv. 14) were the most trusted dependents; (c) for he had been like a· prisoner condemned to death, c£ 3. 17. Cf. Lev. vii. II ff
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